"Tritheos is an experience and a triumph of grit, determination and strength, mental and physical,” states Poona based Ayesha Bharucha who participated in the Tritheos Pune Triathlon (sprint category) and earned a podium finish as second runner up in the women’s open event. Among the 51 male and female participants who were required to do 750 m lake water swim, 20 km cycling and five km running at the event in Poona organized by Athletic Initiatives on November 6, 2016, 30-year-old Bharucha’s overall ranking was 26th, clocking 2:28:26, she shared her success story with Parsiana.
Buoyed by this accomplishment, she chose to compete in the Goa Triathlon on February 12, 2017, not in the sprint category but in the Olympic category where she was required to complete twice the distances of the sprint category. She thus undertook 1.5 km of open sea swimming, 40 km of cycling and 10 km running, one after the other, clocking 4 hours 4 minutes, she reveals.
Reaching the venue two days prior to the event, she did "some sea swim practice, route checking and adding final touches to my bike.” On Race Day, she described her swim as "decent.” Cycling, that involved a steep climb in warm and humid conditions, left her "partially exhausted.” Then proceeding with her 10 km run she had to douse herself with water "for external cooling. The final turn leading downhill to the finishing line brought back the energy for a strong finish,” she narrated her experience of competing with 31 female athletes, many of whom were from overseas. "At the finish line there is so much more to take back with you. I bring back the determination to learn more and be stronger every day,” asserted Bharucha.
Ayesha Bharucha with Atul Godbole
Ayesha Bharucha engaged in cycling, waterfall rappelling and blindfold run
"It was a structured and rigorous training leading up to the event with its own share of challenges,” revealed Bharucha keeping in mind the one-liner from her coach Atul Godbole, founder of Motiv8 Coaching and recognized as the ‘Ironman and Comrades Finisher’: "focus on factors which you can control.” She also acknowledged the guidance she received from Meher Irani who is in charge of Poona’s Parsi Gymkhana Swimming Pool. "I had friends who set their alarms for 4 a.m. to support and join me on my practice ride/run,” she appreciated.
A skin therapist by profession, Bharucha devotes nearly two hours a day for training, five or six days a week. Besides appropriate sportswear like a Tri suit recommended for triathletes, she had to invest in a good GPS Tri watch and a bike that needs to be upgraded depending on one’s progress as a triathlete. In addition to paying for her training, she has to allow for recurring expenses on shoes, event registration, traveling, transport of her bike and a high protein diet. "There are various energy gels for instant nutrition during the race along with salt tabs to avoid dehydration in case of humid conditions,” she explained. "I try to fit things into a budget commensurate with my job,” said Ayesha appreciating the support from family that includes father Minoo, who after retirement pursues his passion of overhauling vintage cars, mother Meher who is a beautician and hairstylist, and brother Ashdin, an engineer by profession.
"Running has made me strong. It has helped me turn my life around,” conveyed the athlete who took to the sport at the age of 28 in 2014 when she was "going through a bad phase in my life and running helped me to fight against negativity, depression and gave an overall boost to my morale.” She registered for her first five kilometer run in the Puma Urban Stampede and stood third. This served as an impetus to continue by winning another podium finish in the Puma Urban Stampede 2015, 10 km run. She also got involved in trekking, rappelling and long distance cycling events.
"It is an overwhelming feeling when athletes, friends, acquaintances tell me how I have inspired them in many ways,” stated Ayesha. When Parsiana was exchanging the last few emails with the triathlete on February 22, she was already on her way to participate in the next event in Dubai when once again she will be competing in the individual Olympic category.
Written and compiled by Parinaz Gandhi