Having a dig for Gold
REBECCA Creedy will take a leaf out of Dean Mercer’s book as she approaches next weekend’s gruelling Coolangatta Gold as the oldest competitor in the field.
Creedy, 34, said she had initially been undecided about taking part in the famous race this season. But knowing she is nearing the end of her professional career, she wanted to give herself every chance to compete.
“I was humming and haaing about doing it this year, I didn’t know whether I really wanted to do the training for it – well, I wasn’t enjoying doing the training,” Creedy told the Bulletin.
“Normally it doesn’t bother me getting in and doing the long stuff but I didn’t really seem to be enjoying it earlier on in the season and I was in two minds and then one day I went out and did a big Gold session and everything seemed to fall together and I changed my mind.
“Sometimes that’s all it takes. You’re not always motivated to do the hard work but you’ve just got to grin and bear it sometimes.”
Creedy will compete under the Kurrawa banner after moving to the club from Northcliffe last season. As Kurrawa’s director of surf sports, Mercer played a crucial role in getting her to the club and helping her continue a career that started when she won a place in Australia’s swimming team for the world championships at age 14.
“Deano was such a big character and he was such a big part of me going to the club,” Creedy said.
“He really made it possible for me to continue my career in ironwoman racing in a scenario like Kurrawa.”
Creedy, a two-time Australian ironwoman champion does not know how much longer she will compete after this season. A sprinter as a swimmer, Creedy is much better suited to short-form racing than the 41.8km torture test that is the Gold.
But she said Mercer provided the perfect example for the race and would be in her thoughts next Sunday.
“He just never gave up and that’s such an important trait in an athlete and it did make him a supreme athlete,” Creedy said.
“That’s really what the Gold is about – and that’s really how I’ve always approached the Gold.
“It’s not like you’re not going to make it, it’s just a matter of how fast you’re going to make it.
“I always say to people, I’m not necessarily the best build for doing the Gold and my make-up is not that of an endurance athlete.
“But I go out and have a go and enjoy it for what it is and take out of it what I can for my shortcourse races as well, just prepping and fitness and everything about being an athlete.
“The day you start picking and choosing your races is probably the day I’ll stop. I just like being a part of the race and a part of this story.”