Grandmother hopes to inspire others

53-year-old Masterton grandmother Diane Chesmar is looking to inspire other budding athletes after completing the Ironman New Zealand challenge in Taupo at the weekend.
Chesmar said she took up her first training program for the gruelling event in early 2006 under endurance coach Ray Boardman and has since completed goals that include countless triathlons and duathlons, a Half Ironman in December and now the Ironman event itself.
The Saturday swim, bike, run challenge featured over 1000 other athletes including Wairarapa compatriots Gavin Champion, Julie Shakespeare, Neil Cameron and Kerry Fitzgerald with Chesmar starting in the 50 to 54-year-old female class and finishing 21st for her age group in 16 hours and 19 minutes.
Despite sporting injured and blistered toes, mainly from the run, the irrepressible grandmother said the Ironman was the fourth and final goal she had set herself for the year.
Now she will relax for at least a month, she said, before mapping out a training regime for the 12 months to come, which will mean "bettering all my times" from triathlons to the Ironman at Taupo next year.
"It's just a high and you meet awesome people you get great vibes and energy off other people and I hope I can inspire others to try, just like I've been
inspired myself."
"The Ironman was just another thing on the list and I tell you, it's achievable for everyone no matter your shape, size or age.
"It was just amazing actually, to finish. My cut off was 17 hours so I had about three quarters of an hour to spare. It all goes pretty quickly actually even though it was dark when I came in through a guard of honour some supporters had formed it was amazing."
Chesmar said she works full-time in hospital administration and had trained "on weekends and Wednesdays mostly" for the event at a Masterton gym, on road cycling and running, and at the Genesis Energy pool.
"It's not really an enormous training regime at all. It got a little difficult fitting it in around work sometimes but it is completely achievable and I'd really like other women, and men, to be inspired.
"All the hard work was done beforehand and recovery and nutrition on the day are just as important. In my mind I kept it fairly low key and treated the Ironman was a long triathlon.
"What's good for people my age who may be interested is they say late starters are great you have no injuries and you're not broken down. And the hard work is all worth it when you finish it's amazing."
Anybody wanting further information on endurance training go online to www.quikkiwi.com.