Nathalia to Noosa to Nice.
That could be the journey for the Goulburn Valley’s Regan Hollioake as she prepares for her first Ironman World Championships as a professional competitor.
However, before Hollioake could even contemplate how best to prepare for a shot at the Ironman world title on the sun-filled coastline of southern France, the 34-year-old had to qualify for the event on a wet and windy day in Port Macquarie, New South Wales.
The Port Macquarie race (an Ironman Australia event) was Hollioake’s third professional race since she switched from amateur to professional status in January this year.
Hollioake said she has loved testing herself mentally and physically for as long as she can remember, having started as a swimmer and reached national level as a junior, as she recalls how the Ironman Australia race unfolded.
“It started off with a swim (3.8km),” she said.
“The swim was in the canals and was pretty complex because it was tidal, so you had to pick your lines really well.
“I came out of the swim in second and about 10 seconds behind the lead female.”
Having emerged from the river, Hollioake made the transition to her bike and started the gruelling 180km ride over rolling hills.
The ordinarily picturesque coastline of Port Macquarie then decided to throw a curve ball at the Nathalia resident as the heavens opened up above her and the road below became trepidatious.
“We got out on to the bike and it started raining pretty heavily,” she said.
“I don’t know if you have been to Port Macquarie, but the roads are in pretty bad condition and it is very, very hilly and a really rough, dense surface, so it’s not a quick bike ride.
“I struggled a bit on the bike for the first 80km as I just couldn’t really get my rhythm, but then came alive and I rode really well for the last 100km and came into the second transition (ahead) with about a two-and-a-half-minute lead.”
From there Hollioake had to complete the final stage; a marathon.
Simple enough.
Additionally, running is her least favourite discipline in a triathlon.
However, the Nathalia local decided to take inspiration from the weather and storm her way home.
“Started on the marathon and felt really good,” she said.
“I was running quite well and I ended up winning by about nine-and-a-half minutes to the second girl and it was about 15 minutes to third — it was quite a good lead in the end.”
Hollioake finished the race with a time of 09:02:03 and subsequently qualified for the world championships in France on September 22.
One benefit of the hundreds of hours of tireless training — Hollioake said her week consists of 30km of swimming, 400-450km of bike riding, 60-80km of running, plus gym work and physio — is that the races are often in sun-kissed holiday destinations.
The south of France is the perfect example.
However, although the locations can be stunning, Hollioake said that the beauty could draw you in like a siren’s call.
“The (Nice) course is really hot and hilly and we don’t have hills around here, so we will have training camps,” she said.
“I have got one training camp up in Noosa and we might even look at doing an altitude training camp, whether it is going over to Europe a couple of weeks early or heading to the high country just to get some specific practice in the hills and in the heat as well, which is really important.
“I am just really looking forward to seeing how I stack up against the other girls who are the best in the world.”
Travelling for different Ironman events has allowed Hollioake to pursue one of her passions: growing the sport of triathlon among female and junior athletes.
Hollioake said she would love to see more coverage and opportunities for triathlon competitions open up in the Goulburn Valley.
“I love doing things in the community with junior athletes and particularly females,” she said.
“A lot of my work is through Ironman, so when we travel around for the races, we do school visits.
“Anything I can do to encourage young people or other females to get into triathlon or any other sport and keep active is really important to me.
“Young and old, fast and slow, it doesn’t really matter who you are or what your goals are; I think there is an event for you.”
Behind every athlete, there is often a support network that helps pave the way, and for Hollioake, it’s no different, as she praised her family and sponsors for helping her achieve her first Ironman race win as a professional.
“I would just like to thank Brett (Lancaster) and the team from Leading Edge (Cycles).
“They have supported me the whole way.
“A big shout-out to the Shepparton Tri Club as well; they have supported me and encouraged me the whole way.”