Ironman: Triathlete to relive the 80s

Ray Lichtwark is riding this 1985 Bosomworth model at this weekend's Ironman New Zealand. Photo / Stephen Parker

"I can still remember the feeling on the beach wondering what I had let myself into. None of us knew what to expect."

In 1985, Rotorua triathlete Ray Lichtwark was one of 140 finishers in the inaugural Ironman New Zealand race. This Saturday he knows exactly what he and 1750 other triathletes can expect to experience as he takes part in the 30th anniversary event in Taupo.

Lichtwark, 68, hadn't planned on racing this year, but after a number of invites to celebratory functions and the offer of a spot in the long-distance triathlon, he decided to line up once more.

"Since I'm still around competing I thought what the heck. I'll have a go. Things have got in the way of me doing as much training as what I would have normally done but the goal is only to get around and finish. I just want to enjoy it."

Ironman New Zealand is the second oldest ironman race outside of the world championship race held in Kona, Hawaii. It was created as a qualifying race for Kona as that event was oversubscribed. The first New Zealand event was at Mission Bay, it moved a year later to St Heliers and has been in Taupo for the past 15 years.

At that first race, there was only one competitor who wore a wetsuit for the swim - race winner Scott Molina who is also racing in Taupo this Saturday. "He had everyone convinced it was because he got too cold," Lichtwark said. "I wore just Speedos, then changed into my cycling gear and then changed into my running gear. My bike was probably from the 1960s, we didn't use aerobars. It wasn't a clunker but it was quite heavy.

"These days, I wear a two- piece tri-suit under my wetsuit and don't change. Everyone now tends to swim in a wetsuit and bikes can weigh less than 9kg. It's more than just about their lightness but also aerodynamics."

In that first race, Lichtwark was 27th overall and 15th New Zealander. He was second in his 35-39 age group and qualified for the Hawaii race, which was later in the year. It was from reading about the original Ironman that he decided he would complete one if he ever got the opportunity. He will be reliving that era this weekend. The bike he has chosen to ride at Taupo is the same he rode in Hawaii at the 1985 and then 1987 world championships. It was built by Rotorua bike builder Eddie Bosomworth. He has changed the components but they are still 30-years-old, having sat unused in Rotorua plumber Arthur Rendell's garage until he died in 2012. His son, Mark Rendell - a Commonwealth Games cycling gold medallist - offered the Shimano 600 parts to Lichtwark.

He also still has his race number of 117 and the trophy he received. "I'm looking forward to seeing lots of people I know racing and I've got family coming down to watch. If I do okay then that's fine, if not, then at least I'll have a finish."

There are eight finishers from the 1985 event who have entered Saturday's race.