it s a number he was i m bembard about. our first workout together, it was a struggle. but now it s two months closer to race day, and ricky is unstoppable. i m noticing incremental change in every sport, run, bike, and swim. reporter: after kicking his fast food habit he tries to workout regularly, waking up at dawn most days. hasn t been easy, but ricky is back in control. i feel so much better about life and about exercise and living than i did five weeks o ago. reporter: fellow challenger has been training hard as well. when we started, he told me he wanted to race the new york city tie athlon so he could help the teenagers he mentors get back in shape. part of the whole fitnation and what really encouraged me is the sense of community and the helping others.