Nolan Berriman –
For Nolan Berriman the Ironman triathlon is a “character-building race which brings out the best in you as a person”.
Nolan Berriman –
For Nolan Berriman the Ironman triathlon is a “character-building race which brings out the best in you as a person”.
One of the managers at a Grahamstown car dealership, Berriman will take part in his second Ironman this weekend, having completed last year’s race in particularly poor weather conditions in Port Elizabeth.
He feels ready for this year’s event, having trained approximately 16 hours a week in between work, devoting extra time over weekends.
Now training for shorter swimming, cycling and running sessions in the few weeks leading up to the race, Berriman highlights rest as vital for recovery and health, and takes off two days per week to recuperate.
Like many of his competitors, he hasn’t trained at all this week in order to be well-rested for Sunday’s race.
Berriman enjoys all three disciplines of the race, yet singles out the cycle leg as the biggest challenge. “It is a long ride and you are on your own, therefore you have to prepare yourself mentally and concentrate on what is at hand,” he says.
He aims to improve on his time from last year, but has no specific time in mind – he just wants to enjoy the race and complete it as quickly as he can.
Highly motivated for what’s to come on Sunday, Berriman says he’s grateful to be blessed by God with good health and an amazing life, and is able to compete in such a tough race.
“There is nothing more humbling and rewarding than running onto that red carpet and across that finish line. It’s a feeling that you cannot describe; all the hours and sacrifice overwhelms you at that single moment in time.
“That is Ironman!”
Terri-Lynn Penney – Call her Ironlady
One of Grahamstown’s most decorated athletes, Terri-Lynn Penney is no stranger to gruelling, long-distance events.
Recently taking part in the Two Oceans ultra-marathon and the Eastern Province Duathlon Championships, she now sets her sights on the Ironman this weekend. All of these events were three weeks apart.
As the head community coordinator of a non-governmental organisation teaching computer literacy at disadvantaged schools in Joza, Penney has to balance her training with her job. She says she spends close to 20 hours a week on the road or in the swimming pool.
Penney already began training last August and began tapering two weeks ago, due to the other competitions she has taken part in.
Always looking for a challenge and finding new ways to push herself, Penney received a full entry sponsorship from Makana Brick to enter this year’s Ironman, unable to turn down the opportunity to take part in her second ever Ironman event.
So what kind of dietary guidelines does this Ironwoman follow? “I try to eat healthy with more regular smaller meals, due to being hungry. I also drink a lot of coffee and green tea,” she says.
Dreading the cold water and wind in the swimming leg of the race, Penney hopes to make up any lost time during the run – her personal strength.
Penney singled out her husband as her “mental stimulator in times of toughness” and says she always tries to remain positive, no matter how bad a situation might become.
She hopes to finish this year’s Ironman “in good spirits, with no aches and pains”, aiming for a time of 12 to 13 hours.
And once it’s all over, “I will be able to call myself an Ironlady!”
Bossie Bosman – Will of steel
With a never-ending appetite for pushing his mind and body to extremes, Bossie Bosman enters his fourth Ironman event this weekend.
A cyclist and runner for the past 16 years, Bosman has already competed in events like the Comrades Marathon and the Trans Baviaans 230km mountain bike endurance race.
He first entered the half-Ironman and then the full Ironman competition. “I cannot really say why I wanted to do this. This just started and kept growing,” Bosman says. He entered his first Ironman event in 2010 and hasn’t been able to quit since.
Despite emphasising that “rest is just as important as training”, this local car dealership manager runs all year round and began his cycling training last July. He started training in the pool in October in preparation for this year’s Ironman.
Peaking a month before race day, Bosman says he usually spends the six days before a race resting.
Bosman said all three legs of the race are going to be difficult, but points to his long career in running as his strongest discipline.
After the unpleasant weather conditions last year, Bosman has learnt not to predict any finishing time. “I will be blessed if I can finish this race in a comfortable time – obviously better than last year of course.”
But it’s not just your body that has to compete in these kinds of races, he says.
“In my opinion the Ironman is a mental race and if you are not mentally strong enough you will not make it, no matter how fit or strong you are.”
