Rotorua triathletes Jacque Webber (back left), Sjaan Sikking (Tokoroa), Moana Tapsell, Charlotte Porter (front left), Ann Eastcott and Shirley Day.
Rotorua triathletes Jacque Webber (back left), Sjaan Sikking (Tokoroa), Moana Tapsell, Charlotte Porter (front left), Ann Eastcott and Shirley Day.
A group of extraordinary athletes are living proof you can do anything you set your mind to.
The 10 triathletes, including five Rotorua women, one Tokoroa woman and four athletes from Taupo and Tauranga, have flown to Bavaria, Germany where they will take part in Challenge Roth - an Ironmanequivalent triathlon - on Sunday.
The event comprises a 4km swim, 180km bike and 42km run through the German city of Roth and is described on its website as "one of the most legendary long-distance triathlon events in the world".
About 3400 individual participants and 650 relay teams from more than 70 nations are expected to participate in the event, with about 260,000 spectators along the race course and at the triathlon stadium.
The local group will join 10 others from New Zealand under the banner of R2R (Road to Roth) and range in age from early 20s to early 60s.
Rotorua athletes Ann Eastcott,Charlotte Porter,Jacque Webber,Moana Tapselland Shirley Day,as well as Sjaan Sikkingof Tokoroa, have trained together regularly and provided a support network for one another.
Day said most of the group had met through participating in IronMaori triathlons and progressing to ironman events.
"Most have competed at least two Ironman events previously," she said.
Porter, for whom Challenge Roth will be her 12th Ironman event, said she had maintained her fitness throughout participating in each event and ramped up her training in the months leading up to each one.
"I try to have a good four months lead-in where I'm focused on what I'm doing.
"Ideally I'd be doing about 25 hours a week - that's a combination of swimming, biking and running as well as five to six hours of stretching and flexibility on top of that," Porter said.
The girls have painted their nails with a New Zealand theme as well as their race numbers for the big race. Photo / David Beck
Tapsell said she was excited, but nervous, and looking forward to trying some of the world-famous German beer.
"There's actually even beer at the aid stations so maybe I'll have one during the race.
"I've done the New Zealand Ironman in 2014 and this year - this year was a real challenge because of the weather.
"I don't think this one will be as tough weather-wise, you never know but hopefully," Tapsell said.
Sikking, the youngest woman in the group at 24, said one of her teachers at Forest View High School encouraged her to participate in triathlon and running events.
"I was just running around the lake outside our house and my PE teacher said 'why don't you do events? You'd love an Ironman'.
"So I watched one on TV one day and thought 'I am so doing one'.
She said she loved training and loved a challenge.
"I've only been triathlon training since I was 58 - it started because these two [Porter and Tapsell] had just done one and I saw them.
"They totally inspired me, I started training about three weeks later."
Day said it was great having a group of women to train with.
"You always have a training partner and someone to keep you honest and share the highs and lows of having to put so much time into training with.
"It's a big commitment and you make a lot of sacrifices - sometimes it's nice to have people who understand, if you have a bad day they'll boost you up or give you a tissue."
