Ironman: Hawaii hopefuls look to lessons from tough event

Bevan Docherty (front) and Terenzo Bozzone have high hopes for the world championship. Photo / Richard Robinson

New Zealand's big three professionals all hope that big lessons learned will stand them in good stead for tomorrow's Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

Bevan Docherty, Terenzo Bozzone and Gina Crawford are the key hopes for New Zealand, along with debutante Melanie Burke, as they enter the white-hot cauldron of the Big Island tomorrow.

Docherty, Bozzone and Crawford believe they have learned much from the lessons experienced in the harsh environment of Kona-Kailua in one of sport's toughest tests.

Last year Docherty, a double Olympic medallist, came to Hawaii with great expectations after stunning victory on debut at Ironman New Zealand, but crashed and burned in Kona's cauldron.

The issue that plagued the former short distance star was adapting to the nutritional needs of endurance triathlon, and buoyed with expert advice that the problem was an over-saturation of sugar, he is back for his second crack.

"I've learned a lot. Last year I was very fit going into the race, super-confident after the win in Taupo and things went disastrously wrong.

"I have had a lot of help with my nutrition and I think I am on top of things but I guess we will find out on the day," Docherty said.

He suffered a stress fracture mid-year and accordingly has flown under the radar but he is reported to be in superb form.

Bozzone returns to Hawaii after a four-year break, with his early years on the Big Island fraught with challenges.

"I've learned more from watching from the sidelines than the years I did race," Bozzone said.

"The big thing I learned is seeing that everyone goes through bad patches, not just me. I understand that you will go through that bad patch when you feel like death but you have to get through that to the other side. That is what is going to determine the outcome."

Now 29, Bozzone believes he has another 10 years in Hawaii but still has his focus on the top spot on the podium. "The key for me is not my ability or fitness - I can swim, bike and run as well as any - but to control the emotions through those tough times."

Crawford has 12 Ironman victories and after three top 10s in Hawaii, the Wanaka triathlete wanted to change to force her way into contention.

That came with a new US-based coach, after being self-coached for several years.

After several months of changes to her training programme and approach, Crawford has emerged with a strong podium placing at Ironman Frankfurt. "I feel really good leading into the race. I feel settled and really believe I am a much better athlete and better prepared," Crawford said.

She has been in Hawaii for several weeks with a solid training block under the guidance coach Matt Dixon, and enjoys racing and training in Kona's scolding heat.

Burke, from Auckland, could lay claim to being one of the best "amateurs" in the field, mixing corporate life with Ironman.

She is a former international rower who moved to running with several marathon wins before taking up cycling where she made New Zealand elite road team to the world championships.

Burke then took up duathlon, with a highlight her victory at the famed Zofingen ultra distance duathlon in 2011.

She has been regularly in the top 10 at Ironman New Zealand and other endurance races throughout Asia Pacific.

There are 53 New Zealanders qualified for Hawaii including Taupo's Neil Fleming, who turns 78 this month. Auckland's Mike Ramsay is the only person to have completed all 30 Ironman New Zealand races.

Former Commonwealth Games cyclist Matt Randall, High Performance Sport New Zealand scientist Rob Creasy and Christchurch's Jon Newsom, former professional and now a respected coach, will also compete.