Mar

Ironman New Zealand

By robin

Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac

Record breaking day in Taupo

In a sport where simply finishing is considered an achievement, victory is seen as a super-human effort. When you win more than one Ironman you are considered great, so what superlative do you use when someone wins the same race 9 times in 10 years?

Were it not for the cancelling of the swim in 2006, the year Ain-Alar Juhansson won, Cameron Brown would now have accomplished the unimaginable with full 10 out of 10.

This year it was the old battle of youth versus experience as we saw a repeat of last years race where Brown faced off against the rising start and future Ironman champion, Terenzo Bozzone. At the end of the day the result was the same but not before Bozzone raced off to what appeared to be an effortless 7 minute lead halfway into the bike. Reading Terenzo’s blog reveals that it was anything but effortless and, by his own admission, he let his excitement get the better of him. He was made to pay for it on the run as the wily old fox, Brown, responded with a blistering 2:47 marathon to cap a fantastic day and amazing record that might not be complete yet as he plans to return next year to make it 10 wins.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Brown though and he admits to racing scared on the bike and exacting his revenge when he finally took the lead on the run. “I tried to move past him as quickly as possible, he’d hurt me for six hours and I wanted to hurt him back” said Brown after the finish which gives you an idea of his character, something that has been instrumental in his success.

In the ladies race it was win number 7 for Jo Lawn after her having her run ended at 6 by Gina Crawford last year. 2010 started with Crawford winning Challenge Wanaka and Lawn triumphing in Tauranga and the stage was set for a showdown around the shores of Taupo.

They didn’t disappoint and even a below par effort by Crawford didn’t stop her pushing Lawn to a new course record in less than perfect conditions, thereby laying to rest the demons of nutrition and injury that have plagued her for the past 18 months.