Ironman: Breaking the eight-hour barrier

Terenzo Bozzone says his first experience of the Kona Ironman event last year got him hooked. Photo / Doug Sherring

After giving up his Olympic dream Terenzo Bozzone isn't just planning to be New Zealand's first King of Kona, he wants to rewrite the record books.

The eight-time world multisport champion returns to the sacred mountain in Hawaii raring to go after coming 11th in his debut in last year's Ironman World Championship with a time of 8:34.45.

Bozzone's first experience of the Kona has him hooked.

"It is an amazing event - it blows my mind," said Bozzone after a rigorous training session in Auckland.

"There is nothing in the world like it and the course is unbelievably challenging ... I can't wait."

The 25-year-old has his sights on bettering all-time legends Americans Mark Allen and Dave Scott, who share the record of six victories at Kona.

The South African-born Kiwi, with his coach Jon Ackland, has implemented a 10-year battle plan; the end goal to complete the gruelling course in an unprecedented eight hours flat.

The current record for the event is 8:04.08 by Belgian Luc Van Lierde in 1996.

No athlete has run sub 8:10.00 since but that doesn't deter Bozzone, who has an unerring confidence in his ability and plan.

"I want to push the sport forward," said Bozzone.

"I am committed to Kona now and eight hours is the long-term goal I have in mind.

"It's going to take a while and a lot of hard work but I am focused on that mark and every year the goal is to go lower and keep building towards it."

Kona is regarded as the hardest ironman in the world.

In searing temperatures of around 38C and humidity of between 80 and 90 per cent, the world's best athletes complete a 3.86km swim, a 180.25km bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert, and a marathon run (42.195km) along the coast of the Big Island.

Sorting out his nutrition has been highlighted as Bozzone aims for a top-five finish.

"I put on almost 2kg because my body just shut down and started absorbing water so the focus this time is important to get my nutrition right."

Bozzone has reason to be confident as this year he has had a year to behold.

He has placed second in the Ironman New Zealand at Taupo, second in New Orleans 70.3, first at Texas 70.3/United States Pro Champs, first at St Croix 70.3, second at Rev3 Olympic, second at Rev3 Half Ironman, first Eagleman 70.3, second at Buffalo Springs 70.3, first at Rhode Island 70.3 and second in the Philippines 70.3.

It seems that winning has become a habit.

"I wish it was that simple," he said laughing. "There are times when I am on the start line and I am nervous and I need Jon to give me that belief.

"He tells me: 'Look at all that you achieved and the big events you have won, you can do this and you have nothing to fear.'

"Sometimes I need to hear that.

"And at the same time he is pretty quick to knock me back down if I get ahead of myself."

Ackland has been Bozzone's coach for the past 10 years and believes that he has the focus and discipline to back up their plan.

"He is a great package to work with because he has all the ability and the attitude to match," said Ackland.

"He is a very impressive and talented athlete but to just say that is to dismiss how dedicated he is to his training and how hard he works.

"The hardest thing with Terenzo is to hold him back and get him to take it easy."

Another hard thing was sacrificing his Olympic triathlon ambition.

"The Olympics was always a dream of mine so to turn my back on that was hard but Kona is the ultimate and I can't afford to get distracted," said Bozzone.

"If I am going to be the best in ironman I can't have time away from the sport and lose the ground that I have made.

"I have committed myself to long-distance triathlon and the focus is to push myself to my full potential."

Ackland said the pair planned meticulously and analysed all Bozzone's strengths and weaknesses, aiming to complete Kona consistently in 8h 10m - the mark Allen hit with regularity from 1989-93 when he won five straight titles.

"The way we look at it this year at Kona is less about winning but building towards the goals we have set and the development towards the ultimate goal," Ackland said.

"All of our training is working towards breaking 8 hours 10 and then after that it is asking how much faster can we go and building every year after that."

At the moment the man setting the standard is Australian Craig Alexander, who last year secured his second successive title in 8:20.21.

Cameron Brown has been the closest Kiwi to achieving glory at Kona.

The New Zealand champion has come agonisingly close, with runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2005 and third place in 2003 and 2004.

"He is coming to the end of his career as an ironman so he'll be looking to go out with a bang," said Bozzone of the 37-year-old.

"Cam and I have a good open relationship and we talk to each other often about things we need to improve on," he said. "We are always trying to better each other."

There is no doubt that you need a certain personality to race Kona.

Legends Allen, who was the oldest to win the event at the age of 37 in 1995, and Dave Scott were known for their alternative personalities.

"Mark Allen famously said, 'The gods were talking to me as I ran along the lava fields' ... if you hear me say anything like that there'd be people at home wondering what I am smoking ... seriously you'd have to slap me out of it."

Bozzone had dreamed of repeating Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty's 1-2 finish at Athens in 2004 but that dream has changed.

"It would be cool if me and Cam Brown can pull off a 1-2 at Kona," he said. "I am totally committed to ironman now."

Ironman Hawaii
* Kona - October 8
* 3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42km run
* 1800 entrants compete through tough ocean waves and challenging lava-covered terrain
* www.ironman.com