My Journey to Completing Ironman 70.3

The morning of race day was filled with excitement and anxiety. I arrived in Goa just the previous evening after a hectic travel schedule. The adrenaline rush had kept me awake, but having Shreyas Hosur and my coach Somya by my side was reassuring.

We assembled at the start line by 6:30 as daylight broke, welcoming us. I was invited on stage to flag off the event alongside tennis legend Leander Paes, adding to the pressure I already felt.

The swim started at 7 AM sharp. Over a thousand participants rushed into the sea. The water was warm but choppy, and it was my first swim in the sea. Struggling with salty water getting into my eyes, I had difficulty finding my rhythm initially. After a few minutes, I found my pace, even surviving a jellyfish sting and trisuit chafing, finishing strong.

Though we lost some time during the transition, we hopped onto our bikes and began riding through the main roads of Panjim, onto the highway, enjoying the initial cloud cover. The two-loop, 90km course was challenging with climbs, increasing temperatures, and headwinds. The Goan humidity began setting in. I kept hydrating with gels, salt caps, and electrolytes. I hadn’t cycled much recently due to an IT Band injury, but training in Sweden with TOK helped. Thank you, Chetan—I remembered you with gratitude throughout the ride. By the time we finished cycling, the midday sun was testing us.

The toughest part was transitioning from bike to run. My legs felt immovable, and I was afraid of cramping. I walked for a kilometer and then started running slowly with short steps to adjust. By the 3 km mark, I found a rhythm. However, the steep uphill at the Raj Bhavan circle was brutal. Shreyas pushed me to pick up the pace as we were close to the cutoff. The second loop was even harder. The heat and humidity were wearing me down. Just as we were finishing the second loop, Shreyas dropped out due to an allergic reaction. His entire body had swollen, and he couldn’t continue. He had been my guiding star throughout the day, and with him gone, I felt like giving up. But when he cheered me on, I found the strength to keep going.

The last loop was a race against time. My legs were giving out, I was dehydrated, and long strides triggered hamstring twitches. I constantly asked the volunteers about the cutoff time, pushing myself harder. In the final two kilometers, I knew I had to sprint to make it. Encouraged by more than 30 people running alongside me on the footpath, I realized this race was as much mental as physical. With a renewed sense of purpose, I sprinted the last kilometer and crossed the finish line. I had completed Ironman 70.3!

For over five years, I had wanted to do an Ironman but thought it impossible due to my hectic work schedule. Shreyas Hosur, a dear friend and accomplished Ironman, convinced me I could do it, guiding me through the process. Thank you, Shreyas—this wouldn’t have been possible without you.

If I could complete this challenge injury-free, it’s thanks to my coach Somya Rout. Your calm confidence, training sessions, and smart load management made all the difference. Thank you, Coach.

I also want to thank Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre, coaches John Sir and Mayank Bhai for their swimming guidance. Rahul Shetty’s weight training helped tremendously, and my early morning runs with Shreyas Karnad were invaluable. My friends Vishu Basoya and Prashant were constant supporters, and Sahana’s nutrition advice kept me on track. I am also grateful to Ironman coach Kaustubh Radkar and everyone at my MP office for their encouragement.

P.S. I just registered for the Mumbai Marathon in January. Sign up for a challenge, step out of your comfort zone, and make it happen!

#triathlon #Ironman #fitness #sports #tejasvisurya