On May 7 Ms Grech will be running past the spectators as she takes on the challenge of the Ironman leg for her team. 

Two years ago Sally was 40 kilograms heavier due to a medical condition she suffered during and after pregnancies with her two children. 

When parkrun started up in Port Macquarie Ms Grech went along and joined with one of her friends. 

She is now running half marathons as part of her training in the lead up to the Ironman. 

It’s also Helen Cox’s first time in the Ironman and she will do the swim for the team. 

Ms Cox has competed in individual triathlons in the past. 

She has volunteered at the Ironman Australia event for the last four years but this year she will be making a splash instead.  

“Having an event like this in Port Macquarie must really sow its seeds into people who want to try it,” she said. 

Tanya Porto has competed in the Ironman event three times before and will be doing the cycle leg. 

The ladies are not in the event to win but purely want to enjoy the race and the atmosphere that comes with it. 

Ms Porto said atmosphere on the day is fantastic and the cheering of the crowd has previously given her the boost she needs to keep going. 

The ladies said they are enjoying being in a team in the lead up to the event as it has allowed them to focus on their individual responsibilities. 

They said they are eating clean, healthy and fresh nutritional food to help fuel their training prior to the race. 

Ms Grech said she excited about being involved in the event. 

As a spectator she took on the mentality that ‘if they can do it I can do it’. 

The day after the 2016 Ironman Ms Gresh registered herself and her two friends to compete in the 2017 event.

To register for the May 7 event visit http://ap.ironman.com