Feeling fit and ready to race

Considering Sam Warriner was contemplating life without triathlon a few months ago because of a heart condition, being able to line up in Saturday's 27th Bonita Ironman New Zealand is hugely significant for the Whangarei Olympian.
After switching from racing in the Olympic distance triathlon to 70.3 (Half Ironman) distances last year, Warriner discovered she was suffering from a racing heart and needed surgery.
Warriner said the best way to explain her condition was the wiring in her heart was out of kilter and short-circuiting. Her heart was racing at 230 beats per minute.
After surgery for super ventricular tachycardia, at rest it is at 38-40 beats per minute.
Certain it was a health rather than training issue, which the tests confirmed, Warriner checked in for a laser operation on December 1.
Now with less than a week to go before contesting her second full Ironman, Warriner said she was fit and raring to go and couldn't help but reflect on her journey during the past year.
"On December 1, I was in a hospital bed wondering if I would ever race again ... but I had my last check-up last week which I had put off to avoid any bad news but it all came back positive. My health is good."
Warriner will join a world-class line-up at Taupo with the likes of 2010 Kona champion Miranda Carfrae, seven time Ironman NZ winner Jo Lawn, American Desiree Flicker and Australian Amanda Balding.
"It is one of the strongest line-ups they have ever had at this event and it is exciting to be a part of it."
While she will be wary of the women racing around her, Warriner said the name of this game was to worry about yourself.
"I have just had a great block of training, and now I need to put it all into practice ... I know what I need to do, and will be focusing on that, " she said.
Nutrition and mental toughness were key to a successful Ironman campaign, she added.
"I have practiced being mentally strong and how to maximise things when they are going well, but also what to do when things go wrong ... Ironman is a challenge. Anyone can do the training, but it's how you deal with things on the day that will make a difference."
Warriner recently changed coaches, and now works under the direction of Jon Ackland, which has opened her eyes to a whole different style of training, she said.
"Jon has been amazing and really beneficial. He's shown me how to compete in Ironman mentally as well as physically and I've learnt how to deal with things when they go wrong and how to get out of trouble the quickest way."
While the ultimate goal for Warriner is to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii later this year, she said making the start line was a big achievement at this stage.
Ironman New Zealand is the original International Ironman qualifying event and now one of 25 events that qualify participants for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Warriner and the other elite professionals will race for prize money of US$50,000 and one of the 65 qualifying spots available for the Ironman World Championships.