William B.

William is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta in the Department of Physical Education and Recreation. He completed his Ph.D. at Queen's University in December 2010. His current research focuses largely on the Ironman triathlon and related ideas of pain, pleasure, and health in contemporary fitness and sport practices. His sport background is somewhat varied: he competed at the national and international level in figure skating when he was younger. In his late 20s, after a few years of "recreational" participation in multiple road races (from 5 km to marathon), he discovered the sport of triathlon. He has completed two Ironman triathlons (2004, 2007) and several shorter distances (sprint to half-Ironman). He stopped doing triathlons after his last Ironman but has recently started running again. He has been a member of the Ottawa Frontrunners since 2004.