2 Ironman?? Why everyday people put themselves through hell.

I didn't just wake up one day and decide to do an Ironman.  My journey to that decision was a more subtle and slow evolution that began in my late twenties.  I was your stereotypical office worker.  A few kilos overweight, mainly sedentary, drinking a lot and smoking too.  I felt heavy, slow and uncomfortable.  One day I realised that I had man boobs and my disgust at the state of my body was the initial spark that led to the burning passion that I now have for endurance sports.  I began to focus on getting myself healthy, losing weight, getting active, and starting to participate in a more active lifestyle. I initially focused on getting fitter, but as I got faster and stronger, I began to set more lofty goals for myself.  It was hard work, I lost my way several times, but I feel that I'm on the right track to achieve my eventual goal of becoming an Ironman.

The 2013 Melbourne Ironman event recently sold out completely in five minutes.  This is a striking demonstration of the growing popularity of endurance sports, all the more surprising because the bulk of the entrants are "middle-aged" people in their thirties and forties.  A very high percentage of these entrants are drawn from the ranks of the professional world.  Accountants, lawyers, doctors and other corporate high flyers are flocking to endurance events in unprecedented numbers.

But why are we seeing so many professionals, long regarded as desk bound softies, putting themselves through the intense preparation required to race these extreme events?  I have a theory that it comes down to our basic, primal need to compete.  To test ones strength and endurance against that of others, or in most cases in Triathlon and other endurance events, against oneself.  I think that most of the people that I race against probably have that same voice in their head asking "Are you tough enough?".  The ability to answer that most basic of internal questions is what drives me to train hard, put myself through pain, early mornings and long hours on the road.  When people ask me why, I usually just answer "because I want to know if I can".

I'm often accused of being overly competitive, and truth be told, it's probably true.  I like winning, and I can't stand not being good at something.  When it comes to Triathlon however, or even long distance running, I don't really care where I place, as long as I know that I gave 100% the entire race.  I'm usually more concerned with beating a previous best time, than with trying to get on the podium (which realistically is never going to happen).

When I speak with other people that race endurance events, the themes are fairly constant.  They want to challenge themselves, to "push their limits", to be the best that they can possibly be.  The office environment is so structured, safe and free of physical challenge, that there seems to be a swing back towards a lifestyle where people are more in touch with their physicality.  It's OK to sweat, to hurt and to push yourself.  I think that's one of the main attractions for me, and for many others.  When you train hard, and compete, you feel electrified, alive and energised.  You're in the outdoors, surrounded by other similarily masochistic people, finding out exactly what "you're made of".  I know that when I am running into the finishing line of a race, where I've given my all, there's almost no other place I'd rather be.