Former Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward is preparing for Ironman World Championship

Hines Ward can do it all. He was awarded the MVP in Super Bowl XL, he won season 12 of Dancing with the Stars, and he made a cameo in The Dark Knight Rises. Yeah, dude stays busy.

2013 has brought a whole new set of challenges for the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, though. Not content with a retirement consisting of laziness and yelling at young kids to get off his lawn, Ward has competed in three triathlons this year and is preparing himself for the upcoming Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

According to coach Paula Newby-Fraser, an eight-time Ironman world champion, Ward is in excellent shape (mentally and physically) heading into Kona. What’s one of the secrets to his success (well, besides being an amazing all-around athlete)? Chocolate milk!

Here’s Fraser on the tastiest performance-enhancer ever:

"I remember years and years ago someone saying that chocolate milk is probably one of the best recovery products out there and this was 15–20 years ago. My husband Paul [Huddle] has been drinking chocolate milk ever since I’ve known him. Hines drinks chocolate milk after his workouts all the time. They deliver it to [Hines’] house. When he finishes a workout he hydrates, he drinks chocolate milk and then he eats a meal 30 to 60 minutes later (Triathlete)."

Wait, so all it takes to be a world-class triathlete is a chocolate milk addiction? Man, first-grade me could’ve been dominant.

Those wishing to learn more about Ward’s preparation for Kona should check out his web series here. We wish him the best of luck. May many bottle of delicious chocolate milk be waiting for you at the finish line, Hines!

[Source: Triathlete]