Ironman training comes in handy

Les Mills' Mat Lewisham loves staying home with James. Photo / Alice Van Schaik

Stay-at-home dad kept on his toes.

Mat Lewisham is among many Kiwi dads celebrating Father's Day today. It's an even more special day for him as it's his first. And it's a role he relishes and has stepped fully into.

Among many inspiring feats, Lewisham has tackled the gruelling North Face 100km-trail ultra-marathon in the Blue Mountains, finished fastest in the 2011 Inca Trail Marathon in Peru and survived a Melbourne Ironman.

But now he's run off his feet as a full-time dad to 8-month-old baby James, after recently putting his job as a successful Les Mills personal trainer temporarily on hold. He was the company's Britomart Personal Trainer of the year in 2012 and last year.

Lewisham and wife Suzie, from Remuera, had planned to enrol James in full-time daycare when he reached 7 months.

But when the time rolled around, Lewisham says they felt their son was "just too little" to go into daycare. He says they considered the kinds of experiences he would have in daycare in his first year compared with if he was at home.

Lewisham, 39, says he had no qualms about deciding to support Suzie, 32, to return last month to her successful career in human resources for a global sales company.

He'll be James' primary caregiver until at least February. At that time they will review when Lewisham will return to his job.

However, he is still keeping his toes in his career as leader of the gym's Road Runners Run Club - it's at 6am and before Suzie goes to work. He coaches some marathon runners via email and phone , when James is sleeping, and attends occasional events as a Lululemon Athletica brand ambassador. The photo at left is currently being shown off in the Lululemon Britomart store, where James is a bit of a star.

Suzie says it was "selfless" and supportive of Lewisham to stay at home and be Daddy Daycare from roughly 7am to 6pm weekdays. They also feel lucky they can do this. She says that knowing James is happy at home with his dad has made her return to work smooth.

Lewisham is proud he's kept James mostly to the routine Suzie established. He loves taking James to weekly swim classes and just simply hanging out, calling it "special time". He often takes videos of their daily adventures for Suzie to watch on her bus rides home after work.

But he openly admits that being a full-time dad can be challenging and requires patience. He's developed a fresh appreciation for fellow parents, especially those who dedicate their lives full-time to this role.

He's noted the days can be long. "I'll change a nappy, give him some food and have play time -- and that's only half an hour!" he says.

"It's like a long endurance race. You can't complain that your feet are tired or that your whole body is tired ... you've just got to find a way through.

"And, like when you run, there are beautiful moments -- like it can be a beautiful course, a beautiful day or you hit your second wind. And there are beautiful moments at home, too, like when James smiles at me," he says.

"My survival strategy for when I'm having a bad day is I'll bundle James up in a stroller and I'll go and get a coffee. It's a treat for dad, especially on the days I have cabin fever."

But seriously, Lewisham says he's so grateful to have the opportunity to "hang out" with his son.

"There are these little moments that I get with him and it feels like the best job in the world," he says.