Family support vital for ironman first-timer Debbie Small

Debbie Small prepares for an Ironman 29th January 2015 Photograph Tania Whyte

Completing an ironman event has been a long-term aim of Debbie Small and she's thankful she has been supported all the way by her family.

Small will line up alongside about 1200 individual and team competitors in an attempt to complete her first ironman race - comprising a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run - on March 7 at Taupo.

"It's been a family challenge really, we're all really looking forward to it we've rented a house and we're going to have a week down in Taupo before the event. The kids will be out of school for the week, so it's going to be a big day for everyone," the mother of three said.

When Small was in her 20s - before she had children - she did a couple of half ironmans and always had a goal of doing an ironman but then one thing led to another. She went travelling, then had children and any thought of ironman races were pushed into the background.

"It's always something I wanted to do and once the kids got to school we thought that this would be a great opportunity before I go back to work, to get my teeth into the training and do it so it's all very exciting, we've all been working towards it for a couple of years now," she said.

Her support team of 10-year-old Jessie, 8-year-old twins Jack and Matthew and husband Anton are really excited the big day has finally rolled into sight.

"They know how hard we've all worked to get ready for it, every Sunday morning is dominated by training so it's going to be a nice treat for everyone to have a lazy Sunday or two once the ironman is all over," she said.

The 42-year-old had just finished a "light training" - when the Advocate called - a two hour run and two hour cycle.

"Sunday's my big day, which is a five hour ride and a couple of hours running so that keeps the legs ticking over," she said.

Although the teacher is very happy with how her training regime has prepared her for the event, she knows that, on the day, it will still be a major challenge to complete the race with so many things that could go wrong.

She did a half-ironman last year in Auckland and "mucked up" the nutrition and suffered with stomach cramps, but that experience has helped her prepare.

"It made me aware of what can happen and now I've added that into my practice programme ... so more eating on the run," she laughs.

There are eight athletes from Northland competing at Taupo with Kaitaia doctor and Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Lance O'Sullivan a late addition to the start list.

Whangarei's Polly Barach will line up for the fifth time at the Taupo event while Russell businessman Ian Jepson is another first timer. Dargaville's Brendan Hickman, Whangarei's Graeme McDonald and Steve York with will join Okaihau hall of famer Chris Walls, returning for another tilt.