Triathlon: Bremer comes home an international winner

Bremer enjoyed an unexpected breakthrough victory in Ironman Western Australia earlier this month. Photo / Dean Purcell

Former Mt Maunganui athlete Michelle Bremer is hoping next month's Port of Tauranga half ironman will prove a happy homecoming.

The 28-year-old enjoyed an unexpected breakthrough victory in Ironman Western Australia earlier this month, which has boosted her chances of success at Mt Maunganui on January 7.

Bremer grew up in Mt Maunganui and, although keen on sport, did not take part in much serious sporting endeavour during her teenage years, before finding triathlon a few years ago.

After making a spectacular rise in the sport, she moved to Queenland earlier this year to allow for more consistent training.

"I want to be a fulltime professional triathlete in endurance distance events," Bremer said. "I've always struggled with training over the winter in New Zealand, so the move to Queensland has been ideal, because it has been like our New Zealand summer the whole way through."

She decided to enter her first Ironman in Western Australia in July, where she had a positive attitude going into the race but no designs on winning.

"I was hoping for a good race, as I had a solid block of training behind me but, being my first Ironman, I was hoping to break the 10-hour mark and come in the top five.

"I had never run a marathon, let alone during an Ironman, and didn't know how I would feel coming off the 180km ride, so I didn't have any pre-conceived ideas for that."

She had a two-minute lead off the bike before striding to a 3:22 marathon, maintaining the two-minute margin to claim the win.

"Running down the finishing chute, not only completing my first Ironman but winning it, was a pretty overwhelming feeling."

Bremer is unsure of her racing future, working with coach Chris Pilone to improve her running but ensure she does not over-race. But she is steeled for a top performance at Mt Maunganui.

"It's my favourite race. Having come from the Mount I would love to have a strong race there in front of the family and friends.

"I plan on qualifying for Kona (Ironman world championships in Hawaii) in the longer term, probably another couple of years down the track, once I have some more race experience under my belt."