"‘You are an Ironman,’ were the first words I heard on crossing the finishing line for the world`s toughest, single day endurance sport on August 17, 2019, at Kalmar, Sweden,” recalls Delhiite Adil Nargolwala. "The Ironman medal and success is the best feeling I can ever get. It is a certification of what one has become. This ultimate honor has stamped me as special, forever,” adds the ace marathoner.
Nargolwala prides himself as being the only Parsi Zoroastrian from India to succeed in this arduous challenge that saw 3,000 competitors from 60 countries. The Ironman challenge involves swimming 3.8 km, cycling for 180 km, and running a 42.2 km marathon within 16 hours in a single day. "I did the event in 14.2 hours for which I had trained rigorously,” he exults.
"On the day of the competition, I was the only bare-chested swimmer in the 18° celsius cold water. The 180 km non-stop, bike ride along the Swedish coastline had me battling strong winds. The marathon run veered through Kalmar town, immediately thereafter. This mental and physical challenge needs a tough mind and endurance to last,” he cautions.
Clockwise from above right: Adil Nargolwala swimming, cycling and running the
marathon to complete the Ironman challenge
Nargolwala began preparing for this ultimate endurance challenge in earnest in December 2018. He followed a rigorous diet and training schedule, monitored by his team comprising a gym trainer, triathlon coach and physiotherapist. The determined athlete would daily wake up at 3.30 a.m. (to combat Delhi’s intense heat) for long cycle rides followed by swimming sessions and runs/workouts till 9.30 a.m. Appreciating the support of his wife Rinchen, and sons Jahan and Shaun along this journey, Adil mentions, "For 11 months my family changed their lifestyle to help me concentrate on my training discipline.” As a run-up to the final Kalmar event, Adil had completed the Ironman 70.3 event in July 2019 in Kazakhstan.
Whilst adhering to his training regimen, he would attend his office in Gurgaon as well as travel extensively as required by his job as the global head of talent acquisition at WNS Global Services, a multinational business process management company. He also plays an active role in the affairs of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman, serving as its vice president. His late father Shiavax was its president. "Old age comes fastest to those who wait. I began my 50th year with a party for winning the Ironman title,” he reveals. The adrenaline rush for this sportsman continues to propel him towards new challenges and glory!