Lifestyle
I completed an Ironman for the very first time at age 52
Tania Dalton, 56, completed her first Ironman triathlon at 52, during the most challenging part of her menopause transition, which added another layer of complexities.
As told to Ellia Jacobs
I’ve always been someone who was active. I completed a few sprint triathlons in my 20s, but I never focused on endurance training and only maintained a basic level of fitness in my 30s and 40s while raising my kids, so never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could do something as monumental as an Ironman.
In fact, it seemed impossible. The idea of swimming 3.8 kilometers, cycling 180 kilometers, and then running a 42.2 km marathon after that, felt like a feat reserved for elite athletes, not someone like me.
Instead, when I turned 47, the age my dad was when he died of a sudden heart attack, I decided to at least train for the Melbourne Marathon, a 40km run.
I vividly remember being at the 39-kilometer mark, just over 4 hours in, when my husband Shaun called from the train station asking, "Where are you?" "I’m at 39 kilometres," I replied. "29?," he asked. "No, 39," I replied.
I completed the marathon an hour faster than my training had predicted, which was just over 5 hours, so crossing the finish line without my family there to witness it was bittersweet. Still, the energy of running through the MCG, with the crowd cheering me on, was an incredible experience. I crossed solo, overwhelmed by emotion, and it’s a memory I’ll never forget; even now, just thinking about it, I still feel the rush.
A leap of faith
That achievement sparked a shift in my mindset. After years of watching Ironman events with awe, curiosity, and admiration for the incredible endurance, mental fortitude, and physical strength required, I knew it was time to pursue my dream.
That moment came 3 years later in 2018, in my early 50s. Confronted by my own mortality, it hit me that at least half of my life was behind me and many dreams had been sidelined by self-doubt and life's distractions.
Despite battling an osteoarthritic toe developed while training for the marathon and being in the early stages of menopause, something inside me refused to let fear hold me back. Deep down, I felt that maybe – just maybe – I could do it.
Equipped with an interval training plan from a coach I took the plunge and started training.
Accompanying me every step of the way was the unwavering support of my family – especially my kids, Charlotte and Lachlan. They were teenagers at the time and probably wondering whether their mum could achieve this goal. But even though training didn’t always fit smoothly into family life – their encouragement never faltered.
3 gruelling years in the making
What was supposed to be a 9-month build-up actually took place 3 years later. The pandemic created a rollercoaster of cancelled Ironman events, re-starting training, and constantly re-adjusting my goals.
Despite the setbacks and being stuck at home for training, I never gave up. Long rides on the stationary bike would literally take me all day – from morning until night, just cycling. I’m not a fast cyclist, so I had to spend hours on end just to prepare for the 180 kilometres. In-between, I’d make the most of the hour we were allowed to go outside, either running or going for a swim, pushing my limits.
There were times when I felt overwhelmed and in tears, on the verge of giving up. To get through it I would repeat motivational mantras, telling myself to “toughen up, Princess.” I also had a meditation and visualisation technique I’d listen to where I’d see myself completing all the events.
It was gruelling, but I pushed through, especially knowing I was getting closer to something that had once seemed impossible.
Add peri-menopause into the mix
Training so intensively might not have been the most ideal choice during menopause, a time when my body was adjusting to major hormonal changes, but I found unexpected benefits in having this goal. It helped me realise I was far stronger, both physically and mentally, than I had ever believed.
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The recovery afterward, along with eating and feeling utterly exhausted, left me drained, unable to do much else for the rest of the day. It was a huge commitment – massive, really – and it greatly impacted my social life. Yet, I pressed on.
Taking on my biggest challenge
Finally, after almost 3 years of training, Ironman Cairns was scheduled for September 2020.
In the end I only found out 8 days before the event and was due to fly in a week before, so I had less than 24-hours to get all my stuff together. I literally got to the airport for the last flight out and I didn’t even have accommodation booked in Cairns.
It was a big risk, too, as it wasn’t confirmed whether out-of-state competitors would be allowed to compete. Fortunately, 2 days before the event, they gave approval. Once again, I was completely alone. I wasn’t part of a training group or club, and my family was back in Melbourne. So I faced the entire experience by myself, leading up to and during the Ironman.
This pushed me to dig deeper and tap into every ounce of courage and mental strength I had. I had to overcome the doubts that started to creep in, mostly around how my body, at age 52, would handle the distance. I relied once again on one of my mantras to keep me mentally strong, “You’re prepared, you’re tough, you know you can do this.”
Self-reliant until the end
On the day, it was incredibly humbling to witness the resilience of others. I saw a blind man complete the event with a guide and another man run the marathon on crutches.
During the event, unlike others who had people running alongside them or cheering from the sidelines, I had no one. I was responsible for my own strength, pushing through the pain to keep going. That sense of self-reliance was incredibly empowering. Especially during my run when it was dark and most of the pros and top athletes had finished hours ago; they were either home, at the pub, or on the sidelines. To get through completely on my own was an amazing feat which reinforced how incredibly capable I am.
While I wasn’t fast, I was still faster than I had anticipated, finishing in 13 hours, 42 minutes, and 51 seconds, instead of the anticipated 16.5 hours. For me, that was a huge accomplishment.
The finish of the Ironman was up there with childbirth for me – exhaustion, exhilaration and triumph all mixed together. It was an overwhelming rush of emotions.
My greatest life lessons
It felt like such a long journey, and I’m glad I never gave up. Just getting to the start line felt like a victory, and doing this in my 50s has really made me think about what I can achieve in my 60s and 70s as well, whether in my career or in another area of my life.
Persevering through discomfort, guided by medical advice, taught me that moving forward, despite the obstacles, is key.
I also learned so much about my body. I’m not sure I would feel as good at 56 without going through this journey. Ironman, for me, wasn’t just about the event itself, it was about all the hard work leading up to it. Training through menopause and managing osteoarthritis gave me strength for life.
I’m a health coach and a registered personal trainer and although I don’t work in that field right now, I’m still invested in health and fitness. These days, I stay active with my daughter, who just started doing triathlons. I joined her for an 80 km cycle and swim, which keeps me engaged in fitness even though I’m not training at the same level anymore. It’s funny how my daughter now says, “Mum, you’ve set the bar so high, I’ll have to do an Ironman too!” That’s motivating. And now that my youngest has finished secondary school, I’m thinking about new goals.
One of my biggest incentives during training was showing my kids that they could do hard things too. I hope to inspire other women along the way as well. It’s fascinating because we're the first generation of women exercising at this stage of life, and that’s empowering.
Already, women are outperforming men in ultra-events, like long-distance races proving how capable we are.
More on this: How to exercise during menopause and beyond
I’m curious about what the future holds for my daughter’s generation, and how they’ll approach health and fitness as they age.
I’m just getting started
This experience has shifted my perspective. I used to think life slowed down with age, but now I see it’s just a new stage, and I’m just getting started.
This journey has also reinforced that if we live healthy lives, we can continue achieving incredible things well into our 60s, 70s and beyond. I’ve learned a lot about menopause and how it affects training, so in the future, I would train smarter, focusing on recovery. Ironman isn’t about being the best, it’s about showing up and doing your best.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d encourage anyone to give it a try – age should never be a barrier to trying new things. Now at 56, I’m so happy to have achieved my Ironman goal. Finally, I’m living the life I always wanted.
Will I do another Ironman? It's still there in my mind because I'd love my family to see me cross the finish line!
All images belong to Tania Dalton, used with permission.
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