Dubai: Ironman Scott Ragsdale conquered day five of his naseba-seven challenge across the Northern Emirate of Sharjah in 13 hours and 56 minutes Tuesday.
He plodded through his fifth day of the challenge despite a lack of sleep and severe pains in his legs determined to reach the finish line in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
“Day five started great, I had a great swim because the water was mostly flat, the bike was fun and then it’s an easy course around University City,” he said.
Really good bike
“I had a really good bike for the first 90 minutes and then got so tired I had a difficult time staying awake.”
The Ironman Triathlon is organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and consists of a 3.86 km swim, 180.25 km of cycling and a 42.195 km marathon run.
Ragsdale decided to endure seven Ironman triathlons across each of the UAE’s emirates in celebration of the UAE’s 40th national day and his 40th birthday.
He is officially endorsed by the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and supported by the Abu Dhabi Municipality and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
The idea behind Ragsdale's Naseba-Seven challenge is to inspire the people around him and the UAE community at large into improving their lifestyles, through leadership by example.
"There are lots of average people out there doing exceptional things,” he said to Gulf News months before the challenge.
'Nobody special'
“I am nobody special, trying to do something physically special. So when people look around and think if he can do it why can't I, the idea of getting into shape will transform their lives."
Ragsdale’s motto throughout his training and during the challenge has been ‘I have to make it happen’ and it would seem he is well on his way to doing just that.
Naseba – Seven day five times:
Swim: 52 minutes – 52 min
Transition: 15 minutes
Bike: 6 hours 41 minutes
Transition: 15 minutes
Run: 5 hours 49 minutes
Where you can spot Scott Ragsdale:
In Dubai Wednesday
In Abu Dhabi Thursday
