The pain of training is nothing compared to the thrill Tony Innes gets from competing in the sport of triathlon.
The 35-year-old Aucklander took a hiatus from the sport during his 20s but naturally found his way back into triathlon and has been competing for the last eight years.
He can still remember his first experience in the sport as a school student, not even being able to complete the second lap of the run having done absolutely no training!
For Tony, his love of triathlon comes down to a number of things.
He’s a fierce competitor, and loves the battle with other competitors as well as the mental challenge. The variety of three sports in one keeps him on his toes but he enjoys planning and attacking new training regimes.
"The buzz you get from competing alongside a whole lot of fit and focussed people lifts you for days after an event,” he says.
"Another aspect that brings enormous enjoyment is the fact that while triathlon is an individual sport, the true lift you get is from the friends you train, race and laugh with.”
Tony has always been the sporting type, focussed mainly on cricket and tennis. He even represented New Zealand in junior table tennis.
Every year he organises teams from his work to take part in Auckland’s Panasonic People’s Tri. Tony manages to lure around 30-40 people every year to give the triathlon a go.
"It’s a great feeling to see everyone having a good time and supporting each other while also giving some grief at the same time. The stories and challenges go on for weeks.
"Triathlon is infectious, good for you and you won’t be able to stop smiling!”
Tony suffers from von Willebrand disease, a minor form of haemophilia. In simple terms he bleeds a lot when cut.
But that hurdle hasn’t caused him to any backward steps and he gives 100% to everything he does.
"If I bleed I’ll take a while to stop so I need to make sure I have my phone on me at all times to call the wife if I get injured badly. (Touch wood I haven’t called yet!).”
All going well, Tony is hoping to leave his mark on the sport this season and is already signed up for the Takapuna and Kinloch Contact Tri Series events.
"With work and family I really have limited time so now I focus on the shorter events which means shorter training but I can still be competitive.
"I’m really looking forward to Kinloch and Takapuna with an aim of having a tilt at an age group spot for the world champs in Auckland. You never know your luck!
