Frontrunners prove their stuff
The Frontrunners have again proven to be one of the ultimate training grounds for competitive runners after six ex-members outdid dozens of others in the Canberra Olympic Distance Challenge.
The challenge, held on Sunday January 25 and the second of five long-distance races held around the country, is a serious event, attracting hundreds who accrue points at each race in the hope of qualifying for the 2009 Gold Coast Olympic Distance Team. Six frontrunners, including triathlon champions Kate Rowe and Jim Box, took part in the event which incorporates a swim, bike ride and long distance run.
Rowe and Box both took out first place positions in their age group, as did Sally Taggart. Cathy Verry went home with second place and Matt Webster came in 17th.
Everyone trained up to two hours a day to reach peak performance abilities.
You have to do the training. Because it’s the World’s and you have to be selected, everybody is motivated to train hard, like six times a week, sometimes twice a day, Rowe told Sydney Star Observer.
Although the six competitors raced in different groups, there was one thing connecting them,
Rowe said.
We are all, or have all been at some time, Frontrunners. There’s a lot of camaraderie and we always ring each other up to talk about our training. It’s all very obsessive.
That obsession will continue for these athletes, except for Rowe who has Federation of Gay Games commitments in Europe, as they head on to the next races in Brisbane, Geelong and Hobart.
