Ironman New Zealand: Rotorua's Josh Te Kowhai aiming to finish challenge in Taupō with a smile

Rotorua's Josh Te Kowhai is simply aiming to finish this week's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand with a smile on his face. Photo / Supplied

After committing to the hours of training needed to take on Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand, D-Day is about to arrive for Rotorua's Josh Te Kowhai.

This year's Ironman event will be held in Taupō on Saturday, celebrating 35 years, and Te Kowhai, who was announced as a recipient of the Tony Jackson Scholarship last July, has fully committed to the challenge.

"It's not going to be fast, but I've got 17 hours to get the same medal as the winner," Te Kowhai says.

He was selected for the scholarship, which is set up to support athletes who, without it would not be able to take part in Ironman New Zealand and because he epitomises the spirit of Tony Jackson and the phrase, "nothing is impossible to the willing mind".

In 2004 the man nicknamed "Sheriff of Koutu" was involved in a serious car crash that ended his professional rugby career. The damage to his legs left doctors questioning whether he would even walk again, let alone return to sport.

Te Kowhai defied the medical odds. He established himself as a personal trainer and gym owner, where he has a particular dedication to helping young people and at-risk groups.

"I do like to call it the carpenter's syndrome. You build everyone else's houses except your own. You're busy working with other people and don't get to put a ton of time into yourself. This is why this has been awesome. I've had my own goal to take to the end."

Te Kowhai has represented New Zealand in both rugby and boxing, so he knows how to push himself. But the help of the Boost Coaching crew pushed him even further as well as the support from many others in Rotorua who are also training for their first full Ironman distance race, banding together to make the long training sessions that bit easier.

"There's very rarely a training I have to go out by myself. There's always someone I can call on.

"A lot of guys not doing Ironman this year have come out with me on big rides and big runs. That's got to be hard for them because they're not actually training for anything. And I've said I'll repay the favour because they're all going back for 2020."

The biggest impact on Te Kowhai's training and recovery has come from his partner Tairi Ford, and his sons.

"My partner has been an absolute champion for me. She has all my meals ready and has me ready so I can go to sleep early. I'm pretty spoiled there. It's a team effort involved. "

The biggest obstacle Te Kowhai has had to overcome in his training has been his lack of swim motivation.

"I had a bad attitude towards swimming. I took a negative frame of mind into it every time I went to the pool or the lake.

"But I've got over that in the last few weeks. It's all fallen into place and I think that's all to do with mindset."

Heading into race week, Te Kowhai is beginning to feel the nerves, but the excitement is also building.

Te Kowhai has a pretty simple aim for the race.

"My goal is just to finish with a smile. If anything, I've taken away any time pressures which has made it a lot better for me in the last few weeks. It's going to be what it's going to be, and I'll just do my best. I'm out there to enjoy every aspect of the day. It will be a PB regardless."

"The bike's always been my favourite part, but 180km is still 180km. That doesn't change. As long as I don't have any mechanicals, I should be all right. The biggest thing I've learned on the bike is to pull back a bit and stay green zone."

From there it's out onto the run.

"I'm 120kg so I'm expecting the crowd to drag me through the marathon."

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