Malayali Suresh Sam wins Ironman title on 5 continents, gears up for the sixth

It was in 2018 that Malayali runner Suresh Sam Chandy won his first-ever Ironman triathlon title. It was in Copenhagen, Denmark. Since then, preparing for an Ironman or taking part in one has been part and parcel of the 42-year-old Thiruvananthapuram native's life. In 2023 alone, he won 3 titles in three continents (Asia, North America and Australia) in just 58 days, a feat that's probably not done by any other Indian. And a few days ago, Sam won his fifth Ironman title at Florianopolis, Brazil, adding the continent of South America to the list. Sam, who works in Ernst & Young in Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, tells us what keeps him motivated, the fitness efforts he puts into the feat and more.

Winning even a single Ironman title - which requires one to swim 3.8 km, bike 180 km, and run 42.2 km at a stretch -  is considered a major accomplishment. In such a case, why does he want to 'win one on every continent?' "I like the tough journey it takes to be an Ironman," explains Sam. He elaborates, "I see it as an opportunity to make what's impossible, possible, and I get a high from it. Taking the big decision to participate in one, staying committed in the training, handling the travel and logistics management - all of this while managing a full-time job, needs quite a bit of commitment. I guess I enjoy that," the Ironman says. 

How does he prepare for an Ironman race?
The passionate athlete explains, "After deciding to do an Ironman, I ensure that I dial in the training required for achieving the goal. The biggest challenge is managing training along with a full-time job, especially during the busy season at work, where we sometimes have to work even for 12 hours a day. Managing meetings, calls, and training is quite difficult, but it’s not impossible."

Sam trains with a Russian coach named Valentina Kukurs. "She gives me workouts through an app called 'Training Peaks.' As I do the workouts, they synchronise to the app from my training watch. She can analyse all aspects of it, including my heart rate," Sam explains. He also likes to call himself 'Trivandrum's Own Ironman,' as he has been in the city throughout the triathlon journey. "I use three of the public pools here for swimming, selecting each at your convenience each day. I also run in the stadiums here," he says. Sam's bike workouts are indoors, on his indoor bike trainer. 

Ask him how anyone aspiring to be an Ironman should prepare, and he says, "It’s more of a mental challenge than physical. The first and foremost is an intense desire to be an Ironman. If that goal is very clear, rest falls in place." While you need to swim, bike and run, Sam observes that being a good swimmer is an added advantage."The open ocean can be challenging in different parts of the world and you will have to battle it. Swimming also increases your core strength which is much required to endure the whole race," he explains. 

Preparing without a support system
Family support is an extremely important factor for those preparing for events like Ironman. However, it's another story for Sam, whose world is just him and his mom. His dad, Adv Sam Oommen, who was the former MLA of Punalur, passed away when Sam was two years old. "Ever since, it's just me and my mom, Adv Susan Oommen. I have been helming family affairs from a very young age and if you ask me, I would call it my biggest Ironman challenge, as we never had any support from my family's paternal or maternal sides." Surprisingly, his mother still has no idea of his 'Ironman adventures'. "I don't want her to worry over me swimming in unknown waters or travelling to new places. Moreover, it's a thrill that I'm gearing up for these events without any emotional support," says the triathlete, who is also a motivational speaker. He also helms a trekking group named ITREK, which has more than 450 members across India. 

The upcoming final race
His sixth Ironman race will be in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 2026. "It’s also known as Windy City," says Sam, explaining, "The ocean and the weather there are also quite a challenge. The water temperature can drop to 17 degrees at times, and the sea is very choppy. We can’t simulate that kind of environment in India. It’s a windy, rolling bike course, too." How would he handle it? "I should be super-trained to beat these odds. Getting there early and doing some practice swims should help to get acclimatised to the conditions there," he explains. Interestingly, even the continent of Antarctica now has an Ironman-style race called Iceman. Any thoughts on attempting it? "Well, I wish to live more," the Ironman quips with a laugh. But who knows? After all, the Ironman tagline is 'Anything is Possible.'