In this episode, Paul Smith shares his inspiring story and phenomenal accomplishment: diagnosed with cancer, he withstood the temptation to give in to uncertainty and instead embarked on a journey to complete the Ironman Wales, one of the toughest triathlons on the planet. A detective with the police force and somewhat-fit hobby athlete, Paul was cruising through life - comfortable, maybe a bit complacent. And then things changed - and he changed. He developed the mantra "I may have cancer but I'm not sick yet," and he resolutely set about the business of living life to the fullest, for as long as he might still have it to live. Demonstrating the power of mindset, he came back from the "mother of all surgeries" and went from hardly being able to walk, to completing the Ironman - in just 10 months. In a statement from Christopher Reeve, "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." Paul is definitely a hero, and an inspiration. He has tackled enormous trials head-on, done what seems a sheer impossibility, and shares his story openly, honestly and with a healthy dose of humor. His message? "Enjoy your life to the full and be as healthy and happy as you can be right now...[don't] leave it until you get a kick up the arse from a health scare."
For more about Paul, find him at:
IG @dead_man_to_ironman
Website www.deadmeattoathlete.com
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/paul-smith-0042aa182
And his fantastic book, with even more insight into his ordeals and how he persevered here
And if you'd like to know more about the grueling Ironman Wales (a 3.8km ocean swim, 180km hilly bike course and hilly marathon run), you can find it here
