People has always been engulfed  by the idea of pushing their limits. Similarly, in today's world, staying fit and healthy is no longer just an option, but a way of life. But, blame it on pop culture; the definition of fitness varies from one person to another. The idea of sporting chiseled abs has surely brought some of the laziest people to the gyms, but that's not what fitness is all about.

You're not old, I'm not old, they're not old! Just getting older like Japan's Hiromu Inada @IRONMANtri Hawaii's oldest finisher at 83! pic.twitter.com/6eFIbS2ejz — Mike Reilly (@IronmanVoice) December 28, 2016

This July, the 87-year-old etched his name in the Guinness World Record book as the oldest person to complete the Ironman World Championship. The Japanese citizen was 85-year-and-328-days old when he decided to compete in one of the world's toughest endurance races in 2018.

The Japanese athlete began swimming and running and bought a bike at the age of 69. He completed his first triathlon a year later. And with his wife’s death soon afterward, Ironman competitions became an obsession for him.

While the 2020 edition of the championship has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Inada maintains his gruelling training schedule with the hope to return to the event in Hawaii in the coming year.

Source: Daily Mail

“I will absolutely participate in it, and I absolutely want to break the world record of completing the race at the oldest age again. This is my current and biggest goal,” the Ironman was quoted as saying. He added, “I have in my mind that I absolutely cannot give up, and I absolutely must complete (Ironman races), otherwise I feel sorry for those who support me.”

The Ironman wakes up at 4:30 am and hits the swimming pool by 6 am. “I hope I can try new things to build my fitness…“I hope I can adjust my physical peak to the postponed race. So, I would rather think it was good that it was delayed,” he further said.

Source: Daily Mail

While there is no question over his dedication to fitness, Inada's hard work cannot be overlooked. In a bid to remain focussed on triathlons, Inada developed a rigorous schedule where he rests for just one or two days a week. His daily schedule includes waking up at 4 am and practising hard until 4 in the evening. Apart from valuing his training, Inada also pays attention to his sleep, making sure he's in bed by 9 pm. 

"My goal is next year's world championship in Hawaii. I will absolutely participate in it, and I absolutely want to break the world record of completing the race at the oldest age again. This is my current and biggest goal," 

Inada told Reuters at his training facility in Chiba, east of Tokyo.

“My goal is to continue participating in races and completing them within the time limit. My body is weakening with age, but at the moment, I can feel all my training is paying off. To continue, I have to keep all my thoughts focused on the triathlon—what I should eat, what my daily rhythm should be. I’ve lived to my eighties and I’ve never felt so fulfilled. I’m too busy to have time to take it easy, but I think of now as my youth,”

His strong dedication and boundless enthusiasm is not just an inspiration for people struggling to remain fit, but also proves that age is just a number.