Why I went from NHS doctor to professional triathlete and back again Oncology and Ironman may seem poles apart, but when you delve further they are remarkably complementary
In theory, racing an Ironman triathlon and working as an oncology doctor are worlds apart. I became a professional triathlete by accident, after entering my first Ironman as a drunken dare when a long-term relationship ended. A one-off challenge became an ever more all-encompassing hobby when I started a research PhD. Without the job satisfaction from seeing patients, triathlon became a way of validating my days. I started to train rather than exercise and gradually got quicker. Eventually I went part time at work and when I finally finished my PhD, I had a two-and-a-half year sabbatical to race and train around the world as a full-time triathlete. Six months ago, after nearly eight years away, I returned to my clinical job as an oncologist.
When I was planning my sabbatical, I told my bosses I thought being a professional athlete would make me a better doctor. If I’m honest I thought these may be empty words, yet with time this became the truth. Every race teaches you something about yourself. You learn how much you can suffer. You face up to failure. You discover how much you want to get the best out of yourself. But it can be tougher than most might imagine. Day in, day out, you have to push yourself, motivate yourself and drive yourself. If you don’t do the work nobody will do it for you. And when injury strikes, you can’t help but question whether all the hard work is worthwhile. Life as a professional athlete is immense, intense, exhausting, exhilarating, exciting, tedious, daunting and at times absolutely incredible.
Ironman is about suffering for nine to 10 hours. Cancer is about suffering for much longer Continue reading... The Guardian
In theory, racing an Ironman triathlon and working as an oncology doctor are worlds apart. I became a professional triathlete by accident, after entering my first Ironman as a drunken dare when a long-term relationship ended. A one-off challenge became an ever more all-encompassing hobby when I started a research PhD. Without the job satisfaction from seeing patients, triathlon became a way of validating my days. I started to train rather than exercise and gradually got quicker. Eventually I went part time at work and when I finally finished my PhD, I had a two-and-a-half year sabbatical to race and train around the world as a full-time triathlete. Six months ago, after nearly eight years away, I returned to my clinical job as an oncologist.
When I was planning my sabbatical, I told my bosses I thought being a professional athlete would make me a better doctor. If I’m honest I thought these may be empty words, yet with time this became the truth. Every race teaches you something about yourself. You learn how much you can suffer. You face up to failure. You discover how much you want to get the best out of yourself. But it can be tougher than most might imagine. Day in, day out, you have to push yourself, motivate yourself and drive yourself. If you don’t do the work nobody will do it for you. And when injury strikes, you can’t help but question whether all the hard work is worthwhile. Life as a professional athlete is immense, intense, exhausting, exhilarating, exciting, tedious, daunting and at times absolutely incredible.
Ironman is about suffering for nine to 10 hours. Cancer is about suffering for much longer Continue reading... The Guardian
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