HOT TO TROT IN HAWAII

By Kathryn Fitch

.

.

CPL Julia Morris-Finlay, from the Air Lift System Program Office at RAAF Base Richmond, who has been selected to represent Australia in the 2005 Triathlon World Age Group Championships in Hawaii in October, trains at the base pool.

Photos by LACW Christine Williams

CORPORAL Julia Morris-Finlay is justifiably proud of being selected to represent Australia at the 2005 Age Group Triathlon World Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii.

On October 9 she will compete alongside the 281 athletes making up the Australian team, and more than 3000 other athletes from around the world, as they race around the scenic 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run.

“It feels awesome. There is a huge Australian team this year and I feel I deserve my spot in it. I travelled to three of the qualifying races, ACT, VIC and the NT, raced hard and placed well in my age category,” she says.

Since January this year Corporal Morris-Finlay has competed in the Canberra Triathlon, Geelong Australian Championship and the Darwin Arafura Games, coming 10th, 9th and 6th respectively in the Female 30-34 age category. She has progressively raced faster and placed better with each race – an upward streak she hopes to continue.

“I really want to do a sub two-hour 30-minute race. Beyond that is the hope that I place as a top five Aussie girl in my age group. My ultimate dream would be to place top 10 in my age group overall, ” she says

Triathlon has earned a reputation as a gruelling competition – three disciplines to master with quite different training and fitness demands, and a high rate of injury – you’ve got to wonder why someone would choose to put themselves through it.
Corporal Morris-Finlay laughs and says she enjoys it – especially the social aspects of training.

“The people I train with are really friendly and most enjoy their food and coffee as much as me. Group rides nearly always end up at a coffee shop and depending on the length of the ride, sometimes we stop during.

Racing is even better!” she says.

“That’s one of the advantages with all the training. I can treat myself to the occasional chips and chocolate. Mostly though, I try to ensure I eat and drink enough of the right things to stay fit and healthy.”

With her training schedule, she would have to eat a lot of cake and chips for her diet to be an issue. She says she trains for about 12 hours a week – running 40km, cycling 180km and swimming 6km. Swimming is her strength in triathlon, but not her favourite.

“I suppose that’s unusual – most people become good at what they enjoy doing the most. I’m different because I prefer running to swimming, yet it is definitely my weakest area,” she says

“I like running in very scenic areas like the track around the Nepean River, up the Blue Mountains along bush
tracks, or down along some of Sydney Harbour’s bays and beaches. It’s great, I just zone out, and by the time I get back I feel tired, but also euphoric, relaxed and ready to go again.”

Even so, after 10 years of competitive sport she admits to feeling a little jaded with the constant training and says qualifying for the championship is a welcome inspiration that has encouraged her to eat right and helped breath new life into training.

Corporal Morris-Finlay is grateful that Defence is so accommodating to her special training needs and is almost effusive in her praise for the support she has received from her area.

“I’m lucky to work at ALSPO [Air Lift Systems Program Office]. My bosses are great. They are really flexible about allowing me to do training during office hours – on the proviso that I make up the time I miss. This means that I have to work back late most days, but it allows me to do something I really enjoy,” she says.

Corporal Morris-Finlay thinks her two biggest challenges will be acclimatising to the Hawaiian heat and developing racing fitness.

“I’ll be doing the majority of my training during winter and early spring. To help get used to the heat, I’m wearing extra winter woollies for most of my training sessions. It’s not so bad when riding because of the wind chill factor, but running does get very warm,” she says.

Racing fitness is posing a more difficult problem.

“I try to race in some form every fortnight to get some speed. I’ll do the City to Surf and a couple of 10km fun runs but will also try to find a triathlon in Queensland prior to Hawaii to make sure I’m on track,” she says.

Not surprisingly, training for and competing in Hawaii isn’t going to be cheap. Corporal Morris-Finlay estimates it will cost about $8000 – flights, accommodation, racing fees and uniforms will cost about $5000 and it will be another $3000 to cover other incidentals that come with the territory.

So far she hasn’t ventured outside ALSPO with her fundraising effort, but luckily it seems her workmates share her love of food.

“I did a pancake brunch at work that went down a treat. Food seems really popular and I’m able to make a good return, so I’ll definitely do that again. I have also done a few raffles with more planned for the coming weeks,” she says.

“I am currently putting together a sponsorship proposal to approach some of our local suppliers and businesses. Sponsorship will entitle the company to put their logo on my Australian race uniform. I could also wear a cap or even body tattoos. Of course, if companies are unable to sponsor, donations of any kind would be gratefully accepted.”

“Money isn’t really my focus – I wouldn’t turn down any offer of assistance be it donations or sponsorship, but I will gladly pay for the trip myself to have the opportunity to represent Australia.”

.