Well performed iron distance triathletes Gina Crawford and Julia Grant have thrown their hats into an already hugely competitive ring at the Port of Tauranga Half, confirming they will line up at The Mount on January 5th alongside the likes of Jo Lawn, Candice Hammond and internationals Monica Dolidawicz (Canada) and Amanda Balding (Australia).
While 32 year old Crawford is very much an expert over the longer distance, there is no doubt of the threat she will pose to Jo Lawn and others in the elite women's field. However, Crawford is not setting herself any results focused goals on the day.
"I don't tend to have placing goals for the half distance races as I see them as training races with the aim to get stronger working towards the ironman races. I will be happy if I am back up on the podium and have met my individual time goals and achieved a good workout."
It is not the first time Crawford has lined up in the event, finishing 3rd back in 2007 when she was very much a rookie in the sport, having taken it up in 2005 after a break of 7 years from all sporting activity.
Crawford says the timing is perfect ahead of Challenge Wanaka, where she will look to defend her title two weeks after racing at The Mount.
"I am working on changing my bike set up and my technique with the aim of improving over the flat bike courses and I would like to test this out prior to racing Challenge Wanaka. Also I have come off the back of my most successful year in ironman racing and I found that racing the half distance two weeks before an iron distance event works really, really well for me.
"The intense workout helps a great deal in the building of my strength and fitness; I have come to love racing the half distance, although my strength is still very much over the longer races. I also enjoy coming to Tauranga to race and especially look forward to running around The Mount. It's also a very nice place to bring my family (husband Brett and son Benji) for a little beach holiday!"
Crawford is not daunted by the strength of the field either, in fact she welcomes it as an incentive to race hard.
"Yes it means that I will be chasing hard the whole race and will get the intense workout that I need and am looking forward to."
27 year old Grant is heading into the race in a similar head space to Crawford; keen on a strong showing but with Wanaka lurking in the back of her mind.
"It was a last minute decision to enter the Port of Tauranga Half, thanks mainly to my cycling team Benchmark Homes who made it possible," said the Christchurch based triathlete. "I've only ever done the race once before and had a shocker. Now I'm keen to start fresh and change that. I'm using it as a build up to Challenge Wanaka with of course the ultimate goal of taking it out."
The race gets underway at 6.30am on Saturday 5th January.
