NHL great Zdeno Chara reveals he has taken up MARATHON RUNNING after ending his 24-year hockey career... and he's eyeing up an Iron Man!

Zdeno Chara retired last year from hockey, but the NHL great is not just lying around following a legendary 21-year career.

In fact, the former defenseman has taken up another sport altogether, as Chara has been running marathons since hanging up his skates.

The Slovakian completed the Boston Marathon in November and will reportedly run the New York City Marathon in November. 

'I didn't take any kind of break,' he told the New York Post.

'I kind of sustained the physical training. 'I was adding to my running, getting higher mileage, getting higher bike distances. 

Former Boston Bruins player Zdeno Chara and Becca Pizzi finish the Boston Marathon

Chara celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in 2011

'And then at one point, I knew that I would like to talk to somebody who is more experienced and somebody who would be able to put me on maybe more specific programs to reach some of the goals I set for myself.'

Chara said that he's even targeting triathlons and Ironmans.

He also told The Post that he wants to do the Tokyo, London, Berlin and Chicago marathons.

He completed the Boston Marathon in 3:38.23 for a hugely impressive 8:20 mile pace, yet insisted that he's merely running for fun and does not set a goal time.

Chara finished his career with the Islanders, playing a final season with the team in 2022

'Sometimes you get into different mindsets and you learn about yourself a lot through these challenges, through these good runs, bad runs,' he said. 

'It's just, I don't know how to really explain it, but it's something that it's teaching you something about yourself. And it's a very humbling experience.'

Chara led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup championship in 2011 and finished his career with 237 goals and added 523 assists.