Hendy to push for Gold
TJ Hendy says the days when he lined up in races just to go around are over and he’s tackling the Coolangatta Gold to win – despite the presence of Ali Day.
Hendy had a breakthrough season in the NutriGrain series last summer, stepping out of the shadow of his famous father Trevor by winning the opening round in Sydney before eventually finishing eighth overall.
And it has helped shape his attitude heading into Sunday’s 41.8km endurance test.
While a gruelling off-season of training for the Gold will help give Hendy the fitness he needs to excel in his preferred format in the NutriGrain series, the 22-year-old is not content just to make up the numbers this weekend.
“I’m 100 per cent going to have a crack,” he said. “I don’t show up to a race just to get it done anymore.
“Three years ago when I first entered this race it wasn’t about results really, it was just about doing it. I never thought I’d see the day where I actually wanted to do the Gold as fast as I could but I’m at that level now where I feel like I could push myself for that amount of time.”
Hendy’s Surfers Paradise clubmate Day is gunning for a record sixth Gold title and remains the overwhelming favourite heading into the event.
But he knows he won’t have things all his own way.
“Some of the boys from Surfers Paradise have been putting some really good work in – and there’s a couple from Sydney as well,” he said.
Going for gold in the race doesn’t mean that Hendy will race without care though.
With the ironman series starting in Sydney on October 20 and the world championships in Adelaide next month, he needs plenty of petrol in the tank.
“After (the Gold), I’ve also got things that are probably a little bit more in my heart in the Nutri-Grain series and world titles,” he said. So I’ve got to make sure that I’m recovering well and doing everything right on the day.”