Triathlon: Eggers out to make most of privilege

Kathy Eggers will be part of a three-generation family involved with tomorrow's Harbour to Hill triathlon. Photo/Paul Taylor

WHEN Hawke's Bay mother of three Kathy Eggers took up triathlons in 2008 it was for a form of rehabilitation following nine months experiencing life as a quadriplegic.

She had been diagnosed with a rare chronic neurological syndrome. Like so many who dabble in triathlons she got the bug for the sport.

With two world championships already on her triathlon CV the part time nurse in Hawke's Bay Hospital's renal unit will tackle tomorrow's Napier Port Harbour to Hills Triathlon for the third consecutive year as "a warm-up" for the world long distance champs in Spain next month.

"I was originally just going to help as a volunteer. But because of the world champs I thought the short, sharp stuff would help wake me up for the long stuff," Eggers said.

Tomorrow's event will involve a 2km swim in the ocean off Napier's Perfume Point, a 95km cycle over a course between Napier and the Tuki Tuki hills and a 21km run in Napier. When Eggers, 45, gets to Spain the course will involve a 3km swim, 118km cycle and 30km run.

Three generations of her family will be involved as competitors or volunteers tomorrow. Her 16-year-old daughter Samara will do the run leg in a team with fellow Napier Girls' High School student, swimmer Kate Bassick, and Taradale High School cyclist Sophie Etheridge.

Eggers hubby, Darrell Eggers, enjoys motorbike riding and will be out on the cycle leg making sure competitors are complying with the drafting regulations. Their 14-year-old daughter Carlee will be a volunteer at the transition area and Eggers' 79-year-old mother Pam Turner, a keen tramper, will be among the first to arrive at 5am tomorrow for her volunteer duties.

Last year Eggers finished fourth in her age group. She declined to reveal her goals for tomorrow as well as the world champs in Spain.

"I have my own goals. This weekend I just want to do it and have a steady training day for Spain. In Spain I just want to have a strong tidy day and empty the tank. My son [Korbin] will be in Spain on a volunteer teaching programme and will come and make a long weekend of supporting me over there which will be great."

Taking Eggers world championship finishes into account, a fifth placing in a field of 32 in the 40-44 female category in Oklahoma in 2016 and a 13th in the same age group in Penticton, Canada in 2017, there's a good chance she will podium in her age group tomorrow.

In January Eggers qualified for the world championships by winning her 45-40 age group at the Tauranga Ironman. Since then she has been putting in 15 to 20 hours training each week and competing in a variety of events.

A fortnight ago she tackled the Spirited Women's Adventure Race in Gisborne and fell off her bike.

"I'm still a bit sore and have been having plenty of physio," Eggers explained.

In February Eggers was among a small group which competed in the inaugural Kiwiman Extreme Triathlon in New Plymouth and finished second overall. This event involved a 4km night swim in Lake Rotomanu.

"We were bitten by eels at the start and had to have floating lights for safety. After that we did a 186km cycle which involved three climbs of a section of the road up Mt Taranaki and this was followed by a 186km cycle ... only three of us made it to the finish.

"It's good to be competing in my own backyard this weekend. Considering what I experienced earlier in my life it's a privilege to be able to use my body. I have the choice ... some people don't.

"It great to be promoting Hawke's Bay to the out of towners who compete. It's got to be inspiring for the community too," she added.

Triathlon Hawke's Bay general manager Bruce Richardson said 80 per cent of the 273 entries are from out of Hawke's Bay. None of the top three male and female finishers from last year are back.

"Because none of the top three in the men's and women's fields from last year are back I would have to say the battles for both titles are wide open. I'm picking Erik [Blomberg] will do the best of the Hawke's Bay starters in the men's field."

A Swedish national, Blomberg joined Triathlon Hawke's Bay earlier this year while on a sabbatical of sorts. He finished third in his 45-49 age group at Taupo's Ironman New Zealand last month.