Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh has successfully completed his fifth Ironman Triathlon on Saturday 23rd November at Conzumel in Mexico. “Why a fifth triathlon?” I asked. He responded: “Two things I always wanted to accomplish-one, to study law and the second, to finish the Ironman Triathlon.” Glenn has accomplished those goals and now continues “to motivate and inspire the common man and woman.”
The Ironman Triathlon is the most grueling sporting event in the world. It combines swimming 3.8 km, cycling 180km and running 42km, a full marathon and the athletes are given less than 18 hours to complete the event.
Glenn’s entry into the sporting arena was motivated by his father who was a keen sportsman. “My father loved wrestling and boxing and pushed me into boxing at a very early age. I competed in several bouts at ages 14 and 15 with opponents much heavier than I.”
“Boxing is too dangerous,” an aunt who was a nurse warned. She had experienced first hand the injuries suffered and advised that “Glenn must focus his energies on his studies.”
After serving as a government minister Glenn was encouraged by friends to find something meaningful to do. After searching his mind, Glenn realized that he wanted to finish his law studies and the second was to complete the Ironman.
“Shastri Sankar guided me in swimming. I began at the Petrotrin pool. Sankar trained me for the Maracas Open and the big one was the 4km swim from St Kits to Nevis. That took me 3 hrs. and 43 mins. Now I am doing a 4km swim in less than 2 hrs.”
Knowing the value of physical activity, Glenn took the initiative as Chair of Siparia Regional Corporation to organize a mini Triathlon. “This was well attended with participants from across the country,” said Glenn.
Training for a triathlon begins eight months before the event. It entails swimming for 2 km at least four times per week and biking for 3 hrs. at least 3 times per week.
Glenn has several coaches to meet his different needs and skills. “My coaches are among the best and they come with some cost,” said Glenn and added, “However, being in the medical profession I have been able to manage my nutritional requirements.”
A doctor in veterinary medicine with more than twenty years experience, Glenn is also a practicing lawyer and a politician. “I am looking forward to contesting a seat for the UNC in the next General Elections,” he revealed.
Glenn plans to complete ten Ironman before retiring. “ As the number of Ironman accomplishments increases, the number of athletes decreases and “at completing ten Ironman there was one Japanese man standing alone. I want to be there.”
Learning that Glenn is 52, I asked: “Do you get medical clearance from your doctor before entering the Ironman? “No, I get clearance from a vet,” he responded, watching me with a broad grin on his face. “ You are joking,” I said. “You need to have a medical clearance from a doctor.”
“ I get medical clearance from a vet because I am a horse,” he underlined and added: “When you are entering the Ironman you have to be more than a man, you have to be a lion. Now I see myself as a jaguar because I have to combine strength with speed.”
Living in a social environment like Trinidad and accomplishing this feat is no small accomplishment. He said that “both Trinidad and Australia are islands but in the latter 60 percent of the population can swim 500 meters while in our country it is a mere 4 percent.”
Glenn lamented that not much is being done to promote fitness and health in the country. “We need dedicated pathways for cycling, more swimming pools and a culture of health and fitness.”
“I am motivated by the many people who came up to me and say ‘you are my inspiration.’ I was in Bahrain and a Trinidadian employed as an engineer in the oil industry came up to me and asked: ‘When is your next event? I follow you on social media. You are my inspiration.’”
In a time when I despair at the social degeneration of our society, Glenn’s athletic prowess is a symbol of hope. A victim of hypertension with a family history of heart diseases, Glenn concluded “I want to enjoy life, cherish my family and friends and serve my country.”
