Sidharth Routray, son of Sura Routray, completed the three-day, 515 km multisport, Ultraman Florida Race, in 31 hours 55 minutes on 13 Feb 2022. This triathlon includes 10 km of open-water swimming, 421 km cross-country cycling and an 84 km ultra-marathon run.

On the impossible achievement, Sidharth added all the credit to his great crew – Rick Van Tuly [Rick] – 3 times Ultraman Manmad and Reba [Mann] – 3 times Ultraman.

The triathlon began with swimming 6.2 miles [10 km] which he did in 4 hour 59 minutes and Cycling 90 mile [145 km] in 5 hour 38 minutes on day 1. Another day had cycling – 170 miles [273 km] in 10 hour 42 minutes with the final day waiting for a run of 52.4 miles [84 km] which he did in 10 hours 35 minutes. At the end of 3 days, Sidharth covered a total distance of 512 KM in 31 hours 55 minutes.

While talking about his experience, he said, “My first ever and longest swim in life – 6.2 miles [10 km.], longest bike ride in a day – 170 miles [274 km] and longest run in a day – 52 miles [84 km] was all possible due the efforts of extraordinary and experienced crew.”

Routray signed up for the triathlon in 2019, trained himself for it, but it got canceled due to Covid. He stopped training for triathlons and his mountaineering hobby picked up as races were all canceled.

“On Jan 18th 2022, I got confirmation that I have Rick as my crew chief. O oo .. I had to train for Ultraman in 3 weeks. I stopped mountaineering training and started ultraman training. A lot of hamstring and glute strengthening and pushups, 3-5 hours a day. I knew I needed the arms for the swim and the hamstring for the run and bike. Make it so strong that it would not cramp in an 11 hours run time.” Sidharth further added, “Then I called Mann – my old friend who introduced me to triathlon. I am doing it, and you have to come.” And then, began his journey to achieve the unachievable.

With great crew who knows what to do at what time, strict instructions, experience, you can surely boost up your zeal.

“Being Spiritual and Chanting takes you to a different zone, and makes impossible possible. I even prayed to my bike – “Maa Durga Keep me safe. I had 2 big collar bone operations riding this bike and I wanted no accident,” said Sidharth while sharing about his journey of 512 KM.

As a thank you note, he added his father’s famous principle – keep going no matter what – which consists of 4 things: Fearless, Honesty, Hard Work, and Perseverance.

The Ohana Family – The Organizers, being them is a way different feeling than running an Ironman. It is like a big family for 6 days, you laugh together, you suffer together. It is like you are trying to finish and there are 20 people helping you do so, not just your own crew, but every other crew member who meets you on the way.

This story suggests that every stone can be turned with determination and the right support.