Triathlete: Ronel Sulatan's Inspiring Lavaman Journey
A Healthcare Hero Takes on a New Challenge
When Ronel Sulatan, Vice-President of Kaizen Aloha and an experienced Nurse Practitioner, stepped onto the starting line at this year’s Lavaman Triathlon, few spectators realized they were witnessing the culmination of an extraordinary personal journey. The healthcare professional who transplanted his life from the arid landscapes of Big Spring, Texas to the tropical paradise of Kona, Hawaii, has now added “triathlete” to his impressive list of accomplishments.
At 62 years old, Sulatan accomplished what many would consider impossible – transitioning from a completely sedentary lifestyle to Olympic triathlon competitor in less than a year.
“When I started this journey around 9-10 months ago, I hadn’t exercised with any regularity for over 35 years,” Sulatan revealed. “I couldn’t swim one length, bike 3 miles, or run a quarter mile without feeling my heart in my throat and gasping for air.”
For someone who has dedicated his life to healing others through his medical practice and community outreach, this personal transformation represents a new dimension of his commitment to health and wellness – leading by example.
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From Caring for Others to Testing Personal Limits
As a Nurse Practitioner who divides his time between clinical practice and humanitarian efforts across Hawaii and beyond, Sulatan is no stranger to challenges. His work brings him face-to-face with human suffering and resilience daily. However, the Lavaman Triathlon tested his personal resilience in unprecedented ways.
The morning of April 6th began inauspiciously with just two hours of sleep and forgotten water bottles – but these setbacks paled in comparison to what awaited in the Pacific waters where Sulatan typically finds solace in his island home.
Triumph Over Adversity in the Ocean
Just 400 yards into the ocean swim, disaster struck when Sulatan took a direct kick to the face and neck from another competitor, triggering immediate hyperventilation.
“Every instinct told me to quit,” Sulatan recounted. Instead of signaling for evacuation, he made the critical decision that would define his race: “I vowed not to quit and told ocean support crew to not pull me out unless they had no choice.”
The swim segment stretched into an agonizing 25-minute ordeal covering an additional quarter mile as Sulatan battled against panic and exhaustion. The man who had moved across the country to be closer to these very waters now found himself in a fight to conquer them, emerging last from the ocean but undefeated.
Triumph Over Adversity in the Ocean
\With adrenaline depleted and facing a significant time disadvantage, Sulatan confronted another decision point. “The prospect of finishing last wouldn’t change if I quit before getting on my bike,” he noted. “But there’s a HUGE difference between quitting the race and quitting on myself.”
Further complications mounted during the 24-mile bike segment when he lost a critical water bottle, limiting his hydration options. The final 6-mile run presented perhaps the most visually striking challenge – completing the course with sea urchin spines embedded in his feet, adding an additional 25 minutes to his run time.
For a healthcare professional who understands exactly what these physical challenges meant for his body, the decision to continue despite the pain speaks volumes about his character. Despite these obstacles, Sulatan not only finished but managed to overtake 12 competitors who had been ahead after the swim.
Triumph Over Adversity in the Ocean
The man who devotes his life to supporting others through healthcare recognized the importance of his own support network in achieving this milestone:
- Family Foundation: “Much love and thanks for my wife whose unwavering support, optimism, and encouragement was the bedrock upon which I couldn’t have done this.”
- Training Community: “A huge shout out to my fellow Kona Warriors and coach Coates who were there from the beginning and whose encouragement, energy, and example helped fuel the training gains I’ve met.”
- Spiritual Strength: “Encompassing all that, the trust and faith in God that has grown over the past 2-3 years and was felt on every inch during this race.”
This network mirrors the community connections Sulatan has cultivated throughout his healthcare career, where building relationships and fostering support systems are essential to healing.
Where Healthcare Meets Athletic Endurance
Sulatan’s dual identity as both healthcare provider and athlete offers a unique perspective on physical achievement. His medical background provides him with deep insights into the body’s capabilities and limitations—knowledge that surely informed his approach to both training and race day challenges.
The same commitment that drives him to provide care, support, and compassion to underserved communities fueled his determination during those grueling moments in the ocean, on the bike, and through the run. His journey from Big Spring, Texas to becoming a triathlete in Kona exemplifies his adaptability and resolve.
Non-Profit Leadership and Athletic Achievement
As Vice-President of Kaizen Aloha, a non-profit organization committed to community service and development, Sulatan embodies the organization’s principles of continuous improvement and community support. His triathlon achievement parallels the non-profit’s mission of fostering growth and overcoming challenges to create positive change.
Through both his professional work with Kaizen Aloha and his personal athletic journey, Sulatan demonstrates how determination and resilience can transform lives and communities. His story serves as inspiration not only for other aspiring athletes but also for anyone working in the non-profit sector who faces seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Looking Forward: New Horizons
While acknowledging that his race times didn’t reflect his best training performances, Sulatan views this completion not as a culmination but as a beginning. “Now, I’m looking forward to next year and I’ve tattooed 4:45 in my mind’s eye for me to shatter,” he declared.
For the healthcare professional who transforms “each journey into an opportunity to provide care, support, and compassion,” this athletic journey represents yet another transformation—one that proves it’s never too late to challenge yourself and discover new strengths.
As he continues his medical practice among the diverse communities of Hawaii, Sulatan now carries with him not just the credentials of a Nurse Practitioner and Vice-President of Kaizen Aloha, but also the hard-earned title of triathlete—a testament to his belief that personal growth and pushing boundaries are lifelong pursuits.
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