Newman aiming for Iron Man triathlon title

Sometime in the near future Liam Newman hopes to take part in the 'iron man' triathlon, an arduous combination of running, swimming and cycling that even Superman himself might think twice about before getting stuck into. The schedule for an iron man challenge includes a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and a full marathon, all consecutively, with food and drinks taken on board when and where possible. The average completion time for such and event is 12 hours of exceptional endurance. Already a number of Meath triathletes such as Willie Toomes, Elaine McCormack, Ronan Curran and Edel Sheridan from Navan, have taken part in Iron Man events in different parts of Europe. Newman, who played Gaelic football for Gaeil Colmcille and won an IHC medal with the club a few years ago, is already well on his way to making the grade. For the past four years or so he has concentrated on becoming the best triathlete he can be. He has given up the football and hurling to focus on his new sport. Three years ago he founded the first, and so far the only triathlon club in Meath, Tri an Mhi, with 15 people showing up for the first meeting in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells. This year there are 40 club members, most in the 30 to 40 age group although there are some in their 50s and older. The chairperson is Michelle White. “I came straight out of the football and hurling and luckily I never had any serious injuries,†explained Newman. “I always did some running and a small bit of cycling so I was conditioned a little bit anyway, I didn't go into it raw.†His early efforts helped him earn a place on the Irish team that participated in European Triathlon Championships in Athlone last July. The other Tri an Mhi athlete on the Irish team was Kildalkey-based David Hawcroft, who took part in the o-60 category 'sprint' which consisted of a 7.5m swim, 20km cycle and a 5km run. Now Newman (pictured) wants to take it a step further with the Iron Man challenge high on his agenda. The Kells man took part in the 30-34 age group in the Europeans and came in 28 out of 50, a very respectable showing especially considering that this was his first participation in an event at that level – and against the best in Europe. The triathletes were required to complete a 1,500m swim, a 40km cycle followed by a 10km run. Compared to the 'iron man' category it's a stroll in the park, yet still beyond the imagination, or physical capabilities of most people. “Some people can be daunted by the distances involved, but if you go to these events and see the people that complete them you would be amazed, you wouldn't expect certain people to be doing them because of age, build or both. It's an endurance event and you just condition yourself to getting through the distances involved,†he told the Meath Chronicle. Qualification for the national side is achieved by winning points in a series of designated triathlon competitions. Newman picked up enough points in this year's competitions to put himself in the frame for 2011 European Championships to be held next summer in Spain. His place on the team has yet to be confirmed. That looks to be just a formality as he finished in the top 40 in the country overall this year and was well up there in his age group which he says is “pretty competitive.†His highest placing was third in a race in Virginia, Co Cavan and this, combined with his consistent placings in other events, has put him in the frame for another shot at the Europeans. Newman doesn't smoke or drink, although that's not simply because he wants to be as fit as he can for the triathlon. It's just the way it is. He is already familiar with the requirements of training horses to perform on race day. He works with his father and national hunt trainer Willie Newman looking after a stable of horses just outside Kells. The Newmans are in the business of training and breeding horses. Like horses, time and patience is needed to get a person up to a high standard of fitness. Temperament and ability are factors that must be considered in drawing up a fitness programme, he added Despite the snow of recent weeks Newman still got out for a run and even on Christmas Day he is likely to go easy on the pudding and maybe get in a cycle. Every day some training is carried, gradually tapering off as the competition day approaches. For Newman taking part in a triathlon is about coming to terms with a personal challenge. It's not all about finishing in the top three although that's a welcome bonus. “It's different to team sports, I've played Gaelic football, hurling, rugby and while you have your part to play you're relying on other people while this is totally up to yourself and against yourself. You're always watching what time you do, thinking can I beat that next time out. It's a personal challenge.†A lot of it has to do, explains Newman, with completing a triathlon in a sensible way, taking on board high energy drinks or bars whenever possible, ensuring there is enough fuel in the tank to carry you across the line. There's also a big mental aspect to the sport, he adds, with each person having their own way of preparing for the challenge. It can be a solitary sport with a lot of training conducted alone. “Ultimately it's about competing against yourself,†he added. “It's all about personal achievement whether you are at the top or the bottom. For some people it's all about getting into the top 10 others are just looking to get around.†Triathletes make up their own little community of people who get to know each other at the various meetings around the country. It can be a demanding sport especially for those who looking to impress in the 'iron man' category. The Kells man also works as a personal trainer, designing fitness programmes. He runs Kettlebell classes in Kells each week and can be contacted on generatehealth.fitness@hotmail.com