Toughest test for ADF triathletes

The ADF team that took on the Australian Ironman Championships at Forster.

Triathlon
By WO2 Greg Young
Navy triathletes featured at the 2003 Australian Ironman Championships at Forster on April 6, when 32 members of the Australian Defence Organisation lined up for a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run to become an Ironman legend.

This year’s team was special as it had representatives from all areas of Australia and representing every aspect of the ADO, ARA, Air Force, Navy, Reservists, Defence public servants, male and female all ready to fly the Defence flag.

When the alarm clock rang out at 3.00am, 1525 triathletes dragged themselves out of bed to begin the longest day in sport.

At precisely 0615, the starting gun sounded and 3,050 arms started churning the water, turning a calm lake into a mass of white water.

PTE Eliot from 3 RAR was out to prove he was the best long distance swimmer in the ADO and quickly set out to catch the leading pros. He eventually came out of the water in 49mins 25secs to be the first ADO member and 23rd overall and third in his age group.

The first female was Ms Jodie Barker, a Defence civilian from HMAS Cerberus in a time of 1:01:12.

Heading out on the bike into the rain, many competitors were finding the going hard, with only the strongest swallowing up the field.

The cycle leg is where CPL Lynton Goodwin from the Pilbara Regiment took control; his cycle time of 5:12:23 was 16min faster than any other ADO member and was 69th fastest overall and ninth in his age group. Ms Jodie Barker was still holding down a commanding lead and had in her sights the ADO female race record.

Going into the run leg, CPL Goodwin held a winning lead for the ADO entrants, but later found himself run down by FLTLT Richard Gardiner from 76 Sqn, who set a blistering pace.

FLTLT Gardiner reached deep to make up the distance, but fell short, as CPL Goodwin rose to the challenge and crossed the line in 9:52:36 to be crowned the ADO Ironman Champion.

FLTLT Gardiner recorded the fastest run time of the day with a 3:12:31 marathon, which was 35th overall and sixth in his age group. His run time was also the fastest run time ever by an ADO male and he was the second ADO member across the line in a time of 10:07:32.

Ms Barker had the race of her life and crossed the line in 10:46:58 to be crowned the ADO Ironwoman Champion. She also smashed the ADO female record by 36min. Her run time of 3:41:34 was also the fastest run time ever by an ADO female.

Long after the pros had finished there were hundreds of triathletes out on the road, some finding it easy, some finding the going hard, but still the Ironman goes on.

As night fell, still the backmarkers persisted, ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds, some running, others shuffling and others walking, the body resisting, the mind rebelling, the inner battle unrelenting.

This year, the last competitor to cross the line was WO2 Greg Young from HQ 5 BDE. I took 1:26:32 to complete the swim, 8:13:44 to complete the cycle and 5:42:08 to finish the run to finally cross the line in 15:22:24 to prove that anyone can finish the Ironman if they persist and keep moving.

In previous years the last competitor had the honour to run under the arms of the volunteers at the finish line. This year with bunny rabbit ears on and carrying a bucket of Easter eggs, I gave out the eggs to children in the crowd and was given the biggest cheer of all the competitors. As I crossed the line fireworks went off, a memory I will cherish forever.

For further information on triathlon, contact WO2 Greg Young on 02-9600 4366 or by email greg.young2@defence. gov.au.

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