Jonathan Pascual, a 50-year-old transplant nurse from Vallejo, California was diagnosed with Stage 4 mediastinal paraganglioma in 2022, a rare form of cancer. Now, he has completed the VinFast Ironman World Championship.
An Ironman triathlon typically includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle and a 26.2-mile run. Pascual has completed over 15 Ironmans over the years and therefore earned ‘Legacy Athlete’ status and qualified for the World Championship.
Speaking to Good Morning America, he shared it was ‘definitely harder to train’ for the Ironman due to the symptoms related to his diagnosis such as shortness of breath and chronic pain. ‘If I run too fast or too hard, my heart rate will go sky high and I will get dizzy and even faint,’ Pascual said. The rare form of cancer he is diagnosed with has spread to his lungs and bones which has left him with a five-year survival estimate from his doctor.
Pascual explained that the most challenging part of the triathlon was the 2.4-mile swim due to how the tumour affected blood flow when swimming face down, therefore causing severe breathing problems. ‘There were times that I had to flip over my back just to catch my breath,’ Pascual explains.
He shared that his participation in the championship was not just a personal achievement but also a tribute to other cancer patients. He explained he had visualised himself crossing the finish line, ‘I have played [it] in my mind [like] a movie for so long.’
In light of his achievement and the support he received, he encouraged people to ‘never be afraid to ask for help.’
‘It is very important that you are able to be a good friend, the best teammate, the best son or daughter and be the kindest person in the room,’ said Pascual. ‘Be a force for good so that you can affect other people’s lives.’
Kate is a fitness writer for Men’s Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Men’s Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isn’t lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.
