Andrew Nadaraj is ready to suffer through a gruelling course tomorrow.
WARRNAMBOOL triathletes Andrew Nadaraj and Ben Fisk are prepared to push their physical boundaries.
The pair, both 38, will tackle Warrnambool Tri Club’s inaugural Sufferfest tomorrow.
The long-course comprises a two-kilometre swim, 80km bike ride and 20km run.
“It is going to be a tough day all round, as the name says,” Nadaraj said.
“I am not a big fan of the swim, so that is always going to be a hard one for me. I’m hoping just to get through that one.
“The bike is going to be a tough course because it’s going up Hopkins Point Road four times, which is not going to bring too much joy, and the initial run is going to be a bit tough as well going up through Ritchies.
“I am looking forward to finishing this one because it’s a bit of an unknown.
“Luke Bell, the pro, is probably the one who will take it.
“He’s a gun, so he will be one to look out for.”
Nadaraj caught the triathlon bug three years ago.
He’s completed three half-ironman contests and is training for his first full ironman event.
The father of one said the sport was “addictive”.
“I am training for a full ironman in June, so this will be a hit-out for me to see where I am at 12 weeks out,” he said.
“I have done a lot of work. My coach is actually Dean Picken from T3 Tri coaching.
“He has put me through my paces every week.” Fisk will tackle the Sufferfest with the same approach as Nadaraj.
“The appeal of this is it’s a local course. It is a very hard course. They have put a ton of effort in,” he said.
“I think the ride will be pretty tough. I don’t know if I could say I am looking forward to any of it.
“It’s a brutal course and the second half of the ride will be hard if you haven’t paced yourself.”
Fisk said the personal challenge was what appealed to him after taking up triathlons seriously in 2010.
“You start these types of things initially to see if you can do it,” he said.
Fisk’s preparation has included training with the Heavy Hitters, a small group of Warrnambool Tri Club members.
“I think I am always underdone. You go into these things wishing you had done a little more, but I am more than happy,” he said.
“I never do the set hours that are required but you need to train every day and rest.
“It can be hard to rest.”
Both Nadaraj and Fisk said Warrnambool Tri Club and the Sufferfest committee had developed an event with the potential to grow.
“They have set it up really well. They’ve taken a very professional approach to it,” Fisk said.
“I think they have a long-term plan for it and I think it has the potential to grow and be popular.”
Sufferfest starts at 7.15am from Warrnambool’s Blue Hole, with elite competitors expected home in about four hours.
Olyfest, a shorter event comprising a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run, follows at 7.45am.
Its strongest entrants are expected to finish the course in about two hours.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au