The Making of an Ironwoman
Pallium India’s Pride, Dr. Sreedevi Warrier’s Triathlon Triumph.
On November 9, Dr. Sreedevi Warrier—Head of the Department of Education & Skill Building at Pallium India, a palliative care physician, and mother of two—completed the Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Goa, conquering a 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike ride, and 21.1 km run in an impressive 7 hours and 48 minutes.
She recalls the anxiety she felt on the eve of the event. “I was worried about so many things. That was when my son sent me a photo of the medal I received after my first 10-kilometre run with the message, ‘This is where it all started, remember.’ That’s when I realized how far I had come and decided to do it for my children. And I did. At the end of each segment, I was so overwhelmed that I broke down! It is also special because, as far as I know, there are hardly any women from Kerala who have completed the triathlon in this age category [40-44].”
For many, her achievement stands as a testament to extraordinary physical endurance. For those of us who work closely with her at Pallium India, it reflects something deeper: discipline, courage, and a quiet, consistent leadership that inspires everyone around her.
What makes her feat even more remarkable is that athleticism was never a part of her early life. Her only physical activity, she often says, was learning classical dance forms like Kathakali and Mohiniyattam. Approaching her 40s, navigating perimenopause, and managing knee pain, she decided to take better care of her health. She began with strengthening exercises and set her first goal: a 10 km run in the Kerala Olympic Marathon. Running even 100 metres was a challenge, but she never quit. That determination became the foundation for everything that followed.
From joining the ITEN Runners’ Club in Trivandrum to completing her first 100 km cycling ride on her sixth attempt, and even overcoming a lifelong fear of swimming in deep water, her journey has been defined by small, consistent steps. She trained in the sea at Puthuvype Beach in Kochi, taking the train from Thiruvananthapuram for a single session and returning the same day. Rising at 4 AM, she balanced grueling training sessions with a full-time job, all while staying devoted to her family. With their unwavering support, she drew strength that carried her through every phase of her training.
As someone who works closely with her, I’ve seen how this discipline extends beyond athletic goals—it permeates her work, her leadership style, and her interactions with the team. She inspires all of us toward healthier habits, whether through gentle reminders or simply by leading by example. When I joined the department of Education and Skill Building in April 2023, she gave me the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, encouraging me to read it whenever I could, inspiring meaningful changes in my own routines. Dr. Sreedevi’s Ironman journey is not just a personal triumph; it is a reminder that transformation is possible at any stage of life. For us at Pallium India, it is a source of pride—and a daily motivation to build better habits, embrace challenges, and believe in the power of perseverance.
– Dr. Hashmath Farhana
Lead – Virtual Education, Department of Education and Skill Building, Pallium India Trust
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