Gus Shirley - Ironman in Training
Since I sat and watched the finish of an Ironman event 20 years ago it has been on my bucket list do complete my own Ironman challenge. There are just so many barriers that kept getting in the way! This year I turned 50 and decided it was time to commit.
Having been a Physical Education teacher for most of my working life I was an active all the time. 5 years ago I got a Deputy Principal role which has meant more time behind a desk. This combined with getting older, I really noticed it was harder to train for longer endurance events such as an Ironman. I decided that if I was going to complete this Ironman challenge I was going to have to find something to help.
After a recommendation from a friend, I started taking Mountain Red Deer Velvet about 6 weeks ago ( November 2024) – just as my training was starting to ramp up. In the past after my long training sessions I have felt little niggles and general soreness. Since I have been taking Mountain Red it has helped aid recovery and those little niggles seem to have disappeared.
I recently completed the Oxman Half ironman as a check to see how my training was going. While it was a tough day, I was pleasantly surprised how my body felt and how quickly I recovered. It is now less than 100 days until Ironman New Zealand in Taupo (March 1st 2025) and I am feeling confident that I will complete that 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run. I know that elite athletes use Mountain Red to help then get on the podium, but for me it is helping to tick this challenge off my bucket list.