Ready to take on NZ Ironman again

‘‘My goal was to race Ironman New Zealand in this beautiful town, so I did it. Then I fell in love with this beautiful town.’’ Pedro Morales.

Mexico’s Pedro Morales arrived in Taupo for last year’s Ironman and never left.

The extreme athlete has climbed the highest mountain in America [Chimborazo, 6200m, in Ecuador], he has trekked across a salt dessert and has run a marathon in the highest city in the world La Paz Bolivia [4000m above seal level].

He has done five Ironman’s around the world, including the Ironman in Taupo last year. He loved the place so much he decided to stay and train for this year’s event.

‘‘My goal was to race Ironman New Zealand in this beautiful town, so I did it,’’ he said.

‘‘Then I fell in love with this beautiful town and decide to stay here and work and train to race Ironman New Zealand again.’’

Morales has been in prep mode for a bit now, with his program and coach fully locked in. He was training 15-20 hours a week but with three weeks to go, he has increased that to 25 hours a week.

As he has taken part in Ironman’s in Malaysia, Canada, America, and Australia, New Zealand’s Ironman was the last on the list.

He completed the Ironman in 11 hours last year and has high hopes of beating that time this year.

‘‘If everything goes well, I hope to break the 10 hour mark,’’ he said. ‘‘We will see though.’’

‘‘I tried to replicate the Ironman as much as I could,’’ he said. ‘‘Its important to train.’’

‘‘I have to say that Taupo is a world class place to train a do outdoors sports. I’ve been living in Mexico, Canada, Australia and Asia and I haven’t see places like Taupo. That’s the reason I’m still living here and stay here this year as well.’’

With his history in Ironmans, Morales said the Taupo Ironman has a good structure and the high point for him was the lake swim. But he says it is the Taupo people that make New Zealand’s Ironman the best he’s been to.

‘‘The people who live here are cheering you on which is very good,’’ he said. ‘‘Even the people who finished before you are there cheering you on.’’

While the Ironmans differ, one thing remains the same; the best part is the finish.

‘‘All that work becomes worth it,’’ he said.

‘‘When you arrive at the finish, it’s very special. You’re just really proud.’’