'Ironman' beats cancer through triathlon
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Choi Min-joon poses with his bicycle, Saturday, a day before the 2015 Ironman 70.3 Incheon Race was held at Songdo, Incheon, Sunday. / Courtesy of Emerson K Partner
By Nam Hyun-woo
INCHEON _ For Choi Min-joon, 41, the sport of triathlon came at a critical point in his life, when he was undergoing painful treatment for cancer.
Four years after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer, he now boasts robust health, participating in one of the most grueling sports and he gives hope to others suffering from cancer.
“After I was diagnosed with cancer, I felt people surrounding me, and even my family, thought of me as a sick person and I hated that so much,” Choi told The Korea Times during an interview before he participated in the 2015 Ironman 70.3 Incheon Race at Songdo, Incheon, Sunday. “I was eager to show I’m okay and how well I am,” Choi said.
The race requires athletes to finish 1.9 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling and 21.1 kilometers of running in eight hours. Though this race covers only half of a full Ironman course _3.86 kilometers of running, 180.25 kilometers of cycling and 42.2 kilometers of running _ the race is grueling enough to test athletes’ limits.
In October 2011, Choi, who is the father of three daughters, was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer which already spread to a lymph gland. The devastating disease forced him to have a third of his colon surgically removed and he had to take a leave from work for about eight months. Another loss for him was that people started to label him as a “patient” who needed extra care.
“I thought it was so unfair,” Choi recalled. “One day, I tried to eat and it was so painful. I just couldn’t stop crying because such a simple act caused so much pain.”
After the surgery, he underwent painful cancer treatments for six months. Then, a TV show featuring celebrities trying a triathlon caught his eye. He thought it was a sport he should try.
“I thought, ‘This is it. I’d overcome the cancer surgery. There’s nothing I cannot do,’” Choi recalled.
In 2012, Choi first participated in a local triathlon, racing a “5150 course” _ 1.5 kilometers swimming, 40 kilometers cycling and 10 kilometers running. Though the race was grueling and painful, the “ecstasy” of crossing the finish line exhilarated Choi.
“Initially, I set the goal of completing any kind of long-distance race on every anniversary of my surgery. However, I was excited by the sport and I had already participated in five triathlons,” Choi said.
As Choi gained more experience with the sport, he found out his weakness was cycling, so he registered at an academy run by legendary Ironman athlete, Park Byung-hoon, who set the Ironman Asian record of 8:28:51 in 2008 and now mentors Choi.
“He works hard,” Park said. “When I see Choi training, I can sense how strong his mental strength is.” After learning that Choi had been treated for cancer, Park, who is also the Ironman Korea organizing committee vice chairman, told Choi, “You have chosen the right sport.”
At Park’s academy, Choi is drilled up to the point he might “pass out” with all the training, including interval training to improve muscular endurance. “When I race or train, swear words come out of my mouth unconsciously, because it’s so hard.” Choi said. “However, when I finish a training session or a race, I feel elated and always say, ‘I did it and I’m cool’ to myself, and start looking forward to the next race.”
After going through a number of competitions, Choi now finishes races within the top 10 of his age group. “I saw a man without arms competing at a triathlon. After that, I started to think that what I have suffered is almost nothing and gained a lot of confidence at that race,” he said. “Now I’m looking forward to the 5150 course race at Tongyeong (South Gyeongsang Province) scheduled for Oct. 25. I confident I will do well there.”
Recently, Choi shared his story and triathlon experience for an online community of people who have suffered, or are suffering, from cancer.
“As the proverb goes, many people who were diagnosed with cancer are clutching at straws. And many others pretend as if they are doctors by sharing their own know-how. Many say a tough sport will make your condition worse, but what I believe is that it’s completely okay if you have enough preparation. I just want to let others who are having a hard time know my story and that I have regained my health through this sport,” he said.