Tri Alliance athletes take on Ironman Melbourne (1)

Tri Alliance caught up with our Ironman athletes leading into Ironman Melbourne to share with you a quick and entertaining insight into each athletes preparation, challenges, expectations, advice for supporters and most importantly, how they plan on celebrating their achievements. We’ll share a group of athletes each day leading into the big race next Sunday 23 March. So come along and join in their journey….

MARTIN SAMMUT (Sam)
Race #/Category? #2011 / 50 – 54
How many IM’s under your belt? Second one!
Words of wisdom for a first timer? Buy up big in the merchandise tent at the expo but always buy a larger size than you are now!
Biggest challenge getting to this point? Constant training
Best part of the journey to Ironman? Nice group of people to train with. Some of the training partners are inspiring.
Expectations leading into the race? To complete the race within my limits – Under 13 hrs I’ll be happy
Your advice to your supporters? Don’t say “engage your core” or “do your zip up”
How will you celebrate your achievement? Sit back with my family and watch and cheer a few others finishing

IAN RENOUF (Roofi)
Race #/Category? #2003 Old farts 50-54
How many IM’s under your belt?  No. 0.95 done previously (stupid WTC and their stupid swim contingency)
Words of wisdom for a first timer? Think long and hard before getting a WTC tattoo
Biggest challenge getting to this point? Being left handed
Best part of the journey to Ironman? Training partners and coaches that are super hot.
Expectations leading into the race? Hoping my forks don’t break again
Your advice to your supporters? Your forks look great / What not to say: What’s wrong with your forks?
How will you celebrate your achievement? New forks (you will have to ask me about my forks!) 😉

Before Ironman

After Ironman

MARK JENKINS (Jenko)
Race #/Category? #1952 – 50-54 MALE
How many IM’s under your belt? 3rd Ironman race (1 x Port Mac, 1 x Melb)
Words of wisdom for a first timer? Embrace the race, enjoy yourself and take in as much as you can – it’s a privilege to be out there and MOST people won’t ever get close!!
Biggest challenge getting to this point? My biggest challenge is to have to bounce back after injury – at 52 only the wrong things bounce now!!
Best part of the journey to Ironman? The people around me
Expectations leading into the race? I’m racing to finish – nothing more and certainly nothing less. It’s been a shit year with constant injuries but instead of giving up I’m gunna tough it out this one last time.
Your advice to your supporters? My Kids are preparing a short note to put in my special needs bag on the ride and my wife will have one in my run bag – what they write will be a surprise and something I’ll look forward to discovering.
How will you celebrate your achievement? Retirement!!! Oh, and maybe a bit more ink!!!

JODY BIDDLE (Jodes)
Race #/Category? #1564 M45-49
How many IM’s under your belt? This is my fourth.
Words of wisdom for a first timer? Don’t underestimate the power of the sausage rolls from Riddells Creek Bakery no matter what Margs says.
Biggest challenge getting to this point? Getting my ass to Macedon for the Saturday morning long rides and running off the bike on that stinking 2.4km loop. And Angry St.
Best part of the journey to Ironman? The pie race from Gisborne to Riddells Creek Bakery on Saturday mornings mixed with a strong northerly.
Expectations leading into the race? Top 13.
Your advice to your supporters? I am most motivated when people say “Looking good Jody” in the last 5kms of the marathon and “Almost there” in the first 5kms of the marathon.
How will you celebrate your achievement? Stack on 5 kilos in 4 weeks.

EDWARD SMITH (Ed)
Race #/Category? #2026 Male 50-54
How many IM’s under your belt? This will be my third. I raced the New Zealand Ironman in 2001 and again in 2003.
Words of wisdom for a first timer? Finishing an ironman is like eating an elephant.  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.
Biggest challenge getting to this point? The biggest challenge has managing time commitments between work, family and my sport.  My partner has been very supportive and picked up my share of the house.  She’s a saint.
Best part of the journey to Ironman? I’ve loved meeting and getting to know the TA athletes training for this event
Expectations leading into the race? I haven’t made a big deal of target times this time around.  I’ll be ecstatic if I make a PB as 11 years counts for a lot at my age.
Your advice to your supporters? I have a bad habit of plodding during the run.  If I look like I’m plodding call “pick it up Ed”.  If I’m walking call “plod on Ed” coz at least that would be better than walking.  If I look good then break into a verse of Glory, Glory Hallelujah.  On second thoughts just sing – else I might feel discouraged.
How will you celebrate your achievement? I have been dreaming of a long, cold beer for a long time.

PETER HINRICHSEN (Pete)
Race #/Category? #1942 M50-54
How many IM’s under your belt? Ironman number 4.
Words of wisdom for a first timer? Embrace the pain.
Biggest challenge getting to this point? Ha! Training through the school holidays.
Best part of the journey to Ironman? As always, the naked honesty of the conversations we have together at the 150km mark of a long ride, or the 30km mark of a long run.
Expectations leading into the race? To achieve a PB – Sub 11:23
Your advice to your supporters? Just being there means everything.
How will you celebrate your achievement? By racing Cairns with some good mates.

DAVID BURTON (At my old running club I was known as “Slow Dave”)
Race #/Category? #1897, Male 50-54 (although I won’t turn 50 until 4 months after the race!)
How many IM’s under your belt? First Full!
Biggest challenge getting to this point? Achilles injury limited running up until December. In the early stages when my training was poor I had to keep reminding myself that I might pull out but it wasn’t yet the time to make that decision.
Best part of the journey to Ironman? Being able to see continuous progress in training and lead up events and getting to know the others in the squad
Expectations leading into the race? I’ve got progressive goals – the first is to get to the start line, the second to get out of the water and so on. The final goal is to finish in a good positive state of mind. Sub 15h would be pleasing.
Your advice to your supporters? Don’t tell me to smile or look happy about it – that’s the way I always look! Say something funny, ask me if I’ve worked out why I am doing this yet, or flash your tits. (no not really…) 😉
How will you celebrate your achievement? Celebrate with the team in the following days, change my LinkedIn Profile, coax my ego and self esteem out from their hiding spot, send selfies of my Ironman physique to ex girlfriends!