Traithlon training

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 467, 21 December 1992, Page 11

Traithlon training

By

JAIS

rsavell

Lt Miranda Stacey completed her officer cadet training in July, and began training for her next challenge - the DB Ironman Competition to

be held in Auckland in March. Lt Stacey ran her first triathlon in 1987 and surprised everyone, including herself by winning the women* s section. Since

then she has competed when other commitments have permitted. Her involvement has included three Ironman competitions, achieving a personal best time of 1 1 hours and 44 minutes in the 1991 DB Ironman Competition. That time qualified her for the World Championships in Hawaii. She was unable to take up this challenge because she began her training at Officer Cadet School (OCS) later that year. Despite the rigorous programme at OCS she managed to compete in the 1992 DB Ironman but was disappointed with her result. "I was 2 hours 40 minutes off my best time which was a direct result of the lack of training. OCS was physically and mentally tough but it was a different type of training. My whole fitness dropped," said 25-year old Miranda. She now finds weights and aerobics beneficial. "To train properly would take six to eight hours a day. I like to try to get at least three hours," said Lt Stacey. As a platoon commander at Waiouru Training Depot she has more opportunity

for training than she did at OCS but still finds it difficult. "Before the Army in Auckland I could do a timetable and stick to it. Here things come up. It makes it hard to plan your training with other people, hard to get out and do it. Time wise that is, motivation is never a problem with me." Lt Stacey has a long history of sports involvement. She began competitive swimming at the age of 13 and has held two individual New Zealand age group records in breaststroke. At one stage she was ranked third in New Zealand in 100m breaststroke. In addition to her swimming she played netball, volleyball, softball and raced cross country while at school. On leaving school she went to Otago University where she completed a Physical Education Degree. "