Category: Racing

Athlete Darren, shares some of his training journey heading into his first Ironman. It’s been a long time in the making, when 2020 was the plan, but finally we are about to embark on the final leg of his Ironman journey – the race itself this weekend! So keep reading to follow his journey and how he relates Ironman to that of ‘eating an elephant!” ;-p

Give us your back story – who is Darren and how did he get into triathlon?

Most people know me as Dazza or Dazzler, I’m based in Country Victoria, where I live with my partner of 32years Sue. I actually stumbled across triathlon after finding a bike in 2016. I had bought a steel frame bike at a garage sale and repaired it to get it rideable. A friend encouraged me to get out on the road and we would go riding Sunday mornings and I was terrible. I’d have to stop often, but every week it started to get a bit easier, and we’d get a little faster and I really started to love it. We started doing some running as well. And in 2017 I decided to do the local triathlon. Again I was terrible! The swim was only 250m and I was last out of the water, I had to breaststroke, my ride was slow, and the run was HARD! I came third last, but what I remember was how supportive people were during the event. But I knew I had a LOT of work to do. So I started some run training with a local running group, did a 12km run event – the furthest I had ever run! And later that year did my first sprint distance triathlon. And I survived.

Fast forward, I joined the local triathlon and cycling clubs and gradually got faster and stronger and in 2019 completed my first half Ironman in 6:38hrs, and 4 months later cut that down to 5:41. I was well and truly hooked now, and realised with consistent training, I could actually do ok!

When did you set yourself the goal of IRONMAN and how has that journey looked?

From there I knew I wanted to complete an Ironman, but the plans of Cairns 2020 got put on hold, 2021 was a write off but now here we are !

The Journey has had its ups and downs, a few stop signs and side steps along the way, a couple of mechanicals, road blocks, a destination change, but some great guidance over the past couple of years from Coach Sarah and some awesome company along the way and now I’m ready for my long awaited first crack at an Ironman!

What challenges have popped up along the way and how have you managed them?

COVID would be the biggest one. Not being able to swim much as all for such a long period of time made it tough getting back in the water and a little shoulder niggle thrown in there too. But we worked our way through that and feel comfortable now that I’ve done enough to get through. Having to train mainly solo during covid was tough at times, but my me and my training buddies kept supporting each other and encouraging each other which helped and which meant we all continued to train through which set up in good stead for when things opened back up again.

Work is another big one (isn’t it for everyone!) haha But I have some seriously long and tiring days at work, I often start at 4/5am and work through to late arvo, So training in the mornings weekdays is near impossible, and often in the afternoon I’m work tired. But Coach Sarah worked with me on this and helped make it work. I also have an understanding boss who provided some flexibility at times which was super helpful. So I found communicating with those around you super important.

Have you learnt anything new along the way ?

I learnt that making training fun was important to me, so we made that work by incorporating things I love into my training program including:

– I run with my dogs often, which they and I love! So they joined me on many of my runs
– Riding with groups, as it makes the time go much quicker and more enjoyable ! So I’d include additional riding before and after to clock up my long weekend ride and not have to do it all solo.
– Including our local tri races and crit racing on a weekly/fortnightly basis allowed us to include some intensity into the training, while for me enjoying it with others. So these became regular inclusions in my training over summer.

What parts of your program / training have given you the most confidence leading into your first Ironman?

Long rides for sure. Just knowing you can do the distance and not be absolutely smashed at the end is important. And practicing is nutrition and getting that right. As they say – nutrition is the fourth discipline of triathlon ! But really, just having a coach who can lay out the program for you and not have to think too much about what is needed has been so good. To have Sarah as a sounding board, to adjust my training when needed, give me a little push when I was slacking off and help me balance around work and family life ensured I was able to get to this point in a far better space than if I tried to tackle it myself!

Any pieces of advice tips/tricks (or what not to do!) from others you have had along the way that you will take into the race with you?

I’ve had plenty of advice and words of wisdom for others, a few that stick with me.

1. From Luke Barlow: “it’s like eating an elephant – one piece at a time!” I loved this. It made me laugh, but totally makes sense!
2. Don’t do too much to early
3. Don’t burn too many matches
4. Keep it under control
5. Pacing is key!
6. It’s about getting from the start to the finish as fast as you can but as WELL as you can (thanks coach!)
   I’m still learning these! (I tend to go all in!) HA! So lets hope I’ve learnt enough to put this sound advice into practice this Sunday….

Can you picture yourself crossing that finishing line yet?! And what do you think that will look and feel like?

I’m thinking it will be quite emotional. A lot of time and effort and mental and physical energy has been put into this event, so I may just shed a tear! It will be awesome to see my partner of 32years Sue at the end. She’s been just invested in this as what I have.

And importantly – how do you plan on celebrating / rewarding yourself? 😊

We’re having a well earned holiday afterwards and I can’t wait! Sleep in here we come !

Any plans post Ironman?

I have recently purchased a vehicle that we are planning on doing some trips in where we can take my bike, sleep in it and can explore the country side riding and running. We can’t wait.

I would like to get some stuff done around the house too! Sue has bee amazingly supportive during my training, so it’s time to finish off the garden for her and do a few more things for her and what she would like to do. It’s all about give and take! So time to give back. 🙂

Amazing work Dazza, I can’t wait to support you on the sidelines this weekend, cheer you on, and feel those goose bumps as you hear those words down the finishing chute “Darren McKemmish YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!”

Melbourne – how we have missed you the past 2 years! And for that, we now forgive you because you have put on the goods again for the last race of the 2XU Triathlon Series in Melbourne. What a cracker way to finsh off the season!

Well done to all athletes who took part in the series, whether it was a one off race, used as lead up races or you focused on the series. It’s great to see the sport alive and well in Melbourne!

Congrats to our CPC female athletes who took the stage the this week:

OLYMPIC
Johanna Clark: 2:17, 3rd F 35-39 AND 2nd overall in the series.
Jo Finished a well fought out 3rd place for a race we haven’t trained for at all but we decided last week why not give it a crack! And what a race Jo had, nailing her power and pace numbers could not have asked for anymore. INCLUDING having the fastest overall bike split for the day in a smoking 1:02, 38.2km ave!

Evelyn Wilton, 3:13, 17th F45-49
Coming off her first ever Olympic Distance only 2 weeks ago, Evelyn threw herself back out there to finish off the season with another. A little illness leading into the race didn’t stop her getting on the start line though and finishing off her season on a high. 🙂

SPRINT
Elise Fookes, 1:44, 12th F30-34
Coming off a bike specific program, Elise jumped into the deep end literally in throwing herself into this race. With no specific preparation other than starting back some run training and a couple of swims. Elise can be proud of her efforts (especially clocking the 2nd fastest time in her AG) and now set her sight on getting some work done for bigger things to come! 🙂

Esther Toh, 1:46, 9th F45-49
Esther has had her sights and focus on some long trail runs and walks this season and nothing like throwing in a sprint event 1 week before a 100km Great Aussie Hike next weekend! Well done Esther. 🙂

Full results and series points here

OTHER RACE & EVENTS AROUND TOWN:

Darren McKemmish – Crowned Club Crit Champion.!
Although training for an Ironman – only 5 weeks away! Darren has been geting amongst the local crit racing scene every fortnight and last Friday Night saw him race a strategic and smart race and he crossed the C Grade finish line in first, taking the crown of Echuca Moama Cycling Club C Grade Club Crit Champion for 2022! Mighty fine effort Daz !

Kathy Wilkinson & John MacNamara – Snowy Mountain Classic
Both Kath and Macca made the trek to Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains for a spectacular 110km 1600m ride through the Snowy Mountains. What an amazing event to do, one to put on the ‘to do’ list if you haven’t ever done this one before or ridden in this area!

Robyn Bourke – Australian Grand Traverse
A 30km hike from Falls Creek to Hotham with 1400m+ of elevation (read climbing!), 8hrs on the feet. What an experience to do this with mates just 1 week post Ironman Melbourne 70.3 and Geelong 70.3 only weeks before that! (I’m sure Robyn apologised to her legs a few times!) haha. “Epic fun, epic views, epic quad engagement! epic company. Five stars” Robyn shared after the event. Now to give those legs a little rest! ;-p

Janelle Wolski – Softball Grandfinal x 2 !
Who said it was all swim, bike and run. One of our athletes Janelle paired her triathlon pre season training with her end of Softball Season which saw he land in not one but TWO Softball Grandfinals over the weekend. Back to back headers! Although they didn’t win the converted grandfinal trophies, Janelle was super impressed with her teams efforts and just a little bit chuffed about hitting a home run – over the boundary on the full! Something that doesn’t happen very often but when it does – what an awesome feeling, and to smash that out during a grandfinal! There’s a celebration right there! Well done Janelle. 🙂

We had a small but awesome stable of athletes toe the start line yesterday at the Geelong 70.3 Half Ironman. Such an iconic race on the Oceania racing calendar and brings athletes from all over the country to this magnificent location.

Regan Hollioake – 1st F30-34, 3rd Female AG overall
Swim 26:26
Bike 2:25.52
Run 1:39.47
Overall 4:37.21

A super impressive race from Regan, in her first Half Distance and a 30+min PB ! She was 2nd out of the water in her AG. With the work we have done on her bike leg, we knew this too was now going to be a weapon to go with her swim/run combo and hat it was, with the fastest bike split in her AG and coming off the bike with a very handy lead and went on to dig deep on the run and win by nearly 3min. Putting her everything into the race and her finish down the finishing shoot showed that – literally NOTHING left in the tank as she stubbled across the finish line to take that much deserved win.

“I over cooked it!” Regan after emerging from the med tent. ;-p

With her win she also went on to secure her place in the Half Ironman World Championships in Utah later in the year! Let the journey continue ! !

Rachael Dols – 8th F25-29 a mighty fought out race!
Swim 28:19
Bike 2:46.11
Run 1:54.07
Overall 5:15.48

If you haven’t read Rachaels story yet, make sure you do as she shared her story with us here after recently being diagnosed with External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis (EIAE). So to push through immeasurable pain barriers to have a bloody great race is a testament to her character!
She had a great swim, pushing from the get go, coming 2nd out of the water and taking that into a strong bike – managing her symptoms that come along with EIAE. But we’d done LOTS of work on her bike and this showed with a massive 30min bike PB! She then worked her way through the run, managing pain and symptoms to finish with nearly a 30min PB on the run also and claim over a 1hr PB overall. What a legend!

“Thank you so much fo your support, especially the last month! It honestly made me feel better knowing you were going to be there, so if anything – a massive mental boost!” ~Rachael

Robyn Bourke – 10th F35-39
Swim 39:09
Bike 2:59.56
Run 2:19.17
Overall 6:07.42

You know those training days when you just feel a bit ‘meh’, when the legs just don’t want to go from the get go and it just feels like a slog? Unfortunately for Robyn that’s how her body felt today. So her time on the clock don’t reflect the awesome training and the hard work she has dedicated over the months to get her to this race. That can be a bitter pill to swallow. For her as an athlete and for me as a coach. It hurts because knowing how hard and diligently she worked for this and sometimes we may never know the answers ‘why’ either.

“I just felt like my tank was empty all day. Def didn’t think I was going to finish!” ~Robyn post race

BUT on the flip some, what I (we) do know, that she is one resilient athlete. To keep pushing through and on a day that wasn’t ‘her’ day, with a smile everywhere she went, that is why we do this sport. To PUSH our minds and our bodies with what we have on the day. I’ve always said that. If you can give 100% of everything you have on the day, then you cannot lose. And lose she did not. She gained. Experience. Knowledge. Another notch on her race belt. And comes out even more driven and determined. THAT I a bloody proud of !

You can check out full 2022 Geelong 70.3 Half Ironman Race Results here.

Next key long distance races for our athletes include Ironman 70.3 Melbourne and Ironman Australia and Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie.