We recently caught up with fellow Type 1 Kyle Cochran to ask him a few questions about how he’s prepped for his second season on American Ninja Warrior, and how life has changed since he was last on the show.
Q. What made you want to decide to compete, once again, as an American Ninja Warrior?
What keeps me competing is, truly, my supporters. So many diabetics or friends and family of diabetics have reached out to me through Facebook. Everyone’s support and encouragement means so much to me. I will continue to compete and push myself as long as my message somehow inspires people. That is what I do it for.
Q. What changes have you made in your training since last season? Is your mindset different at all?
The major change I have made to my training since last season is to focus on rock climbing. While training for last season I climbed once per week. I rock climb every day now. I have found it crucial not only in building necessary strength, but even more so in building my self-confidence on the course. I feel like my upper body is ready. I now need to put more work into balance. I love to slack line, but I am terrible at it. I think that if I can get decent at that, I should do pretty well on the course.
Q. Has your diabetes management plan changed since you began training for this season?
The biggest change to my diabetes management plan for this season has been Leeloo. Leeloo is my new dog. I have been training Leeloo to be an alert dog for my diabetes. She is being trained to smell chemical changes in my breath that indicate when my blood sugar is running high or low. I have had her for about 2 months now. She was found in the foothills of a town near me where she was being hunted by a pack of coyote. When she was found she was almost starved to death and was missing a good amount of fur. She was EXTREMELY shy and scared. She still takes a little while to warm up to people, but once she does, you will never meet a sweeter, more loving, or more cuddly dog. She lives to cuddle.
Q. What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of training to be an American Ninja Warrior?
The most challenging aspect of training to be an American Ninja Warrior is finding the time and motivation to train. I typically train a total of 3 hours each day which means I am waking up early and going to bed late. My motivation, like I said before, has been all of the fans. I am truly inspired to hear all of your stories and to know that you support me through love and prayer.
Q. What plans, outside of American Ninja Warrior, do you have 2014 and beyond?
I finally graduated from San Diego State University and I was just hired as an insulin pump sales rep at a company down in San Diego called Tandem. If you haven’t seen the pump, go check out the website. I couldn’t believe how cool it was when I first saw it! I am very excited for the opportunity to be working in the field of diabetes. I love connecting with other people with diabetes and their families, so the opportunity to do so every day is wonderful!
I also have plans to get married in December to an incredible woman named Jessica. She is so supportive in everything I do and I couldn’t ask for a more perfect bride.
My third big plan for 2014 is to take another mission trip. I was blessed enough to go to Kenya in 2013 and I hope to go somewhere in Southeast Asia this year. I have a heart for children who are trapped in the sex slave trade and I desperately want to go rescue them out of that and show them that they are loved. If I win American Ninja Warrior, most of the money I win will go towards this mission.
Kyle Cochran ~ American Ninja Warrior 2014
Awesome job, Kyle! You too can cheer Kyle along as he competes in the next American Ninja Warrior episode, Monday at 9pm EST on NBC!
