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An accident on Tuakau Bridge–Port Waikato Road may have left him a little dented, and put a spanner in the works, but triathlete Thomas Williams has been undeterred.
“I was training on the road out to Sunset Beach when some guy decided he wanted to overtake me around a corner which didn’t work out too well,” he says.
While his bike bore the brunt of the crash, his body took a blow too.
“The bike was no good. It was a bit of a nightmare, just an extra process I had to go through. There’s a lot of custom set-ups with [bikes], so it takes time to adjust.
“I didn’t break any bones, but a few bruises kept me out of the water for a bit. You never really know with the body, but mentally feeling good and consistent, that really counts whenever you’re training for an endurance event.”
Endurance is crucial for triathletes, especially when tackling such events as the Ironman 70.3 Hradec Králové in the Czech Republic.
On later this month, the event sees competitors swim, ride and run a gruelling (combined) 70.3 miles, or 113.14 kilometres. The Olmypic standard is a cakewalk by comparison, covering a ‘mere’ 32 miles (51.5 km).
Williams will need to draw on even more endurance just to make the starting lines for the remainder of his schedule, which includes three races over successive weekends in Europe and others are also on the cards.
“I’m definitely trying to round out the season if I can and see if I can make it go on for as long as possible.”
Triathletes may still have their strengths and weaknesses, but the distance between the two has narrowed at the top level.
“I’m a pretty good rider and runner, but it’s taken a long time to get where I am now with my swimming and, to be honest, I still have a way to go,” Williams says.
“These days, you need to be world-class in all three of the disciplines. You have to be an excellent swimmer, rider and runner – it’s definitely not a sport for one trick ponies anymore.
There is still some space for strategy, but flat tack is the preferred tactic.
“Even just five or ten years ago, you could get away with relaxing a little in the water and then really putting your energy into what you’re best at, riding or running. Now, if you’re not with the race, not in touch with the leaders at the end of the swim, you’re not going to win. You have to have your foot on the gas for the entire time.”
Originally from Buckland, this former Pukekohe High School student grew up playing cricket and hockey.
It wasn’t until he attended university that his sporting abilities directed him along another course.
“No one in my immediate family did any cycling, running or swimming,” he says.
“At university, a friend had his bike set up indoors as a trainer. I gave it a go and thought it was quite cool. Then, I bought my own bike and started running and it all snowballed from there.”
Looking further down the road, unlike many athletes, Williams doesn’t see the Olympics as the pinnacle in his sport, at least not for him.
“I do middle-distance triathlons, but the Olympics only has short-course events,” he explains.
“I would love to make it into the top 20 at a 70.3 World Championships. I think it’s realistic that, in the next five years, I could do so. I would have to be racing and continually making progress, but it’s possible.”
It’s this pursuit of whatever’s possible that keeps Williams going, even when wayward Port Waikato drivers crash his party.
“Exactly. That’s the ethos. I want to see how far I can go.”
