When burnout struck, dentist Adam Govani found unexpected balance, focus and fulfilment through Ironman – one of the toughest endurance events on earth.
On 20 September 2024, my wife and one-year-old child were on a road trip around Scotland with the in-laws. After a week of chaos, work, and my brother’s wedding, I was absolutely deflated. I didn’t want to go out with friends, I didn’t want to go out for dinner, I just wanted to sit at home and wallow in self-pity. I genuinely didn’t like the person looking back at me in the mirror.
From the outside, I had it all. Outwardly, I was successful, happy, and at the beginning of what should be a long and rewarding career. But the truth? I was well and truly burnt out.
July 2024 had also hit me hard. I discovered that an old school friend, who was the same age as me and a doctor, had sadly passed away from cancer at just 31. That news shook me to my core. Life is fragile. If someone so full of potential, so close to my own age, could be taken so suddenly, I realised I couldn’t afford to keep running on autopilot.
So, let’s break down my 2024. In March, I bought a dental practice. In May, my wife and I bought our first family home. By July, our baby boy, Gabriel turned one. And by September, I was standing in my kitchen wondering how, with everything I’d ever wanted, I could feel so utterly empty.
That night, I realised I didn’t need another business target or professional accolade. I needed something for me, a challenge that would break the cycle of stress and give me a sense of purpose beyond the surgery.
That’s when Ironman entered the picture.
Why Ironman?
Ironman appealed to me because it felt impossible. A 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and then a marathon all in one day. For someone who had never run a 5k, 10k, half or full marathon, it was laughable.
My first training session confirmed just how far I had to go. I jumped into the pool where I’d once swum competitively as a 10-year-old, only to find I couldn’t get past 50 metres without clinging to the side. It was humbling. I was, quite literally, out of my depth.
And yet, that was the hook. Dentistry had trained me to problem solve and to persevere when things looked impossible. If I could apply that same mindset outside the clinic, perhaps I could rebuild myself one step, one stroke, and one pedal at a time.
Training around dentistry
Owning a practice isn’t a nine-to-five. Between patients, staff, compliance, and the endless list of responsibilities, fitting Ironman training into my life seemed absurd at first. But paradoxically, it was the training that helped me find balance again.
- Early mornings: I set my alarm for 5:30am to swim or run before the clinic. Gruelling at first, but I arrived sharper and calmer
- Lunchtimes: Instead of scrolling or drowning in admin, I used breaks for short runs or strength work
- Evenings/weekends: Long bike rides became sacred time. Just me, the road, and the mental space I hadn’t realised I’d been missing.
Over time, training stopped feeling like ‘extra’ and became essential. It was a non-negotiable, just like brushing my teeth.
The result
Months of disciplined training culminated in one extraordinary day: I completed a full Ironman triathlon.
Crossing that finish line was unforgettable, but the real victory was everything that came before it. Every 5am alarm, every shaky 50m swim that once left me gasping, every run where I doubted myself, all of it built into a transformation I never thought possible.
From someone who had never run even a 5k, I became an Ironman finisher. That shift gave me confidence and resilience that now shapes every aspect of my dentistry.
Lessons learnt
Ironman wasn’t just about endurance; it taught me principles that I carry into my professional life every day:
- Consistency beats perfection – you don’t need the ‘perfect’ day in training or in the clinic. Just keep showing up
- Preparation reduces stress – whether it’s laying out kit the night before or setting up instruments for surgery, preparation is everything
- Pace yourself – dentistry is not a sprint. Neither is Ironman. Burnout happens when you ignore the long game
- Resilience over results – not every session, nor every clinical day, will go perfectly. What matters is adapting and continuing
- Your support team matters – behind every Ironman is a family, coach, or training partner. Behind every dentist is a team of nurses, dental therapists/hygienists, reception staff and an admin/management team. None of us can do it alone.
Ironman didn’t just give me fitness; it gave me perspective. Suddenly, the stresses of managing a practice felt more manageable. Patients noticed I was calmer and more present. I noticed I was more patient, more balanced, and more capable of handling the unexpected.
Most importantly, Ironman reminded me that growth happens outside the comfort zone. Dentistry can become all-consuming and insular; stepping into something completely different re-energised me and, in turn, improved the way I practise.
Tips for dentists considering Ironman
If you’re even remotely tempted to take on this challenge, here are a few things I learnt along the way:
- Find a coach. Rob Matthews was incredible for me, an absolute goldmine of information and helped me dig deep to discover my true potential
- Starting small may have been a wise place to start: sprint or Olympic-distance triathlons are a great entry point
- Use apps like Training Peaks, Zwift and Strava for structure and accountability
- Treat training like patient appointments, block it in your diary and don’t cancel
- Find a local triathlon club. The support and motivation are invaluable
- Prioritising recovery, sleep, nutrition and downtime are just as important as the miles
- Embrace the process: the race is one day; the real transformation is in the months leading up to it. I saw a quote whilst scrolling through social media: ‘The hard work is in the training; the celebration is on race day’.
Final thoughts
Dentistry demands resilience, stamina, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Ironman training gave me all of that and more. I found love for myself, I found myself a part of a community of incredible people, I found peace.
Ironman first occurred to me as a way out of burnout. I came out of it a stronger dentist, a better leader, a better dad, and I’d like to think I’m a better person.
It wasn’t about the medal. It was about rediscovering myself, proving the impossible possible, and bringing those lessons back to the chairside.
And that’s how Ironman improved my dentistry.
