Afshin Ghassemi conquers tough but unforgettable Ironman race
Cebuano multi-sport athlete Afshin Ghassemi prides himself on his endurance under tough conditions to conquer his fifth Ironman race overseas in Puerto Rico over the weekend.
“Instantly one of my most unforgettable races! Puerto Rico, it will be hard to forget the run under microwave like heat and unforgiving hills! One of those races where you just feel happy to be alive after,” Ghassemi shared in a Facecook post.
Ghassemi narrated that before flying to Puerto Rico, the extreme heat was totally unexpected.
“The Ironman site says temperatures will average 26 degrees celcius therefore I thought heat training wasn’t necessary. Actual temperatures were way above this and feels like temperature should probably top 40 degrees celcius,” Ghassemi said.
“But this is the beauty of an Ironman race. It will never be easy and it will test your physical and mental strength from start to finish,” the president of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Alumni Association continued.
“It was a “sufferfest” out there but I enjoyed every bit of it! What made it more special is the support of my wife who was all over the place to take photos and videos of memories we will forever treasure.|
The 40-year-old Ghassemi has already hurdled five Ironman races on foreign shores in the past five years starting off in Marrakech, Morocco in 2019 and then in New Zealand (2020), Bussleton, Western Australia (2022) and Indian Wells, California last year.
But Ghassemi admitted that his experience in Puerto Rico was nothing short of extraordinary.
“While I was cruising through the swim and bike legs, I was toasted in the run leg. Adding to the microwave-like-heat was the unforgiving hills of Puerto Rico. This I think makes this race unique for me,” said Ghassemi.
Interestingly, it was Ghassemi’s first race with Ironman XC where he placed third in his age category.
Ironman XC is a turn-key program for athletes who want to experience and become part of a thriving community that comes together during race week to celebrate personal growth, resilience, and success.
“It was a totally different race experience and I can’t wait to race in Chattanooga, Tennessee this May with the same Ironman XC crew.
Before that, Ghassemi will train his sights on what would be another memorable journey in his athletic career.
“The next few weeks will be busy as usual. It will be time to spend time with my kids and execute on plans for my different roles in different organizations,” said Ghassemi. “But racing never stops and next up is the London Marathon on April 21. This will be the first major marathon where I will be racing with my wife.”