Napier event good preparation for Maori Half Ironman

Maori will compete in a quarter-mile triathlon in Napier this weekend in preparation for something much more challenging.

The IronMaori Quarter Ironman triathlon is a training run for the much bigger IronMaori Half Ironman triathlon on December 1.

Flavazum Health and Fitness director Erin Thompson-Pou said she was expecting 40 people from Rotorua to compete today, with more than 80 expected at the larger half triathlon.

"Since February we have been training hard every week, we've had more and more people come on board for group training as we lead up to the main event. I've also had heaps of people asking for tickets but it sold out within eight minutes so loads of people that wanted to enter had missed out."

She said there had been large turnouts at trainings on a regular basis as many families were competing together.

"This event has brought a whole lot of people together, we're training our children and adults at the same time. People have lost heaps of weight too but it's not about that, it's about being healthy and giving them the lifestyle changes they need."

Mrs Thompson-Pou said their team had been training every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday in an attempt to be ready for both triathlons.

"We have been training by doing three-hour bike rides then following up with an hour run four times a week. We have even been going to technical classes at CycleZone on how to get the best use out of our bikes, they have been teaching us things like how to change a tyre, tyre pressure and all that - who knew there was such an art to owning and competing on a bike? It was certainly well worth the time."

CycleZone owner Bryce Shapley said the technical classes were on how to fix your bike and all the things associated with competing with a bike.

"The classes are here to help people familiarise themselves with a bike, it's about learning how to correctly change a tyre, basic stuff, what clothing they should be wearing, what kind of foods and drinks they should be consuming before their triathlons. For us, it's about making sure the bike fits them well, it's like shoes; if they don't fit they don't work."

Staff member Marcello Ojerio is behind the classes.

"He's a specialist in body geometry, he checks your range of motions and how the bike fits your body. He takes the time to interview each person and talk to them about what they are hoping to achieve."