Currie says mind game is the key

THE mental battle is going to be key for Braden Currie tomorrow.

That is what the Wanaka multisport athlete is expecting at his second Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

He was leading at one stage last year when a puncture on the bike leg cost him time. Back on the bike he was slapped with a 5min penalty for a drafting infringement and finished 30th.

‘‘I think overcoming last year’s Kona has been a really big challenge for me,’’ he said.

‘‘I didn’t have the race I wanted and it left me frustrated not because of the result but because of my inability to race.’’

He said the Ironman was much tougher and more gruelling than he had expected.

It was raced in a hot environment and attracted the best athletes in the world.

‘‘For me, this year’s race is now my ultimate challenge.

‘‘It is that full mix of pushing your physical and mental limits, because there is so much that I have to mentally overcome to achieve this race.’’

The race starts with a 3.86km ocean swim that begins and ends at Kailua Pier.

It then progresses to a 180.2km road bike ride, which has 1772m of elevation.

At the final transition, the racers drop their bikes and set off to run a marathon (42.2km) though kailuakona.

Going in believing he was capable of doing well was key for Currie.

‘‘It is about not going into the race feeling like the underdog.

‘‘A few years ago you would have caught me saying that I liked to be thought of as the underdog because in my own mind, that reduced the amount of expectation anyone had on me.

‘‘But it’s a different game now.

‘‘I know that my results previously will put me in some of the limelight and I need to believe I have the ability to race the best.’’

Usually based in Wanaka, Currie has spent the winter training in

Noosa, Australia.

That has enabled him to train in a warmer climate, closer to that he will experience in Kona.

The race has been his focus over the past year

‘‘It takes a huge amount of focus and commitment to get your body prepared for an event such as Kona.

‘‘It’s really common to see pro and age group athletes have something happen in the last few months of a buildup towards a championship race.

‘‘I think the additional emotional stress a big race can have on you can push people over the edge.’’

The race begins at 7.35am on

Sunday (New Zealand time).