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An Ironman is perhaps the toughest endurance event on the planet, combining a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. Does this seem difficult? Now imagine doing it without your legs.
That’s exactly what Billy Monger is set to do this weekend, as he attempts to complete the Kona Ironman in aid of Comic Relief – aiming to complete it in a world record time for a double amputee .
The former Formula 4 driver’s life changed forever in April 2017 when he was involved in one of British motorsport’s most horrific accidents, which resulted in both legs being amputated. Now 25, Monger explained how his approach to training has changed since the accident.
Pain due to prostheses
“Most people can just put on a pair of trainers and go out for a run. I don’t have that luxury,” said Monger, now a Channel 4 presenter. Telegraph sport. “I put on custom prosthetics made especially for me, and if they don’t fit properly it has a serious impact on my body and it can take weeks to recover from a simple run.
“As a double amputee, the eye sockets are molded around our legs. So when I gain muscle in one area, the socket can become tight, which is incredibly painful. Likewise, when I lose fat in a certain area, the socket becomes loose and starts rubbing and creates sores.
In preparation for the next race, Monger took part in the Weymouth Ironman, which consisted of a 1.9 km coastal swim, followed by a 90 km bike ride and finished with a 21.1 km run.
He finished the race in an impressive time of 6 hours, 41 minutes and 41 seconds, despite the intense pain caused by his loose prosthetics.
“Swimming and cycling really felt good, then I started running and within about 10 kilometers my eye sockets had started to relax and I had a lot of bruising and swelling in my leg the next day . I then went straight back into training, which was uncomfortable, but I had to grit my teeth and keep going.
Adjustment of the training regime
Monger intended to become a Formula One driver from a young age, with his father, a former kart driver, buying him his first kart at the age of six.
He then excelled as a junior driver and became one of British driving’s biggest talents, taking three podiums in his first F4 season.
Since his accident, he says he has had to radically change the way he trains.
“Before my accident, I did short, high-intensity training sessions, which I loved because as a racing driver I have little patience. But now I just can’t do that anymore.
“I’ve been training 20 hours a week for over a year, which is longer than most people, but that’s just because it takes a lot longer to recover from exercise now.
“For example, if I had to run 5 km as fast as possible, I wouldn’t be able to train for the rest of the week. So I had to adapt to longer and less intense sessions to be able to compete.
“It rivals climbing Everest”
This Saturday, Surrey-based Monger will compete in the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, aiming to become the youngest double amputee to complete the course.
Monger explained that the Hawaiian event is considered one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet, due to the intense humidity, rough sea waters, exposure to crosswinds and an extremely hilly course.
“Training for an Ironman is hard, but training for the Kona Ironman is very hard. It’s considered the toughest endurance challenge on the planet, rivaling climbing Mount Everest,” says Monger.
All profits from Monger’s run will be donated to Comic Relief, for which he raised £3 million in 2021 when he completed Billy’s Big Challenge – after walking, cycling and kayaking across the United Kingdom.
Monger says his passion for the cause will keep him going on race day, adding: “When the pain gets intense, I find it important to remember that I’m doing this to help others and show them that you are capable of anything. , whatever happens. this happened to you.
