TT Hawaii Ironman Coverage: Athlete Profile – Roman Bernhard

Age: 45

Country Representing: AUSTRALIA

Occupation: Business Owner

Marital Status/Family: Married, no kids, 2 dogs

Is this the first time you have been to Kona?

No. This will be my 5^th time in Kona. I did my first race in Kona in 1993 and the last time I raced in Kona was in 2008.

Where did you qualify for Kona 2011?

Ironman New Zealand. One of the wettest IM race I’ve ever done! The rain did not stop all day!

Tell us about your preparation for Hawaii.

After IMNZ I had a couple of months of active recovery and did start my build-up for Hawaii in around early June. So far I’ve had no injuries this year which is good. I’ve raced in Darwin in mid August over half ironman distance to check how my training is progressing. And I’ve done the City to Surf Half Marathon in Perth in late August to test my running legs. Everything seems to be on track. The heat and humidity in Kona don’t worry me at all as I excel in hot & humid conditions.  

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

My usual training week consists of 2 squad swims, 3-4 bike sessions (one of which is usually a wind trainer session) and 4 running sessions, plus 1-2 gym sessions focussing on core strength. I do probably a bit less volume than most athletes at my level but it seems to work best for me. Plus recovery has become more important the older I’ve got.

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

I always like to go back & race in Kona as it is such an iconic event for triathlon. And my first ever ironman actually was Hawaii in 1993 as I qualified via a half ironman in the USA. So Kona does hold a very special place in my heart and in a way Kona feels like a second home to me. And it is good to see that not much has changed in Kona over last 20 years anyway, it is still a very laid back island.

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

Not much really as I try to use my experience to calm down my nerves pre-race start. But maybe the swim start if anything. It is always fairly aggressive and last couple of times I seemed to have ended up on the receiving end of some elbows and knees.

What are your goals for the race?

I’d like to finish in top 10 of my 45-49 age group and overall maybe place in top 200 finishers. Time wise Kona is always tricky. It can be very windy, hot or extremely humid on the day so a good time is always a bonus but not a given in Kona. But around 9:30hrs would be nice.

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

My wife and I usually leave Kona on the Monday after the race and spend some time on Oahu relaxing and doing things not related to triathlon. I might give surfing a go this year!

Tell us a little about your background?

I was a cross-country runner from very young on and naturally progressed to track & field (800m, 1500m, long jump, etc) over the years. After some time off from sport during my teen years (pursuing other interests) I started training for triathlons in the mid 80’s. My first race was an Olympic distance race in Switzerland in 1987 and I still remember that I came out of the water second last and it took me close to 35mins to finish the swim leg! Triathlon was very much a novelty sport in those days and not as widely recognised as it is nowadays.  

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

Work-family-training balance has always been very important to me. I really enjoy the healthy and versatile lifestyle ironman training offers and my wife and I always try to combine racing and travelling to some exotic destinations to make it a bit more interesting for us.

Interesting Facts:

I got hit by cars twice before I was 20 but was lucky to walk away both times without too much drama, apart from a broken leg the second time round.

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

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

Do you have a friend or family member who has qualified for Kona?? We would love to profile them! Please have them email michelle@getsetupinsport.com.au