Inspiring athlete makes first full tilt at Ironman
JOHN Thompson will complete a stunning, life-changing journey when he takes the first steps into the water off Palm Cove for tomorrow’s Ironman.
It was five years ago when Thompson chose to start seriously exercising. Tomorrow, he will attempt his first full distance Ironman. “I’m a bit nervous,” he said. “It’s the first time I’m going for the full distance but it will be good here with the energy from friends and family.”
Sitting on a boat with a work colleague near Fitzroy Island all those years ago, a then 115-plus kilogram Thompson listened to how he followed an eating plan to shave weight off his frame.
That conversation ended with a commitment from Thompson to sign up for the Cardiac Challenge, an annual bike ride from Cairns to Cooktown. He loved every second of the ride, which started an unwavering commitment to exercise and was an introduction to multisport. Specifically, he rode the bike leg for a team in the Ironman Cairns, and the bug bit.
“I had a great time but I was meeting a lot of people with a similar passion,” Thompson said. “I bought into it.”
By this time, Thompson was committed to training.
He added in more swimming and running to complement his riding ability, and over time became more adept at the multisport disciplines.
Long rides became triathlons, which soon grew into the Ironman 70.3 – and a loss of about 35kg.
He has completed that halfdistance at Cairns several times now, and with each became more comfortable.
The Ironman, which includes a 3.8km swim at Palm Cove, a 180km bike course, which will take athletes from Palm Cove to Port Douglas and back to Cairns, and a 42.2km marathon to finish off, is not for the faint of heart.
Thompson said it was something he could not do alone.
“It’s a big time commitment, I had about six months of following a program,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of training. “You need the support of your family and friends as it takes a lot of family time away.
“After my first 70.3 I thought about the full distance but now my kids are in high school, this is the perfect time to go for it.”
Thompson’s support crew includes wife, Gerna, who has previously completed the 70.3, and his children, who have previously participated in the Ironkids races.
They will all volunteer on the course as Thompson tries to finish the Ironman under 13 hours, but there’s still one major unknown.
“I’ve never done such a big run after a ride of that distance so that will be interesting,” Thompson said. “To finish is the first goal, and I’d like to get under 13 hours.
“My bike is the strongest, I’ve found, and the swim could be tough.”