And this weekend’s Warrnambool Foreshore Triathlon boasts some challenging figures.

The Warrnambool Triathlon Club treasurer will push through the open course, which features a 500-metre swim in Lady Bay, a 20-kilometre bike ride around the Viaduct Road/Thunder Point precinct and a five-kilometre run using the western section of the promenade footpath.

But the distances are nothing compared to two half ironman events etched in his diary for later this year.

The Yeppoon and Shepparton races involve 1.9km swims, 90.1km rides and 21.1km runs.

“You memorise those numbers,” Bald laughed.

“The shorter distances are more of a fun hit-out.

“But Yeppoon and Shepparton are six to six-and-a-half-hour days.”

Bald admits his preparation for Sunday’s triathlon has been interrupted and inconsistent.

In the past month the 29-year-old has moved house and has been hindered by a back niggle.

But the work ethic of the Coffey Hunt accountant should get him through this weekend.

“The thing I like about triathlon is that it requires no natural ability,” he said.

“The harder you work at it, the better you get.

“My favourite leg is the bike.

“I’m a very weak swimmer and I’m OK at running.

“I’ll just try to get through the swim unscathed and not be the last one out of the water.

“I’ll go pretty hard on the bike and hopefully make it home in the run.”

Bald, who grew up in Mount Gambier, has lived in Warrnambool for about 10 years.

He was lured to the triathlon club by work colleague Claire Farrer and has never looked back.

“One of the girls at work did the triathlon in a team and then thought she would have a go at it by herself,” he said.

“So I thought I’d give it a go too.

“Triathlon is very addictive. I caught the bug and I got roped into being treasurer.

“The social side is great.”

The Yeppoon Half Ironman will be held in Queensland in August, followed by the Shepparton duel in November.

This weekend’s Warrnambool Foreshore Triathlon is all part of the gradual build-up to the major events.

Bald, whose wife Kim is volunteering at Sunday’s event, is expecting entries to trump the 210 last year.

“We’re fairly confident we can beat that,” the club treasurer said.

A triathlon-themed swap meet will be held at the Harbour Pavilion on Saturday from 3pm to 6pm and registrations for the next day’s race can also be taken during this time.

Competitors can also enter online or on Sunday morning from 8am. The race is scheduled to start at 10am.

For more information, visit www.warrnambooltriclub.com