Back in April 2013, Yutthapong Gul-oung's life irrevocably changed when she decided to join a 10km run in her hometown of Kanchanaburi -- with no practice or preparation beforehand. The day before the run, she was shopping for her running shoes.
"I didn't think much about it. I just wanted to try and experience what I'd read in the book," admitted Yutthapong, 43, with a gleeful laugh as she mentioned The Sunday Morning Club by Kamin Kamani -- a must-read for any aspiring runner.
Since then, Yutthapong has finished countless marathons and triathlons. She has even pushed her limits by taking down the gruesome Ironman Malaysia triathlon in Langkawi last November. The Ironman Triathlon consists of a 3.8km swim, 180.2km of bicycling and 42.2km of running -- all of which she finished in 16 hours and 22 minutes. Thai flag was held high above her head as she crossed the finish line. Reportedly, less than a hundred Thai people have ever completed this full-distance triathlon. And Yutthapong is most likely the only Thai transgender woman to do so. She likes dubbing herself the "Irontoey", or the "Iron Katoey", of Thailand.
She spent a year getting herself ready for the Ironman, and that included participating in five to six other triathlons, and following the rigorous Ironman practice routine for four months.
"It's like how you practice for a marathon, but three times the amount," she said.
From her moment of glory, it was almost hard to believe that -- back on that very first 10km run -- she was planning to give up and just sneak back home.
"After I ran my first 500m, I thought, 'What the hell am I doing here?', she laughed. "It was very tiring. I was thinking that running wasn't a suitable activity for me at all."
In the end, however, she decided against her protesting muscles and kept on running.
"At that point, I told myself I wanted to finish it. And I did -- it took me almost two hours to complete that first run," Yutthapong recalled. "Later, as I was recovering from the run, I realised I'd actually accomplished something that morning. And it felt really good. I've never stopped running since that day."
Yutthapong said she's never been interested in exercising. During sporting events back in school, she was always a cheerleader. The past three years have been nothing short of self-discovery for someone who previously could never imagine herself as an athlete. Now she plans to keep on running in international events -- with the ultimate goal to compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
Being an Ironman triathlete requires three things, according to Yutthapong: money, strength and time. There have often been times when she's had to choose between pursuing her dream of running, and attending to the reality of the need to earn money to live. It can be a struggle at times to keep her business -- a hair salon in her hometown -- going between practice and touring.
"I think I'm starting to lose customers," she said. "I was swimming one day when a customer called. Then I had to choose and it was hard. But I think that if I'm going to keep on doing this, then I have to give it my all and go all the way with it. If I don't, I'll be very disappointed."
Aside from being her passion and calling, participating in marathons and triathlons has become a way for Yutthapong to prove that she's not weak. Some people unfortunately still have that image about transgender women.
"The triathlon is hard. But, hey, there's a katoey in Thailand who can do it! We're not limited to just being hairdressers or make-up artists. Being a katoey is not just about vying for Miss Tiffany's crown or altering our body with surgery. Beauty lives within all of us. With confidence and a positive attitude, we can prove ourselves to everyone by showing our skill and potential."
In films such as Beautiful Boxer and The Iron Ladies (Satree Lek), Yutthapong observed how sportspersons who are katoeys are portrayed in a similar way -- that they need to wear make-up and "be themselves" to channel their inner strength and power. But if anyone has seen Yutthapong on the track, they'd see her with a bare face running comfortably along, spending her days under the Sun.
"Some people wonder why I have no make-up on when I run, and others think I'm here just to get guys. They only see us as acting all girlie and cute, chasing after men, and just being clowns for others' enjoyment. And that's still how we're being portrayed in the media.
"But if you were to make my life into a film, it won't be froong fring [glittery] at all," she said with a laugh.
Being a transgender woman can be quite problematic at times during a long-distance triathlon. There are transition periods where triathletes change their suits during the race from swim-bike and bike-run. Transition areas are only split into two: male and female.
"The staff ask me to choose which area I want to go in. In my heart, I'm deeply a woman. But I'm not a female. So I told them I'd go for the male transition area -- though I felt quite embarrassed to. The staff joked that I made a good choice as all the guys would be naked in there!" she said.
"If you ask me, if I wanna look at them -- the handsome and buff triathletes -- then I'll be honest and say, 'Yes, I do'," she said casually, "But, really, no one has time to ogle anyone in that moment. Nobody cares. You take your clothes off, change and hurry to make the best time in the race."
Yutthapong believes that, regardless of gender and all other factors, everyone can be a runner -- or even an Ironman. The only thing they have to do is first change their attitude and realise that running -- or exercising in general – is important to their life.
"We always make excuses to ourselves as to why we have no time for it. But, consider that we can't leave the house to go to work without taking a shower first. Can't we use that same mindset with exercising? No matter how much of a rush you're in, you still need to do it -- even just for 30 minutes a day. It's necessary and it'll make you live a healthier and longer life. Plus, you can also discover a new community and friendship."
She suggested that a good pair of running shoes is all it takes to start one's life anew.
