Be an Iron Man, Join the Laguna Phuket Triathlon Next YearPrepared by Harold Stephens
Travel Correspondent for Thai Airways International
They used to call it The Iron Man Contest. Now it’s the Triathlon, or if it’s the one sponsored every year by Thai Airways, then it’s the Luguna Phuket Triathlon.
I first heard about the contest years ago when I was sailing my schooner across the South China Sea. It was a clam day with hardly a ripple on the sea. We were nearing one of those offshore oilrigs that pop up in shallow waters along the northern coast of Borneo. As we sailed closer I saw an object in the water that looked very strange. It was moving. We came nearer and I saw it was a swimmer. He was swimming around the oilrig. Being a clam day, we tied up to one of the pylons of the rig and climbed aboard. I asked about the swimmer. “He training for the Iron Man Contest held next month in Hawaii,” the boss of the rig said. He then pointed to one corner of the rig, and there appeared an out-door gym with weight lifting apparatuses and barbells. Half dozen men, oil riggers off duty, were working out. They all looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger. “They too are training for the contest,” the man said.
The boss explained what the Iron Man contest was all about. What a test of strength and endurance! Swim a couple miles in the open ocean, run a marathon, or at least part of it, and then play the Tour de France and bike up down steep hills for another twenty or thirty miles. This wasn't a sport for the meek, only for the tough and sturdy. No one, unless they were in top physical condition would ever think about entering such a competition. That’s what I thought then.
It was difficult to believe, but the contestants for the competitions last month—the Laguna Phuket Triathlon 2005—included a 71-year old man and a 14-year old Thai girl. What kind of Triathlon was this? My mind flashed back to the oilrig, and all the Arnold Schwarzeneggers working out for the Iron Man contest, pumping up their muscles. Something was wrong. I went to Phuket to see the Triathlon 2005, and what surprises awaited me.
The Triathlon, as I discovered, is still a grueling race, but Thai Airways has turned it into a fun race for all—women, kids, old and young folk, and even the lame and crippled, all hopefuls. Of course, competing are the professionals who give the contest some zest, something for everyone to aspire to.
A record-breaking field of 750 athletes competed at the 2005 Thai Airways International Laguna Phuket Triathlon. It was held December 4th. It was fun and games in the sun all he way, and hopefully those who are reading these lines will give some thought to entering the contests next year. I discovered, for the vast majority of the participants, it’s not the winning that is the objective. It’s participating that counts, and anyone who completes in the three competitions—swimming, biking and running—will receive a metal. Remember age and fitness don’t necessary count, unless, of course you want to try for some of the US$20,000 prize money. And would you believe, even the professionals, don’t have the physics of Arnold Schwarzenegger. In fact, many of them look a bit emaciated, but you can’t let that fool you. They are in shape.
It’s a delight to watch these professionals in action. Many who entered this year are well know in Phuket, They have entered previous Luguna Triathlons. But let’s look at the line up and events.
The grueling race began at 8:00 hours with a spectacular mass start from the beach of the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket with hundreds of swimmers trying to take the early lead in the first leg of the Triathlon. The uniquely designed 1.8-kilometre swim crossed two bodies of water-first, through the azure waters of the Andaman Sea, then athletes sprinted over the beach to swim the last 620 metres in a beachside lagoon. Now listen to this. First out of the water and ahead of all the male athletes was American pro female Laura Bennett with a swim time of 23:59, followed by Richie Cunningham in 24:01 and Laura's husband Greg Bennett in 24:03. That’s right, a husband and wife competing.
First off the bike after completing the grueling 55-kilometre undulating course through Phuket's tropical countryside was 2004 Laguna Phuket defending champion Craig Alexander in 1:26:59 ahead of fellow Australians Richie Cunningham and Greg Bennett. Canadian Samantha McGlone was the first pro woman off the bike with just a 43 second lead over Laura Bennett.
Greg Bennett, who joked at the pre-race press conference that he'd been beaten by Craig Alexander all year, overtook Alexander at the 6-kilometre marker on the run course and never looked back, winning the 2005 Laguna Phuket Triathlon in 2:31:40, earning US$3,000 in prize money. Less than a minute behind, Alexander claimed second place with a total time of 2:32:37 and Richie Cunningham placed third as he did in 2004. Samantha McGlone finished strongly to claim the Pro Women's championship in a total time of 2:44:16. Three minutes later a victorious Greg Bennett greeted Laura, his wife of one year as she ran down the finish chute to take second place ahead of Australian Belinda Granger.
During their visit to Phuket, Greg and Laura Bennett are celebrating their first wedding anniversary.
The first overall amateur finisher was Craig Johns from New Zealand with a total time of 2:52:15. The fastest Thai finisher was Bunlubsak Doungdun with a very respectable time of 2:55:24 while the first Thai female to finish was a remarkable 14-year-old athlete Phuttrajit Sangkhaphan the youngest participant in this year's Triathlon with a time of 3:35:40.
Thai Airways can be very proud, for they had their contestants, all employees of the airlines, and included one THAI pilot.
But that wasn’t all. Aside from the 750 contestants in the Triathlon, there were the contestants for a new TV Reality Show. Celled “The Pledge” it focused on a group of ordinary people who pledged to improve their sedentary unhealthy lifestyles and train for a year for the Triathlon. The participants included such people as Guy Neale, a 45-year old property developer from Australia; Stefanie Goh, a 36-year old account executive from Singapore; Samantha Smith, a 29-ywear old ballet teacher from South Africa, and other. Greg took the pledge because his doctors warned him he was heading for serious medical problems unless he changed. Stefanie was suffering a weight problem. Samantha had suffered a serious auto accident and the doctors said she would never be able to run again or participate in sports.
Every one of The Pledges completed the race.
Next week I am going to take readers on a totally different field trip, in search of Asia’s Big Foot. Last month sightings have been made in Malaysia and the press is wild with theory. I will give readers my theory. As a hint, I will tell about my encounter with Big Foot in the Malay Jungle. Stay tuned. Questions & AnswersQ. Dear Mr. Stephens. My husband and I are planning a vacation in Thailand with our two sons, age eight and ten. Both are interested in riding elephants. In fact, that’s all they talk about. Where would you suggest would be the best place? Stephanie Alexander, San Francisco
A. Dear Stephanie, Just about anyplace in Thailand you can find elephant rides. There are short rides for an hour or longer treks into the hills that may take a full day or longer. The elephants are even back on the streets in Bangkok. —HS
Harold Stephens
Bangkok
E-mail: ROH Weekly Travel (booking@inet.co.th)
Note: The article is the personal view of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the view of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited.
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