Blatchford in race to be fit for Ironman
THREE-TIME Ironman Cairns champion Liz Blatchford is racing the clock to recover from a back injury in order to compete for a fourth title in north Queensland.
The Gold Coast-based triathlete and new mum is working her way back from a stress fracture in her lower back as she looks to race her way to the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii this year.
“My back is all better now but it took me out for a while and I am back running now,” Blatchford said.
“I am just carefully trying to cram to see if I can get to a start line soon.”
Blatchford will compete at 70.3 Bussleton, a half-ironman distance consisting of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run, on May 6 before hopefully doubling the size of each discipline at the Asia-Pacific Championships in Cairns on June 10.
The 38-year-old, who welcomed daughter Mahli in June with partner Glen, is an ambassador for the Cairns race.
“It has been brilliant, like nothing else I could ever have imagined, and I am thoroughly enjoying being a mum,” Blatchford said.
“But taking so much time off left me probably the most unfit I have been in my whole life, so it has been a steep climb back.”
Blatchford said the Cairns race shaped as an important step in her quest to reach the Ironman world titles given the event has extra points up for grabs.
If she makes it to the line, Blatchford will come up against the likes of three-time world champion and Queenslander Mirinda Carfrae.
“Everyone knows Rinny and she is a true champion.
“It is fantastic for her to do an Ironman in Australia as her comeback to racing after having her baby Isabelle.”