Goa will witness the second edition of Ironman 70.3 in Panaji after a gap of two years, the first being conducted in 2019 and those men and women who have been training themselves rigorously for the past few months are eagerly waiting to test their endurance on November 13 in an event that will see global participation. TGLife spoke to some of these superhumans about the feel and thrill of the sport
It’s not a competition that you participate in solely to win. It’s more of a game that one plays for the self-testing of his or her own endurance. Ironman’s second edition, to be held on November 13 in Panaji, will be a show of discipline, determination, commitment and time-bound action. Goa’s own players are anxiously looking forward to exhibiting their performance as this is the second edition of Ironman 70.3 Goa, after the first one being held in 2019.
The second edition happening on November 13 in Panaji will be Half Ironman where the participant has to complete 1.9 km swim, 90 km cycling and 21.1 km run, one after the other in a maximum of eight-and-a-half-hours.
One of the world’s toughest endurance tests to measure physical fitness opened its registration on April 22 and around 1300 participants from across India and 33 other countries are in. Ironman 70.3 Goa will also offer qualifying slots for the 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Encouraging more women into the triathlon, the Bengaluru-based digital platform for health and fitness Yoska, which is the strategic partner of Ironman in India, has announced the participation of 20 all-women relay teams this year. In this category three different women would each complete the swim, cycle and run round, combining the results of the trio as one.
But the first-time contestants didn’t imagine that this option would be announced. One of them, Fatima D’Sa, 50, will be doing all three events herself - swimming, cycling and running. “I have been training for the past two years on and off, but rigorously for the last eight months. And let me admit, I am an athlete, representing State at national level, but I had to learn swimming and cycling, once I decided to go for Ironman,” said Fatima, who runs a company in Goa.
Althea Fernandes is also participating in the Ironman for the first time. An athlete, she learnt swimming and cycling during the pandemic and began serious training in November 2021. “I am lucky to be a part of a great group with two coaches to guide us. We have clean seawater to practise. Those in Goa should call themselves blessed because they are getting to practise in the city where the Ironman is happening. Getting acclimated to the weather, to water or roads is not an issue for us. The chances of winning for Goans go up due to these factors. We must put in volumes of effort during the training and prepare ourselves mentally and physically,” opines Althea.
45-year-old Damodar Verlekar, resident of Talaulim village in Curca-Bambolim works in North Goa Collector’s Office but takes time to religiously follow his routine of training. Damodar who has done half and full marathons, and is awarded SR title in endurance cycling, lost his mother on October 31 just few days before the event.
But determined to participate, despite being in sorrow and mourning, Damodar shared, “Ironman is a part of my journey which involves emotions, sacrifice and family time. As my mother was hospitalised, I could not focus on training. It’s hard to get back on track but I feel that my mother’s blessings and family’s support will take me through the event. And I want to tell the world that if you want to achieve something, prepare yourself and just do it, come what may.”
“It’s been a restless wait for me as my training is on, rigorously and relentlessly for the last 30 months. I had registered my name for November 8, 2020 triathlon which didn’t happen due to the pandemic,” says Pramod Divgi, 39, a runner and a cyclist for four years who learnt swimming from zero only to participate in Ironman.
A part of the larger group of cyclists and athletes, Pramod admits, “Swimming in the sea throws bigger challenges at you. The non-stop shaking water, hard-hitting waves, all-time scare of jellyfish, cold temperature, add to it the danger of remaining clueless of direction... all this is absent when one swims in a pool. It’s more cosy and safe, with straight lines below guiding you in direction and there is no crowd around you in the water. Not too many people come your way or dash you, as a safe distance can be maintained. So when I began swimming at Miramar and Bambolim beach, a whole new set of challenges unfolded. But yes, it's a thrill that makes you beat the chill of the water.”
Pramod who gives 12-13 hours weekly for training, has two trainers Indrajit Khadilkar for swimming and Agnelo D’Sa for cycling and running.
Pramod’s wife Nehali Chodnekar, 35 will also be participating in Ironman, however, she will club with a team of two others – Shefali Coulekar and Prutha Prabhudesai. Prutha will swim in the first part, then Shefali will cycle and lastly Nehali will do the running part in the Yoksha part of the event where three women can jointly complete the Ironman challenge, each participating in one feat. A total of 15 teams of women from all over the world will be participating this time, among which are two-three teams from Goa.
Running and cycling are a part of the daily routine for fitness-enthusiast Shefali Coulekar, a mother of two grown-up kids and former lecturer. “I began 10-12 years ago, just for fun, gradually upgrading myself from 10 km run to 21, 42 and then participating in ultra-marathon running for 9 hours. Cycling came with ‘feel good’ factor, starting from 50 km, to 100 km and then 200 km. As a warm-up exercise before the big event next Sunday, I just did a 200 km ride to Honnavar this Sunday (November 6),” shared Shefali beaming with a sweaty smile.
The participants in Goa are being trained by various coaches, Agnelo D’Sa being one of the main trainers and former Ironman contestant. IT professional, Agnelo is part of the organising team at Ironman. Currently, he is training around 18 Goan athletes who will be participating in Ironman. “I give them a plan which they follow. I visit Margao on Wednesdays, while Tuesday and Thursday are to train the Panaji group,” says Agnelo who also trains two athletes from Pune and one from Amsterdam, online apart from children above 18.
