Triathlon: Ironwoman training pays off

Linda Exeter-Grant

When Linda Exeter-Grant hops on the bike at 4am, she sometimes wonders if she is crazy.

But the long, lonely hours of training paid off when she took out the title for performance of the year at Triathlon Hawke's Bay's prizegiving.

Exeter-Grant won her age group at the club championships last month, as well as topping the 50-54 age group at both the Taupo and Port of Tauranga Half Ironman this season.

She was also third in her age group at Ironman New Zealand with a time of 11hr 42m.

Despite this, the Napier mother of three did not expect to win the top club award.

"I was so surprised ... there are so many strong athletes out there."

Exeter-Grant completed her first half Ironman in 2011, after taking part in a team triathlon.

She was second in the 45-49 age group.

"I love it. Ironman is incredible ... It pushes your body to its limit, to its breaking point, and it's only the power of the mind that controls whether you cross that finish line or whether to give in to the pain."

It was a big commitment - especially when it meant getting up before dawn to start riding - and required a lot of support from Exeter-Grant's family and friends.

But Exeter-Grant wasn't finished yet.

She is eyeing up Ironman 2017 and wants to compete a half ironman in under five hours - she was just two minutes off in Tauranga.

More than 100 people celebrated the end of the season at the Triathlon Hawke's Bay prizegiving at Shed 2 in Ahuriri at the weekend.

-Award winners:

Junior club champion: Lachlan Cairns and Prue Boult.

Senior: Jeremy Natusch and Karen Toulmin.

Vet 1: Mike Bond and Linda Exeter-Grant. Vet 2: Ken Maclaren and Judy Shepherd.

Legend: Barry Payne and Julie Boshier.

Most improved juniors: Cairns and Sophie Hogan. Seniors: Ralf Moeller, Tracey Chatterton.

Volunteer of the year: Rhoda Lodge who supported more than 20 events in the last year.