Ironman NZ 2010

A small group of New Zealand Army personnel from Trentham, Linton and 6 Hauraki Battalion tackled one of the most challenging sporting events of the year recently - Ironman New Zealand (IMNZ).

Warrant Officer Class Two Kevin Fee, Captain Soren Hall, Mr Tom Hirst, Sergeant Jase Houia, CAPT Nicola Martin and Bombadier Jamie Tolhopf made up the Ironman (IM) 'first-timers' from Linton and Trentham. However, they were rounded out by a few IM veterans from 6 Hauraki Battalion - Colonel Chris McGuire (Hon Col) completed his second full IM distance race; it was Lieutenant John Molloy's fifth (but fourth consecutive) IMNZ; and a very special mention must go to Staff Sergeant Ron Skelton who bagged his 23rd IMNZ finish, missing only three years since the inaugural IMNZ in 1985. What is even more impressive is that he did his fastest time since 1999!

Race day dawned beautifully (although everyone was up well before dawn) and conditions for the swim couldn't have been better. This was a stark contrast from the previous days where the lake could have been mistaken for a surf beach! At 0700 Prime Minister John Key fired the gun to signal the start of the race and in particular the 3.8 km out and back swim course that runs parallel to the main shore front. With a sea of arms and legs all heading in the same direction the next hour can be described like being tossed around in a washing machine.

The 180 km bike course is two 90 km loops out to Reporoa and back. The calm conditions remained through the first lap of the bike for most contestants, but the wind picked up quite significantly in the second lap. To make matters worse it was a cross-wind with little relief in either direction. With most contestants from Linton and Trentham, riding in the wind was nothing new ... but not what is wanted on race day! For the 'firsttimers' it was difficult to know how hard they could push it in the wind with the unknown beast (marathon) to follow.

The 42.2 km run is two laps out to 5-Mile Bay and back into Taupo, with a few dog-legs thrown in for good measure. With the strong south-easterly wind continuing to hammer riders on the out of town leg, the run had its environmental challenges on top of the physical and mental challenges expected. But the run is the time when contestants really get to feed off the positive atmosphere of the event, from the amazing volunteers and marshals at every aid station and street corner; to the spectators and supporters who line the course and provide positive and encouraging messages to every athlete. Although only nine individuals from Army crossed the IMNZ 2010 finish line; there are many people that assisted in getting each of them to the start line. Contestants extend a huge thank to their partners (the Iron Widows and one Iron Widower), families, friends and colleagues for their ongoing support and 'putting up' when Iron Man became all-consuming and contestants were hungry, tired and grumpy people to be around. They would like to thank all of the Army IM veterans, especially Lieutenant Colonel Rob Hoult, Warrant Officer Class One Roddy Hickling and Sergeant Ray Boardman for their valuable insight, advice, support and encouragement along the way.

 

SSGT Ron Skelton (6th Hauraki Battalion)

"2010 was my 23rd finish in Ironman NZ and my fastest time in the last 10 years, which is a great result. I have had a steady build up since Oct 09. In Nov I finished 3rd in the 640 km Maxi-Enduro cycle race around Lake Taupo, which was a boost, and wearing out the rear wheel of my training bike confirmed I was doing enough riding.

It's a challenge to squeeze 15–20 hours of training around my civilian job as a truck driver, working up to 65 hours per week, but the long days prepared me for what to expect on race day. Weekends were spent working, training and having power naps while neglecting the home front and once again relegating my long suffering partner, Frances, to the realms of Iron Widow.

Despite pushing hard against a strong south-easterly on the bike I managed a personal best. Once off the bike it was into the run and I focused on keeping an even pace as it's a long day with only one tank of fuel to burn. Heading down the finishing chute I remembered to smile for the cameras, with another successful IM in the bag in 14 hrs 31 mins 32 sec. For some it's a race, but for me it's a destination to journey too. I am looking forward to next year already and recommend IM to anyone seeking a challenge that is very achievable if you put in the miles."

WO 2 Kevin Fee (NZ Army Simulation Centre)

During the 80's I wrote a personal challenge in an old training diary to compete in the DB Ironman, which used to run in Auckland. Twenty-one years later the dream was realised, but not without some challenges along the way. I had to learn new skills, like open water swimming and I needed to excel in skills I already had.

Training with other "first timers" was a highlight and reinforced for me that there is nothing like a shared challenge to build lifelong friendships. My most compelling memory from the event is the upbeat, positive atmosphere; from the moment of arrival you are enveloped in a blanket of enthusiasm, affirmation, and encouragement from the whole IM community, through to the event day and beyond.

I've learned a lot about myself and I'd like to think that I'm a better person for the experience."

Col Chris McGu ire (Hon Col, 6th Hauraki Battalion)

"Blame the Army! Whilst waiting for my wife to finish walking the Rotorua Marathon in 2005 I ran into Bob Lowe, an ex-SAS colleague whom I hadn't seen for 30 years. "What have you been up to Bob?" I asked. "Well, for my 65th birthday I've just completed my first Ironman". "Mmmm" I thought... . I was lucky to stumble upon Jon Ackland of Performancelab to train me. I had my first crack in 2006. That was the year of the great storm at Taupo and the event was reduced to half distances for the bike and run only. Despite this I qualified for Kona. Unfortunately, two days out from Kona I got sick and finished 11th in my age group.

With a bit of unfinished business, Jon was surprised when I rang him again last July saying I wanted to do it all again. Again though he did a superlative job training me, and I got to meet and train with his somewhat younger stars, including Terenzo Bozzone. Despite being knocked off my bike during training I was good to go by race day.

I had a brilliant swim in a calm lake. On the bike the wind got up and I crashed during the second lap after misjudging the force on a corner. Fortunately, the road cones came between me and the gravel. After starting the run dehydrated I managed to get back on track and ran the second half of the marathon faster than the first.

Now, to all you servicemen and women out there, believe me, all of you are capable of doing Ironman. It's just another RFL ... that goes for a bit longer!

Tom Hirst (Army General Staff)

"On the 6 March 2010 Mike Reilly, the voice of worldwide Iron man fame, boldly announced me across the Ironman NZ finish line, "Tom Hirst, You are an Iron Man".

OK ... me and some 1,200+ other athletes, but for one small moment in time (nano-second) it was just me, the cheering crowd of thousands and the finishing chute. This was the moment that justified getting me to the start line and that many had said would remain with me for the rest of my life. They were right. But now, having reflected on all the pre-event advice such as, 'enjoy the day', 'learn to finish an Ironman before trying to race one' and hearing of all the heroic efforts of many to even make the start line, I now appreciate the deeper spirit of Ironman.

A spirit which includes the assistance (and tolerance) of many around you that ensures you are lining up ready to go on event day, then the continued support that sees you through to the finish line. All for that one brief moment in time - your moment - crossing the finishing line, proving to yourself (no one else) that you can make that start line, and when the day goes well, 'yes' you can even make the finish line.

To all those who got me to the finish line - thanks, I owe you one."

SGT Jason Houia (2nd Engineer Regiment)

"Early 09 I had the brilliant, or crazy, idea (depending on your point of view) to compete in the 2010 Ironman NZ in Taupo. With my 40th birthday three days before the race day I thought this would be a worthy goal to set for myself and a memorable way to mark this milestone.

On race day and there I was standing in the calm waters of Lake Taupo with approximately 1250 others about to embark on one of the most memorable days of my life. I managed to avoid the clash of the swim; the bike proved as uneventful as I had hoped; and although I was dreading the 42.2 km run, support from my family along the course gave me the much needed boost to continue on to the finish to hear the immortal words that all first time competitors seek" YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!"

Capt Soren Hall (2nd Health Services Battalion)

"I first attended Ironman way back in 1995 as a junior medic. I was so inspired by the athletes that I vowed I would be back as a competitor. To swim 3.8 kms, bike 180 kms and then run a marathon is an incredible task. This is where the mental journey started with years of excuses and a few deployments. In fact it was my last deployment to Kandahar, in Southern Afghanistan, where I was treating battle casualties almost daily with limbs blown off and lives shattered that motivated me to stop making excuses and to just do it. Life is too short to moan and to make excuses, yes it is easier to just give up, but one day you may not have the option!

The swim is the same distance as running one and a half RFLs then out to the main gate in Linton. I got kicked punched and scratched ... I thought this was a non-contact sport!

In the bike section the wind got the better of me towards the end but I kept going even when I was cramping in places that I had never cramped before. I started the run cramping, and could not even sit down to put my shoes on... this was the mental part of the game. Due to poor nutrition I faded in the second half.

I will be back next year, that's for sure!

Capt Nicola Martin (Army General Staff)

'Trust in the training' ... because when you're waist deep in Lake Taupo, surrounded by over 1,200 other wetsuit- clad bodies, waiting for the start of Iron Man NZ and the reality of what lies ahead of you kicks in, there really isn't much you can do ... except 'trust in the training'.

For me, training had been a fairly solid four months devoted to Ironman and it was amazing to see (and feel) first-hand what the body would put up with. A long training weekend involved a four km sea swim, followed by a six-hour ride, followed by a short 20-minute run on a Saturday. I then backed that up on the Sunday with a three-hour hill run. It was this type of training that I knew I could trust when the going got tough on race day.

As a first-timer at Ironman I had been told to expect many highs and lows throughout the day and to 'cruise on the highs and dig deep during the lows'. Having never even done a marathon before I had no idea how much a 42.2 km run would hurt, let alone after the swim and bike as well, so there was definitely some digging going on in the last half of the run.

Immediately after IM I thought, "cool, I've ticked the box"; the next day (hardly able to walk) I thought, "definitely again, but not next year"; then a few days later I thought, "next year seems like a good idea!" So who knows, but I've got a personal best now and the only thing you can do with a personal best ... is beat it!

LT John Molloy (6th Hauraki Battalion)

"The 26th anniversary of IMNZ marked my fourth consecutive Ironman. Every year I find the hardest part of Ironman is getting to the start line. It takes a lot of courage and is an achievement in itself. Each year the right index finger nervously caresses the mouse, with the pointer delicately poised over the submit button. The dreaded left click signifies the cataclysmic cycle of early morning swims, long weekend bike rides, and late evening runs; and before you know it, you are treading water at the swim start, wondering if you're going to finish. The 'no guarantee' that you will finish is part of the attraction of Ironman. Quite fittingly, the majority of my January Ironman training was conducted in Waiouru during the Grade 3 Extramural residential phase. Three weeks of early morning swims, runs along Waitangi and Widow maker, and squeezing bike rides to National Park and back when opportunity permitted, got me closer to that start line. I was amusingly accused of conducting TEWTs on my long bike rides. How one can safely navigate the road whilst balancing a TEWT folder and TEWT stand on the handle bars remains beyond me.

Like passing the Grade 3, getting to the Iron Man start line involves a lot of uncertainty and is definitely the hardest part. But, if you can get to the start line and swim smart, ride strong, and run tough, you will almost certainly finish."