Miami Doctor a Real Iron Man

Dr. Shaun Samuels beat cancer, hopes to beat competition at Ironman Championship

Dr. Shaun Samuels works out with a mission.
 
The 48-year-old Miamian, an interventional radiologist has competed in 40 triathlons, including five Ironman competitions over his lifetime.
 
"I don't know if it's you're addicted to the pain or you're addicted to the endorphins," Samuels said Tuesday, as he trained for a half-distance Ironman in July.
 
It will be his first major competition since he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma four years ago. 
 
"Maybe it was my years of triathlon running outside, I'm a little bit more careful now," he said.

In September 2006, Samuels learned the mole on his ankle was cancerous and had spread to his lymph nodes. He spent two years going through multiple surgeries, including a skin graft in the affected area, and the removal of most of the lymph nodes in his left leg.

Samuels spent the last six years training at M Cycle Gym in Coral Gables, but trainer Chris Newton said the past couple years really tested him. 

"He'd still be working, and he was going through some bad times," Newton said.
 
Physical and mental endurance defines a triathlete, and there were a lot of parallels for Samuels' fight to survive and his fight to the finishline. He said his instinctive determination to overcome, learned in competitions, kicked in.
 
"It's willing yourself forward that is the hardest part or not letting yourself get down in the middle of a race, even when your body's hurting," Samuels said.

Today, Samuels is cancer free, but still hungry for the pinnacle: The Ironman World Championship.

The Super Bowl for triathletes, about 1,800 compete in the annual event in Hawaii which includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile marathon run.

I've for many years tried [to get in]," Samuels said.

Participants have to either qualify or win a spot through a lottery, and yesterday NBCMiami surprised Samuels with some good news: he got in.

"Wow, I'm astounded," Samuels said as he was presented with his race number. "This is something, for 15 years, I've dreamed about doing, I can't believe I've actually gotten it."

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