Melbourne Ironman 70.3 November 2024 - A Last Minute Decision

For the past few weeks, I had been chatting with my buddy Corey about a big decision. He would call me, pondering whether or not to tackle the Ironman in Melbourne. The catch? Just a few weeks later, he was also signed up for a full Ironman in Busselton, WA. He wondered aloud if competing in Melbourne would hinder his performance there. Each time he called, I encouraged him, “Mate, I think you should go for it!”

A few days before the Melbourne event, Corey reached out for my advice once more, and once again, I urged him to seize the opportunity. Before I knew it, he had registered and was on his way! What initially seemed like a race fraught with obstacles turned into an unforgettable experience for him. Corey had faced a bike recall due to a potential defect—thankfully, it was cleared in time—and he had dealt with a calf strain that magically resolved just before race day.

We woke up at 3 a.m. and made our way to St Kilda, where Corey began his pre-race preparations. At 6:15 a.m., the race kicked off with a grueling 1.9 km swim, followed by a challenging 90 km bike ride and a final 21 km run. Corey finished the race in an impressive 4 hours and 46 minutes. Watching him push himself alongside over a thousand other competitors was truly inspiring. It was a day filled with determination, as each athlete tested their limits in pursuit of their personal bests.