Ultimate ironman race for former Dunedin rower
WHEN Lucy Strack was gliding across the water, she never thought she would be lining up in multisport’s ultimate race.
The former New Zealand international rower will compete at Kona in the world ironman championships in October.
That came after qualifying in just her second full ironman race last weekend in Cairns.
After a slow bike leg, the 28yearold former St Hilda’s Collegiate pupil ran a rapid marathon to pull in 20 minutes and finish second in the AsiaPacific Championships.
It was a big achievement for Strack, who now lives in Auckland, and she was excited for the race.
‘‘Kona is the ultimate for all multisport, especially ironman,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s a qualificationonly event, so there’s no mucking around once you get there.
‘‘It will be really special to be lining up on the start line of that event.’’
It all came quickly for Strack, who had not thought about the Kona race until she went close to qualifying at the Taupo ironman earlier this year.
Indeed, she only got into multisport 18 months ago, when her friend asked her to be a training partner for the Tauranga half ironman.
It had been a few years since she retired from rowing in 2014, but Strack had been keeping fit and decided to do it.
A strong performance in that race was enough to qualify her for the longdistance event at the agegroup world championships in Canada.
She finished fourth and afterwards decided she wanted to do a full ironman.
That had created a busy lifestyle for the digital marketing accounts manager.
As well as working 40 hours a week, she usually trains for 20 hours, fitting in sessions every day.
That was a contrast to her years rowing, in which rowing was her job and she planned her life around training and competing.
She is enjoying it and said it opened her eyes to what could be achieved and fitted into a day.
She has been able to carry over many of the high performance lessons she learned in rowing.
That rowing career culminated in five years at the highest level, including an Olympic dream being dashed after an injury before the 2012 Games.
It is something she has good memories of, although it is not something she misses.
‘‘I loved my time rowing.
‘‘I had a fantastic career. I got to chase the European competition for four years.
‘‘I loved it while I was there, but I don’t miss it any more.
‘‘I think the only thing I miss is that feeling of gliding across the water.’’
Her focus is now firmly on Kona and she has not made any plans for beyond that.