S8E9 -- UM Australia 2026 Race Preview with Jeff Morris & Tim Franklin

515 kilometers can sound like a number. In Noosa, it turns into three days of decisions: how you fuel a 10 km ocean swim, how you survive a 276 km bike loop through the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and how you keep moving when the double marathon starts to ask harder questions than your training ever did.

We’re joined by Ultraman Australia race director Jeff Morris and KOA endurance coach and event MC Tim Franklin to preview Ultraman Australia 2026 from the ground up. We lay out the full 515 triathlon format and cutoffs, explain why the calendar dates differ depending on where you live, and share exactly how to follow along on the YouTube livestream. This year’s coverage gets a major boost with live GPS tracking (even during the swim when signals allow), planned drone shots at sunrise, and crews calling in live so viewers at home can feel the real-time pressure and emotion on course.

Jeff also gives a progress update on Ultraman New Zealand in Wanaka.  Then we get into the heart of race week: the 2026 field. From returning athletes chasing redemption to first-timers stepping up from Ironman to Ultraman, we spotlight what makes each competitor interesting, what crews need to know, and why Noosa’s swim conditions and paddler support can shape the entire weekend.

The Athletes:

Nicole Allen, Sadanand Amarapur, Prajakta Aswar, Boris Bakouline, Ashley Bates, Rahul Chaudhary, Douglas Clark, Jacob Crowe, Devraj Devraj, Nat Dodd, Tabatha Draper, Roscoe Dray, Shane Duffy, Noe Duran, Anthony Elder, Guilherme Escaleira da luz Oliveira, Mehdi Gerbeaux, Jomy Jacob, Timothy Jensen, Shubham Kajale, Claire Kunc, Brittney Litton, Anna Longdill, Keri Mandell, Nestor Ochoa Rivera, Chia Ling Pow, Mahesh Prajapati, Erica Riley, Nathan Schmid, Patrick Shanahan, Marcus Smith, Puneet Sudhir Sood, Giancarlos Taraborrelli, Chloe Thomas, Mark Thomson, Dr Bishwanath Tiwary, Marco Ullrich, Denise Wilson.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• KOA Sports 
• UM New Zealand
• Kenilworth Bakery
• Peak Energy Gum
• Hervey Bay 100 
• T100 Triathlon
• Ultraman Mexico

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Tiff Dahl
• Jen McVeay
• Alex Luna
• Beñat Oliveira
• Simon Cochrane 
• Steven Keller
• Kellie Ridges
• Dave Carroll
• Max Allansen
• Teaghan Roatz 
• Anthony Vloedmans
• Vishesh Madan
• Andrew Wheatley
• Peter Hodgson
• Anthony Lucas
• Craig Jackson
• Angus aka Bango Draper
• Elans Anton 
• Jen MacMillan
• Kate Bevilaqua
• Natalie Elder
• Alana Sharma
• Paul Giddings
• Matt O’Brien
• Kathleen Swalling
• Ari Litton
• Hayley Fry
• Andrew Trout
• Nick Mallett
• Mel Cockshutt
• Tim Belstead
• Kirsty Sheehan

Transcript

Welcome And Quick Preview

Jeff 0:00

Are you coaching Hyrox athletes as well? We do everything right, we do everything.

How To Watch The Livestream

Meet Jeff Morris And Tim Franklin

Larry 0:37

Hey, thanks, MJ. Today we present the 25 seconds of Umar to a great preview for the big live stream event next weekend. Listen in and get to know all of the participants and they're back to the episode. If you are currently on your way to NUSA and you're there, soak it all in and enjoy. If you clicked on the show today because you know someone competing this year in NUSA and you're new to the show, thanks for joining us. If you like the conversation, I mean, even if you don't, look into our archives of some of the conversations we've had on this show with athletes and race directors and Ohana members of All Strip. The stories told here come from some of the most interesting places and people. If you like what you hear, please press follow and recommend the pod to a friend. On the show today, we are diving into the 2026 UM Australia race that will be happening on May the 9th to the 11th in Noosa. However, on my side of the world in North America, it's happening May 8th to the 10th, which is an important distinction as I will be doing my second full event live stream of the race from my global broadcasting headquarters here in Vancouver, Canada. I've posted a custom time zone converter on my social pages so that you know exactly when to tune in from wherever you are. And make sure to follow when you are there. Additionally, clicking notify me on the 515 YouTube live schedule is the best way to get a ping the second we go live for stage one. Please note that each day is broken into two parts to keep the files a little smaller and the quality higher. Hit the subscribe button while you're on the YouTube page. All right. I have two guests to help me to introduce the 2026 field of athletes to you. First up is the man orchestrating this entire 515 machine, joining us from Brisbane race director Jeff Morris. Hello, Jeff.

Jeff 2:48

Hello, yes indeed. This is my circus, and they will be my monkeys out there.

Larry 2:56

Well, as we're recording this, we're just a couple of weeks out from the event. I assume at this point that you are basically working at least two full-time jobs right now.

Jeff 3:08

Yeah, that's about right. It doesn't stop at at this end of the uh race prep, which uh is good, it's exciting. Um I'm a week away from heading to NISA myself, so wrap up a few loose ends in my my day job and uh yeah, then get down to NISA and kick things off with uh the dream team all flying in from around the country from uh Tuesday, which uh we will have been in NUSA for a couple of days by the time the pod drops, and uh we we look forward to it. Our team gets excited, our our WhatsApp chat is ramping up massively uh at this point in time, which I know is the same for all the athletes. It's just very real and exciting, and um everything comes to a crescendo down there in NUSA. Um, and then you snap your fingers and it's the awards at Peppers, it's it's crazy how fast that it all just goes past.

Larry 3:56

So yeah, yeah, it just blows by and you you barely have a moment to yourself to think, and then it's all it's all going down at the at the awards. It's great. It's it's the way it should be.

Jeff 4:07

Well, it is, and um, you know, to to toot your horn a bit, the having that um live stream to look back on. Uh I know the 2025 live stream, I've gone back over a number of times just to see little things that I know happen or what was doing at this point. Um, look at some of the awards stuff. Uh, and again, from from me and everyone around the world that uh gets to see that, uh, we thank you for the time you put into it. Um, it is it's it's game-changing for 515 worldwide because so many people love this thing, but you know, travel's hard, it's expensive, uh, but people can be right there and see it. So um, yeah, we're excited that we're going around again with you for for 36 plus hours and and appreciate the effort that you put in uh because you put in as much or more time as uh as the Australian dream team, you're the uh the sole Canadian dream team across the weekend. But uh we know that you're uh you're uh probably for longer because you've got to kind of live your life and uh also live a life in an Australian time zone. So yeah, appreciate that, mate.

Larry 5:07

Yeah, well thanks. I I certainly enjoy doing it, and it's uh it's my pleasure to do that. Um and and it's gonna be even uh even better this year. I'll we'll talk about that in a little bit. But first I want to introduce our second guest today. Joining us to break down the course is a man who literally knows how to go the distance. He's one of eight people to run around the world. He's an athlete alum, a coach, and the voice of the event. Welcome to the podcast, Tim Franklin.

Tim 5:39

That's good to be here, Larry and Jeff uh and everyone watching. Um, I can't believe another year has rolled around already. Feels like we were just backing up from 2025, and here we are again, two weeks away.

Larry 5:54

Yeah, yeah. And uh you haven't even landed on the continent yet. Tell us about where you are.

Tim 6:01

So I'm currently sitting in a little town called Cripple Creek in Colorado, um, over in the US. So I'm actually closer to you than I am to the Noosa start line. Yeah. Um and I'll be heading.

Jeff 6:12

In fact, that town's named after Tim's running style.

Larry 6:20

Okay, it didn't take long.

Tim 6:22

It started. Let's go. No, it didn't take long. The bullying started already. Um and yeah, I'll be I'll be landing uh in Australia race week and straight up to Nooser and away we go. Looking forward to it. Um meeting all the athletes. The the the returning athletes is always fun, and the the new athletes is you know, adding more people to what we call our you know our 515 family, our UM family is always uh um always pretty cool.

Larry 6:52

And and you do some coaching on the side as well. Um do you have any of the athletes in the field uh coming up?

Tim 7:02

Yeah, I do. I um I am uh well I'm the the full-time coach and I do this other stuff on the side. Oh so I think I think is that um but um yeah I do. I'm lucky to uh have three athletes towing the start line this year. Um I've trained them nice and hard, no doubt. There's been times where they've uh disliked me. Um, but they've put put in the put in the work and um they'll reap the benefit over the weekend.

Larry 7:31

Yeah. And and do you want to just uh get a little shout out to your your coaching company?

Tim 7:37

Yes, so I can yeah, I can do so um KOA sports coaching, um, all things endurance, trithlon, and running. Um and I have been you know lucky enough to have been a coach for you know on a full-time basis for over 10 years now. So if anyone wants to reach out, I'll take the time to give myself a plug, reach out. You're currently taking athletes always up for a conversation with uh an athlete that wants to take their uh their athletic abil ability to the next level. Um, whether they're just getting into the sport or they've been in the sport for a long time. Um we have had some great results as a COA team. Um, we've got some global athletes, and we'll be taking uh you know a lot of a lot of athletes up to Cairns as well, not long after UM.

Larry 8:28

Right, right. And and with COA, do you guys work as a team? Does someone come in and do they get more than you? Do they get the rest of the team or do they just get you?

Tim 8:38

They get we have individual coaches, but because there's five of us, um, we get together very regularly. We all live pretty much southeast Queensland. Um, so we get together a lot um and bounce ideas off each other. So it is uh minds coming together, but an individual contact point uh for the athlete. Okay.

Larry 9:02

Well, Jeff, uh before we get too far into this UM Australia information, uh, I do want to talk about last year when on our live stream we broke the news of UM expansion into New Zealand. And uh, like you don't have enough on your plate, you you decided to take on organizing a second UM race. Can you give us an update on how that race is coming together, where it's going to be, and can athletes still get into that inaugural event?

Jeff 9:34

Yeah, look, in hindsight, wasn't my smartest move to get a bit excited at the uh awards and announce that. It's been pretty full on. Uh it was was certainly uh deep in the planning, uh, but probably wasn't close enough for me to uh get excited and announce it. So it's been been some thrashing behind the scenes, just getting everything sorted. Uh people would have seen that Tiff and I from the Dream Team went across to Varnika in December just to lock down some of the final details. Uh, but yeah, between the real job getting Australia going and uh and having New Zealand bubble along in the background has been interesting. Uh the website is nearly ready to launch, so it might be race week. We'll uh launch that uh UM New Zealand website, which will be good. Um, people have been asking for a bit more detail about it. Um, the detail is on the socials and things, but no, there's no single point of truth for that at the moment. But uh the reality is it's happening um in Monica at the end of the year in December. Um, keep getting there's too many numbers around the same. I think it's uh 10 to 12 or 12 to 14 December, whatever the Saturday, Sunday, Monday is around that time. Yeah. Um, we've locked in all those courses. So it will be a swim in Lake Monica, um, a lap swim so people can warm themselves up every couple of kilometres if needed. Uh, and then we're doing a beautiful ride um around uh a loop ride to round who Cromwell, up the Crown Range and through Cadrona, uh back into Wanaka, just some iconic New Zealand locations getting touched on that day. Um then day two, we're heading up the Harsemback to uh knock off the 276. And then uh a first for us, so we're doing a trail run for the 84k double marathon on day three. So again, uh we're taking you on some trails that people literally travel from around the world to uh to mountain bike and run on. Um Glendew Bay, um Albert River, Luggett, just um again, some iconic names and locations um in New Zealand South Island. Uh and we're we're super excited. Um, we do have 55 people on the start list. Um there's only a couple of people on that wait list at the moment. Um, so you're welcome to jump on to it's the uh ultramanoz.com website uh where there's a form to register your interests for New Zealand. So welcome for people to jump on and register their interests for New Zealand. Um again, we're you know, what are we, seven months out from that? Um we do know that unfortunately people, circumstance change, injuries do happen. Um so yeah, if you uh you think you're uh, you know, maybe you're taking on Iron Man cans and you're in that good level of fitness or uh another Iron Man around the world, uh yeah, drop us a line. Um it's gonna be very, very uh cosmopolitan that race in New Zealand. I think um it's about an even split of Australians and New Zealanders, um, but that only makes up about, off the top of my head, about 35 to 40 athletes. We've got a good 15 to 20 from around the world. Um, number of international people that have done um other Ultraman events, done um U of Australia that uh we're looking for a new location. So uh pretty excited. I know we've got a couple of European people coming across, um some special people coming from the US um to take it on. Um and it's gonna be a not a reunion of such, but uh a bit of a linking up of people across the world. Um people will know the name Jen McVeigh. Um Jen McVeigh's gonna come and be on the dream team. So the very first UM New Zealand dream team is going to involve people like Jen McVeigh. Uh very hard working at Final Details. Yep, yep, and knows knows the game and and loves loves what uh UM 515's about. Um look Alex Alex from Brazil is hopeful um that he's gonna come across.

Larry 13:36

Oh, that'd be great.

jeff 13:37

Um so yeah, just just making these links from all the way around the world and and reminding ourselves of this amazing thing we're involved in. So yeah, UM New Zealand, uh it's coming quick and fast. Uh, and to all those people that are in it, uh, they've not had heaps of comms from me, so I do apologize for that. But uh it's it's happening, uh, it's all there in place. Uh, and certainly it'll be full steam ahead once uh we get over the next couple of weeks with UM Australia.

Larry 14:05

Yeah, no well, that makes sense. You gotta you gotta get through the first one to get to the second one.

Jeff 14:10

Yeah, yeah. But yes, it is all there, maps are there, and yeah, it's uh it's gonna be an absolutely amazing course. So looking forward to that.

Larry 14:20

Excellent. Okay, well let's uh let's bring Tim back in here, Timmy. Um for people that might be joining us for the first time because they're just excited about hearing about UM Australia. They've got a person who's doing it for the first time. Can you uh break down what the race entails, the stages and the distances? Because it's uh it's pretty insane for people that had never heard it before.

Tim 14:45

Yeah, can do. So we'll break it right down. So it's a three-day ultra endurance, is what makes up the UM distance. The first day we start with a 10-kilometer ocean water swim. So that's at the main beach at Noosa. So if you've ever been to Noosa or you haven't been lucky enough to be to Noosa, Google Noosa Main Beach and just have a look at the amazing, pristine conditions that the athletes will be swimming in. So that will consist of um uh a lapped swim course and they'll complete the 10 kilometers. Then they'll have, after that, they'll have the one and only uh transition of the event, and that will that will be from the swim to day one bike course. So they swim the 10 kilometers and then they've got a 145 kilometer out and back bike course, um, and they head northwest um from Noosa up to and just past a town called Kinkin, um uh and then come back, basically retracing their steps all the way back into town and into um Lyons Park, which is the finish line for each of the three days. Um that that day one bike course um is about a 1500 meter elevation gain. So the athletes have six hours to complete the swim and then and then 12 hours for the day one in total.

Larry 16:14

Right.

Tim 16:14

Uh and then we come to day two. Um, and day two is our big bike day, so day two bike day, and that is 276 kilometers, and it's a loop um starting and finishing right in Noosa at the Lions Park again, and that is um a loop course through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. It is absolutely one of the best bike courses you could possibly do. It's just honest. Um, if you've trained hard, it'll be a really great day. Uh, there's about 2,400 meters of elevation uh across the day. Um, and the last 40 kilometers is basically coming from the the southern southern end of um the Sunshine Coast, and you're riding up along the coastline to finish. It's it's a remarkable bike ride, uh takes in everything. Um the best part, well, one of the best parts about it for the crews, not so much the athletes, is that there is one of the great bakeries at about 180 kilometers uh into the course. Um and they have some of the best donuts you'll ever get your hands on. So um we will we will make sure that we give details to everyone about that. Um the only issue will be to not miss your athlete because there's a pretty significant turn that they need to make, uh, not far from there. So we make sure that the athletes go in the right direction there. So that's day two. So again, you they've got 12 hours to complete the the course, and then day three is is the magic. That is the the double marathon, so the 84.4 or 84.39 kilometer run where um they leave again from Noosa and they run the coastline that they rode the day before. So they run south along the coastline, rolling hills, um, all the way down to a place called Twin Waters, where they they make their turnaround and come all the way back again. Like I have um been lucky enough to to run pretty much around the world. Um and there is there is uh there is no better run course. It is absolutely beautiful. If the if the weather's kind to you, it is one of the great days you'll ever have. You're coming in on two days of um, you know, up to 24 hours of exercise, so they're under fatigue, but they've got uh the elusive finish line at the end, which is um again a remarkable finish line where they're coming in along a beach finish, which is which is just so unique. Um, the last kilometer along Noosa Main Beach, where you've it's just it's just iconic, one of the most iconic finish lines I've ever been involved in. So again, another 12 hours to to finish that. And um, and for some people returning, uh another ultra uh UM finish, I should say. And then for others, it'll be the very first time that they've completed a three-day endurance event. So yeah, I mean, as far as courses go, and I'm I'm I may be somewhat biased, but I have raced and and and and um MC'd and compared many events around the world, and this would have to be in the you know, on the podium of the best, the best uh the best courses that you'll ever get.

Larry 19:44

Yeah, yeah. I mean, looking at it through the live stream last year, uh, I was amazed with the the scenic nature of it, the the different areas that you go through. It's it and then all the beach at the end is yeah, it's a it's a great finish. And and watching those people run up the beach with Banat running beside them, uh, you know, getting that all the way to the finish line, it made for a very, very scenic uh finish for sure. Um, Jeff, when when we're talking about the course, um, I'm assuming this year the course is basically the same. Or have there been have you been forced to make any changes? The roads are all open for you.

Course Changes Safety And GPX

Livestream Upgrades And Live Tracking

Jeff 20:28

No, it's uh exactly the same this year. Um there's been a couple of little alterations to the run course in the last few years just for uh just to be a bit safer and and meet some community requirements. Uh, but no, it'll be the same, exactly the same as last year. Uh so yeah, nice and nice and easy. The GPX files are there for people. We're putting lots of arrows out. We've had a um a call from the um the transport authorities for a little bit more signage, weirdly. Normally they don't want us putting signage out, but they've um they've asked that a couple of higher higher risk intersections that we put some more signage out, but uh other than that, it's actually exactly the same course. So yeah, cut and rinse repeat for uh for the dream team in in getting the athletes out there, and uh the athletes who've got that are returning uh won't have anything new to negotiate. Um some athletes that have done the race in previous years prior to 25 are just gonna have to if they've they've got their memory bank switched on, athletes like Guy and Denise, who've done it previously, but it was a few years ago, just gonna have to make sure they follow the the newest version of the course because there's a couple of different little turns, but uh compared to to last year, it's uh all 100% the same.

Larry 21:41

Yeah. And and and on the live stream, uh, we will be this is our this is what it's gonna look like. What you're seeing now, this is our live stream. There'll be um updates on the ticker at the bottom with with what's going on. We're gonna have commentary from past champions and racers. Um I'm not Going to mention them all here because I want to leave some of that as a surprise. But I will say that it does include Simon Cochran uh in a larger role this year and the return of Bonat as a as a roaming reporter. So that that's gonna be a big plus for what we're seeing for sure. And we're gonna have crew cams this year as joining the Zoom and going live with them so that last year we tried to do it where they would record something and send it in. This year we're just gonna ask them to join right in live. Um it'll we'll have to put up our warning about uh languages and things like that. Uh but yeah, they're gonna be joining live, so it's gonna be really exciting that way. And hopefully, most of the crews will want to give updates so that the people watching at home for that athlete know exactly where they are and how they're feeling. Um, and we're also gonna have live tracking this year. You've introduced this live tracker. I'm sure most people have seen these at races before. Do you want to add anything about that, uh Jeff?

Jeff 23:02

Yeah, just think it adds another element. Um, if you I don't know, if you have the ability to click on the webpage, if you click on the the 429 Larry, everyone's number pops up, and uh you're gonna have the ability to follow your athlete, follow other athletes um and just see what's going on, even in the swim. Uh so the trackers will will work in the swim, so we're literally gonna know where everyone is at any point in time, uh, which is great for the dream team, it's great for crews on the ground, but for your coverage, Larry, and everyone watching on YouTube, um, it's just next level. Uh it's it's gonna be so good out there uh knowing exactly what's going on at any point in time.

Larry 23:40

Yeah, yeah. And and we'll even be able to have a good update in the swim as to who's leading and where they are.

Jeff 23:49

Yeah, it should it should work. Let's uh let's go there. The um it depends how good their body position is in the water, but uh certainly they don't they don't transmit through water, but there should be times when uh they've got their body position right and their their claws nice and firm and they've got uh got the small of their back out of the water, and uh it will will transmit uh so yeah, certainly uh a lot better than what we've had in the past. Um and yeah, I think finally, I think Steve Keller sponsored uh was it UM Arizona one year, I think, had live tracking.

Larry 24:19

Yes, and and Florida.

Jeff 24:21

So yeah, so and Florida, both of them, yeah. So uh yeah, with such a big course, it really is a good way. We we've traditionally had chip timing with trying to get lots of mats out there, but every time you add a timing matter adds costs, whereas this actually, for the size of course we've got is actually a really financial way to do it and gives an extra aspect to your coverage and uh and what's happening.

Larry 24:44

Absolutely, yeah. And and we're also hoping to have a camera on the water. We were planning to do that last year, but the uh C do got uh taken over for some other duties. So uh hopefully this year we're gonna get the we'll get the actual live out on the water action as well.

Jeff 25:02

Yeah, we'll see how we go. Still working on commission for that because they're very nervous about that. So I'm working through approvals for that, but that is the plan. But filing that, we do know that we've got uh me and you, Larry, we've tested the drone footage, so we're gonna have some live drone footage. Uh, people uh literally gonna be able to watch the swim start. Um, as if they're in NUSA, they're gonna watch that beautiful sunrise uh from probably 20 or 30 meters above the water, above the start line, they're gonna have the best seat in the house. Uh, I think it's probably gonna be a better seat in the house than even the people standing on the beach. Uh but if you're watching that live stream, you're gonna be closer to the athletes than uh almost than their paddler.

Who Is Racing Numbers And Countries

Larry 25:41

Yeah, no, it's gonna it's gonna be fantastic. And again, for people, if you're thinking, oh, this sounds like something I want to be checking in on, go to the 515 YouTube page and click on the notify me links, and it'll make sure to send you a message when when we're going live. All right, well, let's get into this here. Uh Jeff, how many competitors are we gonna see at the starting line? I I know you're just mentioning that you had 55 signing up for New Zealand already, and you had close to that, I'm sure, for this. But as things go, people have lives. Uh, how many competitors are we looking at seeing at the starting line right now? How many men, how many women, returnees, newbies? Give us some of those kind of details.

Jeff 26:23

Well, yeah, in in typical Jeffrey fashion, I prepared this just as you were talking to Tim because I knew you were gonna ask me. So, yeah, we're actually down to 37 starters. Um, we did had had a full field of 55 entered. Um, you know, a number of things have happened with life. We've had some visa refusals, um, some people changing jobs that uh made they couldn't get there. So we end up with 37 should be hitting the start line um in NUSA. So um 11 females, 20. Hang on, I haven't adjusted my numbers there. What we have one on one. So 10, 10 and 27, 10 females, 27 males um in that. So the splits 19 internationals versus 18 Australians. So we've got more international competitors than Australians hitting that start line. So we're gonna have uh nine athletes from India. Um, as always, they love coming to Australia, and there's uh a big groundswell of uh support from the Indians. There's a number of them coming to New Zealand as well. Uh so nine Indians, uh five Kiwis coming across the ditch to race. Um, two athletes from Hong Kong. So both those athletes uh call Hong Kong home. Um Marco is actually from Germany, and Chloe's from the UK, uh, but they call Hong Kong home. So we could add Germany and England to the mix of those countries. Uh, then we've got Noah coming back from Mexico, um female athlete from Malaysia, and uh well-known name in the 515 world from USA, Kerry Mandel. So that's our 19 internationals. Um of those 37, we've got 12 that have done a 515 race either here or somewhere else in the world before. Um, I've counted a couple of people that didn't quite make it to the finish line, but they have attempted the 515 before. So 12 of those 37. This year we've got uh Shane Duffy lining up for his six uh UM Oz uh and his 10th overall 515 race. So uh he will, if he gets to that finish line, he'll equal Kelly Ridges um and Dave Carroll uh as having taken on six uh UM Australias. So um on that note, Kelly was racing this year. Um unfortunately, she has succumbed to an injury. Um, but she's still coming to NUSA, she's gonna join the dream team. Um that's what we know we know that this is what this race does to people. Kelly, you know, is heartbroken that she can't race, but the FOMO wasn't gonna allow her to cancel her NUSA accommodation and travel. So she's still coming up, uh, and she's gonna camp with us and and take on some of the responsibilities of the dream team. And you know, it shows what this race is about that someone does the race five times or six times, um, coming here for their seventh, can't race, but just can't bear to miss out on it. So yeah, she's gonna come along and help the dream team. So uh that's a bit of what's happening um at the high level numbers-wise for UM Australia 2026.

Larry 29:26

Awesome. Well, uh, I think maybe now's the time then to start jumping into each individual athlete and getting to know a little bit more about each of them. So um what we'll do is Jeff, we'll have you introduce the athlete and then maybe we'll have Tim jump in with a little bit of knowledge that he has of the athlete. If I've had them on the podcast before, I'll throw in a little bit. We'll just we'll just have a little chat.

Jeff 29:51

So, yeah, so we're gonna do it alphabetically this year. Sometimes we go age group, sometimes we go race number, but it's gonna be alphabetical this year. Um, so first cab off the rank is Nicole Allen, uh, one of our Aussie competitors from down in Melbourne. Um you know, done a lot of running and have got the kids into adulthood and has now got time for herself to do some more epic things, including Ultraman Australia.

Tim 30:21

Yeah, uh an amazing story. If you're here, we'll we'll we'll no doubt hear Nicole's story over the over the three days. Um, but she's got a great story, inspirational story to be honest. Um 10-time Iron Man finisher, and um up there with 32 marathons as well, she's run across the years of her of her endurance career. So her first her first go at the at the UM distance, the 515. Um but but she's spent you know the last sort of 15 years uh in endurance sports. So it's it's great to see her step up. I think once she gets through the swim, she'll be much relieved. Um like a like a lot of our athletes, I think. Um, but she's she's ready to ready to rock and roll and just so much experience. So so going long for long days. I mean, 12-hour day for her, I think, is going to be short. Um, so so she's gonna be well equipped to to rock and roll across the three days. And uh, and her partner is her crew chief, so that's always fun to see whether they're still partners on day four. Um so yeah, she's got a partner and then some mates and training buddies, and her her mom and um and and stepdad are gonna be her crew as well. So that that's pretty cool to be honest.

Larry 31:47

Yeah, yeah. It's it's always fun when when the family's able to get there and and share in the experience. It's it's not always fun if they are the crew. So sometimes it's it's your best supporter and they know you so well, they can help you get to that finish line. Other times, you know, we we've seen some problems when when you got the family in the crew. So it's it's always interesting to see which which way it plays out. Who's up next?

Jeff 32:14

Uh so next one we've got is uh returning athlete. So Sedanand Amarapol from India. So our first Indian athlete we'll talk about. Uh look, he took on new M here last year. Um, unfortunately didn't have the best weekend out, had had some issues particularly with the bike on day two, um, and didn't quite get there. So he's coming back. Um look, he's got um some alumni looking after him again. So uh Max and uh his partner Tegan uh taking on that. So um we love seeing our alumni step up and and help out. So and that's a bit of consistency for Satan to have Max because Max helped him out uh last year. So they know each other well, they've been in communication, and uh I'm sure they've got a really good plan for uh 2026 to make sure we get to see Satan at Main Beach at that finish line.

Tim 33:05

Yeah, he um he's done plenty of racing as well. I mean, I know that he's raced a lot in India, he's done the 70.3 in Goa, he's raced in Kazakhstan as well. Um and it was just it was probably really unlucky for him last year. He just had some bike technical issues and just couldn't get himself to the the cutoff for day two and then decided to not start day three. So um we'll see how he goes because he can ride. I mean, there this is a guy that's ridden um something like 4,000 kilometers um from Kashmir uh to Kohen Kumari uh over 14 days. So the guy knows how to ride a bike, so uh saving any any issues that he has technically, um, then we can rock and roll, and especially Max and Tegan. Um I I every every race I seem to pop up at, I seem to see Max and Tegan there. So um so they're good, they'll be they'll be great. They'll be great support for him, absolutely.

Larry 34:06

All right. Who's up next there? Uh Jeff.

Jeff 34:10

Uh next one, another Indian athlete, uh Productor Aswar. Um, so um very accomplished doctor um from India. She's um yeah, wanting to show some of those Indian girls back home that uh things like Ultraman aren't just for the boys. Uh so yeah, has has a good resume and uh told a good story. If you've been on the social her stories um up on the Facebook page, as are many of these people with their wives and a little bit about themselves. Uh so yeah, again, massive support from her family to be here and uh wants to wants to show everyone that she can do it.

Larry 34:48

And and she has raised a pretty good crew chief, I believe. She does.

Jeff 34:56

She's got the uh ego's alright. You can speak, yeah. You can speak to him.

Tim 35:00

Our uh 2024 champion, uh Anthony Vlodmans. Um so hopefully there he can talk talk um Productor through the course, but she's got enough experience. I mean, she's raced all across the world as well, 70.3s in Germany, 70.3s again in Goa in India, plus also the the world championship for 70.3. Um, and she's raced in Australia before. She's completed the the Busselton Iron Man, which is you know uh another one of our iconic races down under. Um and she obviously, you know, she's she's hard a hard worker. You don't become, you know, a highly respected physician without that. So I've got and but she's another one with um a brother, mother, daughter, son, and husband uh on the crew. And I I like how if when they fill out their forms, they put the put them down and they and they've got uh their crew one, crew two, crew three, and then right down the bottom, she's got other supporters and that's her husband. So he's done well. Hopefully, hopefully he'll stay out of the car throughout the three days and um and be the voice of reason come the finish line.

Larry 36:13

Yeah, they they may be on that track of uh we're gonna keep separated, and I'll just be there at the end of the day to to give you your meals and and stuff like that. But this is not the first time Anthony's crewed though, either, is it?

Jeff 36:27

No, it's not. And I again I just love this race for this. Here's a guy that comes out, towels up the course in 2024, wins. Um, the second I put the call out in 2025 for health international athletes on the phones, Anthony Vlodbans. You know, what you know, in what event can you say that someone who's literally won this thing will go and help anyone? He had no idea, he just put his hand up, said, I want to help someone do this race because it's life-changing. So ponies up in 2025. Uh, my apologies, I forget. He supported an Indian athlete in 2025. Uh, and then behind the scenes, I didn't even organize this. This was through the connections with a person that he supported last year, productor at SEGCOUD, she has some help. And by the time I found someone, she's like, actually, don't worry, Anthony Blobmans has reached out to me, and uh, I've got Anthony's brew capped, and I'm just like, This is just magic what this race does in our community. It's it really is just amazing. Yeah, yeah.

Tim 37:26

And just really important, just really importantly, Anthony is a co-sports athlete. I think that's probably worth noting.

Jeff 37:32

Are you coaching high rocks athletes now as well, Tim? No, we do everything, mate. We do everything. We're a one-stop shop for excellence.

Larry 37:46

All right, next athlete is a returning athlete. Jeff.

Jeff 37:52

Oh, Boris. He's just keeps on chipping away, Boris can swim a bit. He's he's uh a bit of a fish. Uh can bite, can run. So uh Boris is someone who's gonna be at the point in this year. Um, so yeah, cracking guy. Um comes along, comes up every year with Jess, gives it a good crack, keeps telling me he's gonna move up to Nisa. Um, but yeah, I'm pretty sure um I'd be surprised if Boris isn't first out of the swim. Um, he's been put some hard yards in there. Um and yeah, keen to come up and and give it another crack. I think this is four in a row for Boris. Um just just loves it. Um and yeah, I know he's in in good shape this year, and uh he's uh got a got a good sponsor on board if you're if you're a gum chore, he's got some peak energy gum that'll uh pop up in your athlete bag. All the athletes are gonna pop some of Boris's peak energy gum. Apparently, it's maybe it's what makes me swim so fast. So get into that, people.

Tim 38:53

Yeah, he's um yeah, fourth last year as well. So with a total time of 24 hours, 55 minutes. So he'll be um he'll be there and thereabouts this year, and very smart decision, obviously. One of our Victorian athletes, so he's escaping the uh the the colder autumn of Victoria and coming up to the Sunshine Coast, and why not? So yeah, he'll he'll be one to watch for sure.

Jeff 39:20

Next up, Ashley Bates. Uh so Tim will talk lots about Ash because he is a co-athlete as well. Um, but Ash again is someone that's been around the race for a long time now. He's um supported some Indian athletes as crew crew chief. Um top guy, just yeah, just uh an awesome human, as many of the people in our space are. We know what this 515 Ultra world attracts, these sorts of people. Um, lovely guy. Um, and yeah, I'll let Tim talk more to Ash because he knows him much deeper than I do.

Tim 39:52

Yeah, Ash is uh like Jeff said, he's one of the good guys, um, fun loving, sort of doesn't take himself too seriously, but also works hard. He's got a highly demanding job with a lot of travel um uh and a lot of time on the phone at ungodly hours. Um, he calls himself a first-class faffer, um, which I can attest to as his coach. Um, but what he does do is he gets the job done. He was in uh Iron Man New Zealand earlier this year and managed to do a 40-minute course PB. So he's in reasonable Nick. He's um he's not as young as he used to be, so he's in into his mid-50s and one or two niggles that we're we're dealing with that we always sort of deal with this close to the race when when you're just coming off uh you know the bulk training into taper. But he's he's I mean, he's a seven-time Iron Man finisher, uh, another race close to our heart. He's done the um uh the Harvey Bay Hyundai multiple times. Um so he yeah, he he loves it. He loves working hard and he loves trying to test himself and see what he's capable of. So, you know, trail marathons, road marathons, but we'll see. We'll see. He's um yeah, he's he's ready to rock and roll. Yeah. Oh, and also his wife, his his wife, huge supporter, he says, and they actually celebrated their 30th, um, 30th wedding anniversary. Well, today in Australia. Today, as we're recording, yes, yesterday in Australia, yeah. The day we're recording this. So so congratulations. He's got the in-laws, he's got the in-laws as well in the crew, so so this could be combustible or it could be heaps of fun. Who knows?

Jeff 41:40

And we'll just call back. Tim Tim is wearing the uh best hat in the universe there. For those that don't know, I do have a uh bird event around, a couple of UMs and a and a race called Half-Bay 100, which is morphed into the Hyundai Festival. So it's almost ultra because it's it's two days of racing. You can do a standard or Olympic distance on the Saturday and then 100k on the Sunday. Uh proud to say that uh T100 actually copied that event that my uh my local triathlon club invented in 2011. They've now copied it. So uh imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. But uh yeah, there's a lot of people from the UM family come up to Harvey Bay in November and uh and take on that and get to see me in uh in a different light. A bit of a different race, that one, you know, when you've got a thousand people going around instead of 50. But uh yeah, Ash has given it a good crack, and a number of UM people have given that a crack over the last few years.

Larry 42:28

And and and you get 1% of every entry fee in T100, is that right?

Jeff 42:35

Got a ring so ring sound about that check, it keeps bouncing.

Tim 42:40

All right. The Hundy Festival has a great a great MC as well.

Larry 42:45

Oh right, let's move on to the next athlete. That's enough of that.

Jeff 42:53

Right. And then the next one is another Indian athlete, Raul Cheldery. So Roel was gonna try and have a crack last year. Um he's an airline pilot, so his roster's a uh contingent on whether he can race or whether he can race contingent on his roster. So yeah, he's been keen to get here. And uh in 2026 is the year that his uh feet are gonna hit the ground in Noosa and give it a crack. Um, lots of running under his belt. Um, and yeah, I think anyone that commits to this when they've got a job, you know, that that involves flying and how do you work your training around that? I don't know. Do pilots get to take their bike up in the cockpit with them so it can go? I'm not sure. But uh yeah, it's uh one of those things. So uh good on him for making it work with life. And uh and yeah, he's got a pretty well credentialed team, Captain, as well, um, in Vishesh Madan, who's uh done the race a couple of times, and uh Vesesh sidebar is uh poning up for New Zealand. He's gonna go to Wanaka and race UM New Zealand in December.

Tim 43:52

Nice. And Vish is uh one of the great guys, um, and uh it would be interesting to see. See whether Rahul can uh fly through the course.

Larry 44:04

Oh god.

Tim 44:07

You're welcome.

Larry 44:09

Can you cut that out, please let me the ratings, the ratings here.

Tim 44:14

The ratings here are gonna go through the roof. Cut that, cut that, use that. That's that's the uh the snippet that you put on the social media. I agree. Yeah, he's um Iron Man, Iron Man Bustleton, another one of our Iron Man Bustleton alum. He's done uh Iron Man California, which is a belter of a race, nice and fast, and then he's also completed a couple of ultra marathons, so he's run the hundred kilometer distance before as well. So who's no stranger to the endurance space? So it'll it and with Vish um as his crew chief, he'll know the course, which is you know hugely important. Um so no, it'll be it'll be it'll be interesting, interesting to see how internationals go and Rahul being one of them.

Larry 44:56

And and I saw in his uh resume there that he has um a plan to hopefully do Mount Everest one day. So he's probably flowing over it, and uh then he can do the do the climb. Do the climb. All right, Jeff.

Jeff 45:15

Back to it back to Australia with Doug Clark. So I think if my data's right, Doug's our youngest athlete at 26. Um he's got a group of sticky mates that have um his his motivation a little bit for doing this and has a pretty stout Iron Man time. So yeah, let's see if that translates to something bigger. But I think there's going to be some pretty interesting crosses on the uh on the live YouTube from his team. They're they're keen to uh let the world know how good they are and how good Doug is. So uh that'll be entertaining. And uh yeah, we'll we're looking forward to having Doug come up and give it a good crack.

Tim 45:52

Yeah, he's um he's no no slouch of the the man with two surnames. Um nothing wrong with that. Yeah, I mean he's he's he always says that he's the I think he and he's explained to Jeff that he feels like he's the slowest out of his group. But if he's the slowest out of his group, it's one hell of a group that he trains with because I mean he's three-peak challenge, which is a great bike race here in Australia, and he's done that in under nine and a half hours. Uh he's done some ocean water swims across the like you know, five kilometer distance in like an hour 15. Um, uh 70.3 world champion finisher in four hours 30. So he definitely um definitely has some pedigree. So I wouldn't be surprised um with it with the time of 10 hours 20 as his uh fastest Iron Man, especially at the only age of at the age of only 26. I wouldn't be surprised if uh if he's done the work, then um he might be right up at the um at the pointy end come late Monday afternoon.

Larry 46:59

Yeah. And and I'm looking at his uh crew chief here as well. Um team captain is his father, also a 10-time Iron Man finisher, more than 10 times. So uh he's he's got the genetics to go off and and and pull this out and uh and the experience uh in in the van to to help him out as well. In fact, the whole crew are Iron Man finishers, multiple Iron Man finishers.

Tim 47:24

And I think I think he I think his his his most well his biggest claim to fame at the moment is that he rolled his old man's PB across the Iron Man distance by less than a minute. So that means dad's got to step back up, I'd imagine.

Jeff 47:40

Yeah, well, we we might have uh a wheatly challenge going out here. Maybe next year we'll have uh have Doug and his dad Andrew out on course challenging each other around the uh UM Australia course.

Tim 47:52

There you go, read. Let's do a shout out to Andrew, the ball's in your court, my friend.

Jeff 47:59

Right, on to Jacob Crow. Uh another young guy, only 30 years old, uh, coming out and giving it a crack. Um, again, someone that's got um a bit of history behind themselves as to why they got into Iron Man. Um, we we see those stories a lot where people have gone, hang on, I'm heading in the wrong direction. Let's chuck a U-turn, get into triathlon, and uh want to belt myself some more. So let's see if I can take on 515. So uh yeah, looking forward to Jacob coming up. Um again, a bit of bit of uh experience and royalty in the uh crew side of things with Pete Hodge from uh down Port Macquarieway, uh his coach and coming up to be his team captain as well. So uh Hodjo's a tough old dog, and uh he will not be letting uh Jacob slow down and uh and take it easy out there, I'm sure.

Tim 48:51

Plenty of races jammed in in the last couple of years as well, so he's definitely race ready again and busso finisher. 70.3 Melbourne, uh Iron Man World Champs in 2025. So so yeah, so he's come off some some hot racing, so he's he'll be ready to rock and roll on the on the finish line as well. All right. Next up, Jeff.

Jeff 49:15

Next up, we're going back to the subcontinent, back to India with Devraj. Uh so Devraj is uh coming to give it a crack. Um, he's done a couple of I means, as most of athletes done, uh in Europe, uh heading over to Sweden and Hamburg. So um again, super committed. Um, and he's got uh a local uh UM alumni, Anthony Lucas, that's gonna look after his his needs over here, um, as well as some other friends coming out. So uh shout out to Anthony from up in Cairns who uh loves loves the 515 stuff. I I reckon Anthony's got another race in him just quietly, but uh for this year he's uh get a crew and and help someone else achieve their dream at UM.

Tim 49:59

Yeah, and he's also got he's got definitely running pedigree too because he's two-time finisher of the um of a race called that the hell the hell race border, which is uh which is a hell of a run. That's a hundred kilometres. So so come Monday he might feel a little bit more at home.

unknown 50:18

Okay.

Jeff 50:19

Right, eh, we're gonna jump across the Tasman for the next one. So that Dodd uh is coming from New Zealand, so uh one of our faster female athletes. So we've got uh we've got a a bit of a stacked female field this year. It's gonna be quite an interesting race for uh for honors to see who takes that one out. Um so yeah, but uh that's that's been it there. A lot of gravel riding. Um and yeah, she she's primed and ready to go. Uh her video went up for her why and to tell the world about her a little bit. Um so again, jump onto the socials for UM Australia and see that and uh learn a little bit about that.

Tim 51:00

Yeah, and Uber, Uber consistent across her her Iron Man racing. She's gone 1005, 1013, 1035, and then uh and then a 10 another 1018 at the World Champ. So so ultra consistent, which is probably what you need to be at an event that goes for 515 kilometers over three days. So so she would like like Jeff said, Um, I think Nat comes with some expectations, whether she's got it on herself, we've just put it on her. Um she will probably look to have herself somewhere up the uh up the top end of the female field.

Jeff 51:40

And her crew's an interesting one. Oh, sorry, Larry.

Larry 51:43

Yeah, no, I was gonna point to the crew, yeah.

Jeff 51:47

Yeah, so um bit a bit of UM experience there with Craig CJ, um CJ Craig Jackson from New Zealand. So uh he's knocked over UM Australia a couple of times, one of my favourite UM stories. Listen to one of Larry's old pods about that. Um, but again, a couple of supporters on her crew that are coming across from New Zealand that are going to race uh UM New Zealand. So um some people that want first hand experience of what what UM racing is about, uh to prepare themselves and and kick off for their journey to Wanaka. Uh so yeah, big, big Kiwi team there. Um CJ is a Kiwi, but he now lives in Australia, uh sort of light, and uh moved across here. So yeah, but um look, another another another athlete that's showing having experience on that crew is uh is pretty handy and uh we'll they'll show up good support out there.

Larry 52:40

Yeah, and did you find that people that were signing up for New Zealand they've had people that have done Australia or friends that it like that that have done it? Or are they coming this year to get into the cruise? Or or how many of them are uh doing a double? How many are coming to do a preview in Australia in order to do the New Zealand race?

Jeff 53:05

Look, we've actually only got three that are doing the double. Um, so you know, the the man that hates missing out on anything, Shane Duffy, uh, is of course doing Australia and New Zealand. Um, but uh the other two are two uh New Zealand girls, so Britney Lytton and Analong Bill, that we haven't got two yet. But uh so Shane, Brittany, and Anna are the three that are taking on Australia and New Zealand. Um don't know, maybe there'll be some that take on Australia and then uh see if they can uh score a spot to New Zealand, put an application in uh when they uh looking for that next goal once UM Australia's passed, don't know. Uh but yeah, I think there's there seems to be a lot of names popping up that that have either asked about New Zealand or have uh actually throwing the hat in the ring for New Zealand. So that doesn't surprise me. You know, this thing can be a bit intimidating, um, and you've got that opportunity to come on crew to actually see it in real time how it plays out. So yeah, that's definitely um the the game plan for a few people there, I think. I think um Roy and Harriet that are on uh Nat's crew uh will definitely be uh taking notes when they're not looking after Nat, I reckon.

Larry 54:13

Yeah. And and perhaps some people will start doing it the other way. They'll go and crew in New Zealand because they want to come over and and do Australia, but they they want to you know see what it's like in the in the homeland first if they're new from New Zealand and and it's a little bit easier trip to get in and check it out.

Jeff 54:31

100%. And again, these races, Australia and New Zealand are just they're places you would just go for holiday. So it's not a not a chore to go and spend a few days in Wanaka or Nusa to uh fly your trade and learn your trade a little bit, but uh let's have some fun and see a beautiful part of the world. So and for us, you know, between Australia and New Zealand, it's a it's a three-hour flight for uh the international people. So uh for for us that's uh you know, you can fly three hours and not up not be halfway across Australia. So for three hours you can be in a different country if you fly the other direction. So yeah, yeah.

Tim 55:04

Okay. And I've um I've been lucky enough to well, I've been lucky enough to run to a complete uh there's a race called the Southern Lakes Ultra Um that goes a lot of that track that we that we ran in that event is run in this event uh for UMNZ. So it's uh it is uh unbelievable as well. So if you're umming an Ring, I would suggest that we um email Jeff and and get your entry in A S A P.

Larry 55:35

There we go. Uh now, Jeff, I know one of the things that you guys do at your race is you give an award to like first responders, um, people that serve um in the military, things like that. And are you have a lot of them again this year, and and this next athlete coming up is a police officer.

Jeff 55:57

Yeah, so we do have the ultra-made award that uh you know, if you're a frontline responder, you know, in the defense forces, paramedics police officers, um, you go into that. That that stems from um Tony Horton's history um with the Australian um commandos. Uh so yeah, we wanted to acknowledge that that that it's a it's a different thing uh to be protecting our people. So yeah, look, we've got a number here. Um I've got to tell you, in New Zealand, I think we've got like 10 police officers uh in New Zealand. There's gonna be uh there's gonna be more police around than what there was at Ultra in Mexico, I tell you. Like it's wild.

Larry 56:36

That's how you do it. That's how you do it, Ted.

Jeff 56:41

Right. Anyway, yeah, so our uh we've got a uh 45-year-old female police officer, Tab Draper. Uh so Tab lives uh in Southeast Queensland, so not far from NUSA. I know uh I follow her on socials, and I think every family holiday for the last year or two has been shockingly on the Sunshine Coast, and she always manages to pack her bike. So I think Tab's pretty um pretty familiar with the Noosa course now. Um look, she's awesome. Um yeah, has got some history, um is definitely gonna be one of these um females at the Pontian that I spoke about, um, has been putting in some super hard work. Um we've shared some of her socials with the sessions she's done. So uh yeah, looking forward to seeing um Tab pull it all together and use her.

Tim 57:30

Yeah, she's rock solid over the last little bit. She did the 70.3 Port Macquarie Um and raced raced very well then, just over five hours. Completed at the she competed at the World Champs that were the that were held up in Townsville, here in Queensland, um uh last year, I think, or the year before, 24, I think it was. Um, so she's got she's got ample years of experience, and she's another one with uh her her crew is her entire basically her entire family. It's her husband and then her four kids, uh, along with a friend as well. So that should be fun. And I I'm really keen to meet um all her kids because they've all got a name that's actually not their name. So she's nicknamed them all. So especially I'm really interested to meet um Bango, her youngest child, also known as Angus. But but if anyone's called Bango, they've got to be good fun.

Larry 58:28

Yeah, yeah. And and she's not just a uh police officer, she's a crime scene officer. So maybe maybe she can do some work with the CSI Sydney uh crew there while they're filming and uh give them some information.

Jeff 58:44

Was that the right sound effect?

Larry 58:46

Uh no, that was law and order.

Jeff 58:48

That was law in order, yeah. Oh no. I do love that uh yeah, hubby hubby Matt, who's crew chief, he got to do Iron Man first, but I called Bib's on Ultraman. So yeah, so Matt was the first Iron Man in the house, but uh Tab's gonna be the first Ultraman in the house. So I like that. That means there's gonna be a second. Yep, yep, I'll put next to you. That's it. So yeah, moving right along, down to D, Roscoe Dre. So um Roscoe's coming to give us a crack. Roscoe's got a pretty amazing story. He had a fairly horrendous motorcycle accident, um, spent a lot of time in ICU. Um yeah, just yeah, um, massive journey, massive recovery that he's been on. Um, yeah, it was about a thousand days since the accident that he um he then took on Iron Man when when realistically he wasn't, you know, they always say this, you know, you medically you shouldn't have survived, but he did it and uh and chipped away. So yeah, he's uh he's put in a lot of effort and uh yeah, if he gets to that finish line, um he's got a story to tell and and will be pretty inspirational to a lot of people.

Tim 1:00:05

Yeah, I think it uh it opened up a new lease on life that uh the accident that he had because ever since the accident, he's um 70.3 is an Iron Man's Um finishing Bustleton. Uh he's done the two the the two by the two XU series in Melbourne where he's from. So he comes again with plenty of experience in the triflon space over, you know, I think it's going to be 1,500 days or something since his accident when he'll be towing the start line at Ultraman. So yeah, that that's uh that's a pretty cool story that no doubt we'll highlight um across the three days.

More Athletes Redemption And Rivalries

Larry 1:00:43

We will get right back to the preview in just a moment. I wanted to let you know about some of the upcoming guests so you don't miss out. In our next episode, I will effort to get the UM Australia Champions to come on, as is tradition after the race. In episode 11 this evening, we will hear from another of our beyond 515 guests at Ray Dehack. Ray is a Canadian explorer and ultra distance runner and the founder of the nonprofit Impossible to Top. He shares amazing stories of incredible nature. We also have some old kind of guests we had. I speak with Ed Lamaika and Scott McDermott in the two closing episodes of the Twitter. Remember the follow-up podcast wherever you listen? And if you think I deserve it, give me a five-star review. Those two things help to push the podcast toward more listeners. Okay. Let's pick up the conversation with a friend and former guest of the podcast as the next athlete who is racing. Let's move on to our next one. Someone that's uh familiar.

Jeff 1:01:57

Yeah, so we've got uh uh a guy who's 53 years old that uh lists his occupation as a street sweeper. Um I'd I'd say amateur comedian. He has a new job every year. So we are talking about there's always something stupid in that box when I download the application. So we are talking about Shane Duffy. So uh talking about someone that's about to take on their tenth uh Ultraman UM 515 race, um, known around the world. Um, another one of the good guys. Um, this is a bloke that that put up with Timmy Franklin running around the world not once but twice. Um look, he'd give his shirt off he'd back to anyone. He's done it all. He's now this will be his sixth race here. He's raced six in a year, he's raced after being hit by a car days before the race. Uh look, I think he's I think his aim this year is to be the only person to finish uh Ultraman having done zero training sessions. Uh look, he's he has been a busy, busy man this year. Uh I know he would have very much liked to have done uh done more training. Uh I think he's done enough, but uh yeah, I don't think there's a lot on his trava, to be honest.

Larry 1:03:15

Yeah, yeah. Uh and and I and congratulations to Shane. He's uh he's gonna be a grandpa or he is a grandpa again. Um so he might be carrying another little one across the finish line, although I don't know if if this new little one is coming. Uh in his photo that you see on YouTube, if you're watching on YouTube, uh he's carrying the babies across. So uh yeah, congratulations to to Shane and the family on on becoming a grandpa again.

Jeff 1:03:43

Yeah, I think this one would be a little bit too little. It was only two days ago, I think.

Larry 1:03:46

So very, very fresh.

Tim 1:03:49

Yeah. And a ripper, just as you guys have said, just an absolute ripping human being that he drove. He literally like drove across the night. He was in he was in the US doing uh one of the the Ultraman, I think it was in uh he was going between Florida and Arizona when he met up with the U.S. And he drove he drove like 16 hours throughout the night to come and meet me in the middle of nowhere in the US. And then he ran a full day with me. I think we did 63 or 64 K's that day. And then he um and then when I ran through uh his neck of the woods down in um sort of central coast, north central coast of New South Wales, he was there to help me as well. So so amazing. Yeah, I'm forever grateful for the for the duff man. Um, and we'll no doubt see him come across the finish line for the 300th time.

Larry 1:04:42

Yeah, and and he does hold the Guinness World Record for the most ultra long distance triathlon uh completed in uh 12 months, and that's that's when he did six all in 12 months. And that's why he's working so hard now to pay those off.

Tim 1:05:00

Yeah, to pay for it all. Well, he's got other people working hard for him to pay for him. So that he's um he is um he's also hugely, hugely into well, soccer or football, depending on where in the world um you may call it. Um uh and and yeah, has been a big supporter, especially of the of the of Australia's female, not only the the Matildas, our national team, but but also grassroots as well. So yeah, he does a he does a lot, um, a lot for a lot of people. So yeah, ripping bloke.

Larry 1:05:32

Yeah, and he he traveled with with the national team, the women's national team, when they had the World Cup here in Canada. And uh and and yeah, he was here with them. And in interestingly, we're having the World Cup here in North America again, shared between Canada, US, and Mexico. And one of the stadiums that they're playing at is my home stadium in Vancouver, and I have tickets to go see an Australia game.

Tim 1:06:00

Did it cost you $22,000? Almost. Yeah.

Jeff 1:06:08

Lucky we're paying you so much to do the live stream, Larry.

Tim 1:06:11

Can we slam? Are we allowed to slam? Can we start slamming FIFA on here? Or no, we'll probably keep it apolitical. Yeah, apolitical.

Jeff 1:06:21

Anyway, moving on. Speaking of Mexico, Larry, and you just mentioned our next athlete is Noe Duran from Mexico. So Noe's uh finished uh UM Australia before, uh came here a couple of years back, um has uh completed uh some of the UM races, I can't think, uh, but he has done UltraMan before he came to Australia. Uh and yeah, this is his second crack. Um he's um supported by a local Elena uh who helped him last time and also uh alumni Jen McMillan. Um so again, lots of experience. Um Noah is just a grinder, he will get through that race, no worries. Um he just gets out and gets it done without any sort of drama.

Tim 1:07:08

And it's always good to have a Spanish speaker there as a useful translator. Uh and he's coming back, he says he's coming back because he just loved it, loved the event in 2024. So I just want to come back and do it again.

Larry 1:07:22

Awesome. All right, so we got another returnee.

Jeff 1:07:27

Yes, so Anthony Elder, uh coming to have a go. Uh so yeah, Anthony came along uh finished 11th place last year, um, but wants to uh wants to come and have another go. He's blaming me for this. He's saying I I told him he should come back, but uh I think he just wanted to come back. Um yeah, he's uh he's yeah, great guy. He's put in a lot of hard work um and has got Kate Bevelacqua as his coach. So a lot of experience in his corner um with that. Um Kate obviously um has a long association with the race. Um and yeah, just amazing. Um another person that's bringing their wife as crew chief, uh, who's an amazing athlete in her own right. Um, she's a hybrid rock star athlete, High Rocks, uh, competed just recently in the elite category uh and did amazingly well. Um and I just think it's amazing. Um, we know all know how much time this takes and how much support you need from those around you, but uh those two have supported each other to to kick really big goals at the same time, um, and and just showing how amazing it can be when you find that person and uh and you support each other through it. So looking forward to catching up with um Anthony and that as well in Noosa.

Tim 1:08:50

Yeah, big tone, I think, is what I got told to call him last year. So from from his crew. So he's uh he's he's coming back, and then he's obviously got um Alana Shaman as well as her crew who's another alum as well. So so he knows what to do. He's got Kate Kate Beverlaqua, as you said, Jeff, um, world champion, uh, one here at UMOs as well. Uh and just just uh in December last year, actually retired from her professional career after 20 years or something, 25 years of racing as a pro. So um, so yes, obviously got the experience behind behind his racing and understanding, and um he's ready to rock and roll.

Larry 1:09:43

Yeah, yeah. And uh I had the personal connection with Kate in that I did a teacher exchange with her uh right before she started that professional career. So her and I traded homes. I lived in Perth WA for a year, and she was living in in this house right here. The the global headquarters. And uh so yeah, we always have that connection. And that was before either one of us knew anything about Ultramad, oddly enough.

Jeff 1:10:15

I did listen to that podcast a little while ago, and yeah, it was amazing that you had that connection before it all happened. So yeah, that's very cool.

Larry 1:10:23

Yeah.

Jeff 1:10:25

All right, right, okay. So and next athlete, um, look, coming from Brazil, but via WA, where he now lives, so he's in in Western Australia, um, so opposite side of the country to uh where we are here in Noosa. Um, so Guy Escalera finished UM Australia in 2019. Uh he's been sniffing around for a little bit, um, but his 40th birthday present to himself is uh taking on UM Australia, and uh he's bringing someone extra with him this year that didn't have a 19, which is his son. So um again, lots of lots of family going um around. I'll let uh Tim introduce all his crew because there's a lot of Brazilian heritage, and I'm looking forward to Tim stumble over all their names.

Tim 1:11:11

Well, he definitely, this is why I when when Guy did it, I was bored with calling him Guy. So I was I was all about Guellamo Escalera di Luz Oliveira every time he came across the finish line. So that's what I plan to do this time as well. Um just butcher his name for the best part of four to five days.

Larry 1:11:30

And I apologize to the people watching on YouTube on on his on his little placard. The name is not showing up right now. I'm not sure what the error is on that. I'll have it fixed for the live stream. I think it was too long. Probably couldn't fit it in. Yeah, I think it was too long.

Jeff 1:11:47

It's the ridiculous number of letters. Um, Larry. Yeah. Well, this is this is the test. This is the test.

Larry 1:11:56

Yeah.

Tim 1:11:57

So he's a very long time. But he is, he's uh uh uh a chef at some at one stage. I actually was over in WA and caught up with him. Um and he cooked me a meal. He's just again one of the one of the one of the good guys. Um yeah, he was voted, I think he was something like voted top 10 head chef in Western Australia, like in a few years back, 2021. And I was lucky enough to eat some of his food. Um he's gonna ride his bike from he wants to ride his bike, or he's got plans to ride his bike in 2028. Uh I think it's his 20th anniversary of being an Australian, he wants to ride his bike across Australia, so from Perth to Sydney. Um, but but his crew, he's got his coach, Yao Carlos Neto, Ingrid Espinoza, Leticia Fernanda, Polov, Francisco Paul Escalera, and Rahil and Mario, his mum and dad. Look at that all now. I'm basically fluent in uh Spanish, guys. So hola. Uh it's Portuguese, just quietly, too. Oh well, not anymore. He's not there anymore. Um I do love in Portugal.

Larry 1:13:07

Oh, I see. I've also got the wrong flag then, too. Let me just get this off the screen. I think maybe I just didn't finish making his yet.

Tim 1:13:16

Is he representing Australia? What is Australia? Ram Brazil, so I think you can see it. Australia and Brazil, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jeff 1:13:21

I I do love in uh in in the vein of Paul Giddings and his uh negotiating at home to get to do another Ultraman. Um Gee does say his his wife once said, God, please don't do another I am. And he's like, Well, Ultraman's not Iron Man, so you know, be careful what you wish for. So here he is giving another crack. So yeah, um, we're gonna jump back across the taskman just breaking.

Larry 1:13:49

Before we do that, um one of the things that Tim just mentioned is he wants to ride his bike from Perth to Sydney, and I did an athlete in profile of somebody who rode their bike from Perth to Sydney, who is supposed to be at your race this year, but I'm guessing has dropped out. What do we know about Matt?

Jeff 1:14:10

Yes. So Matty O'Brien was uh has definitely ridden from Perth to Sydney. Uh that was one of his little challenges he did in a bit of a journey of rediscovery in the last year or two. But uh yeah, Matt uh got a new job. Uh, if you'd listen to Larry's pods, you know he's he works on rescue helicopters. Uh he's received uh a promotion plus a transfer. So he uh is actually training to step up the crew level. Um and unfortunately, the only opportunity for him to do that, that the training fell when uh Ultraman was on, he was never going to be able to do it. It was non-negotiable. So uh yeah, so Matty's Maddie's pulled the pin. I'm sure he'll come back to to fight another day. But uh he will be if you get lost at sea, fall out of your boat 50 kilometers offshore. Matt may just hang off that cable and come down to pluck you from the ocean.

Larry 1:14:58

Yeah, yeah, it's an exciting job. And it was a great, great conversation I had with him. So, people, please still go check out that past episode. There's there's lots of UM Australia affiliates there. I even did a post of all of the times that I had a UM Australia affiliated athlete on the podcast, and it's got to be like 15 or 16 different episodes now where people have have been on. Um, there is one person though that I've been you know trying to get on and just doesn't answer when I email or call. And this guy's like ran around the world and done things that would be really interesting to talk about on a podcast, but just never gets back to me about it, Tim.

Tim 1:15:43

Just not sure, I'm just not sure you could afford me, Larry. You're probably right. And what's the what's this fascination with what's this fascination with riding across Australia? Unrun it. Yeah.

Jeff 1:15:59

Dear idea, right? Back on track. Uh heading across the task and back to New Zealand. Medi Gerbo. So he's uh a firefighter, so he joins our uh our running for the ultimate award this year. Um there was a bit of a random Facebook post from me a couple of weeks back where someone spotted on Mehdi's uh Strava that he'd swum around one of the lakes in uh New Zealand, so traced the shoreline and done a 20 kilometer swim. Uh so look, I'm I'm not too worried about Mehdi making it uh out of the swim. Um and he's done Tarawera, so he's probably gonna be pretty good on the uh the run too, and and not too shabby on the bike. So look, he's uh he's gonna be a good one to watch. And uh yeah, if he's done some well, speed work in the ultra sense, um he's another one that could be up at the pointy end.

Tim 1:16:53

He's finished um IM New Zealand last year in 1120. Um and he obviously is a good swimmer. He's in the he was spent three years in the Navy, so hopefully he he can handle himself in the water. Um but he just loves, he just loves endurance, I think. So especially the the running space. He's done, yeah, as you said, Jeff Tarawira, he's done the 50, he's done the 100, he's done Hawke's Bay Marathon, Fault Line 100, which I think was on this weekend, if I'm not mistaken, over in New Zealand. So um, and then there's a uh a reasonably new race down in Sydney called the uh Bondi to Manley, which is 80 kilometers along the shoreline of uh of Sydney. So so he's done that as well, and and uh yeah, and and he's done a lot of swimming. So if he can if he can ride a bike, as Jeff said, he'll be there and thereabouts.

Jeff 1:17:50

And another one that's bringing his uh wife along as team captain. So we uh we need to do a check-in on everyone on Tuesday to see who's who's there. Yeah. Okay, back to India for Jomie Jacob. He'll be racing with number 420. Um, yeah, we've moved to everyone keeping their numbers now. So uh 420 for life for Jomie for UM Australia. So um he's gonna come with a couple of uh I mentioned behind him. So race in Malaysia. So if we have uh some heat in Nissa, he'll be ready to go because Malaysia in November is not pleasant. Uh so he'll be able to deal with the heat. Uh, you know, and he's raced Copenhagen, so if it's cold, he's covered. So, you know, he's got both bases covered for uh the weather that we might experience in NUSA.

Tim 1:18:40

And um, and he's run the one of the you know, one of the great races on the on the planet, the Comrades Marathon or Ultra Marathon in South Africa. So he did that. A few years ago, he's done some other ultra marathons, 100Ks, uh, and then as Jeff said, uh a couple of ironmans in the bank as well, and a lot of uh endurance cycling as well behind him. And really importantly, he's a member of the uh Central Board of Customs and Indirect Taxes of India. So no doubt that the the Indian community has funded the trip, but we'll keep that just to ourselves.

Larry 1:19:14

Yeah. Well, Jeff, um, I I heard from a little birdie on that side that um the weather forecast is uh perhaps a little bit wet coming up. What do what are we uh what are we thinking for the for the race there?

Jeff 1:19:30

Look, look, as we sit, we're almost two weeks away, so you do start to get some uh forward forecasts, but I gotta tell you, between in the last 24 hours, it has changed from definitely definitely rain to maybe showers. So uh we have had I think four years running of uh of average weather in Lisa. Uh, the 20 2022 is the one you were thinking of, where we uh yeah, it was um an 84 kilometer row. Uh yeah, we we we we went multi-sport that year. Uh so no, we we the the weather's it is a little bit questionable, but uh certainly nothing like I think what we've had the past four years. So yeah, looking forward to some better weather and some more more sunshine, coast sunshine, which has been lacking for a couple of years. But again, it did uh it literally in the last 24, 48 hours, the forecast actually got better than what it was when we first were two weeks out. So let's see how we go. I can't control that, so I don't worry about it too much.

Larry 1:20:30

It is called Ultra, you gotta deal with everything.

Jeff 1:20:32

That's it. Yep, that's 100%. So yeah. Next athlete is Shabham Kajali. So Shabam's coming back, he's athlete 152. So given we're in the 400s now, obviously uh means that he raced right back in 2018. Okay, so uh yeah, look, he's gonna come back and give another crack. Um, he now does a bit of talking, he's got uh done some TEDx stuff, so um yeah, um guy with a cool story. Uh I think he's probably the only jeweler that we've had uh race the event. Uh so yeah, if anyone's looking at popping the big question, maybe uh talk to Shava about designing the ring.

Larry 1:21:16

And and he's your youngest finisher ever.

Tim 1:21:21

2018 is yeah, and um yeah, well, yeah, he might someone might be popping the question or Jeff. Well, there might be a requirement for some um apology gifts come Tuesday after how many family members we and wives and partners and husbands we have in the crew. So jewelry might be the number one go-to, but um a strong, uh strong swimmer um and and reasonable on the bike as well, and then he'll he'll push through the run. So yeah, and great to have another returning, especially from 2018. That is uh the longest gap. You know, like that's the earliest race number we have this year, by quatsum margin race number 152. As you say, it's um the everyone's race number is unique, so no one else will you know, no one else will ever have that race number that you've had. So you know, 152 is um our fourth, that's our fourth, fourth year of the event. Um so he's coming back for the 11th, 12th. I I'm not sure if we include uh or not.

Jeff 1:22:29

11th, you couldn't couldn't get you couldn't get your shoes off quick enough to count past 10, Timmy.

Larry 1:22:35

We did the 10th anniversary special last year.

Jeff 1:22:38

Yeah, go on, Timmy. Remember?

Larry 1:22:42

Okay, as if I can remember that far back. Hey Tim, uh when he finishes, um, you should also point out that he is celebrating six months of marriage with his crew chief. I'm sure she will appreciate that.

Tim 1:22:57

Potentially, potentially celebrating. You're ever the optimist. Ever the optimist, Larry.

Jeff 1:23:06

Yes, I remember I will. Yeah, he was a bit late entering because of that wedding, I remember now. So, yeah.

Larry 1:23:14

And and not only is uh his wife is crew chief, uh he also lists her as coach.

Tim 1:23:21

Ooh, yeah, this worries me greatly. So I will I will absolutely mention that. Don't think that will go unnoticed across the weekend.

Larry 1:23:35

All right. Well, we got uh another one of the females coming up next.

Jeff 1:23:40

Another one female. So Claire, Tim, you can confirm how we say that when we have our interviews on uh Thursday. But uh Claire's coming to us fresh off IMM World Championship. So race Kona last year. Um, yeah, 13 hours 15 is pretty impressive on the big island. It's not easy racing over there. So uh yeah, so another one that's doing it for her kids um and showing that you can balance family life and ultra racing, uh, which we know is hard for everyone. So um, yeah, look, just um a hard worker posted her video um just recently and her kids feature in the video, which is great. Um, again, we we know how many people go to putting this thing together. It's not just the athletes um that are putting the time in. There's people taking up the the slack at home. Um, and you know, um Claire's mentioned the that a hubby takes on the morning shifts, um, you know, looking after the kids, and uh and it and it shows uh shows all our kids and and our family that uh teamwork makes the dream work um on both sides of the fence with this race and and in life. So yeah, it's good.

Tim 1:24:51

She's coming back from a pretty significant surgery uh in 2023, launched back into some endurance racing, completed um the Sydney Marathon in September of 2024, and then has gone on to the 70.3 in Melbourne. Uh she finished Iron Man Cairns in the June of 25. And as you said, Jeff O, she went on to race at the World Champs in Kona the same year. So she's had a um a big sort of a big three years. Uh she's run nine marathons in that time, you know, 70.3s, two 70.3s, and two Ironmans. So she's got the case in the legs to keep pushing.

Larry 1:25:32

And and she has some experience crew as well. Um, she has Kathleen Swalling crewing for her, who crewed for Stuart King last year. So got got the experience in the crew vehicle. That's always a big bonus.

Jeff 1:25:47

Yeah, and I think from memory Kath um was recruited to paddle for Stu and then um didn't want to go home. Just stay with him for the next few days, helping out from memory. So yeah, um loved it. And yeah, always good to have someone around that's got the bit of experience to settle you down.

Tim 1:26:07

And and and if you meet Stu, if you meet Stu, you can understand why she's stuck around. He's a ripper. He is.

Larry 1:26:14

And and uh can you make sure you have a box of cleans around when she finishes? Because she says that her dad has been known to cry watching her do a sprint.

Jeff 1:26:22

A sprint, uh mate, definitely get that on the broadcast. We need some emotion on the broadcast, Larry. So we'll we'll definitely get some uh cameras in poor old dad's face as he's uh shedding tears of pride for his daughter crushing it at uh UM Australia.

Larry 1:26:36

Yeah, yeah. Well, speaking of cameras in people's faces, I I would like to remind you that you're on camera, Tim. And if you can just keep yourself a little bit centered instead of slouching back, that would be helpful for everybody watching on YouTube.

Tim 1:26:48

I'm just trying to keep myself in the light. I'm losing light here rapidly.

Jeff 1:26:54

That head does need good lighting, that's for sure.

Tim 1:26:56

Yeah, yeah, it needs to everything.

Jeff 1:26:58

It's all the help it can get. Right, moving right along. Brittany Litton. Okay. Uh, look, if you're on socials, you know Brittany as the white monster queen. Uh, I think her and Erica Riley are running a challenge to see uh who can actually consume the most white monsters in preparation for UM Australia. It's uh it's uh been been fun to watch some of that stuff in the banter going on, and again, building this community um you know across the Tasman around the world. So Brittany is uh a pointy athlete, she's uh pretty quick. Uh she has probably uh including present company, the best coach uh out there for this. Um Simon Cochrane is her coach, so it doesn't come top two. It doesn't come much better than that. Um and yeah, uh look, Brittany's uh been putting in a lot of hard work, um, a lot of sessions uh that we've seen on the socials, and I'm sure. A lot of harder ones going on behind the scenes as well. Um yeah, it does um does have the runs on the board with uh a lot of Iron Man racing. Uh and yeah, I think I had a quick look um at some of her times. Uh what do we say 1049 at Kona? So again, you uh you go 1049 at Kona, um you you're you're a pretty serious athlete because it's not easy over there. So yeah.

Larry 1:28:30

And she was one of the ones that I did an athlete and profile on as well. Um, so that's back in episode seven. And she she actually made a pretty bold call in that uh in that episode. So go back and listen to that if you want to know more about what Britney's uh up to on her goals for this race.

Jeff 1:28:50

We're just lucky there's no no fishing boats based out of Noosa, so we know she'll be there for the whole weekend and won't take off again. Start going to jump on the podcast and have a listen. It's good could value that podcast, that's for sure.

Larry 1:29:04

I I will be interested to see if she brings Ron with her because she seems to all of her social media has her cat in it, so I don't know if she's getting away.

Jeff 1:29:14

There's not a travel cat cage big enough to fit Ron in. Uh I think yeah, Ron's a Ron's a Ron's a big uh ginger cat, and uh he's got to go as an L.

Larry 1:29:26

Yeah. And uh she's gonna have her her her mother there, so she's obviously gonna do the the Mother's Day thing, but her mother also has a birthday on the 9th of May. Heads up on that one.

Jeff 1:29:39

No, so her mom's her mom's not gonna be here. She's going to her place to look after Ron and the kids.

Larry 1:29:45

Oh, okay. Well then we have to do the shout-out on the live stream for her.

Jeff 1:29:49

We will we'll have to do the shout out of the live stream.

Tim 1:29:52

Yeah. I think she's bringing bringing she's bringing half of New Zealand over.

Jeff 1:29:58

Well, she needs to, she's she's bringing her husband, Ari, but Ari's actually just gonna chat cars with me for the week because uh he loves doing up cars. And uh yeah, so he we're already booked in to catch up at the pub next Tuesday. And uh yeah, I'm pretty sure I can talk to Ari out of being her crew chief. Uh I think he's got better things he could be doing for that week, to be honest, talking to me about cars.

Larry 1:30:19

Well, I don't think he was gonna be crew chief. I think he was just gonna be driver. I don't think he was gonna be allowed to do anything but drive.

Jeff 1:30:26

Okay, Roddy. Well, staying in New Zealand and staying with the girls, we have Anna Longdill um who's coming here to give it a crack. So Anna's from Rotorua, up the north end of uh New Zealand. Um, and yeah, just looking to give it a crack. Um, along with Brittany, who we just spoke about, Anna is taking on New Zealand as well. So, you know, this is their um race, you know, no doubt they're gonna give it a good crack here in Australia, but they're gonna learn a lot and uh take that to their event in Wanaka in December. So um again, done uh a lot of IM racing um coast to coast, which is just a brutal race. Um just yeah, distances, conditions, all those things is just amazing. Um and done a lot of ultra marathons. So probably looking forward to to Wednesday and knocking out 84 kilometers. Um, you know, when you've done 300 milers and and 10 hundredk runs already, uh probably 84 on tired legs is something that you can manage.

Tim 1:31:30

Well, I hope she does it on the Monday as well, um, because that's the actual race, not the Wednesday. Um but she has she has experience as well, and she's within minutes. She's within minutes of um Brit in terms of in terms of her most recent races. I mean, she went 1040 at New Zealand um last year and then and then again this year. So she's got she's got good speed in those legs. So um that's really that's this could be you know, this could be a really good hard race between the two Kiwis. Um and she's a lawyer, so same as me. So obviously, she's obviously very intelligent. Um and uh and she wrote for Oxford, which is pretty cool as well. Um, so plenty of stories, and obviously big, big motor. So I'm looking forward to see see Anna going around that. I um um I wonder what her expectations are as opposed to what what her weekend is going to look like.

Larry 1:32:36

Let's go on to the to the lone American in the field.

Jeff 1:32:42

Yes, so staying with the girls, you've got Kerry Mandel who's coming across. So she's found that finish line three times, having been uh Florida, Arizona and World Championships in Hawaii in the Ultraman races. So yeah, excited to have um Kerry across here. Uh actually caught up with her. She only arrived a couple of days ago, and I happened to be down the coast, so got to say hello to her. Um, and I think she's uh coaching Shane Duffy this week for his week of training to lead into Ultraman. Um, so yeah, awesome, awesome person. Uh we've chatted, we've had some WhatsApps uh over the last six to twelve months. Um she definitely uh has been looking forward to this and coming out and uh and sharing her time with Ohana. Um obviously Shane's core to that for her. Um, but she knows that uh there's there's so many good people around this, she's looking forward to meeting people um having a bit of a holiday. She's here for three weeks. Um hubby comes out um to brew for her um in the race. Uh but she's having a little bit of time here, you know, just getting to know the course and and enjoying a bit of Australia. Uh so yeah, she's she's keen for that. And her mum's gonna come out. Uh so her mum, uh I want to say 80, 81, 82 years old, I think. Uh so wants to come to Australia, see Australia and see Kerry take on uh UM. So that's that's really awesome for her. So yeah, looking forward to having Kerry go around in research.

Tim 1:34:13

Yeah, and she's got um she's got an abundance of experience in in uh in endurance racing, not only uh Ultraman Arizona and Ultraman Florida, but uh multiple, multiple 70.3s, Ironmans, and also um she uh became one of only 42 women at the time to complete um the world marathon challenge, so to complete the the world, the six world major marathons um in 2020. So she know and she's done you know Boston to Big Sur Challenge, um 28 marathons, so ultra marathons, milers, 100 milers, you name it, she's done it. She's even um run across Virginia, which is uh something like a 350-mile run. So so come Monday, might she might find herself at home.

Jeff 1:35:08

Yeah, and and she's also she's also running around the world.

Larry 1:35:10

Yeah, she did the world marathon challenge, which is the seven marathons, seven continents, seven days.

Jeff 1:35:19

Don't know what took you so long, Tim. That's not running around the world. That's fine, that's flying around the world. She ran, Tim, everywhere. She ran everywhere. She ran more continents than you did just by.

Larry 1:35:30

Yeah, she did, I'm pretty sure.

Jeff 1:35:33

And she's actually going with the last one. She's getting to athlete number 359. Uh she's running the North Pole. She's running the North Pole next to you, too. So just to round it all, yeah.

Larry 1:35:47

And and she is a former guest of the podcast in season six on episode 10. Her and uh a former um crew member and ultraman finisher himself uh of of Shane Duffy were on that episode. So that there's a whole big Shane Duffy um connection here. And uh hundred percent the only reason she's in Australia is because of the connection that they made when they met in Arizona, which is the same place I met Shane Duffy when he uh I was having him on as an athlete in profile, and he didn't have a full crew yet. So I went down the crew for him. That's that's just how it works.

Jeff 1:36:28

That's awesome. So yeah. Um, so you're moving right along before Tim gets too embarrassed about how slow he ran around the world. We've got another returning athlete. So Nesta Rivera, uh, athlete number 369. So he's representing Colombia. He does live in Melbourne these days. So um, yeah, he took on the race uh back in 2024, so he knows how to get to that finish line. Um, and yeah, he's he's just wanting to continue to challenge himself um in his triathlon career. So yeah, looking forward to having Nestor here. He'll have a have a big team, probably a loud team, uh around the race. So uh yeah, it'll it'll be good fun to have Nestor out on course once again.

Tim 1:37:13

Yeah, just like many of our other athletes, he's got um significant endurance pedigree, you know, number of marathons around the world, uh, and and some fast times too. Uh a half marathon PB of 79 minutes and then uh and then a uh a marathon PB of 259. Um he's crewed here multiple times as well, obviously raced and finished here in 24. Uh, so he'll he'll he'll know exactly what to do come Saturday morning, that is for sure.

Larry 1:37:46

And and his crew chief Vanessa, his wife, they're having their 10th anniversary during Ultraman. And another support crew for him, Jennifer, is having a birthday on May the 8th. So they'll be celebrating lots of things over the weekend while they're there.

Tim 1:38:02

It's all all happening. Yeah, and plenty of great birthdays happening across the week, Larry. Plenty of great birthdays happening across the week.

Larry 1:38:10

Oh, yes, yours happens that time of year, too.

Jeff 1:38:17

That's not race week. It's well before race week.

unknown 1:38:21

Wow.

Tim 1:38:22

Oh well, then you don't need me to turn up for it. Right.

Jeff 1:38:26

Oh, off to Malaysia to introduce our next athlete. So Anne Powell, you'll say see her in some spots, um, cheerling, her um Malaysia name, but she goes by Ann, um, has a good social media presence, so you can see lots of the things that she does. Um, interesting athlete, um, obviously takes her training very seriously, but also has some fun with it as well. Um another athlete that is going to be at the pointy end of that women's field. Uh it is gonna be really interesting. 1028 uh at the I-Man distance. So that is fast. Um, so yeah, all these the Kiwi girls, the Aussie girls, um, you know, if they we know they've put the time in, if they can pull it together, add nutrition, add the crew help in for three days, uh, might be a very interesting um tracker to watch on uh on Runday day three with all the math going on, how far someone got to go on this day to make up a deficit or whatever. So gonna be really interesting. But um Anne's gonna be right there. So uh she's only 30 years old, um, so quite young by ultra standards, but uh definitely has a lot of uh runs on the board as far as athletic pursuits go. Okay, so our next athlete is a returning athlete and an international athlete also. So Mahesh from India. Um he had a tough time out here last year in 2025. Um was a was a DNF, unfortunately, for the event, but uh isn't gonna let that beat him. So he is going to um come along and race again. He's got Dwayne Carnell, who's uh gonna crew for him, who helped him out a little bit last year. Um Dwayne is the the partner of Jim McMillan, who they're looking after separate athletes. We spoke about Jen earlier, looking after Noah from Mexico. So um Mahesh has got Dwayne in his corner. Um so Dwayne's got lots of experience around the UM Australia course. Uh so yeah, he's uh he's coming back to uh redeem himself, and uh, hopefully we get to see Mehesh there on Main Beach on Monday.

Tim 1:40:32

Yeah, he's um yeah, like as you say, Jeff, he didn't have the weekend he wanted last time, um, battled through day one, um, but just put himself in a bit of a bit of a hole and didn't didn't um start day two. Um but he's you know he's a multiple-time Iron Man finisher, something like 10-time Iron Man finisher. He's done five half Iron Man, he's run ultra marathons. Um the thing that I and then and then a lot of ultra cycling um as well. But the thing I love about him is that uh he's he's a man of his community, he's won a lot of multiple community awards um for giving back for through social activities through his local community. So and he he's just a really lovely gentleman as well. So it'll be great to have Mahesh back next year this year.

Jeff 1:41:21

Cool. So returning athlete again, next athlete off the rank is Eric O'Reilly. So um Eric is one of Tim's athletes. Tim will have lots to say here because uh Eric is one of his athletes. So Eric is heading for her third UM Oz finish, so previously uh took on the course in 2021, 2023. Um Eric has um learned a lot over those last couple of times, um, educated herself, she's become a triathlon coach uh in the meantime, so uh is putting a lot of um that study that she's done um into action along with the support of Tim as her coach. Um look, she um had a bit of a tough time out in 2023 for a few various reasons. Um, but uh in 2026 uh she's in the best shape she's ever been. Um all her training and times and and everything is pointing towards her laying down a pretty big PB in 2026. So um Erica has has done it all as far as UM goes. She's um been here as crew crew captain. Uh she's been on the dream team, she's been an athlete twice before, um, been around UM Australia as much as anyone. Um and uh we know we'll be cheering pretty hard for her again, having having been on the dream team, um, those people that that have helped us out behind the scenes that then come back and and hit the track, um get that few more extra cheers from us. Um and yeah, we're looking forward to Erica uh really nailing the race, um being big on the prep, and uh we'll we'll lay down a good PB, I think, over the three days in Noosa.

Tim 1:42:56

Yeah, she's put um she's definitely put the put the work in, that's for sure. I just I'm just looking at her athlete profile and she's written Tim Franklin is currently coaching me, but he's a wanker. So that's the sort of that's the sort of sense I've got from my athletes, which just means I'm doing my job properly.

Jeff 1:43:14

Tim I think I think I may have added that.

Larry 1:43:17

I I added that. I added that. Well her sentence ended at currently coaching me.

Tim 1:43:28

Oh right. I'm surprised it did. I uh I didn't even blink, didn't even blink at that. She would have written that, to be honest. Um, but yeah, I've uh I've I've pushed her. She she has um some goals that she wants to achieve, and and I've pushed her to them, and and um, but she definitely is in is in some in some really good shape. Um and she's got some great crew as well. She's got her crew, um, her crew chief is a very good friend of hers, um, an experienced athlete as well in Haley. And then Andrew Troutie, um, who has been in and around uh UM Australia as well as the um 355 events um we first met Trouty. So so she's got a lot of experience there. She's got a lot of experience. Um she was just got to be smart over three days, and and she will, as Jeff said, be looking to lay down, hopefully, uh a serious uh personal best.

Larry 1:44:29

And she was another of my athletes in profile for this year. She was uh season eight episode two. And uh the only thing I have to say to Erica at this point is um can you let your people that are filming for the live stream turn their camera horizontal? I know you want the vertical, but can you let them turn it horizontal for you too, please? Good, good luck, Larry.

Jeff 1:44:57

Anicus, just to mention, Erica is coaching Tab Draper, uh, who's taking it on. So, you know, she's in this getting herself through with Tim's help, but she's also coaching Tab. So, you know, that chain continues, and uh yeah, that's that's a big big thing to be managing um at that time when you're looking at taking on the event yourself. So I think that's awesome. Staying in Australia, Nathan Schmidt, uh, who'll race under number four twenty five another relatively young guy, 28. Um, so he's done a lot of short distance racing, has done a couple of IMANs, um, and yeah, gone as quick as 1053. So um, yeah, was was looking for that next challenge as um most people are.

Tim 1:45:44

Yeah, and he's um he's a local southeast Queensland, he's from Brisbane, which is my hometown. Um, and the cool thing he did, he raised um some money uh uh in 2025 through April. He did 30, well, he did 30 trithrums in 30 days, but he did 29, I think he did 29 Olympic distance, and then on the 30th day actually did an iron distance. Um so again, his ability to back it up is there, and then Iron Man Cans officially uh uh to sort of qualify for UM Australia in 1151 in Cans of in 2024. So again, plenty of experience, ridden his bike a lot, um, runs a lot, uh, did the Gold Coast Marathon double where they do the half marathon on the Saturday and then run the marathon on the Sunday. So he's done that. So he'll be um he'll be no doubt primed and ready to go come the Saturday morning.

Larry 1:46:45

No problem going day after day after day for him.

Tim 1:46:48

No problem.

Larry 1:46:50

All right, let's move on.

Jeff 1:46:51

That's it. And not moving too far geographically, we move on to Patrick Shanahan, who also lives down on the Sunshine Coast, so lives very close to the course. Um, a lot of experience through 70.3, an Iron Man, a lot of marathons. Uh so yeah, he's um he's another one that's uh coming from um a defense force background, so tough cookie, and uh wants to wants to take on UM, got a good crew behind him, a lot of mates from the service. Uh so yeah, you know, Blake said he's gone into battle with, so know how to uh get him through those tough situations.

Tim 1:47:28

And another guy that can back up day after day. There's a there's a run um across an event across Australia for charity for the Bravehearts charity, which is called um 777. So you do seven marathons in seven states across Australia in seven days. So you basically run, then jump on a plane and go to a different state, and he's done that. Um so he knows what that backing up feels like, especially on the end of the week. Um, and then he's also done Iron Man Australia, Iron Man Switzerland, Austria, and New Zealand. So so he's he knows what endurance is, um, and he'll be there pushing himself as well. I mean, he's been doing it, but doing endurance sports for 17 years now.

Jeff 1:48:14

Moving along to Marcus Smith. So Marcus will sound familiar to people. He is coming back after a DNF last year. Um, look, by his own admission, he didn't manage himself properly, probably nutrition-wise, over the first couple of days and uh and and had a bit of a failure on day three. So he's coming back to chase some demons away. Um, again, by his own admission, uh, he thinks he underestimated the race a little bit. Someone who's done 36 Ironmans, um, including getting to Kona eight times, obviously has some pretty amazing athletic pedigree. But as we all know, UM's a bit of a different beast. So um, yeah, I kind of checked in with Marcus shortly after um last year, and uh yeah, he was hurting a bit about that failure, and then uh we we chatted more in coming months, and uh and eventually he he decided he needed to uh to come back to give it a crack. So uh he's had a bit of a bike stack, so he's put a few hurdles in front of himself. But uh look, he's uh he's ready to rock and roll. Um and uh yeah, Timmy, Timmy can probably talk about his training because he's uh under Tim's tutelage as well.

Tim 1:49:25

He is, and he's uh arguably the busiest person on the planet, Marcus. He runs his own business, he's a full-time physiotherapist, but runs the business um as well, doing multiple other physiotherapy, where it's aquatherapy or whatever. He's always at work and he has some um some side hustles as well. So finding the time for Marcus to train has been a challenge, but he's a serious athlete. I mean, you don't, as Jeff said, you don't do 36, 37 Iron Man, um, an eight times Hawaii competitor. without knowing what you're doing. Didn't get last year right, but uh uh has told me that he's in far better Nick um this year than he was last year. So we will um we will see. We've spoken about the nutrition side of things. So it's time for him to to rock and roll and and claim that redemption.

Larry 1:50:21

Yeah it it's always great when someone does come back and get that redemption story. I mean it's not great that they need to, but it's great that they have that fortitude to come back and and take it on again and and take the what they learned, especially if he didn't quite give it the respect that it needed because yeah there are people that will not respect the distance the first time they do it.

Jeff 1:50:44

Yeah and the thing you just it's it's uh it's just underestimating in it you go well I've I've done i man you know I've just got to back up and uh it is it's it's big so no I'm excited to see Marcus back and uh and I I want to hang that metal round his neck on on Monday that I didn't get to do last year. So yeah.

Larry 1:51:02

Well um Tim I know that you have to jump out. I want to thank you for helping out with doing the preview show. We still have a few more athletes to go but you got to jump out. We'll be talking to you again over the live stream and probably in a meeting or two before that. Thanks again for for joining us from uh from your worksite in Colorado.

Tim 1:51:24

No worries Larry and thanks Jeff and yeah I'm super pumped to meet all the athletes this year welcome them across that finish line on day three but all the family all the crews and everything it's uh it's a hell of a ride the whole week so um and then and then we get to celebrate all together on the Tuesday. So looking forward to it and um no doubt you guys will sing a fair bit of me across the 36 hours of live stream with Larry.

Jeff 1:51:49

All right thanks again okay so we're heading back to India for an ex-athlete so Kunit Sood uh is coming to have his first crack at UM Australia so again wants to uh see what he's capable of uh been down the Ironman road and now wants to go that bit further so uh he's bringing some uh his coach with him to be his team captain um which is you know always good that person that's monitored you through all your training been there on the day so yeah really awesome um and he's friends with um a couple of people in India that are taking on UM New Zealand so we know they're going to be tuning into the live stream to uh pick up some tips and see how Ultraman flows across the three days so that they're ready to take on New Zealand at the end of the year. Right oh back to an Australian athlete so Giancarlos Taraborelli um he's um line tried to uh get to UM Australia at least one time previously um but uh yeah has uh not not quite been able to get there so he took on IMNWA uh the last couple of years uh putting down times just over 11 hours very consistently yes yeah well 11 1101 1103 1112 so um yeah that's um pretty pretty consistent over the same course so uh yeah so hopefully uh gene carlis can hold it together uh injury wise and uh and get there to that start line um he's a local he lives on course buffone I think we pretty much ride past his doorstep so um um and another one that's got uh crew crew support from his uh family members so um yeah partners and sisters and things that are are coming along to to do that for him so yeah looking forward to him getting to that start line for the first time uh when he's been aiming for it for a couple of years let's say so it'll be good to have him there and pull on the number.

Larry 1:53:46

Yeah and I see he's done 20 kilometers for an open water swim twice. So no fear of him getting out of the water.

Swim Paddlers Surf Clubs And Safety

Last Names On The Start List

Jeff 1:53:55

No that's it so we'll uh I haven't I haven't looked at the pace on those it didn't go quite into the records but uh yeah we'll see whether he can uh challenge Boris for coming out of the swim first definitely gonna make the distance but uh see how his pace goes all right and uh from a from a strong swimmer to someone who's admitted that she's a little bit on the weaker side so another international so Floy that's uh coming to us she's representing the UK but currently lives in Hong Kong uh only learnt to swim a few years ago so uh was uh encouraged by her children to uh learn how to swim and uh you know then it just grows all of a sudden she's doing triathlon doing uh doing 70.3s uh doing i man so um again uh koner 1304 in Kona uh it's it's a tough course there if you can uh go go 1304 in Kona uh you you've got a bit of strength and a bit of him about you so um really really interested to see how um club goes I know she is very nervous about the swim um I've uh linked her up with um one of our really amazing um young paddlers from the Sunshine Coast the various surf clubs on the Sunshine Coast um the young um cadets nippers we refer to them as here uh they come and paddle for us and I thought it was important given Chloe being a bit uh not too confident in the swim you know I'm confident she'll get through it um but she's a little bit nervous about it so she's been able to link up with her paddler uh and and have chats and things and uh we'll have a good relationship with uh with that young paddler before she gets to Australia and then they've organised some practice swim so um that's great for Chloe it's um it is a tough way to start off the event particularly if that swim's not your strong leg. So yeah looking forward to Chloe coming out and uh I know she'll be there'll be a big smile on that face when she makes it out of the swim. So uh yeah let's uh let's be be cheering for that and uh being able to watch Chloe's tracker uh which is yeah again mentioning that again because it's gonna be such a cool thing this year so yeah and and you providing the paddlers for a lot of the athletes is is a big weight off their shoulders because not everybody bringing a crew is going to bring somebody who's gonna be comfortable with getting out over those waves and getting out into the into the ocean where you do your swim right yeah and that's it it's it is a mix and we and we let people we talked to people early on in the piece about how that works because there is uh it's a different skill I guess to swim using a paddler for your siding uh so you do want to do some of your swims with a paddler but yeah when you hit the the race at NUSA there's there's a few things there yes it it there's always some sort of ways but they can be decent ways which you know that's fine when you're swimming but uh if you're trying to paddle a kayak out through breaking waves that that's actually a pretty pretty well honed skill uh that lifesavers have that uh that person that's been paddling with you in in flat water may not have uh so we still have some people that that do say no we're fine the person that's coming with me is comfortable with that um but generally about two-thirds um to three quarters of the field say no can you can you find as a paddler um so we we collect those um young people up generally general young people from around the surf club um that that come along they get out there on their paddle boards they they feed them the nutrition they keep them on track um and yeah lots of times year on year um if if athletes do return they they link up with that paddle again I know uh Anthony Elder uh is using the paddle that he used last year right so because there's it's such an important bond to have and and be comfortable in that swim and start off the three days right so yeah yeah that's excellent it's excellent that you're able to provide that and that the uh the young people in the community are willing to volunteer their time for that oh and they just love it uh I know that before you know we've been organizing this for about a month now but uh Joe who is uh from the surf club at Noosa uh contacted me about a month ago to say I've already got three kids that are hassling me saying when do when do we find out who our athlete is so uh they they hang out they know what's coming um when their surf club season comes to end then and the Australian surf titles are on they know then we're a bit after that so as soon as the Aussies had finished the messages started coming into Joe saying you know is Ultraman on this year can I come and paddle for someone they they actually do love it. So yeah uh it's exciting it's it's it's just it's a nice point of difference um for the race it's something uh quite different our swim to to all the other events in the world I think um in the in the conditions that we face uh so yeah and that'll be be different for us as a team when we go to New Zealand we're we're not gonna have paddlers in New Zealand we're just having a water safety team because it's two kilometre laps um we're just letting the water safety team look after that so the athletes will be on their own and just being able to grab nutrition each two kilometers. So that again different for us as a team running the event um but for NUSA the paddlers are just just part of the landscape and uh and the photos that that we get that uh all the athletes get from our photography out there on course some of the best photos are those young paddlers out there you know some of them four or five hours um and they're with those athletes and they just they've just been such an important part and I love the imagery of of those paddlers with the athletes out there. It's really good. And and I was talking to Nick Millette uh recently he was at those uh surf lifesaver competitions he said that's like the third biggest competition um that there's so many people there it's like after the Commonwealth games in the Olympics it's like this is like your biggest competition yep it's huge um the Aussie the Aussie surf titles are just massive um so yeah that's um it's just so many different events that take place you know you think it's surf life saving but you know there's kayakes there's there's paddle boards there's the surf boats there's IRB stuff there's jet ski stuff and then there's beach running and swimming and art just yeah it's um yeah that's the Australian culture we have all those people that volunteer their time but it's also their sport it's um a volunteer activity and a sport so yeah but of course Nick will be most people around he would be living he's down the Gold Coast at the moment and uh you can't be at the Gold Coast without seeing the beach. So yeah it's uh yeah pretty pretty big you couldn't miss it down there that's for sure yeah and we expect Nick will be uh will be joining us again on the live stream he was uh integral part of it last year you know pulling off nearly the full 36 hours I think uh and uh getting out on the course uh for the run day so uh he's he's not going to be on course this year but he will be joining us at least a little bit yeah and that will be great to have Nick along you know he is he's a local to our race but uh has done a lot of international racing uh and obviously lots in Canada being a champion over there so it's always good to get Nick's Nick's point of view on things and uh and he loves being around it but yeah unfortunately he's uh down the Gold Coast at the moment uh and yeah along with yeah you've talked about there will be some extra people that you'll reveal later but uh Nick will be one of those people that uh gives us his thoughts and talks about what's happening on the course at NUSA that he knows so much about yeah all right let's move on to our next one next one back across to New Zealand so we've got uh primary school teacher Mark Thompson uh who is gonna be up at that pointy end so uh 1022 for the Iron Man so uh again one of the the fastest if not the fastest time um that we've got up there um not the fastest but close to so uh yeah we'll see how he goes um yeah gonna um bring his partner in as his crew chief uh and he's got his coach on crew as well so again we talk so much about um introducing these these coaches and the teams because it is you know it's so important um the the cliche always uses you know an athlete can get to that start line but uh the team gets to the finish line so uh yeah it's uh so good um and he he's looking to inspire his kids so um he's got four four children out there so uh that'll be keeping an eye on dad um I'm not sure if they're coming to the race or they'll be watching um from from afar on the live stream but uh yeah he's uh he's gonna be certainly up at that point and if he can pull it all together across the three days. Yeah and he has a hundred miler uh under his belt as well with uh 19 hours 19 and a half hours for that so um no no worries about how how he's gonna do getting to the finish line I don't think yeah it's gonna be gonna be pretty if you can keep the body together if he uh starts Monday he'll uh he'll definitely be there at that finish and be sure of that one so yeah right I'm gonna head back across to India uh for Bishmanathwari who's a a doctor so he's a surgical doctor so um again very um high high stress job um high responsibility job but uh wants to um influence people to use a healthy lifestyle as a way of preventing disease and sickness so um is a big big advocate for that um identifies that you know we're we have as a society headed down a little bit of the track of a sedentary lifestyle and we don't expect everyone to get out and do ultraman but getting out and active is is really important so uh yeah that's that's part of his ethos in life so he tends to tick over and and try and get an Iron Man done each year for for the past few years. Again someone who I think is is gonna be out there to absolutely tick over and get to that finish line. And yeah looking forward to having having him out here. He's celebrating another one with a a significant date he's got his wedding anniversary on the 9th of May so um unfortunately his wife's staying home to look after the family but uh we'll be giving a shout out to his wife on the live stream there to um as she supported him through the the training and getting him to um the race here in Noosa. Absolutely yeah we'll make a point in that one okay so staying overseas so Marco so um similar to Chloe living in uh Hong Kong currently but uh is representing Germany um so done a lot of Iron Man racing okay as recently uh as 2024 um and a pretty stout marathon PB of 246 anytime we go under three hours on a marathon that's uh that that's pretty good so yeah he um loves cooking but not washing up I think that's all of us pretty much so yeah um and he's got uh a local crew helping out so Zohar who um supported Visesh last year uh has come back Zohar was someone that just just found us through the website through hearing about the race and contacted me prior to the race last year um and said I want to come and be part of this thing. So he crewed for Vesesh so he knows the course knows what it's about um and put his hand up again said I'm happy to help someone again this year so he's coming up from Brisbane to help Marco uh so Marco's got some experience there um and one of his uh friends from Hong Kong that's coming out that uh that trains with him that's uh aiming to get to their uh first Iron Man soon so yeah yeah that'll be some good inspiration then yep all right well let's uh let's look at our last athlete of the day last athlete with a great story to tell so Denise uh came into upon UM Australia in 2022 um it didn't get there um so yeah she's uh coming back to uh try and sort it out so uh part of her strategy to uh make it happen in 2026 is to bring along a former champion as team captain so we're gonna see Melinda Coxhut uh out there which is awesome Mel's a great person um you know was great when she raced here in 2024 you know was surprised herself with her own performance and and with the win um but uh Mel someone that has heaps of um experience in athletic pursuits uh we talked about surf life saving before she's big in the surf life saving world um but a really down to earth person and I'm sure will have helped Denise um a lot in her training and preparation um for UM so yeah really really looking forward to see Denise and and yeah hoping that uh with all her training and her prep and and all the cheering from us all out there uh that she can get across the line um this year so yeah yeah and it looks like from her times previous the previous time in 2022 she was a little on the longer side in the swim but that's one of the things that Mel uh was really strong at so hopefully she's given her some some tips to to bring that time down a little bit for her. Yeah that's it I think you're always at risk if you have that really long swim time you're suddenly having to push more on the bike um day one to make that cutoff um and it and it can hurt you you know getting to day two or during day two when you've not been able to get the nutrition you want or you've had to push too hard on that bike and you've not sort of left enough there to um to work your way through day two. But uh yeah Denise had a few years to think about that and again we'll have spent a lot of time with Mel talking about that. She knows what it's about so yeah I think she'll get a lot deeper into the race this year and uh yeah hope to hope to get to see her uh on Main Beach there on on the Monday.

Predictions Weather And What To Watch

Larry 2:07:49

Yeah it is a different race for people that aren't strong swimmers because the the 10 kilometer swim if it's taking you five or closer to six hours you have to plan nutritionally way different than someone who's going to be in there two and a half, three hours yeah and and that's it it's and it's just I always say to people it's try laying on your stomach for five hours and then jumping up and riding 145 kilometers like regardless of what you've done in that five hours it's not yeah I don't know I'm I'm no physio but it it can't be good for you wanted to be laying down for that long and then having to then push it on the bike. So uh yeah but I'm sure that she'll she'll put down a better swim time um and we'll definitely have learned some lessons um from 22 um and again with Mel's experience there Mel's gonna paddle for her um so you know uh having a a former champion there every every stroke uh through that 10K will definitely hopefully kick off her 2026 campaign a bit better than uh her 2022 campaign went so yeah and anybody coming back with experience is gonna do better that's right yeah so yeah we'll all be out there cheering and uh yeah let's see how we how we go with Denise in uh 2026 yeah well you know what we get a lot of different stories we've gone through there people returning people looking for redemption people looking for PBs crew members becoming racers racers becoming crew members there's gonna be so much to talk about over the 36 hours of racing when we do our live stream again um I can't wait to see what unfolds this year.

Jeff 2:09:29

Uh looks like the women's race is going to be the one to watch there's like so many people there that might have a chance um what what are your final thoughts on on what's coming up yeah it's it's really interesting we do have a mix um I love that we still have so many internationals come and support the race um and that yeah you've got people that um and the people that we talked about that you know potentially will be at the front of the race uh it's not necessarily their intention I still think most people really want to come here and and take on this challenge um and complete it um versus competing in it but yeah we all know what happens you know if you're someone that's gone you know 10 to 11 hours in an I mean you're not you're not slow you are a you are a fair sort of athlete so uh suddenly you go okay I swam 45 minutes slower than them but I swam you know I rode 15 minutes faster what does that look like day two suddenly the math starts ticking over so um and you know it's it's great watching it um but with what what you're doing it certainly adds that little extra element um to go okay who's who's gonna be there you know we know last year on on day three um Timmy Belstead um had a had a a lead that that he needed to maintain he needed to stay close to Kirsty Sheehan to uh to take over the overall win and you know he came across the line second on day three but uh was close enough to to curse that he took out that overall win and again those those two people were out there racing themselves 100% I know both of those people really well and it wasn't for them about anything other than what could they do um but but you can't ignore that that extra challenge that comes with other people are out on course with you and and the times are there so yeah it's going to be interesting um that women's field especially um with some girls that are that are pretty quick um and then looking at at the the men's race again with the the disciplines it just changes so much when you know you have someone who's a really good swimmer versus a really strong biker versus a really strong runner um that leaderboard does does jump around a little bit so yeah um yeah just crossing fingers I'd love to have some nice noosa weather um mentioned earlier on that we've we've not had amazing weather for the past few years but uh would we'd love some really nice weather for this one um and uh see see everyone that starts the race get to the finish line um is the goal.

When To Tune In And Final Thanks

Larry 2:11:59

Mm-hmm And and that's that's part of the uh great part of the live stream as well is watching every finisher come in. Like last year, um we had the finisher that finished just after, like seconds after the clock. Uh stage. Yeah, we had the we had the wedding proposal just after the finish on three day three. Um so we don't know what stories are gonna unfold this year, but we know we will be covering them on the live stream. So people watching, um please, hey, don't be afraid to subscribe to my uh live stream and uh to the YouTube channel and hit the notify button on each of those live streams so that you can get the information when we're going live with each of those. So um and the socials again, uh, Facebook and Instagram does have an infographic of all the start times for your time zone. So check those out. Jeff, thank you once again for uh taking the time out to come and tell us about the athletes. Uh, I really appreciate it. Um, I'm looking forward to to how this one unfolds. And I know you and I will be talking over the next few days to to get everything ready, but uh, but but thanks for doing the this special uh race preview for the podcast and the YouTube channel.

unknown 2:13:16

Yep.

Jeff 2:13:17

It's been great having me and Tim here talking to you and uh again building that that global presence that we have and uh showing everyone what's possible. All right, thanks a lot.

Mary Jo 2:13:28

Hey, if you like what you heard today, please tell a friend and be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. We'd appreciate it if you'd rate and review the show while you're there. Drop the names of the people you think we should interview, and we'll get to help with them and make that happen. Thank you for listening to Pictures.