Maitland triathlete Peter Hodgson has joined select company completing the Hawaiian Ironman.
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Hodgson completed the 3.86km swim, 180.25km bicycle ride and a marathon (42.20km) run in the time of 13 hours, 29 minutes and 59 second.
Well-wishers flooded the Maitland Triathlon Club Facebook page with messages of congratulations as Hodgson finished the sport’s most challenging event.
Prior to flying out for the event Hodgson told the Maitland Mercury that it was his biggest challenge yet in a sporting career with included 19 previous Ironmans and several long-distance fund-raising bike challenges
“This will be my 20th Ironman, but definitely the biggest challenge as Hawaii is where it all started and the heat and humidity test you to the full,” the 44-year old Hodgson said..
“I just love the challenge. Hawaii is the ultimate, you’ve got to somehow qualify to get there,” Hodgson spent a week aclimatising before the event on October 13.
“I was lucky enough to qualify through what they call the legacy program because I’ve done 12 or more ironmans.
“You get one chance, they give away 100 each year to reward athletes who wouldn’t win their age groups but do a lot of ironmans in Australia or around the world.
“They give you one spot to have a crack at Hawaii and maybe tick it off your bucket list or your dream.”
A rigorous and consistent training regime and a change to a largely vegetarian diet has seen the 186cm tall Hodgson shed 18 kilograms from May last year when he weighed 115kg.
Training is vital, but triathlons are as much about mental strength.
”I guess being calm is a bit of a strength, trying not to think about it too much. A lot of ironman stuff is mental strength. You can give up or just keep talking to yourself to push on.
“From small distance to long distance I’ve never not finished a triathlon.”
On his return from Hawaii, Hodgson will have a few weeks to recover before he takes part in the annual Maitland Triathlon on November 4.