Triathalon: Brown not over the hill just yet

Cameron Brown will be competing in Auckland in January. Photo / Daryl Carey

Cameron Brown had been asked countless times how long he could keep going as a professional ironman athlete and had always deflected those questions.

His age, which had crept past 40, was merely a number, he said. But after what he describes as "the worst year of my life" in 2013, even Brown started to have doubts

Maybe, into his fifth decade and having won Ironman New Zealand 10 times and been a four-time podium finisher at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, the end was approaching.

He was "mentally fried" from the demands of the energy-sapping endurance sport, but rather than make a rash decision Brown took a seven-week break from training last year to recharge his batteries. The much-needed rest worked. It allowed Brown to recover from several injury niggles and rediscover his passion for the sport.

"No way did I want to give up my day job, but a few doubts started creeping in," he admits. "I wondered as I had turned 40 whether it would be my last year in the sport as a professional. Fortunately, when I returned, my form was great from the word go. I got that motivation back to train again."

What transpired was a "fantastic" year.

Brown began 2014 with victory at the Port of Tauranga Half before later in January finishing an impressive sixth in a world-class field at Ironman 70.3 Auckland, an event which doubles at the Asia-Pacific Championships.

His resurgence continued in June when he made history by becoming the oldest winner of an ironman triathlon at Cairns in Queensland. It was a huge moment for the Aucklander, who at the time was just two weeks short of celebrating his 42nd birthday.

"It was right up there as one of my biggest ever wins," says Brown of his 12th ironman victory. "I didn't think I would still be winning at aged nearly 42."

Brown's memorable year suffered a jolt in September after he was the victim of a terrifying jellyfish attack at Ironman Malaysia. Stung across the body and face about 500m from the first transition, he managed to hop on the bike but was in great pain. He struggled during the final third of the bike ride.

"My body started shutting down and going into shock," Brown says. "Between 120km and 180km, I could barely push the pedals."

He was seriously distressed when entering second transition.

"I had a tingly sensation all over my body and I couldn't control my emotions, I was nearly crying," he admits. "I thought I was going to have a heart attack."

He quickly received medical attention from the deeply unpleasant experience, and Brown has since made a full recovery as evidenced by his victory at Ironman 70.3 Taiwan earlier this month.

On January 18 he faces his first major international challenge of 2015 at Ironman 70.3 Auckland and is relishing the prospect of racing in his home city again.

"I really enjoyed the event last year and I love going across the Harbour Bridge, it is a real experience," he says. "We had a stunning day this year and hopefully we'll get another great day this year."

He's also seeking an improvement on his sixth from the 2014 race - won by 2008 Olympic champion Jan Frodeno of Germany - and has identified areas where he needs to improve.

"I'm aiming for better," admits Brown, who produced the third-fastest running leg of the race. "I just need to get on top of the swim. I then finished two minutes off the lead group after the cycle, so it made it very hard to play catch-up. I just stay with the lead group to give myself a better chance."

Beyond the Auckland event, Brown will then target his beloved Ironman New Zealand in March but his outstanding 2014 has given him the desire for one final crack at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in October.

"I haven't been back for two years but now I have the motivation to give it one more go," Brown insists. Yet why after years of hard slog does he still have the desire to push his body to the limit?

"I love winning," he says.

2014

• Port of Tauranga: 1st

• 70.3 Auckland (AP Champs): 6th

• Ironman NZ: 2nd

• Ironman Cairns: 1st

• 70.3 Philippines: 3rd

• Metaman Malaysia: 1st

• 70.3 Taiwan: 1st