It wasn't that long ago Rotorua Half Ironman competitor Marcus Browne was forced to take solace on a lane rope after swimming a paltry 20m.
Yet, the 51-year-old Department of Building and Housing mediator will be among five Rotorua athletes taking part in tomorrow's event at Tikitapu (Blue Lake).
For Browne, getting to the start line has been an achievement in itself.
He realised he needed to alter his outlook after his inactivity and 31-year smoking habit was at the root of some serious health issues.
"My back gave out five years ago just from lack of use. I couldn't move for three days and I was in a lot of pain," Browne said.
"The physio said 'get active' so I did."
Admitting he felt predisposed to the habit, Browne felt the best way to overcome the smoking urge was to set himself a fitness goal.
"I found I needed a carrot. I needed something to do, so I chose the local [Rotorua] marathon as that thing.
"My boss at court was an Ironman competitor and another colleague I worked with did it as well. I just thought it was a cool thing to do. I thought it was going to be a big mountain to climb, physically. So again, I thought it was that goal-based thing and it was the Ironman.
"Then I decided to give up smoking. You can't be a smoker and have enough fitness to do these type of things. There may be some, but they would be exceptions to the rules."
After successfully completing the Rotorua Marathon, the next step was to begin a specific Ironman training regime, where he alternated between swimming, cycling and running throughout his five-day training week.
Swimming proved particularly difficult - at first, he was only able to swim 20m before becoming desperately out of breath.
However, Browne perservered and felt the support of the staff at Rotorua Aquatic Centre was instrumental in getting his swimming up to scratch.
"They would tell me how to change my stroke and I have just improved gradually over time," Browne said.
"Same with biking. You learn as you go along and it becomes easier as your fitness improves.
"When I started trying to bike around the base of Ngongotaha mountain, I would have to get off my bike five times. But each time I tried, I found I didn't have to get off as much."
His long journey has taught him a valuable lesson, Browne said. "It's really taught me that anything is possible."
Since clearing the early roadblocks, Browne has completed the two previous Rotorua Half Ironmans and the full Taupo Ironman earlier this year.
"I just like having this event in our own backyard and I wanted to support it.
" I think the Rotorua course is quite challenging in terms of the bike leg."
Tomorrow's race will be his final before tackling Ironman Australia at Port Macquarie, New South Wales in April.
FAST FACTS
Rotorua Half Ironman:
Distance: 2km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run.
Swim leg: The circuit goes 900m out from the Tikitapu (Blue Lake) shoreline and back, with competitors swimming a further 200m along the lakefront before entering the bike transition.
Cycle leg: Travelling from Tarawera Rd, onto Te Ngae Rd and out to State Highway 30 and back to the Tikitapu transition area.
Run leg: Run halfway around Tikitapu before running along Tarawera Rd and onto Gun Club Rd and out to the Gun Club. Runners then travel back to the Gun Club Rd-Tarawera Rd junction before running out to the lookout. Runners then head to back along Tarawera Rd before completing a loop of Tikitapu to finish.
Start times: Men 6.30am, Women 6.35am, Teams 6.50am.
Ones to watch: Defending champion Brodie Madgwick of Te Aroha will be competing in tomorrow's race. He will face stiff competition from Australian Bevan Leach who has competed in more than 10 Ironman events and is expected to provide formidable opposition.
Ex-smoker in Half Ironman
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