Meet Dr Sreedevi Warrier from Thiruvananthapuram who aced the Ironman 70.3 challenge in Goa

Dr Sreedevi Warrier has been asthmatic since childhood, water has always scared her and by the time she reached her 30s she was on strong medication for severe knee pain. Also, she had her hands full as a palliative care health professional and as a wife and mother of two school-going children.

But two years ago she turned a new leaf and eventually pushed herself to take up a challenge that tested her endurance and will power. And on November 9, she aced Ironman 70.3, a long distance triathlon organised by World Triathlon Corporation in Goa. The event has back-to-back 1.9-kilometre swim, 90-kilometre cycling and 21.1-kilometre run, which has to be completed in eight-and-a-half hours. She finished it in seven hours 48 minutes.

Dr Sreedevi Warrier at Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Goa
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“I have not been into any kind of sport until my late 30s. My only physical activity has been learning Kathakali and Mohiniyattam from childhood. As I was nearing my 40s, I felt that I should do something to keep myself active because I was entering perimenopause. I didn’t want to gain weight which would have escalated my knee pain,” says Dr Sreedevi, who heads Education and Skill Building at Pallium India, an NGO providing palliative care across India.

She decided to take up running and started out with strengthening exercises. “I wanted to take part in the 10-kilometre run in Kerala Olympic Marathon. Encouragement and guidance came from Raj Kalady, an experienced runner and cyclist. But the problem was that I could not run even 100 metres because of my asthma. However, I didn’t give up and eventually I completed the run.”

Dr Sreedevi Warrier
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Even though she had no plans to continue running after the event that was not meant to be. “When you prepare for such events a discipline sets in. I started enjoying my routine and the quality time I had for myself during the morning run, as I watched the world go by. Surprisingly my knee pain had subsided and my weight was also under control.”

Soon she joined ITEN Runners’ Club, a running community in Thiruvananthapuram. “Although I was a beginner, they took me under their wings. Meeting women of all age groups enthused and encouraged me. The time I spent with them and the conversations we had made a lot of difference in my life and day-to-day activities. I could control my temper and there was more clarity in my thought process and decision making.” After that she took up cycling, an activity she was “crazy about since childhood”. By the sixth ride, she covered 100 kilometres.

By then her eyes was on taking part in Ironman triathlon and swimming was the next stage. “But the catch was that I have always been scared of water. Even in my 30s, I used to carry a bucket and mug to take bath in the pond at my native place because I was frightened to put my head under water.” Nevertheless she joined swimming classes. “I had to get over my fear. So I attended the class regularly and became confident gradually. It took a lot of mental strength and when I had to overcome fear of depths, I did an advanced course in diving.”

Dr Sreedevi Warrier at Ironman 70.3 in Goa
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

As Ironman had open water swimming, she had to train for that as well. Since the sea is always rough in Thiruvananthapuram, she took classes on Puthuvype beach in Kochi with Dolphin Sea Swimmers club. “I would take the train from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam, swam once and return by the next train.”

She stuck to a routine for eight months, and had intense training in the last two months prior to Ironman. “This meant getting up at four in the morning daily. I had to keep everything ready for my children before my swimming sessions started at 5am, followed by running or cycling. Once I am home, I had only enough time to get ready for my job. Thanks to my routine, my children became self-sufficient. They would get up on their own and manage their schedule. I used to keep notes with instructions if needed.” Sreedevi cannot thank enough her husband and in-laws who stood by her.

Her training used to be interrupted when she had to travel to other States as part of her job. “However, I ensured that I didn’t compromise on running even though I couldn’t swim or cycle during that time.”

Dr Sreedevi Warrier at Ironman 70.3 in Goa
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

She remembers how she went into panic mode on the eve of the big day. “I was worried about so many things. That was when my son sent the photo of the medal I received after my first 10-kilometre run with a message, ‘This is where it all started, remember.’ That’s when I realised how far I have come and decided let me do it for my children. And I did it. Only that at the end of each event, I was so overwhelmed that I broke down! It is also special because as far as I know there are hardly any women from Kerala who completed the triathlon in this age category [40-44].”

What next? “I had taken a break from my dance classes. I will restart it and will be performing Kathakali with my children in January.”