One women reported how she had lost 25kg and had given up smoking, another reckoned she was more nervous at the start line than when she tackled a half-marathon.
But the duo provided two of many uplifting stories that emerged from the inaugural Sun Latte Active Women's triathlon event held at
Waipu Cove yesterday.
Part of a national series, with the proceeds going to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, 200 women lined up for the 400m swim, 12km cycle and 4km run at the popular beach resort.
Now the organisers are keen to try to double the participation numbers when the event returns next year.
Tania Tuck, who co-ordinates the national series, said the 200-strong field was "about what we expected" for the first-up event but she was confident it would become one of the more popular races in the series as the venue was one of the more picturesque in the country.
Local organiser Murray Healey said he had deliberately underplayed the pre-event promotion to make sure the day went smoothly but was confident there would be a significant boost in entries next year.
"Basically this time we relied on word of mouth to get the entries but next year we will make sure the profile is better and we let more people know this event is here," Healey said.
The general consensus was that Northlanders have a seemingly insatiable appetite for triathlons designed exclusively for women.
Yesterday's Sun Latte Active Women's Triathlon was the second woman-only triathlon staged in Northland this summer - the other being staged at Ruakaka late last year - and both had pulled in big entries.
One competitor yesterday said she had taken part in both events and would do another if there was one staged locally.
Others were already planning their next event, even as they were recovering at the finishline yesterday.
"The response is the same wherever we go, the women get a real confidence boost by taking part and really enjoy the atmosphere on competing in a women's only event," Tuck said.
Yesterday's race was one of 13 in the national series that included events in places such as Hokitika, Taupo, Feilding and Cromwell as well as events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Here comes the Allens and Advocate Northland Kids Triathlon
One women reported how she had lost 25kg and had given up smoking, another reckoned she was more nervous at the start line than when she tackled a half-marathon.
But the duo provided two of many uplifting stories that emerged from the inaugural Sun Latte Active Women's triathlon event held at
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