The incentive in taking part in the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Triathlon for 36 year old Matt Somerville of Mairangi Bay has been to lose weight.
The temporary recruitment consultant who has recently lost well over 70kgs said that in the past his weight has held him back.
 Matt Somerville at Takapuna earlier this year(Photo: Barfoot & Thompson World Triathlon Auckland; click to enlarge) |
But since training for the Contact 300m swim, 9km bike and 3km run at Takapuna in February the weight has come off and he will line up again on April 7th on the Auckland waterfront to round out his summer.
"I train five days a week at the Millennium Institute in the pool and in the gym as well as road sessions," said Somerville.
After finishing 147th in 50m 58s at Takapuna he has set his sights on the Barfoot and Thompson event in the city on April 7.
"I'm doing the sprint tri (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) and I'm looking forward to it as I've never been able to do anything like this before.
"I've been busting to get the weight off and this is a totally new experience for me. I just want to be able to finish it and then look long term to moving up to the standard distance," he added.
"I'm loving life and I wanted to do this sort of event, but never been able to up till now. I'll be there to finish and watch this space next year I'll be back to smash it."
The North Shore athlete attended Westlake Boys' a school renowned for a number of top international sporting stars who attended the school, including Paul Amey triathlon representative at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games and basketball players Kirk Penney, Tom Abercrombie, and Corey Webster.
