‘Iron Lady’ feels on top of world
A65-YEAR-OLD woman has become the first person to represent Rochdale Triathlon in the most prestigious endurance race in the world.
Held in Hawaii every year, the Ironman World Championship is considered to be one of the hardest courses on earth for what is already a famously tough race.
Athletes must complete a 2.4 mile swim, 112 miles on the bike and a 26.2 mile marathon and this year’s race on October 12 saw the blue and gold kit of Rochdale line up for the first time.
Teresa Hollins, 65, finished her eighth Ironman race on the island of Kona but has no plans of retiring from the gruelling sport.
Just competing in Hawaii, where the sport was born, is a goal for Ironman athletes around the world and Teresa achieved the feat by qualifying first in her age group in a race in France.
“It’s easy when you are older because there’s less competition,” the dental hygienist said.
“I always wear my Rochdale vest with pride.
“It’s somewhere I have always wanted to get to and I did. I am pleased with the achievement but I just did it to finish.
“I wanted to get there. That was my eighth and after my fourth I thought I’m getting a bit older now so I wanted to try.”
The intense heat and fierce crosswinds which threatened to blow some riders of their bikes meant Teresa finished in what she called a “shocking time” of 16:10 - but which would prove near impossible for most people.
She said: “It was probably my worst one - I knew I would struggle because of the heat but I just got on with it.
“We went down the week before but it’s not enough time to get used to it.
“I just kept going and drank lots of water - you just have to get on with it.”
Though some way off her personal best (12:28), she still enjoyed the trip to Hawaii with partner Nick Allen and aims to book another race for next year very soon.
Getting involved through long-distance swimming, Teresa, from Royton, has now been doing triathlons for around 25 years.
She said: “I started doing long distance in my 50s. As you get older you get slower but you get the endurance.
“I do marathons as well but it’s just not as boring when you can do the three disciplines.
“It’s kind of a social thing as well - meeting other people, and you have got to get out while you can.”
She praised the coaches at Rochdale Triathlon and encouraged others to come along to the club which has a “great atmosphere and very good people”.
Head Coach Danny Parr said: “Teresa is a great advert for our sport, and our club.
“She shows that anything, truly is possible, through hard work and perseverance, and she’s also a fantastic person to have around at social events.”