An Exercise in Education

A story of balancing a lifelong hobby and a career                                                                                                                                                         

By Ethan Reres, staff reporter

The WJPS community welcomed Robert Mullen with open arms when he became a teacher here. He was much needed as an addition for a new math teacher, and he quickly proved himself to be effective. However, most students and staff alike did not get to realize that Mr. Mullen holds a combination of brains and brawn.

GROWING UP

Mr. Mullen was a child born to two running athletes. At first glance, this didn’t seem to affect him much, “It didn’t seem weird for me to see them go on a five mile run just for fun.” Soon he began to pick up on it himself, however he didn’t look too much into it.

Middle school was where Mr. Mullen’s athletic career truly began, albeit with a slow startup. Being a person with diabetes, exercise is needed but it also has to be carefully handled. Baseball was the initial interest; it seemed fun and he could run between bases efficiently. Ultimately he wasn’t well suited for it, and decided track and field was the next option. His low expectations were shattered, and it soon became not only a fun hobby, but a part of his extracurricular life even after high school.

Dowling College was where Mullen aimed to receive his degrees in mathematics and special education. It was also where he cemented his lifestyle – athletics and education would be side by side for his whole life. He joined the Division Two Cross Country team, and has never stopped since.

 

THE CONSTANT JUGGLE

Mr. Mullen seen resting after an event

Being an athlete as well as a teacher has its obstacles. Teaching, grading, creating tasks, and training for development are all part of the daily cycle. At the same time, physical training and healthy diet are also needed just as much. After school, “a training routine keeps me on track. It’s really tiring at first, but when you get used to it it becomes basically second nature.” The schedule of the school year also works in Mullen’s favor. Most competitions take place in the summer, when school is not in session. This gives him more time to focus on his athletics and on what his priority is at the time.

Mr. Mullen biking in a recent event under Team Novo Nordisk

Mr. Mullen isn’t an athlete just for himself anymore. In 2015 and 2016, he had won two half marathons, one in Upstate New York, and one in the Rockaways in 2016. Cycling has quickly become another skill as well, assisting his viability as a triathlete. Two years ago he became an athlete under team Novo Nordisk and their elite department. “Cycling is more tactical and tricky, but it doesn’t require as much effort as running.”

The swimming portion of the triathlon proves to be the hardest, as he never really trained in that sport competitively. He has been training more for it, in hopes of improving for the future. “The more hours you put in, the better you get.”

Mr. Mullen hopes to continue this lifestyle for years to come. He keeps in shape and enjoys his career, and only sees more positive accomplishments from the active portion of his life.

 

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