Ready for an Ironman
Members of a burgeoning Taranaki Ma¯ ori health and wellness group are putting their bodies on the line this Saturday, at the Kellogg’s Nutrigrain Ironman in Taupo. When the starting canon fires at dawn, 12 members of Taranaki Toa will take on the ironman challenge. The event includes a 3.8 kilometre swim, a
180km cycle, followed by 42km run. A further seven members will compete in the 70.3km half ironman. The athletes will be joined by a big contingent of Taranaki Toa supporters, close friends and family.
Taranaki Toa was established in
2012 to promote health and wellness through exercise and physical activity, in an effort to address an over representation of Ma¯ ori in poor health statistics.
Triathlon was the ‘vehicle’ it used to get people active. Since its small beginning five years ago, Taranaki Toa has grown to such an extent that it is now running its own Taranakibased wha¯ nau triathlons – this year being held in Waitara on March 24 and in Opunake on April 21.
Founder Alf Robson said Taranaki Toa strived to create an environment where people were encouraged to ‘‘have a go’’ in a very welcoming and supportive environment.
The group includes all ages, sizes and abilities with the emphasis being on pursuing a healthy active lifestyle, for life. The focus was on participation and completion rather than competition.
Robson said that Taranaki Toa’s ironman competitors were proof that anyone could embrace a health and wellness journey and make it all the way to the pinnacle of triathlon.
Robson will again be fronting up at the start line, alongside his fellow group members, who had been training for the past eight months - rain, hail or shine. Four of the group Marina Healey, Craig Dent, Lynley Martin and Louise Miller - will make their ironman debuts.
The group hoped that their ironman efforts would inspire others to take the plunge.
‘‘The journey to ironman is so demanding and tough but crossing the finish line and hearing the words, ‘You are an Ironman’ is an unbelievably amazing feeling’,’’ Robson said.
Robson said Taranaki Toa was proof that if you put your mind to something and work hard, there was no limit to what you can achieve.