By
Andrew Stackpool
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|
Corporal
Julia Morris-finlay pounds the pavement around Richmond
in preparation for her biggest challenge, the Forster Ironman.
Photo by
CPL Matt Moore
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FOR
Corporal Julia Morris-finlay, of RAAF Base Richmond, athletics
is a major way of life with a worthwhile outcome.
“Most people eat to train. I train to eat,” she said.
“While my social life goes out the window the sport means
I get to eat what I like.”
As one of a couple of Air Force female triathletes who are also
gazetted Ironman competitors, she probably knows what she’s
talking about.
The Australian Service Triathlon Association (ASTA) is entering
service teams in the Australian Ironman at Forster on the NSW
coast on April 4 and CPL Morris-finlay is in for Air Force; the
only Air Force woman competing.
Eighteen hours solid training a week for the event over the past
three months up from a routine seven-hours-a-week is an advantage.
CPL Morris-finlay has always enjoyed being fit and this was what
attracted her to the Air Force in the first place.
“When recruiting told me I’d get paid to be fit and
travel that was enough for me.”
Her career as a long-distance runner began in 1995 when she was
serving with two triathletes at RAAF Base Williamtown.
They constantly urged her to compete in a little base event (300m
swim, 10km cycle and 3km run) and one day she decided to have
a go.
“I have always loved athletics and, though I had never competed
at that sort of level I did run and swim at school and rode my
bike to work.
“So I went and never looked back. I think it suited my masochistic
personality.
“I’ve never been tops in a single section but have always
been above average in all three disciplines in a comp, and this
has helped me.
“I’ve competed in heaps of these events for about 10
years, both ADF and civilian and though I’ve never won a
triathlon outright I’ve won my age groups and have come in
second or third.
“I did a lot better in my earlier years to about 2001 but
since then the sport has become more specialised in the running
section. So, I’m now trying for the longer distances as I’m
not in the field with the shorter running distances.”
CPL Morris-finlay is unsure how many other women in the Air Force
are triathletes, but believes there aren’t many. Nor is she
sure why there aren’t more.
“It is not a sport for the faint-hearted. You have no social
life when you are training and it is a challenge balancing work
and athletics. You train, eat, work and sleep. Maybe Air Force
girls are more sensible than Army or Navy,” she said.
On the other hand, she says there is a tremendous rush in the
sport.
“You have people urging you on all the way and competitors
are on hand to help each other, too. I have a lot of family and
friends and people from Richmond who are going to support me.
“There is a fantastic social life, too. Not much before the
race as everyone is very focussed on it, but once it is over they
really let their hair down.”
Although she has never competed at Forster or a half Ironman she
has competed in events over similar distances and is confident
about her chances in the Ironman.
Because she was at Tindal she was accepted after competing a long-course
triathlon of similar length – a mere 2km swim, 60km ride
and 16km run.
“There is a culture among triathletes that if you aren’t
Ironman you’re not a real triathlete. This is the ultimate
distance tri and ironman has taken me to the next level,”
she said.
“Now it’s time to bring it all together. On the big
day anything can happen. I hope to finish – even if it is
night-time.
“I am proud to be representing Air Force and I hope to do
well for the pride of the service.”
