Just the thought of taking on an Ironman is enough to put you in a cold sweat, but that is exactly what Port Macquarie local, James O’Brien will be doing on May 6.
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“I have done a few 70.3’s but on Sunday I will be taking on my first full Ironman Australia event,” O’Brien said.
“I figured, if I was ever going to attempt something like this, doing it in my home town with the roar of the local crowd behind me would be the way.
“As corny as it sounds, running through the chute on the finish line with the music pumping and the crowd cheering – there is nothing better.”
O’Brien will join thousands taking part in the Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie and the Ironman Australia event in town this weekend.
“The Ironman events take over the whole town and there is just such a great atmosphere in town all weekend so I am excited to be getting among it this time around,” he said.
“I have been involved with triathlons basically since I was at school but the full Ironman has escaped me hopefully until now.”
Despite going into the race with a less than adequate training, he said he is pumped for the day.
“Working shift work and having a family are not the ideal conditions to train in for a full Ironman, but nonetheless it is about making the time to train when it fits into your schedule.
“Because of that, it has been hard but I am staying positive and hoping for the best.
“I am going with the slow and steady mentality.”
O’Brien said ultimately the race is a mental game, and so breaking down the course is essential.
“It is totally a mental thing, if you think about needing to bike 180kms or run over 42kms you start to freak out, but if you break it down into sections, aid station to aid station or lap by lap it becomes easier.
“You are out there racing yourself, so I am just hoping to settle into a good pace and keep going.
“And of course the crowd and all the volunteers are essential because when things start hurting or you think about stopping they are there to cheer you on.”
For the full Ironman athletes will swim 3.8kms, bike 180km and finishing with a 42.2km run to end on Town Green from around 3.30pm.
If you are on social media remember to use the #IMOZ and #IM703PM and tag @portmacnews and @IRONMANAustralia in all your posts.
For more information call the IRONMAN Australia Hotline on 1300 761 384, head to the Ironman website or download the official app Ironman Oceania.
