GEOFF THORSEN

My first triathlon was:
We're going back into the dreamtime here, in 1980 I was running with Harbord Diggers running club and the first Hawaii ironman had been on TV so we ran our own, swim in Manly Dam ride up Warringah Rd down Wakehurst parkway for two laps and back to Manly dam then run to North head back to the dam. We then put the results in the Manly Daily as the 3rd annual HD tri and were inundated with complaints as we had not told anyone. My first proper organised event was the Sydney triathlon organised by Dr Paul Stone. It was a long course in Narrabeen Lakes Swim about 1500m it was full of sea lice, then ride was up to Powder Works road for two laps, then run up Mona Vale road down powderworks about 20 km. No marshals, we ran through red lights on the road you wouldn't be allowed to run it now.

My favourite triathlon is:
Favourite triathlon has to be The Hawaiian ironman (it's like a box of chocolates you never know what you're going to get) beautiful one day blown off your bike the next. In 1995 I thought I might die I saw guys blown into a head on with a motorcycle, women taken away in helicopters after being blown off the road into the lava, I saw police pulling a guy out of the lava after the wind blew him off the road, I have been stopped dead with the headwind hoping for a break to get  pedal  over before I fell off but I'd do it again in a flash if the body would take it. You wouldn't miss it for quids. 

My favourite training session is:
Don't really have one, but used to like (tolerate) a 160km ride because I could pig out on bacon and eggs.

My best race tip is:
Start slow then back off. If you enjoy short course for gods sake stick with it, you'll have a ball, not everybody is suited for endurance. That's why we have 100m sprints and Marathon.

The highlight of my triathlon journey is:
Shit I've been going for 40 years they've all been highlights, but doing Hawaii and having Bev support me all the way has been the most important thing you can't go out and train for xx hours a week without support (she made do the Honu in Hawaii one year because I missed out at Port Mac and didn't qualify) Hawaii is tough but it's a great place to race but not for everyone, it helps if you're a bit twisted (like Brucie).

I love being a member of Warringah Triathlon Club because:
Being a member of Warringah has been the fuel that kept me going, where else can you meet and train with such a fantastic group of friends. And I can put up with Brucie every Sunday (I wear earplugs).

My best advice to anyone new to the sport is:
If I was talking to a newbie just starting I would say: don't be worried if you come last, or think you don't fit in, at Warringah races you are the one that the race is for, if you can keep going the benefits will roll in. The last person in a race is the most important. Coming first takes enormous dedication and training, to keep coming last is showing courage to not give in and being happy with your effort. I admire these people.

If I was starting again I would not bother with any vitamins, they're a waste of money. I gave up drinking for 6 months when I was racing interclub athletics in the 70s trying to break 15min for 5km made no difference so that was that. Don't even bother with a low salt diet - if you're training, you lose salt. I was dead in the water for 6 years until I was told you need salt (salt is the answer, what was the question again)? You need a rest don't flog yourself all the time, you'll finish up like me, taste the beer and red wine. 

If I knew how much I triathlon was going to cost me 40 years ago I might have decided differently, 30 trips to Hawaii, 10 to Western Australia, 25 to Forster and Port Mac, 3 to Melbourne, plus all the half Ironmans that were training, over $500k but wouldn't miss doing it again. Hopefully a bit smarter.