Gray at ease in fight to stay fit
NATHAN Gray is eager to make up for lost time.
The Surfers Paradise ironman spent nearly all of last summer watching on from the beach after being struck down by a case of chronic fatigue syndrome.
As Gray was fighting to regain fitness, clubmate Ali Day won his second Nutri-Grain Ironman Series in a contrast of fortune that has reversed itself this summer.
“I was really fatigued basically the whole summer and only got myself fit for Aussies,” Gray said. “I was pretty sick and didn’t get to do many races.
“I tried to train through it and not let it affect my life and was wanting to race but I wasn’t able to.”
In the off-season, the 27year-old re-evaluated his approach to training.
With plans to tackle the 2019 Coolangatta Gold, Gray adopted a slightly more relaxed approach to training, which has paid dividends.
Gray was one of the six men to qualify for the Nutri-Grain series this summer and has so far achieved a result of eighth in the Gold and 11th at Burleigh a fortnight ago.
“In the pre-season, when I didn’t feel well, I didn’t train and I didn’t bury myself like I’ve done in previous years,” Gray said.
“I always wanted to come back bigger and stronger.
“Regardless of results, I just want to race and compete in my favourite sport.”
While Gray’s body hasn’t failed him so far, he said the emotional rollercoaster of qualifying for the series had been an unexpected challenge.
“There was a lot of pressure on that trial weekend but you also had to think about if I make it, then I have to turn my focus to the Gold,” he said.
“You go straight from the emotions of making the series to preparing for the Coolangatta Gold, which is quite hard to balance.”
Regardless of where he may finish this summer, Gray said he’s taking time to enjoy every moment in the series.
“We were out racing at Burleigh and there was this moment where we all sort of looked at each other and we’re like ‘far out we have another three laps of this’,” he said.
“It’s funny because it’s a professional race but you have these moments and we’re all still mates at the end of it.”
Gray will line up in Round 3 at Bulli in NSW tomorrow.