Page 75 - Port Douglas Magazine 28

chips, thinking my physical day job was enough terrible and my body is down and broke, but I did fast as I could, and obviously to try and pick up a
exercise, and I would justify it this way. All of a what I wanted to achieve. few places on the way.
sudden I got into running, and then cycling, and Ultimately though the Ultra Man is a team Are there a lot of competitors in the race, as I’m
the distances came ridiculously quick. I built up effort – you have a team of support with you, sure it can be quite overwhelming like you find
endurance, and found I had a natural ability. and behind you. Who is your team, and can you at the Iron Man events?
Do you feel like this choice to become healthier explain what your first experience was like in They cap the Ultra man at 50 because you have
filtered through the family? Hawaii, what was involved, and how it compares to have the support cars. The way the World
Instead of watching the kids play, I found myself to the other athletes you’re competing with? Championships work is they take the best of
playing ball with the kids, and I thought to myself In 2017 at Kona I arrived a week and a half before everyone who’s competing around the world.
I have this whole new lease on life with the kids. the race. However, this year I want to get there The top 10 is made up of the fastest of the fast,
All the kids grew up with the sport, and it does six weeks before as I’m looking to build on my across all the events. You will also get the slower
filter into the family, and when the kids were last result of sixth place in the world, which is times too, but the top 20 percent of the field are
young they would compete, and come on the rides impressive, and I never thought I’d get to that extremely competitive, and age group competitive.
and help carry my water bottles. It’s great for them level. The guys I’m competing against have In that area I am first in my age group, but I’m
to be a part of it, and now they are grown up it’s sponsorships all over their T-Shirts, and they interested in the overall result.
had an impact on their careers. swallow tablet thermometers, and their team cars You are obviously a very inspirational person
What do your girls do now? are handing these out to monitor the athlete’s core yourself, but who inspires you?
temperatures, and tracking their nutrition. The
Lily is in the Navy, and she smashes all the fitness It’s a collective group. Craig Alexander turned up
top 10 at least usually have their run and cycling
requirements. Claudia is in the police and looking at the Ultra Man and Pete Jacobs, both of whom
coaches in the team cars. I self-coached, and had
to go into the regional gang crime unit, where it’s are at the top of their game, and they take time
my wife Angela and friend Jane Jennings in the
extremely physical, and no female has passed as out to help every one of all abilities, and not just
support car alongside me.
yet, but she’s put her name forward to do it. the pro athletes. My very first half Iron Man I
What was Angela’s and Jane’s roles as your
That’s great. With events like the Ultra Man, was racking my bike and terrified. I was shaking,
support team?
there is an extreme amount of preparation and all my stuff was all over the place, and this guy
training that goes into it. How do you balance Angela is the driver, and the team captain (laughs), was racking his bike behind me and asked if I
the home, work, and training life? and Jane Jennings has been to every single Ultra was alright – I was so nervous. He told me not
Man, and World Champ event. It’s difficult for to worry, told me where to put my stuff, and what
I work around the family life, and have always
them as they have to pull over where it’s safe, and to do. He grabbed my bike and helped me. I
done so. I will get up early and run 20km before
can get disqualified if your car is hanging out in had never seen him before, and shook his hand
work, and ride after work and be home with the
the middle of the road, as obviously the roads and wished him good luck. I was watching the
family. On the weekends I make sure I’m up
don’t shut for three days, so they have to be very award ceremony later on, and the guy who came
early and home by 9am, and my wife Angela will
disciplined too. That’s where Angela’s role as team first, and who had helped me, was Pete Jacobs. It
sometimes meet me for breakfast or coffee. If I’m
captain comes in, as she is responsible for everyone, is the equivalent of having David Beckham come
running long distances, and we will combine the
not just me. For instance, making sure I have the and give you pointers on how to kick a soccer ball.
two. I’ve always tried to include my family. She is
right lights on my bike at the right times. Jane is I was blown away by this guy who, seeing me so
a massive part of my life, and knows more about
the medical support and is St John Ambulance nervous, and like a stunned chicken, decided to
my friend’s statistics and results than me (laughs).
accredited. She makes sure I’m basically fit and help.
She has her hobbies and commitments too, and
healthy to carry on, and she does all the food and
we work and balance the two. Is that something you enjoy doing and a goal of
nutrition, and times when I need to eat, as I’m just yours – helping others get the best results, and
You obviously have a lot of support, and work
racing and focused, and in the zone. achieve what they think is unachievable?
together as a team. However, out on the
course it’s a very solitary sport. How do you One of the biggest goals for me is giving back.
stay mentally focused in both training and I have founded Gr8 Tribe Fitness, and currently
competing? “I work around the family life, and coach 14 athletes – I love coaching. Part of what
I do is seeing the satisfaction of people coming to
I suppose it does take a certain personality. I’m
have always done so. I will get up me, and saying I can’t do that. To then see them
very self-critical, I expect more from myself than
anyone else does. If I set a task like the Ultra Man early and run 20km before work, and cross the finish line is a big rush for me.
World Championships in November, I know there ride after work and be home with the Okay, one final question – why the nickname
is going to be a massive block of training. I know Superman?
family. On the weekends I make sure
there will be days where I don’t want to get out of (Laughs) Actually that only came about in the
bed – once or twice I may even stay in bed – but I I’m up early and home by 9am, and Noosa Ultra Man. My friend Cam saw me in
get up again, as I know the disappointment I will a Superman running top. My best man at my
my wife Angela will sometimes meet
have in myself if I don’t. wedding had a Batman T-shirt, and I had a
me for breakfast or coffee.” Superman. It was this Superman vs Batman
It’s very hard to explain self-discipline. I’ve come
from nowhere, and I wasn’t even running 5km rivalry, and I beat him on every single race, and
when I first started out. It’s about applying your I wore it as a bit of a joke and wind up, and the
mind and body, and everyone has tough days. But That’s a big role for them both, and the hours name has stuck.
if you can focus and persist with something then and time that they are out there with you with no So we won’t see you competing in a Superman
there is no limits. I still believe there are no limits. one relieving them – it’s their own Ultra Man in outfit and cape anytime soon then?
People have said that you can only do one Iron a way, yes? It’s a team effort. (Laughs) No, no, not yet anyway.
Man every four or five months, but back in 2016
That’s a big thing for them to go through
I did the Ultra Man in Noosa in May, four weeks
absolutely. That’s why the Ultra Man is probably Good luck at the world championships – we wish
later the Cairns full Iron Man, and two weeks later
my favourite event, as Angela and Jane are a part you all the best, and look forward to following
I raced in Galloway Ireland.
of it too. your progress in November.
And you felt like you could - I’m sure you had
What was the feeling like when competing in
your moments when the body wanted to give
Hawaii in 2017?
out?
You know these athletes are so impressive,
Yes, absolutely. I only did it because people said To track Adrian’s race at the Hawaii Ultra
and their form is so impressive. Some are still
I couldn’t. I don’t always win (laughs) but if Man World Championships, 29 November – 1
world record holders in certain disciplines, and
someone says you can’t, then the only limit is on December 2019, you can go to ultramanlive.com.
to go there and to compete with them is just an
yourself. How much do you want it? How much If you want to contact Adrian to find out more
honour. To find myself on day three starting in
can you apply yourself? Don’t get me wrong there about Gr8 Tribe Fitness, you can contact him at
11th position, just ahead of the fastest Australian,
are sacrifices to be made, and sometimes I feel [email protected]
I became focused on getting to the finish line as
PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 75