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An Ironman is perhaps the most difficult endurance event on the planet, combining a swimming of 2.4 miles, a 112-thousand bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile race. Does that seem difficult? Imagine now take it without your legs.
This is exactly what Billy Monger is ready to do this weekend, while he tries to finish the Kona Ironman in favor of Comic Relief – in order to complete it in record time for a double amputee.
The life of the former Formula 4 driver changed forever in April 2017 when it was involved in one of the most horrible accidents in British Motorsport, which led to a double leg amputation. Now aged 25, Monger has explained how much his approach to training has become different since the accident.
Pain of prostheses
“Most people can just put a pair of coaches and go out and run, I don’t have this luxury,” said Monger, now a presenter of Channel 4, Telegraph Sport. “I put personalized prostheses specially designed for me, and if they do not adapt correctly, it has a serious impact on my body and it can take weeks to recover in the short term.
“As a double amputated, the sockets are molded around our legs. So when I earn muscles in an area, the catch can become tight, which is incredibly painful. Likewise, when I lose fat in a certain area, the catch lets itself and start to rub and creates wounds. »»
In preparation for the coming race, Monger participated in the Weymouth Ironman, which consisted of a 1.9 km coastal swimming, followed by a 90 km bike ride and finished with a 21.1 km race.
He finished the race in an impressive 6 hours, 41 minutes and 41 seconds, despite having to fight through intense pain of his relaxed prostheses.
“Swimming and cycling had really felt good, then I went to the race and about 10 kilometers in my catches had started to stand out and I had a lot of bruises and swelling on my leg the next day. I was returning directly to training that was uncomfortable, but I had to hold my teeth and continue. »»
Adjustment training plan
Monger had his mind to become a Formula 1 driver from a young age, with his father, a former Kart runner, buying his first kart at the age of six.
He continued to excel as a junior runner and became one of British Driving’s hottest talents, picking up three podiums in his first F4 season.
Since his accident, he says he had to radically change the way he trains.
“Before my accident, I would make short high intensity training sessions, which I liked because as a racing driver, I have little patience. But now I just can’t do that.
“I have been training for 20 hours a week for over a year, which is longer than most people, but it’s simply because it takes much more time to get back from the exercise now .
“If I had to run 5 km as quickly as possible, for example, I could not train for the rest of the week. So I had to adapt to longer and less intense sessions, in order to be able to compete. »»
‘He competes with the climbing of Everest’
This Saturday, Monger based in Surrey will participate in the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, when he aims to become the youngest amputee to complete the course.
Monger explained that the Hawaiian event is considered one of the most difficult endurance challenges on the planet, due to intense humidity, rough waters of the sea, exposure to cross winds and crossing and cross -winds and a viciously hilly route.
“Training for an Ironman is difficult, but training for Kona Ironman is very difficult. It is considered the most difficult endurance challenge on the planet, competing with the climbing of Mont Everest, “explains Monger.
All the benefits of Monger’s race go to Comic Relief, for which he collected 3 million pounds sterling in 2021 when he finished the big challenge of Billy – after walking, bicycle and kaye through the United Kingdom.
Monger says that his passion for the cause will pass the day of the race, adding: “When the pain becomes difficult, I find it important to remember that I do this to help others and show them that you are capable of what happened to you.
