• Ironman: My road to Kona

Ironman: My road to Kona

Based in Clive, Tony Weber is a regular contributor to the Hawke's Bay App, particularly as a sports writer.


Ironman – while it may have consumed me in the last four years and three months, the end is now in sight.

At 9.30 pm on Sunday the 9th of June in Cairns I crossed the finish line for my 12th IM. This significant number is my opportunity to get into the World Champs in Kona, Hawaii.

Reportedly the toughest of them all, with the heat from above and below, it is something I have had in my sights for a long time. There are two ways to get there. The Legacy programme (completing 12) and the seemingly impossible way for 95% of us by finishing in the top few in your age group (of which there can be 50 to 300 athletes competing for those few slots) at any one of the 40 odd full IM events around the world.

Tony about to start the event.


There is no doubt IM is somewhat of a selfish sport as it is very individual. The training required is relentless plus a lot of time apart from family and pressure on work. The cost of doing and getting to an event isn’t cheap either. It can set you back $800 to $950 just to enter, with Kona being double that. Then there are flights, accommodation etc.

Having said all that, it is very addictive and infectious. I remember my first IM in Taupo, March 2015. A friend, well known in HB for his Magpies Rugby days - Michael Johnson also lined up then for his first one. After we finished MJ came over to see what I thought. I said to him that was the toughest bloody thing i have ever done and am never doing it again. He agreed saying the same thing. Well you can imagine how hilarious we thought it was when we both lined up on the start of the swim in 2016 event again.

What we have to endure.


I had done my first Aussie one in Busselton WA in December 2015 as well. I must be a slow learner. But I was starting to realise that the Kona idea of 12 was achievable. Due to a brain explosion i did a 100km Ultramarathon in 2016 as well and didn’t do any more IM’s. I made up for that in 2017 by doing Taupo again then Cairns for the first time and Busso again. Total now six at the end of 2017.

Halfway there and still motivated. So in 2018 I decided to throw the kitchen sink at it. Taupo for the fourth time then a new event for me – Port McQuarrie in May, Cairns again in June, then Busso for the third time. Three trips to Aussie, ouch that hurts, but total at the end of 2018 is 10.

Finishing the Bike leg.


I would have to say at this point I was struggling with motivation a bit. A few major life changes and starting a new business with my partner Sarah Cates meant training time was hard to come by. But I was so close now that I pushed on to race Taupo for the fifth time. By now, my times were slipping badly.

The lack of training and huge number I had done was taking its toll. My PB was 12 hrs 7 mins in Taupo 2018. By the time I got to the 2019 event it had gone backwards to 13 hrs. I had entered the Cairns and NZ events at the same time so I had to do them both.

You always know where you are.


Finishing Cairns last week was my only goal. A 1hr 30 swim for the 3.8km was fine for me. But a 7 hour 3 minute bike was my slowest ever for the 180 km. So only a marathon and I’m off to Kona. Running is usually my strong suit, although it wasn’t very obvious on this occasion. A 5 hour 2 minute marathon, my slowest of my 34 and I was done. And I mean Done, I barely made it. Only my stubbornness got me there.

Well, I did finish in 13 hours 49 minutes, a new PW (personal worst) by 30 minutes. All I can say is Kona better be worth it. Because after Kona I am going back to just marathons as they seem a lot easier all of a sudden. Famous last words I know, watch this space. Next year, however, I have to do Taupo again as part of my Legacy entry. This takes on new significance for me as I go into the next age group of 60 to 64.

Kiwi winners Men and Woman 2018/2019.


To complete an ironman is a monumental effort and achievement. Some of the things you see on the run leg are eye opening. Runners in varying stages of breaking down, most running on empty by then. It’s one of the toughest one-day sporting events on the planet with only 0.01% of the population ever completing one.

That’s why they call it Ironman.