Ultraman Canada triathlon
Local physician models fitness and lifestyle ideals
By Paul Galinski
Five years ago local physician Sneeta Takhar decided she wanted to do a triathlon but she wasn't much of a swimmer. "She was a dog-paddling swimmer at best," says friend Cindy Stahl. Yet Sneeta was determined and so she taught herself how to swim freestyle. Since then, Sneeta has completed a number of triathlons and two Ironman events. Last month Sneeta completed the Ultraman Canada, an endurance event that combines swimming, cycling and running.
The Ultraman Canada is a three-day, 512.6 kilometre individual ultra-endurance invitation-only event. It was held from July 30 to August 3 in the Okanagan-Similkameen region of BC. Sneeta is one of approximately 60 women in the world to have completed this event within the given time parameters since its inception in 1993.
As one of two internal medicine specialists in Powell River, Sneeta routinely sees and treats the effects of ill health. While commitment to her medical practice is demanding, challenging and time consuming, she manages to timetable an extraordinary commitment to her own health as a competitive triathlete.
When asked about her motivation for entering a race of this magnitude, she said it's a common question.
"It's something that I've thought about long and hard in terms of what drives me to do these things," she said. "I definitely like a challenge.
"I think originally, when I started doing triathlons, it was just to maintain a level of fitness, and then it grew into something more because I love being able to train for these events. I found that I enjoyed the endurance events more than the shorter events just because of the level of intensity."
She liked the idea of taking on Ultraman Canada because it's not something that many people would ever think of trying. "I have to admit I sort of liked the aspect of it being a somewhat rarified opportunity."
There is personal development in training for and competing in long triathlons, but as a medical doctor, she's being true to good lifestyle choices. She hopes to be a role model for others, being visible in the Powell River area while training and maintaining fitness.
The three days of the Ultraman event break down like this:
- Day 1: a 10-kilometre open water swim, followed by a 144.8 kilometre road bike ride;
- Day 2: a 273.5 km road bike ride;
- Day 3: an 84.3 kilometre run (a double marathon).
Sneeta finished each day within the 12-hour time limit, with her total combined time being 31 hours, 49 minutes, 8 seconds. She placed 24th out of 32 finishers (39 entrants), being the 11th female out of 14 finishers (15 starters).
She started the race injury free and her body held up "amazingly well." She did not suffer any fatigue except for the last two or three kilometers of the run, by which time she was ready for it to be over.
Sneeta was required to bring a crew to care for her during the event. Crewmembers included locals Wanda Griffioen, sisters Brittany and Morgen Shull, and Cindy Stahl and they were instrumental in her performance in the race.
"I didn't go into the Ultraman with any expectations other than the hope to finish because I realized it was a very difficult event," Sneeta says. "I was simply happy at crossing the finish line. I'm realistic. I don't expect to be first. I don't have that kind of speed. It, in many ways, is saying I'm just a regular person doing these things. People put these limits on and say they can't do it. That's not necessarily true with the right training."
Nothing pleases her more than the instances when competitors she has raced with tell her she was why they got into triathlons. "That's one of the things that makes me the happiest, to be honest, to have that kind of influence for people to be active and enjoying it."
In the coming year, Sneeta plans to enter shorter events, focusing on becoming faster and stronger.
"I'm hoping to stick with the Olympic-distance triathlons, which involve a one-and-a-half kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre bike ride and a 10-kilometre run. And then the half ironman event, where the training commitment is not as great." She trained up to 20 hours per week for the race she just concluded.
However, the lure of another Ultraman is on the horizon.
"I'm interested in the Hawaii race and I'm setting my sights on the 2012 event. That will give me a year to back off on the intense training and then I'll be back at it the following year."
