50-plus Nagpur woman finishes 2 Ironman triathlons in less than seven months

Nagpur: Deepa Garg, in her 50s, has become probably the first Indian woman to complete two full Ironman 140.6 triathlons within a span of less than seven months, conquering sharply contrasting climatic challenges.The Nagpur-based athlete and wife of senior railway official Vinayak Garg, divisional railway manager, achieved the feat by finishing Ironman California on October 19 last year and Ironman Vietnam in Da Nang on May 10 this year.Despite cramps and practice injuries, Deepa bettered her performance in Vietnam, completing the race in 15 hours 30 minutes, an improvement over her California finish of more than 16 hours.The Ironman 140.6 is considered among the world's toughest endurance events, requiring participants to complete a 3.8 km swim, 180km cycling and a full marathon of 42.2km within strict cut-off timings.In California, Deepa battled near-freezing seawater and harsh cold to finish in 16 hours and 43 minutes. Just six months later, she faced the opposite extreme in Vietnam — intense heat, high humidity and strong crosswinds.In Da Nang, cramps struck barely 2km into the cycling leg and continued through the marathon. "The Ironman Vietnam race turned into a true test of physical and mental strength. Intense humidity, challenging weather conditions, and strong crosswinds made the race exceptionally demanding," said Deepa.Her challenge was compounded by a road accident just weeks before the race, yet she pushed through pain and exhaustion to finish within the stipulated time, proving her adaptability across vastly different climates.With no sporting background, Deepa began her fitness journey in her early 40s with simple park jogs, learning cycling at 45 and swimming at 46.Her path was filled with injuries, cramps, jellyfish stings and moments of self-doubt, but constant support from her husband, Vinayak Garg, daughters Arya and Shreeya, trainer Saheb Singh and NIS coach Sanjay Batwe helped her overcome every obstacle.Ice baths, 200-km solo rides and disciplined training became part of her daily life.Homemaker-turned-athlete Deepa's extraordinary story shatters stereotypes about what a woman in her 50s, especially wife of a senior official, "should" do. Instead of a comfortable routine of social events, she chose sweat, sacrifice and perseverance. Her achievement stands as an inspiration, proving that age is no barrier to chasing ambitious dreams."The limits are often self-imposed, and it is never too late to chase ambitious dreams with passion and determination," said Deepa, who planned schooling for children of site workers who are engaged in construction of Nagpur, Ajni and Godhani railway stations.