Test of mettle for ADF triathletes

The ADF team that took on the 2003 Australian Ironman Championships at Forster.

By WO2 Greg Young

HEARTY performances from Air Force 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 see if they could become an Ironman legend.

Flight Lieutenant Richard Gardiner, of No. 76 Squadron, finished second out of the ADO entrants, while Wing Commander Colin Clarke, of Supply Chain SPO, qualified for the prestigious Hawaiian Ironman in October.

Both also finished just outside the magic 10-hour mark.
WGCDR Clarke finished in a time of 10:15:41 to place fourth in his age group, which was the best age group performance of the team.

FLTLT Gardiner recorded the fastest time of the day among the ADO competitors in the marathon with 3:12:31, which was 35th overall and sixth in his age group. His time in the running leg was also the fastest ever by an ADO male. He was the second ADO member across the line in an overall time of 10:07:32.
This year’s team was special as it had representatives from all areas of Australia and representing every aspect of the ADO, Army, Air Force, Navy, Reservists, Defence public servants, male and female all ready to fly the Defence flag.

When the alarm clock rang out at 3am, 1525 triathletes dragged themselves out of bed to begin the longest day in sport. At precisely 6.15am, the starting gun sounded and 3050 arms started churning the water, turning a calm lake into a mass of white water.

Private Tim Eliot, of 3RAR, was out to prove his long distance swimming credentials and quickly set out to catch the leading pros. He emerged from the water in 49min 25sec to be the first ADO member and 23rd overall and third in his age group.

The first female was 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 found the going hard, with only the strongest swallowing up the field.

The cycle leg is where Corporal Lynton Goodwin, of the Pilbara Regiment, took control of the race. His cycle time of 5:12:23 was 16min faster than any other ADO member, placing him 69th fastest overall and ninth in his age group.

Ms Barker still held 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 late in the race found himself almost run down by FLTLT Gardiner, who set a blistering pace on the road.

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

Ms Barker had the race of her life and crossed the line in 10:46:58 to be crowned the ADO Ironwoman Champion. Along the way she 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.

As night fell, still the backmarkers persisted – ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds went on and on, 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 yours truly from HQ No. 5 Brigade. 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 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 the fireworks went off, a memory I will cherish forever.

• For further information on the sport of triathlon, contact WO2 Greg Young on (02) 9600 4366 or greg.young2@defence.gov.au.

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