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An Ironman is perhaps the most difficult endurance event on the planet, combining a swimming of 2.4 miles, a 112-thousand bike ride and a 26.2-mile running. Does that seem difficult? Imagine now that you do it without your legs.
This is exactly what Billy Monger is about to do this weekend, while he tries to finish the Kona Ironman in favor of Comic Relief-in order to finish it in a world record time for a double amputee .
The life of the former Formula 4 pilot changed forever in April 2017 when it was involved in one of the most horrible accidents in British motorsport, which led to amputation of both legs. Today, 25, Monger explained how much his training approach had become different since the accident.
Pain due to prostheses
“Most people can simply put on a pair of sneakers and go out run. I don’t have this luxury,” said Monger, now a presenter on Channel 4. Telegraph Sport. “I put tailor -made prostheses made specially for me, and if they do not adjust properly, it has a serious impact on my body and it can take weeks to recover from a simple race.
“As a double amputated, the orbits are molded around our legs. So when I gain muscle in an area, the pitfall can become tense, which is incredibly painful. Likewise, when I lose fat in a certain area, the alveole stands out and begins to rub and creates wounds.
In preparation for the next race, Monger participated in the Weymouth Ironman, which consisted of a 1.9 km coastal swimming, followed by a 90 km bike ride and ended with a 21.1 km running.
He finished the race in an impressive 6 hour, 41 -minute and 41 seconds, despite the intense pain caused by his loose prostheses.
“Swimming and cycling really did me good, then I started running and for about 10 kilometers my orbits had started to relax and I had a lot of bruises and swellings in the leg the next day . I then resumed training directly, which was uncomfortable, but I had to hold my teeth and continue.
Adjustment of the training regime
Monger intended to become Formula 1 pilot from an early age, with his father, a former Kart pilot, who bought his first pedal kart at him at the age of six.
He then excelled as a junior pilot and became one of the greatest talents in British piloting, winning three podiums in his first F4 season.
Since his accident, he said he had to radically change his way of training.
“Before my accident, I did short and high intensity training sessions, which I adored because as a racing driver, I have little patience. But now I just can’t do that anymore.
“I have been training 20 hours a week for over a year, which is longer than most people, but it is simply because it takes a lot more time to recover from the exercise.
“If I had to run for example 5 km as quickly as possible, I could not train for the rest of the week. So I had to adapt to longer and less intense sessions to be able to compete.
“It competes with the ascent of Everest”
This Saturday, Monger, based in Surrey, will participate in the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, in Hawaii, in order to become the youngest amputee to complete the course.
Monger explained that the Hawaiian event is considered one of the most difficult endurance challenges on the planet, due to intense humidity, agitated sea waters, exposure to side winds and An extremely hilly course.
“Training for an Ironman is difficult, but training for Kona Ironman is very difficult. This is considered the most difficult endurance challenge on the planet, competing with the ascent of Mont Everest, “explains Monger.
All the benefits of the Monger race will be donated to Comic Relief, for which he collected 3 million pounds sterling in 2021 when he finished the Bigly Big Challenge – after having bicycle and kayaking through the United Kingdom.
Monger says that his passion for the cause will allow him to continue on the day of the race, adding: “When the pain becomes intense, I find it important to remember that I do this to help others and show them that you are capable of everything , whatever happens. It happened to you.
