Reigning ten-time New Zealand Ironman champion Cameron Brown may be the face of tomorrow's multisport event in Taupo, but it is competitors like Leanne Willis of Tauranga who will provide the heart.
Willis, an avid mountain biker with no previous endurance racing under her belt, decided to compete after watching a friend complete the Tauranga Half Ironman in January last year.
"It was so buzzy, a bit of a challenge really," said Willis. "I'd never seen anything like it."
With another major milestone just around the corner, she has all the motivation she is likely to need to finish the gruelling course, consisting of a 3.8km swim, 180km road ride and a 42km marathon run, at her first attempt.
"My father died of a heart attack at 50 when I was 13-years-old, so I wanted to be really healthy for my 50th this year.