TT Hawaii Ironman Coverage: Athlete Profile – Rod Marton

By Michelle Downs http://www.getsetupinsport.com.au

Name:

Age: 40 – 44 (44)

Country Representing: Australia

Occupation: Marine Education officer

Marital Status/Family: Married, no children

Is this the first time you have been to Kona?

Yes, it was my first real attempt to qualify and I was very lucky to have a solid race in the Woodlands near Houston USA

Where did you qualify for Kona 2011?

I qualified at Ironman Texas in May this year. I selected this race as it coincided with the end of our season and the end of our summer. It meant that I could train with my triathlon club members all the way up to the ironman and have good conditions in which to do so. It also meant that any US athletes would have to train through their winter to participate and they would be at the start of their season. For the first time in 3 years of international events, I would finally be training at the right time. My preparation was disrupted by an accident when a car hit me during a training ride. I had puncture wounds to the leg, fractured ribs and damage to my vertebrae 12 weeks before the event. I then twisted my ankle 3 weeks out. It was a difficult preparation.

Tell us about your preparation for Hawaii.

I could only begin training 12 weeks prior as work commitments had me in an isolated area in the north of Western Australia at the start of this campaign. Perth has had some cold and wet days to overcome but that is Ironman training. The Houston event was very hot (36+ degrees) and very humid (85%) and hopefully the nutrition and hydration feedback I gained from that event will assist me to get it right in Kona. I have been told nothing really can prepare you for the day and the occasion.

What has a typical training week looked like for you in the lead-up to this event?

Currently I am in the loading stage of the training program. I will ride 4 days a week with the longest being 220km (total between 500 – 600km). I run 6 days a week but these are all shorter than most Ironman programs as I find it protects my calves and Achilles from injury if I run regularly but smaller distances. I then swim 3 mornings a week for an hour and a half each session. Sundays thankfully are rest days.

What excites you the most about competing at an iconic race like the Hawaii Ironman?

The whole experience will be exciting. The elite athletes, the course and location, the iconic landmarks of the race and Hawaii itself (as I have not been there previously) are all things I am looking forward to.

Is there anything about the Ironman in Hawaii that makes you really nervous?

The conditions, I think the combination of heat, humidity and wind all make me nervous. I am confident I can complete the course itself ok (as far as the hills and distances are concerned) but worry about the unknowns and "uncontrollable". That is also one of the exciting aspects of the race though; you never know what the day will bring.

What are your goals for the race?

Like many others, simply qualifying was a huge goal of mine. I made a lot of sacrifices (as any Ironman athlete does) just to get to Kona. Now I simply want to put a solid race together that I can be proud of when I look back at the experience. If conditions allow, I would like to improve on my qualifying time but if the conditions are tough, I will be looking at just finishing as the main goal.

What are you doing to relax after the race? Are you planning on a holiday in Hawaii post Ironman?

All of the events I travel to I enjoy with my wife. The first part of our holiday is about the ironman and following the event, there is no talk about triathlon or training. It is all her time. We will be holidaying in Hawaii and I owe so much to her for understanding how much this means to me and allowing me to follow my dream that the least I can do in return is let her do whatever she likes for the rest of our time away. I always look forward to our time afterwards to wind down together.

Tell us a little about your background?

I started triathlons 5 years ago. It all began with simply wanting to get a little fitter and went from there. I was very lucky to meet some great people along the way that directed me to where I am at the moment. I taught physical education in secondary schools for 15 years and had been fairly fit during that time but needed a new direction in sport. My only other ironman was in Busselton in 2007. That was the 5^th triathlon I had ever competed in. Since then I have been lucky to make the Australian Olympic Distance team twice.

How have you managed to balance the training for Ironman with your other commitments such as work and family?

It has definitely taken a couple of years to find the right balance between training, work and a social life. I train predominantly in the mornings and incorporate travel to and from work into the sets thus saving a little time. Sunday is off and again, it is my wife’s time that we can enjoy together – without triathlon or training.

Interesting Fact:

Four athletes from our small triathlon club (Exceed Triathlon Club - Perth) qualified this year for Kona. It will be great to share the experience with them including the training leading in to the event.

Thanks for chatting to us and best of luck for the race!

We look forward to catching up with you on the Big Island :)