You don’t have to be mad, but it probably helps.
Kyabram’s Tim Nelson, 32, recently contested the Iron Man Western Australia Championships in Busselton.
It is a body punishing exercise which involves a 3.8km swim and a 180km bike ride.
And if you are still standing after completing those disciplines, you finish with a 42km (25 miles) run to cool down.
And if you complete all three gruelling, energy-sapping disciplines, you are naturally very contented with yourself.
As Nelson was after nearly 12 hours of grunt and gritty determination.
Nelson will tell you don’t tackle such an assignment without a lengthy preparation, and he was well aware of what he was in for more than two years ago.
Contesting other marathons, half-marathons and other physical testing events with the Busselton challenge as the ultimate aim, Nelson was well-prepared for his first attempt at this event, along with about another 1800 participants.
Nelson had also hired a specialist iron man coach, Ryan Brennan-Coulhard to prepare him for the challenge, so was organised to the minute to achieve the feat.
When Nelson pulled up on his bike at the finishing line to end his strenuous challenge, he reflected he could have achieved it under the 12 hours.
‘‘It got colder, windier and rainier as the event wore on and that made it extra challenging and a bit longer to do,’’ he said.
Nelson had his own cheer squad, including his wife Holly and daughter Harper, parents Peter and Judie Nelson as well as parents-in-law Darren and Sharon Butler, to support him for the event and was very grateful for their interest and backing.
‘‘Dad was my manager, and he did a good job, so I’ll probably be keeping him on in future at the same pay rate,’’ he said.
Yes, Busselton won’t be the last time Nelson puts himself through something like this again.
‘‘It just gets in your blood.’’