Brown, Lawn chase honours at Ironman World Championship

Kiwi Ironman champion Cameron Brown is out to change the mantra that nice guys come second.

Brown joins other New Zealand professionals Bryan Rhodes, Jo Lawn and Gina Ferguson along with 37 kiwi age group triathletes in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii on Sunday (NZ time).The Auckland father of two, known as one of the sport’s nice guys, has finished on the podium four times in Hawaii but never on the top of it.

The 36 year old knows that the clock is ticking and after failing to finish for the first time on the Big Island last year, he is taking an angry approach to Sunday’s world championship.

“I know that I don’t have many more chances. And after last year’s disappointment I am out for some redemption,” Brown said.

He has made some big changes to his training regime in a bid to stay with the powerful main players on the 180km bike leg.

“I have not been able to go with them, and had to play too much catch up on the run. So my coach Brendan Cameron changed things. I’ve concentrated on much more quality and effort sessions on the bike rather than just big miles.

“I am much stronger as a result and hopefully it is going to make a difference but still allow me to run as fast as usual.”

While he prepared mostly at the Triathlon New Zealand training base in France, Brown also opted to head to Austin, Texas for his final preparation.

“I’ve gone to Hawaii for a month before the race. You know I’ve been here nine times, so I wanted to come in a bit later. Austin had similar heat and humidity and the change of scenery was good.

“I won’t be able to go with the likes of Normann Stadler but if I can limit the loss down to a few minutes, then I have a chance on the run.”

Taupo’s Bryan Rhodes, a three time Ironman winner, is also returning to the heat and humidity of Kona again. It’s never been a happy hunting ground for the veteran who is keen to improve on his best, which was 34th a decade ago.

Defending champion Chris MacCormack has returned along with fellow Australian and runner-up Craig Alexander. Former world champions Stadler, fellow German Faris Al Sultan and American Tim DeBoom will be the group to beat.

Lawn, like Brown, is searching for a place on the podium this year. She has been one of the most consistent performers over recent years, a top-10 finisher in five of the last six years. She has twice finished fourth and like Brown, has made some changes to her training this year.

Lawn has restricted her self to running half ironman and short races, rather than a usual mid-year Ironman event, and hopes she has recovered from surgery last month.

“It’s blue skies here and the wind is blowing strong. I am feeling relaxed and confident for another good race,” Lawn said.

“It's my goal to win this race in the next three years and this year I worked not only on the physical aspects of training but on the mental aspects as well.

“I feel as a physical athlete I am quite developed however as a mental athlete I am still a baby.”

She will be joined by kiwi Kona rookie, Gina Ferguson who has made a meteoric rise in the sport. The Ironman Wisconsin winner has three top-five finishes to her credit in her first full year in the sport.

Usually a rookie has to pay their dues in the extreme heat, humidity and strong trade winds on the Big Island but first timers have shone in recent years. One of them, Chrissie Wellington (GBR) won in her first attempt and will be the one to beat with other hopefuls Sam McGlone (Canada), Ericka Cosmor (Hungary) and Australians Kate Major and Rebekah Keat.

The race begins at 5.45am (NZ time) on Sunday.