Arun Krishnan is an Ironman’, boomed the loudspeaker as the 67 year-old Chennai-based businessman crossed the finish line at the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship in Cairns, Australia, this June. Only those who complete the race in the given time can wear the crown.

Here’s what it takes: Swim 3.8 km, cycle 180 km and run 42.2 km, all within 16 hours and 30 minutes. “I completed this triathlon in 16 hours, 27 minutes and 35 seconds,” beams Krishnan. “I just scraped through.” He confesses that although his hotel was just 200 m from the finish line, he simply collapsed into the arms of his waiting wife Nandita at the end of the challenge and limped into the hotel.

The championship is one of the most challenging day-long sporting events in the world. Recalling his feat, our triath-lete says that the sea was rough and the waves swelled 2-m high. In the cycling leg of the race, his bicycle started to make clanging noises after 30 km. “For the next 150 km, I had to ride with caution and ensure I made it to the finish. If it broke down, I would not have qualified.” With over 1,500 participants, Krishnan says the locals were great, cheering them all along the scenic town. “The oldest participant was an 83 year-old Japanese who, unfortunately, was not able to complete the challenge.”

Krishnan participated in his first triathlon as recently as in 2013, the Half Iron Man in Austria, but he ran his first marathon in Pune in 1987. “I’ve always been into marathons. With constant running, there is intensive wear and tear on the joints. I was slowing down so I decided to try swimming and cycling as they are low-impact sports.”

It’s got to be the craziest way to ‘slow down’, that too for a 67 year-old! Krishnan trained six months for the event, amazingly without a personal trainer, relying only on online training modules. “I have been running marathons from the age of 38 in India, the US, Japan and Germany. However, I started cycling regularly only because of the triathlon,” he says, adding that he swims three times a week and had to ramp it up for the competition.

The punishing nature of the event demands as much determination as discipline; it also builds character, Krishnan points out. “This sport teaches you to never give up. A lesson I’ve learnt is that you win just by showing up.” Training like this automatically transforms one’s lifestyle. “You retire to bed early as you are motivated to wake up early to practice. People who drink and smoke have cut down or given it up altogether,” says this vegetarian.

Krishnan does not advise all silvers to take up running but says a brisk half-hour walk every day is mandatory for a healthy life. And, with the advice of a doctor, he believes all silvers can consider cycling and swimming. “In 2011, my knees were completely worn out and my doctor even advised against climbing the stairs. A couple of months after that, I ran the Chicago marathon,” he grins.

Being a member of the Chennai Runners, who organise the Chennai Marathon annually, Krishnan says the team has devised a programme called ‘10 Weeks to 10k’ to help people train for marathons. “The module even includes how to walk efficiently, without too much effort,” he reveals. In the process of setting up a gym to help people complete triathlons, Krishnan says he is yet to set his sights on his next run although he has a long-term goal that he cherishes. “I am looking forward to the day when I can start and finish a triathlon with my granddaughter,” he says, quickly adding that she is only two years old right now!

—Jayanthi Somasundaram

Photograph by Chennai Pix
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
October 2016