Close to 20 family members of Rizal Khalid (his Ironmates) went to Langkawi to support and cheer him for his first Ironman race.
It was raining almost throughout the race. HE SUCCESSFULLY FINISHED.
Congratulations, Rizal. How grueling it was. Now you are an Ironman!
The sea was relatively calm for the 3.8km swim. The 180km cycling had him riding “blind” in the rain for 6 hours. He ran the 42km with blisters.
Thank God there were no mishaps for him.
The Ironmates were there for him through the rainy day and night. “Spectate. Wait. Celebrate.”
Fitness and physical strength were not enough — past 13 hours and after halfway running, Rizal was all physically spent and in pain, and he pulled out all his mental energy to make it.
After finishing, “anything is possible” has a true and intense meaning - especially for him, and also for the inspired us, his Ironmates.