Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officers Rahul Patil and Shreyas Hosur achieved remarkable milestones at the prestigious IRONMAN Triathlon event held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Rahul Patil, a 2012 batch IRAS officer currently posted as Senior Divisional Finance Manager (DFM) in Pune, displayed his determination and commitment as he successfully completed the IRONMAN 70.3 event. The competition, which comprised a gruelling 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike ride, and a challenging 21.1 km run, saw Mr. Patil cross the finish line with an impressive timing of 6 hours and 59 minutes.
JOURNEY TO FITNESS
Mr. Patil’s journey to IRONMAN began with his aspiration to get fit and shed weight five years ago. Battling the challenges of maintaining a balanced diet while being a self-proclaimed foodie, he took up cycling initially and later ventured into running and swimming. His gradual progress and dedication led him to his first IRONMAN event in Kolhapur in October 2022, where he completed the race in 8 hours.
From there, his dream of participating in international IRONMAN competitions took flight, culminating in his remarkable achievement in Astana. “I then came in contact with Baramati Sports Foundation (BSF) and the coach himself is three-time IRONMAN. He along with my personal coach of Shiv Spirit motivated us a lot to participate in the Astana event,” Mr. Patil shared.
He further said that he is thrilled to have achieved this milestone and represent India on an international platform, feeling extremely proud as he carried the Indian flag to the finish line. Looking forward, Mr. Patil aims to attempt a full IRONMAN event next year and other Ultra Marathons, with the aspiration of participating in Comrades Marathon in South Africa in June 2024.
BALANCING WORK & TRAINING
The officer and his wife are government servants and have two kids, so time management was important. To balance work and training, Mr. Patil preferred morning hours for running and cycling and one hour evening for swimming. “Everything happened well because of the family support and my determination,” he said. He further said that he tried to execute the training plan perfectly but could follow about 80-90% of the schedule. “Nevertheless, I’m satisfied with my result, though I could have done better. But, considering my work-life balance, I’ve done quite well.”
Seeing such an impressive achievement of Mr. Patil, his colleagues are quite motivated and they now want Mr. Patil to guide them on fitness and endurance sports.
FULL IRONMAN
Meanwhile, IRAS officer Shreyas Hosur, from the 2011 batch, pushed himself to the limit as he completed the more challenging IRONMAN 140.6 event in Astana. This event involved an arduous 3.8 km swim, a formidable 180 km bike ride, and an intense 42.2 km run. Mr. Hosur’s dedication and passion for the sport paid off as he completed the gruelling race in an impressive time of 15 hours and 35 minutes.
“I truly believe that work comes first, and this achievement was personal, for my own recreation and challenge,” said Mr. Hosur, emphasizing his passion for his civil service work alongside his commitment to sports. Despite feeling under the weather on the day before the event, Mr. Hosur’s never-say-die spirit drove him to the finish line.
He said that a lot of effort goes into it, and people usually look at the physical endurance or the timing but do not see the 1300 or 1400 hours of training that has gone behind the achievement. “The entire family has come together to make this happen,” Mr. Hosur said.
SPECIAL MENTION
Lauding IRAS officer Patil, Mr. Hosur said that the latter not only completed his race but also demonstrated true sportsmanship by staying back to support fellow athletes who were completing full IRONMAN.
“He could have easily left after finishing his own race without anyone questioning him, but instead, he chose to motivate and cheer on his fellow athletes, including me,” Mr. Hosur said.
In addition to his personal efforts, Mr. Hosur’s wife Divya, also a civil servant serving as an IDAS officer, played a crucial role in his success. Despite the demanding nature of her own job, she stood firmly by his side, ensuring that he was well prepared to tackle the IRONMAN challenge. “I wouldn’t have accomplished this without her,” he expressed gratefully.
The success of both the officers in the Astana IRONMAN event serves as an inspiration for their colleagues and the public alike. Their achievements underline the importance of determination, systematic training, and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
