Don Weston prepares for his mountain bike event. Photo / Lewis Gardner
Don Weston prepares for his mountain bike event. Photo / Lewis Gardner
Of the more than 4000 people competing in the Downer New Zealand Masters Games in Whanganui this week, Don Weston is probably entered in the most events.
The Hamilton man is planning to compete in 19 events - if he can fit them all in.
All of them involve running,swimming or cycling, and all contribute to his ability in triathlons.
He has competed overseas. He came second in his age group in the 2016 Snowy Mountain ITU Cross Triathlon at Crackenback in Australia, where he just about ran over a snake.
In the Masters Games triathlon on Saturday the 65-year-old did a 500m swim, 10km bike ride and 5km run, all off-road.
He was the only one in his age group but still "did "pretty well". It was good fun, he said, and a great event.
After it he went back to the event centre and chilled out with a quiet beer. He was feeling great on Sunday morning before the first of his two mountain bike events.
He got into mountain biking as an extension of cycling, and has done some of the New Zealand cycleways.
Don Weston prepares for his mountain bike event. Photo / Lewis Gardner
He brought a road bike to Whanganui as well as his mountain bike, and has two track cycling events in the Whanganui velodrome. He hasn't ridden there before, but has tried the Cambridge one.
His swimming events start mid-week, and he will also be competing in athletics.
Weston is visiting his mother and sister, Nancy and Veronica Bartrum, who live in Whanganui. He decided to make the most of the week by competing in the games.
"I'm here to try and win, but I'm also here to have fun," he said.
His training regime is simple and goes by feel.
"My basic routine is I usually swim twice a week, bike a couple of times a week and run a couple of times a week."
The games will be an ideal training opportunity for his next big event - the TRI NZ Suzuki North Island Championships in New Plymouth on March 28.
Weston has been to Whanganui many times before, and doesn't feel the need to see the sights on this visit. Instead, he has jobs to do for his mother and sister.
