Give Back, Get Ahead

When a group of students set out to train for their first full Ironman triathlon, turning it into a charity fundraising project seemed to be the right thing to do.

- Lester Tan and Chew Yiheng

In January 2019, a bold plan was formed by a group of graduating varsity athletes in Singapore. Drawing from their passion for competitive multisport, the young guns resolved to take on the greatest event in endurance multisport: the IRONMAN triathlon. With minimal resources but plenty of determination, the athletes organised themselves with Ironman in mind. Project founders Lester Tan and Chew Yiheng tell us the story.

The Birth of IRON PROJECT The race that we decided to attempt would be the IRONMAN Langkawi. Renowned for its scorching weather and equally hot post-race barbeque, Ironman Langkawi represented the perfect balance of pain and pleasure. With Langkawi seared into their consciousness, the athletes reaffirmed their commitment with the original Ironman exhortation from 1978 – “Swim 2.4 miles! Cycle 112 miles! Run 26 miles! Brag for the rest of your life!”

In metric units, this translated to 3.86km in the water, 180km on a bicycle, and a 42km full marathon. One team, one dream; IRON PROJECT was born.

Immense dedication is required to prepare for an Ironman. Doubly so if one aims for a competitive time. The early morning shenanigans, midday sessions and evening grinds demand unyielding determination. The alarm clock quickly becomes the physical embodiment of a love-hate relationship.