Shastri Boodan
Hot on the heels of his fourth Ironman, Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh said he plans to inspire more people to take up the sport of running. Ramadharsingh, 51, competed in his fourth Ironman event on Sunday in Tempe, Arizona in the United States when he completed the course in a time of 16 hours, 20 minutes, and 40 seconds.
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.2 km) cycle ride and a marathon 26.22 miles (42.2 km) run completed in that order, for a total of 140.6 miles (226.3 km).
It is widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world. Ramadharsingh, a former Minister of Social Development said this was the most gruelling Ironman he contested. He said, “It was very tough, it brought out the grit and intensity of training, it had to be high (training) for one to be able to deliver on that day. It was my first experience with ice-cold water. When I hit the water one side of my face started to get acclimatised but the other side was unwilling to go through that torture and it was only when I warmed up I was able to get bi-lateral on that swim, it was a long swim, in icy water.”
Ramadharsingh, a veterinarian, attorney-at-law and fitness enthusiast, said during the bike ride phase wind storms had hit the area. He said the storm took them frontally in a valley and reduced his speed.
The former chairman of the Siparia Regional Corporation said, “Where you could have been doing 33 Kph you were fighting to make 14 Kph downhill. A lot of brand names, and good Ironmen athletes, some of them dropped out. I was able to stay the game and keep the faith to put in the work.”
Ramadharsingh said he plans to go for his fifth Ironman next year. Before the 2023 event, he completed the 2019 course in Florida, USA 15:54:03, and in 2018 in Cozumel, Mexico his total time was 16:06:52.