Looking for some inspiration to be healthy, or overcome injuries — or for a good example of perseverance? Then look no further than Newtowner Dr William Begg.

After 13 years of hardcore training, myriad injuries, and having completed 14 of the 21 ironman triathlons he has participated in — Begg accomplished his goal of qualifying for and competing in the Ironman Triathlon World Championships, held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii earlier this month.

Begg endured (and enjoyed) 15 continuous hours of swimming, biking, and running along with other relentless athletes in 95-degree heat, high humidity, and tough winds.

He qualified as a legacy competitor having completed at least a dozen full ironman triathlons. Injuries and various other factors, including weather conditions at some races, prevented him from qualifying sooner.

Did this ironman ever consider throwing in the towel?

“Absolutely not. My line from the beginning was ‘I’m going to continue doing races and I’m going to end up at the finish line or I’ll end up at the ER,’” he said.

Sure enough, Begg, who works at Danbury Hospital in the emergency room, ironically enough, did end up at the ER more than once as a result of ironman event setbacks. He also made it to the finish line at more than enough ironman events to qualify for Hawaii, including 11 consecutive Ironman Lake Placid events beginning with his first ironman event in 2009.

“Let me tell you it was probably the greatest experience of my life,” Begg said of competing alongside top notch athletes from all over the world. He narrowly missed finishing the national competition, falling just ten miles short. He finished the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and more than half of the 26.2 mile (marathon distance) run.

“I gave it my all,” said 59 year old Begg.

“It was the toughest bike of my life by a long shot,” said Begg, adding that on top of near-100 degree temperatures, competitors faced humidity over 70%, and some wind. “The humidity was absolutely overwhelming.

“It was 5,500 feet of net climbing and the wind was 15 to 20 miles an hour in my face,” said Begg, adding that he drank 16 quarts of fluid on the cycling portion alone.

Prepping To Qualify

Just qualifying for this event was a major feat in itself for anybody let alone a 59-year-old. Not to mention, one who has a full-time job and a part-time job. Begg’s work at Danbury Hospital is part-time and he is vice president of medical affairs for Nuvance Health Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Despite his responsibilities, Begg managed to prepare for this grueling — to say the least — competition.

Beginning April of 2022, Begg trained an average of 150 miles per week, doing a lot of his pedaling and running on trails after dark, with a headlight, and swimming in the morning before the sun — and likely a lot of us for that matter — was up.

“The biggest benefit of the whole endeavor is trying to stay healthy,” Begg said. “It’s a reason for me to get out of bed and training and make good decisions. If I never finish another one I’m okay with that.”

As for those setbacks that Begg had to overcome over the course of the last decade-plus: He had to have his neck fused following a bike crash, there was knee surgery, a concussion, collapsed lung, and a variety of fractures. “I had a lot of injuries,” he understated.

But still managed to accomplish his goal.

Begg went out to Hawaii 13 years ago to volunteer as a doctor at the ironman triathlon medical tent, when his brother, Tom, competed. Begg was most inspired by people who had full-time jobs but still made it a priority to make the commitment to a healthy lifestyle of eating and exercise such that they could compete at such a high level. “If I can make it through medical school, and that was not easy, I can do this,” Begg thought.

No stranger to rigorous exercise and competitions to begin with, Begg has been an avid runner and completed more than 1,000 races. He became involved with cycling with Team 26, a group that pedaled in honor of the Sandy Hook shooting victims. Begg did some of his swim training with his wife, Leah, who has completed six ironman triathlons.

In addition to his wife being involved, their children Erin, Billy, and Molly have been in on this. Molly has competed in triathlons, Erin and Billy have completed ironman events, and Erin is only three away from world championship qualification.

“We’re going back to Hawaii in a few years to watch her,” Begg said.

Father-Daughter Competitors

Begg and his daughter will compete in the Maryland ironman event, one they have done before, next September as part of her qualification and his stick-to-itiveness.

His brother, Mike, also qualified this year. “It’s been a family affair for a long time,” Begg said.

At the end of the day, Begg views his training and keeping healthy, as well as serving as inspiration to others, as the biggest take homes from this whole endeavor.

“I view myself as just another middle-aged person trying to stay healthy,” Begg said.

After competing in Hawaii, Begg initially retired from this intense training — for a week. But he decided to get back at it and even ran in the Weston Reservoir Run Half Marathon in Weston this past weekend.

“I’m so happy being so healthy that I don’t want to give up training,” he explained.

Begg will dial things back slightly though. Now he plans to only participate in the “easier” ironman events — those that take place on flatter terrain and in more comfortable temperatures.

Working at Danbury Hospital, Begg says he has seen people younger than him admitted after having suffered heart attacks and strokes and he is motivated to stay healthy and fit for a long time.

“You have choices about your diet and exercise. You can have such a happier, long life if you make these tough choices about diet and exercise,” he said.

And maybe compete in an ironman triathlon (or 20 something of them).

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.