MUM’S THE WORD LIZ
LIZ Blatchford road’s back to the Ironman World Championship in Kona isn’t one forged on bitumen roads – but rather in the solace of her Gold Coast home with baby daughter Mahli.
It is in her Mermaid Beach home where Blatchford is spending endless hours on her indoor cycling trainer sweating it up while juggling the tasks of motherhood alongside partner Glen Murray, who celebrated the arrival of Mahli in June.
“I’m doing a lot on my home trainer because it’s really efficient,” Blatchford said as she prepares to compete in the 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships in Penrith on November 26.
“I can get on and do a really hard session in a short period of time. Mahli will sit on the bouncer next to me while I’m sweating up. There is some serious multi-tasking going on.”
One of the most gruelling endurance sports in the world requires the most committed training.
Blatchford – a two-time Ironman World Championship bronze medal winner – may not be back up to the 30 hours of training per week but after 18 months out of racing due to a foot injury and pregnancy the 37-year-old is already taking strides ahead.
“I don’t have a full ironman looming so I’m not doing those super long training days,” Blatchford said.
“My longest rides at the moment are four hours as opposed to when I’m doing ironman training they get up to six or seven hours.”
Blatchford made her return to racing at the Noosa Triathlon earlier this month where she finished seventh and the upcoming 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships will be her first chance to start gathering qualifying points for next year’s Ironman World Championship.
“That’s the race that motivates me and I think the time frame of that – given it’s just under a year away – I know I can be back to my best by then,” Blatchford said.
“I feel like I can be competitive there again.”
Blatchford revealed she considered retiring from triathlon after the birth of Mahli but said the hunger remains.
“I did consider (retiring),” Blatchford said.
“I’ve been competing for a really long time and I love the sport but I was like ‘should I just focus my attention on being a mum?’.
“I can’t do this forever so I felt the urge again a few months after having Mahli.
“I wasn’t sure if I would have that motivation or not but it definitely came back.”