As is always the case at any triathlon or multisport event, you don’t need to dig too deep into the entry list to find an amazing array of inspiring stories from those competing.
Cutting across all aspects of society and coming from all walks of life and from all parts of New Zealand, it seems triathletes share a special bond in participation and training, something that sees many great stories of endurance, perseverance and hard work in the face of adversity. All with the common goal, crossing the finish line and collecting their finishers medal, certificate or in many cases the t-shirt that says ‘been there and done that.’
Here are a few of those stories from participants in this Sunday’s Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Cup event, all are taking part in the age group races over either standard or sprint distance on Sunday morning before the stars of the sport hit the water and roads of downtown Auckland in the elite World Cup races.
I OWE MY LIFE TO TRIATHLON - Dreydon Sobanja – Misson Bay
As a boy I dreamed of wearing the black singlet as I watched John Walker win Olympic Gold. Until recently, I thought that dream was lost.
In August 2010 I was a very unhappy and overweight man in his late 30’s with a drinking problem. I had bottomed out and realised there were only two directions I could go. It was either rise again, or go 6 feet under! Luckily I decided to rise, and I used Triathlon as my vehicle.
In April 2011 I competed in my first Triathlon. By race day I had dropped from 90kgs to 70kgs. My two aims were to finish, and not to embarrass myself. To my surprise I finished a respectable 21st out of the 51 in my age group, and my run time was 7th fastest. I now had something to build upon!
Shortly after this I received the most exciting email of my life … the announcement of the ITU World Cup to be held in Auckland in November 2011. It wasn’t just because I love triathlon, or that it was on my home turf, or that anyone was able to enter, it was because it offered the realisation of a long lost dream … representing the country I love.
I’ve surrounded myself with experts, had a complete change of my attitude to life, and worked harder and smarter than I’ve ever worked before. I owe my current life to Triathlon and I plan to repay it on November the 20th.
TRIATHLON DEFEATS MIDDLE AGE SPREAD - Tom Lanigan – Bucklands Beach
When I was a kid I dreamed of representing the country in sport, wearing the silver fern. Slowly as I reached adulthood, I was forced to recognise that I didn’t have enough talent to make the grade
So it’s quite funny in my senior years, to be presented with an opportunity to do just that, represent the country in age-group triathlon.
I’ve been doing triathlon recently anyway, just as an incentive to exercise for health and battle middle age spread.
So now I’m excited and motivated to put in a good effort on the day.
FORMER SUPERSTAR RETURNS IN AGE GROUP SUIT - Suzie (aka Sue) Clark
Suzie took part in her first triathlon in 1984, shortly followed by winning the inaugural Auckland and NZ Secondary Schools Triathlon Championships in 1985 and 1986. Early success as a teen was quickly hampered by a torn calf ligament from 1989 to 1991, upsetting fitness for the Commonwealth Games event held in Auckland in 1990.
Sue however made a comeback during the 90's whilst studying towards a Bachelor of Education degree, culminating in winning every National distance title in 1995 from Sprint to Ironman along with the titles in the long and short course Duathlon. With swimming the weak link in her triathlon, the ITU professional circuit did not suit her, and after a few years of NZ summer tri seasons, she eventually retired in 2001 to go work onboard cruise ships as a fitness instructor for a few years.
Having met her current partner five years ago, who decided to get into the sport, she has gradually 'discovered' the passion for triathlon again, and this was further developed when accompanying the World Age Group team as their Assistant Team Manager to the World Champs in Beijing this year. Suzie now has her sights on a 40-44 age group podium finish in 2012, going onto a hopefully a similar result in the 45-49 age group in London 2013.
Good luck to all competitors this Sunday!