Brown accepts Ironman Melbourne challenge

At 40-years-old, there's not much new in the sport for 10-time Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown.

But he is about to embark on something completely different when he competes in Ironman Melbourne on Sunday, just three weeks after finishing third at Ironman New Zealand in Taupo.

"It's the first time I have ever attempted racing a second Ironman after only three weeks' break," Brown said. "I have no idea how my body will feel until race day. It is going to be interesting."

Brown said he has recovered well from Ironman New Zealand, where he lost for the first time in Taupo over the full ironman distance. Fellow Kiwi and two-time Olympic medallist Bevan Docherty in his debut ironman race.

"It was a disappointing day for me, not because I did not win, but because I felt ordinary all day," Brown said. "Hat's off to Bevan who was the best out there on the day but it's the first time that I have not been able to fire in Taupo."

Brown enjoyed an outstanding second placing at the inaugural Ironman Melbourne last year, which doubles as the Asia Pacific championship - one of four major regional races leading to the ironman world championships.

He led for most of the day but was run down in the final 3km by two-time ironman world champion Craig Alexander. Brown's performance last year was off the back of an Ironman New Zealand race that was weather-shortened to a 70.3 half-distance race.

He is one of 66 New Zealanders taking part on Sunday. A number are Australian-based and there are also several doubling up from Taupo.

In the elite men's field, Alexander is top seed ahead of Brown with 2012 Ironman New Zealand winner Marino Vanhoeneker (BEL) ranked third.

Taupo runner-up Gina Crawford is seeded third in the women's race behind defending champion Caroline Steffen (SUI) and Ironman New Zealand winner Meredith Kessler (USA).