There’s no stopping Oceanside Ironman Eric Neufeld

When it comes to pushing physical limits, 41-year-old Oceanside resident Eric Neufeld stands out as an athlete — in addition to being a dedicated husband and father.

On July 21, Neufeld crossed the finish line of yet another Ironman in upstate Lake Placid — a race that encompasses a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a full 26.2-mile marathon.

With enthusiastic support from family and friends, Neufeld had previously finished three Ironman events — all in Lake Placid — in 2017, 2022 and 2023.

He got hooked on triathlons after his first marathon, in 2015, and bought a triathlon bike in 2016 to start training seriously. His training took up 12 to 15 hours per week, peaking at 15-plus hours, with long bike rides of seven to eight hours on Saturdays and three-hour runs on Sundays.

For Neufeld, competing in Ironman races has become a personal journey — one that has woven his passion for fitness into the fabric of his family life. He grew up in Lynbrook playing ice hockey, and transitioned into endurance sports, inspired by his father, Walter, who was a cyclist, runner and swimmer. His dad’s commitment to daily exercise influenced Eric’s fitness journey.

“Dad, over the years, he’s done maybe two or three sprint triathlons,” Neufeld said. “He’s never really been into racing, but he’s always been very regimented and routine in his exercise, and would always exercise at least once a day, most days, twice a day, all just for himself. It was just to be healthy and to clear his mind, and that kind of always stuck with me from being a very young kid. I would see him go out for his bike rides, go out for his runs, go out for his swims. Then when I got older, we would do it together.”

Neufeld teaches physical education in a Queens elementary school, and he also worked as a personal trainer after college.

“From a young age, I saw how stressed he was from work,” he said of his father, “and I remember him saying to me as a young kid when it came to careers, ‘You might not necessarily ever be a millionaire, but you’re going to work, pick something that you’re going to enjoy doing.’ I knew from an early age I did not want a desk job.”

Neufeld got involved in Ironman competitions after a friend invited him to join the New York City triathlon. His first event went well, leading him to try more races, including the half-Ironman and eventually full Ironman races.

Neufeld credited his success to his coach, Jose Lopez, from the Long Island Tri Club. He followed Lopez’s training programs, which involved long hours of preparation, including hill training for the hilly Lake Placid course. Training for such events requires significant time and effort, something his wife, Monika, is all too familiar with.

“It’s never easy having your spouse gone for hours on the weekends, especially with two young kids, but I could never not support something that is both for his health and so impressive for our children to see what their dad can do,” she said. “People have vices — this is his, and it makes the kids so happy to watch him.”

Their two daughters, five-year old Sophia and seven-year old Ella, are already following in their dad’s footsteps, participating in the IronKids race just days before his big Ironman competition.

Ironkids is a series of races for under one to 17 years old to experience the excitement of competition while enjoying the outdoors and promoting healthy living.

Race day for Neufeld is not just about personal achievement — it’s a family event.

“We get the kids up at 5 a.m. with their cowbells ready, signs made, and the whole family cheering him on,” Monika said. “We’ve become experts at finding the perfect spots along the route to catch a glimpse of him as he passes by.”

Neufeld’s family often arrives from Georgia and Virginia to support him, creating a network that feeds off the electric energy of the crowds in the grand scheme of an 11-hour race.

“The entire day is such a rush — tracking his progress on the Ironman app, watching him emerge from the swim, and then running alongside the course to cheer him on during the bike and run portions,” Monika added.

Neufeld has no plans of slowing down. His discipline and commitment to training is stellar — waking up at 4 a.m. to fit in a workout before the demands of the day.

“This is not something every dad with two small kids and a full-time job just gets up and does,” Monika said. “I think he doesn’t realize how big of a deal it is.”

With another half-Ironman on the horizon, his commitment to racing remains steadfast. “He laughs and says, ‘It’s just a half-Ironman, not the full thing,’” Monika said with a smile. “That’s how you know he’s been doing this for a long time.”

While his focus may be on upcoming races — the Jones Beach 70.3 half-Ironman on Sept. 28, a long-distance triathlon race that’s half the length of an Ironman and the New York City Marathon on Nov. 3 — his family will be right by his side, cheering him on every step of the way.

“I think it’s amazing for the kids to see their dad doing something so challenging and sticking with it year after year,” Monika said. “Who knows? Maybe one day they’ll want to follow in his footsteps and take on a race of their own.”