Ironman World Championship

Ironman postponements force training schedule changes

A Timaru endurance triathlete has to refocus his training following news that two world ironman contests have been postponed due to Covid-19.

The Ironman World Championships in Taupo, and Hawaii have been pushed out to next year.

Reon Park said he recieved an email from organisers of the postponements on Friday morning. He was not upset about the postponements, as he had expected it was a possibility, and accepted it was the same for many sports at this time.

"It's good to know now and get the heads up to cancel accommodation."

Park qualified for the Half Ironman World Championships just weeks before lockdown and planned to compete in Taupo in November against 1200 other entries but that has been postponed until next year.

He was also hoping to qualify for the full Ironman World Championships and then go onto compete in Hawaii in October but that has been postponed until February 2021.

Now he is worried that when a date was set for the half ironman, potentially in March, there would be a quick turn around.

He has had to re-adjust his training for the changes and return to base training. Over lockdown he was utilising virtual cycle training app Zwift, and running around a circuit near his home but could not swim because the public pools were shut. Since restrictions have eased, and he has been forced to make a new training schedule, he would be doing low intensity exercise.

"Base training is all about the big miles and longer rides, not so much speed ... and not stressing the body"

He was also looking forward to getting back in the pool when the CBay Aquatic Centre opens on Saturday.

"It will be fantastic. I'll be able to train in all three disciplines."

His new training schedule, on top of working full-time, will include 4-5 hour bike rides (600-800kms a week), 2-3 hour runs (100 to 110kms) and 14km swims.

At his exercise peak, which has moved from November to February, he will spend 20 to 24 hours a week training.