Birthday challenge ends in triumph for Gibling

On Friday afternoon Steve Gibling was a self-confessed "Ironman virgin" feeling an explosive mix of nervous excitment and anxiety.

"I'm feeling excited, nervous and just keen to get it done really," said the Rotorua triathlete. "I want to be able to finish and feel like I can party and if I can do that I know that my run has gone well and that I've paced myself really well. If I come back feeling a bit shagged, then I've kind of lost my race plan a little bit."

A little over 24-hours later Gibling crossed the Bonita New Zealand Ironman finish line in 12hr 20min 08s - raising his arms in triumph to the large supportive crowd in Taupo after successfully completing the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run.

"That was the hardest thing I've done in my life," the Event Venues event manager told The Daily Post afterwards. "It defintely rates right up there as one of the toughest physical and mental life lessons I've accomplished, but it feels pretty awesome."

Twelve months ago Gibling made a pact with himself that in March 2005 he was going to complete his first Ironman. Not only was it to be the biggest physical challenge of his life, it was also going to co-incide with his 30th birthday - a mental milestone in the eyes of the young, enthusiastic sport nut.

"My 30th really was a key motivator in all of this," he said. "And when I figured out that the dates co-incided I made a deal with myself to do it."

Following an 11-month preparation for the event, aided by swim coach Scott Donaldson, training partner Sean Barnes and an "extremely supportive and understanding girlfriend", Gibling reduced his weight, improved his fitness, swimming and biking skills. He got race fit by competing in the Wild Moa multisport challenge, last April's popular Xterra off-road triathlon at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) surprising himself along the way by qualifying for October's Xterra World Championships in Maui, Hawaii.

"Ironman is an event that's very difficult to compare to another," he admitted before the race. "While I've had a great build up and was really happy with my bike on the Wild Moa, this event is out there.

"It's kind of a big thing, but you don't appreciate just how big until you actually commit yourself to it and turn up on race briefing and see 1300 people in the room."

After completing the swim in a swift 1hr 01m 43s, the former surf lifesaver ground it out on 180km cycle, recording a time of 6hr 15min 51s.

"I felt really good on the bike, but began tiring on the second leg, my legs just started to feel cooked," he admitted. "Initially it was really cold, but thankfully not much wind, but after the second turn around the cloud started to part and it warmed up."

Heading into the marathon run, Gibling felt strong before losing power around the 10km mark. He also faced a mental battle as each footstep slowed down. Despite being willed on by the thousands of spectators that lined the streets, Gibling admitted it was a struggle.

"Once you start feeling like shit, you start to withdraw into yourself, but it was a great atmosphere with the crowd. I had fantastic support and that support is vital - it does keep you going."

Four hours 51minutes and 21seconds later Gibling finished the run to become a bona-fide Ironman.

"I still finished and I have to confess I was a little bit disappointed with my time. But at the end of the day I finished, which was key and was my original goal. On reflection you see areas you can on improve on and think 'if I'd done this and if I'd done that' I might have gone faster - but hindsight is a wonderful thing."

After spending yesterday in Taupo receiving post-race massages and being surrounded by like company of Ironman finishers who, according to Gibling, walk differently - with a strained limp and an enormous sense of pride - he knows he'll be back again sometime in the future.

"Oh yeah, I'll do another one - it won't be next year - but I'll be back."