Former volunteer overcomes injury to tackle Ironman New Zealand

Rotorua's Roberta Ingram will attempt her first full Ironman in Taupo on Saturday. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua's Roberta Ingram spent three years volunteering at Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand before catching the bug herself.

Ingram has signed up to compete on Saturday, and has already won a race against time to overcome the effects of a training accident and make the start line.

In 2015 the 36-year-old mother of four had her first involvement with the event, working as a volunteer in the transition area.

"I was at the dinner on the Monday night back and I thought it's just so cool, look at all these people, they're just ordinary people. I said to myself 'I could do this'. The ordinary people that have obviously put their mind to it come up with a plan and just gone through with it. So, through volunteering I wondered if I could do Ironman," she said.

Ingram got her first taste of endurance racing at IronMaori. It was a battle with depression that saw her turn to exercise.

"I had postnatal depression after my third child and I found that exercise got me out of depression. In 2014 I did IronMaori and I chipped away at doing different events. They can cost a lot of money and time, but you don't have to be a pro, you can just be Joe Bloggs and hold down an office job like me. You find the right people to support you and it can be amazing."

Fast forward to December 2017 and training was going well with her group In Training when disaster struck. During a training ride she was travelling downhill and came off the bike, landing on the side of the road.

"I had concussion, a lot of scrapes and grazes and bruising, a haematoma under my right eye and for some weeks I couldn't grip my hands properly, but I have made good progress and can't wait for race day now.

"I was at home recovering for a week and things weren't feeling right so I went back to hospital a week later with concussion, so I've only just started training again these past few weeks."

Ingram only recently received a clearance to get back into full training, but in a show of courage and determination she has no doubt that with the support of those close to her, she will be ready when the gun goes.

"My family, my four children and husband sacrificed a lot for me to get this far. I did 70.3 Taupo in December and I knew then that I could do Ironman. It's not being cocky or anything. There can be so much doubt - even people that I know that have done several, they have doubts, but I just need to get that confidence boost, you just know this is what I have to do. I have to keep on training, tick all the boxes. I'm really hopeful that I can finish Ironman."

That support includes her patient and understanding family, as well as a couple that lead the In Training group.

"Doris and Max Bragg (74) are just so inspirational with their leadership skills in organising our group. Max won a slot at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in September 2018 in Port Elizabeth. Without the In Training crew a lot of my training would not have been possible, they have nurtured and guided me in so many ways it really has strengthened my belief in the mantra 'Nothing is impossible to the willing mind'. Without their support my journey would not have been possible. They are all ordinary people doing something so special."

For Ingram though, she will remember her days as a volunteer when she takes to the course, knowing that she might in turn be inspiring others to give the race a go in the future.