Triathlete turns life around after crash
Toowoomba man gears up for his first ironman event
Six years ago Julian Lancaster-Smith was in hospital with a fractured pelvis, broken leg, torn ankle ligaments and internal bleeding after a life-changing quad bike accident.
Now the 48-year-old is preparing for the Cairns Ironman in June.
It will be his first attempt at the 3.5km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.4km run challenge.
He spent two weeks in hospital following his accident and many more months recovering but he said he was faster now than ever.
“I didn’t start running properly again until early 2016. That’s when I started to get a feel for it and enjoy it again without hurting,” he said.
Lancaster-Smith is an active member of the Toowoomba Triathlon Club and has competed in three half-marathons and two half-marathons.
“It will be my first ever marathon at the tail-end (of the Cairns Ironman),” he said.
“I always said I would never do one because it’s such a long race, about 13 hours.”
He recalled wanting to compete in an ironman when he left high school.
“It’s one of those iconic things, you want to hear ‘you are an ironman’ as you cross the finish line, it’s inspiring,” he said.
As he prepares for the big race begins he will be putting in three hours of swimming, four hours of running and about 12 hours of cycling per week.
“I have been training hard enough for the past 12 months. I know I’m fit enough to do it. I just want to do it in a time I’m happy with,” Lancaster-Smith said.
“It will be physically and mentally tough. It’s a long time to be exercising and pushing yourself the whole way.”
He was inspired by fellow Tri Club members to sign up for the biggest race of his life yet.
“There has been a surprising number of people in Toowoomba who have completed ironman events,” he said.