Ian Eadie won our "Rookie of the year" award at our Annual MTD awards dinner. At 60+ years old he decided to give triathlons a try...and he has exceeded all expectation. He just shows that anything is possible, whatever your age or ability!
Here is how he got started, and he is not done yet!
Life after 60 with MTD.
Someone once said “to succeed, you have to first have a goal and then a plan, to achieve that goal.”
A couple of years into retirement, after some fairly aimless exercising, and after watching my son do his first 70.3 and Ironman in 2015, I decided to get off my butt and try to achieve something extraordinary.
The goal: East London 70.3 2016.
The plan: ???????
I met Mandy and joined MTD. Our first meeting in April 2015 went something like this:
Swimming ability - ? played water polo at school (50 years ago)
Cycling ability - ? completed two 6 hour plus, Argus Cycle Tours
Running ability - ? Two Oceans 21km (5 years ago)
Mandy said “ We can do this.”
Nine months later, including 3 swim sessions , 3 cycles , 2 runs - per week, and watching the beers , I completed my first 70.3 in 7hrs 10 mins. Age 63, and most importantly, enjoyed every minute of it!
Mandy’s understanding of my abilities and training requirements, put me on the path to complete the Clanwilliam, Slanghoek, Jailbreak, 70.3, and Xterra Lite tri – a first place in my age group , and then culminating in my second place finish in my age group in the Standard tri at the Discovery ITU Champs in Cape Town!
With Mandy and MTD behind me, my goal is to do Ironman, Port Elizabeth in 2018 ……… and then ……..Kona ?? !!
A huge thanks to Mandy and MTD and of course my long suffering and ever supportive wife, VAL.
Looking forward to keeping the MTD flag flying for many years to come , and seeing the MTD team at Ironman 2018 !
Ian Eadie.
