About a dozen Warrnambool triathletes were among a group of more than 14,500 people to complete a global virtual Ironman on the weekend.
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Ironman virtual race four (Ironman VR4) challenged competitors to a three-kilometre run, 40km bike ride and 10km run.
Participants need a GPS-enabled, heart-tracking device to get involved.
Warrnambool Tri Club (WTC) member Dave McIntyre and his partner Kate Haberfield undertook the event.
It was McIntyre's first shot at an Ironman Virtual Club race.
"I really enjoyed it," he said.
"I didn't do it as a race per se but as a way to stay motivated to cover that distance."
Ironman VR4 opened Saturday morning (local time) and closed on Monday morning.
Participants didn't have to do all three legs in a row and could break them up into three sessions.
McIntyre completed his bike ride on the Wangoom Training Circuit and did the 3km and 10km runs back-to-back.
He used the event to help prepare for the Melbourne Marathon scheduled for October.
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"I've never done anything more than a half-marathon so going for the Melbourne Marathon is going to be a big step up," he said.
"I'm also building towards a half-Ironman later in the year."
He has his sights set on the Ironman 70.3 Melbourne (a half-marathon) in November as well an Ironman in Western Sydney.
Even if the Melbourne Marathon is postponed or rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic, McIntyre will still run a marathon at that time.
"I'm going to do it locally anyway by running out to Koroit," he said.
While most of the Warrnambool Ironman VR4 competitors were WTC members, some newcomers took the opportunity to give the sport a go.
"We had one or two first-timers," McIntyre said.
"One or two of our cycling group had their first crack at any kind of triathlon event.
"It's a big first step for someone who had their first go."
Ironman VR5 task competitors with a whopping 5km run, 90km bike ride and 21km run this weekend.
McIntyre said WTC would like to get south-west footballers and netballers involved in its own virtual triathlon series.
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