ANENDRA SINGH
Phil Paterson was the first Hawke's Bay athlete across the line at the Ironman New Zealand in Taupo at the weekend.
It was a dream come true for the 30-year-old structural engineer when he clocked 10hr 23min to finish the gruelling Bonita-sponsored triathlon that acts as a qualifier to the
2007 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, in October.
While he wasn't in contention to book a flight to the land of the hip-swaying hula girls as the 15th qualifier in the men's 30-34 grade, Paterson was keen to do it again next year.
Finishing 82nd overall in his first ironman, the Taradale man wasn't worried so much about revisiting the monotonous and arduous year-long training schedule but facing a few adjustments to his lifestyle.
Wife Jennifer is a self-confessed ironman widow for almost two years so she's coped quite well with that.
"She spat the dummy a couple of times for the time I was spending away from home," Paterson told SportToday on Saturday night, soon after Jennifer planted a congratulatory kiss on his cheek for receiving a participant's medal.
However, with that kiss came another pressing issue that Paterson has to place into the equation - Jennifer's expecting their first child in June.
"It'll be our first baby so soon I'll be having a few lifestyle changes," he said, explaining that Jennifer was okay with it as long as he got his priorities right.
The Hawke's Bay Multisports Club member had been training for 18 months and building toward the ironman with forays in club competitions and events such as the Tauranga and Taupo Half Ironman.
"It was my dream day. I couldn't have wished for anything more," he said, hailing the serene conditions in Taupo.
"It got a little hot in the (afternoon) run but the swim and cycle were brilliant with no wind until the second lap of cycling," he said of the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run.
He "hit the wall" about 20km but fizzy drinks, bananas, water and gel food got him through.
The ironman marshalls at the two transition points and his club supporters were "brilliant" and motivated him.
