Training
on track for iron soldiers
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ADF
triathlon team member, Luke Gatton, in the cycle leg of
the Northern Territory Triathlon Championships.
Photo by Cpl Ashley Roach, 1JPAU(P)
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By
Cpl Alisha Welch
THE
Australian Service Triathlon Association (ASTA) is calling for
competitors to race in the ADO Long Course Championships on
October 17.
ASTA
representative, WO2 Greg Young, said the competition will be
held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith.
“Competitors
will have to complete a 1.9km swim, 70km cycle and a 15km run,”
he said.
“The
event is open to all ADF members and public servants and has
no entry fee.
“If
you are looking for the ultimate challenge the Australian Ironman
Qualifier Series is for you.
“With
the help of our newest sponsor, Mincom, ASTA is fully committed
to providing our members with an opportunity to race the longer
distance triathlons without the financial burden that comes
with the Australian Ironman series.
“It
also provides those members who would like to compete, but are
hesitant in undertaking the distance as an individual, the opportunity
to compete as a team member.”
He
said it was in the team events that ASTA sees as the real growth
area in triathlon, as team members often become individual competitors.
“ASTA
is throwing out the challenge to members to put together the
best team they can and take on the best ADF individuals. Historically,
teams usually struggle to beat the individuals and ASTA is confident
that this will be the case again in 2003.”
WO2
Young said most triathletes train for more than 20 hours per
week in order to prepare for the Ironman qualifying series.
“The
ironmen and women usually complete six months of specific training
just to get to the qualifying race.
“Their
daily training schedule consists of swimming every day, clycling
down a lonely highway at 7am during frosty winter mornings
and pounding mile after mile on treadmill.
“With
qualifying times continuing to plummet, competitors in every
age group now need to record a sub-five hour race time, just
to pick up the last position available.
“This means you must swim 1.9km in around 30 minutes, cycle
90km in about two hours and run 21km in around 1 hour 40 minutes.”
He said the competition was about pusing your body to its limits.
“It’s a matter of mind over body – the drive
to cross the fininsh line at all costs.”
This year the ADF had 35 members compete in the Australian Ironman
competition, with one member qualifying for the greatest race
of all, the Hawaiian Ironman.
The Road to the 2004 Australian Ironman Triathlon is as follows:
