By Kaustabh Datta Choudhury
There’s something quietly unexplainable about chasing the Ironman 70.3 dream. It’s not
just a race. It’s not just a badge. It’s not even the finish line. It’s the fire that starts when no one is watching—the early morning swims, the wind-swept rides, the long, lonely runs— and the unrelenting belief that somehow, in this chaos of pain and purpose, you’ll find something that feels like you.
This is not just the story of a race. It’s the story of becoming.
What is Ironman—and Why Do We Do It?
An Ironman 70.3 triathlon is a monumental test of endurance: 1.9 km of open water
swimming, 90 km of cycling, and 21.1 km of running.
All in one day. All under a strict time cut-off. All powered by nothing more than heart, legs, and the stubborn refusal to quit.
There are shorter triathlons—sprint & standard distances —but Ironman 70.3 stands apart.
It’s a test of mind more than muscle, a pilgrimage for those who find sanity in suffering.
Why I Chose to Chase Ironman
Someone once asked me, “Why do you race?”
The answer is less about the race day itself and more about the quiet, invisible days leading up to it. I usually train first thing in the morning, and that single decision sets the tone for the rest of my day. It gives me clarity. It gives me discipline. It gives me daily victories before most of the world even wakes up.
As with everything in life, things not practiced are easily forgotten. And training is my way of practicing discipline, commitment, and resilience. Seeing the mind and body transform— bit by bit—is a reward in itself.
So, why do I race?
To celebrate the lifestyle I’ve built.
Which is why, post-race, you’ll usually find me salt-soaked, fatigued... but smiling.
Training: The Making of a Different You
Training for an Ironman 70.3 isn’t loud and nor is it glamorous. There are no applause tracks on your 5 AM ride. No audience when you swim lap after lap in an empty pool. No medals when you run, even though your legs scream for rest.
It’s silent repetition. It’s the art of showing up—every single day—regardless of how you
feel. Coach Sridhar and Coach Nisha had designed a plan that wasn’t just about numbers, it was about understanding myself. What I could endure, where I could grow, when to rest, and when to push.
Somewhere along the way, I lost a significant amount of body fat—but not body weight. I gained speed. I gained strength. And more than anything, I gained belief.
Time trials stood as:
• Swim: 1.9 km in 41:06 (pool swim, Zone 1 HR, pace: 2:09/100m)
• Bike: 90.4 km in 2:59:52 (wind-adjusted pace: 29.9 kmph at Zone 2 HR)
• Run: 21.1 km (grade-adjusted pace: 6:22/km at Zone 2 HR)
And with that, the training block came to a close. Now, it was time to travel. To execute. And to trust the training.
Nutrition: The Definite Discipline
Nutrition isn’t just gels and salts. It’s a strategy. It’s survival.
During training, I practiced multiple dosages of caloric intake over months. Gels every 30 minutes. Electrolytes. Salts. Carb loading. All tested. All trusted.
Nutrition was more than fuel—it was the thin line between pushing through and pulling
out. I practiced, refined, and internalized the process. So when race day arrived, there was no guesswork—only rhythm.
Ironman 70.3 Westfriesland: The Day It All Came Together
It’s been about 365 days since I first stepped into triathlon. And this moment—this race was the culmination of every early morning, every skipped party, every sore muscle, and every ounce of belief I had nurtured.
Swim. Bike. Run 115 km.
The final words: “Kaustabh, you are now an Ironman 70.3 finisher ”
The Swim
The cold was my biggest fear. Two days before race day, I swam in the ocean to test the waters. The cold cut deep, and I cramped from the diaphragm. I panicked. On race day, I deliberately walked to transition early, without warm clothes—exposing
myself to the dew and wind to acclimatise. When we finally dove into the water... it felt just right.
We started in the Hoorn harbour, then swam out into the sea before circling back. The sun was blinding on the return leg, but knowing bilateral breathing saved me. The exit was a bit dicey—I tripped twice. But I picked myself up. And the bike leg began.
The Bike
A single 92 km loop through the beautiful Dutch countryside. The scenery was stunning, the weather kind, but the course itself? Deceptive.
Headwinds sliced through the air. Sharp turns kept you alert. It was a test of pacing and
patience. And it was beautiful. Truly.
The Run
Always the hardest part. By now, the sun was blazing. My legs were fatigued from the kick of the swim and the churn of the bike. But I had practiced this pain.
I started steadily. Pacing was key. I used every aid station—for hydration, nutrition, and
sometimes, just to throw water over myself and cool my body.
My heart rate stayed in check. My mind, however, wandered into the pain cave. But I didn’t let it win.
Running is my weakest sport. But in that moment, it didn’t matter. The last few hundred meters were the toughest. The body wanted to stop. The mind had to negotiate with pain. And then... the finish line.
I had conquered 21.1 km on foot and 115 km overall. I had completed my first Ironman
70.3.
What I Learned
You are stronger than your excuses.
You are tougher than your weakest link.
You can’t control the wind, the water, or the heat. But you can always control your will.
Ironman 70.3 doesn’t change you on race day.
It changes you in every training session you almost skipped and didn’t.
A deep thanks to Coach Sridhar Venkataraman for being the architect of my training
blueprint, and to Coach Nisha Millet, who gave me confidence and strength in the water. Their guidance was instrumental in making this journey possible.
To the Ones Who Dream of Ironman
To the beginner reading this:
You don’t need to be fast. You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to start.
To the experienced triathlete:
You already know—it’s never just about the race.
To everyone else:
Ironman 70.3 is not about crossing a line.
It’s about becoming someone who never needed one to begin with.
And as Tony Stark once said:
“You can take away my tricks and toys, but one thing you cannot take away—I am Iron Man.”
Let’s keep chasing that better version of ourselves.
One stroke, one pedal, one step at a time.
See you at the finish line.
