Iron man on top of the world
Since
deciding to compete in a half-triathlon in 2004, Facilities
Management Unit asset planner Nathan Warburton has come a long way.
Or should that be he has run, swum and ridden a long way?
If qualifying for the legendary Hawaii Ironman competition is your benchmark, then the answer is a resounding yes.
In April at Pt Macquarie, in his third full-length triathlon –
which comprises a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42km run –
Warburton finished an impressive 93rd from a field of some 1600 in
just under
10 hours. The finish earned him a place at Hawaii’s Kona this
October.
"I changed my diet and worked out intensively in a gym over winter for that race," he said. "It must have worked."
The nine before and after work training sessions every week, with the fortnightly competitive State series triathlons wouldn’t have hurt either.
"Most triathletes dream of Kona," Warburton said. "In Australia we normally swim in a wetsuit but we won’t in the warmer waters of Hawaii. The bike ride through lava fields is pretty treacherous. And, during the run, the humidity and heat will be the biggest challenges."
Which begs the question: why put yourself through it?
"You can’t beat the feeling of getting to the finish line. Over the last 500m, hundreds of people are urging you on. That feeling, and the very healthy lifestyle, are great motivation."
But for all the physical punishment of training and race day, Warburton said the most physically demanding thing he has ever done was trekking Nepal’s 6476m Mera Peak last April. After taking eight days to get to the base camp at 5000m, altitude sickness forced Warburton to abandon the trek.
"I was pretty sick from the effects. The only way to describe it is extreme lethargy," he said.
Warburton was airlifted by helicopter back to Kathmandu where he quickly got well enough to be able to join two safaris.
"They were a highlight of the trip. Although being chased up a tree by a rhinoceros during the walking safari was frightening."