Two-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Melissa Hauschildt has made a late decision to tackle her first IRONMAN race. The Australian celebrated her 31st birthday this week with the decision to enter Toyota IRONMAN Australia at Port Macquarie in four weeks time. But Hauschildt is not confirming whether the IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro is on the schedule yet. She says the defence of her IRONMAN 70.3 world title in Mont-Tremblant is her priority.
"The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship will probably still be my main goal for this year. If I can get through this IRONMAN race it will at least give me the opportunity to make my own decision later in the year between the ITU Long Course World Champs or IRONMAN World Championship," says Hauschildt. "I want to validate early, just in case I choose to go down the Kona path this year."
Until now Hauschildt, who only turned to triathlon in 2009, has focused mostly on IRONMAN 70.3 races and, after an injury-hit 2012 season, she did not want to rush her way to Hawaii.
"I want to firstly make sure I am fit and ready to do a full-distance race," Hauschildt said in reviewing her incredible 2013 season that included 10 wins including the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Henderson, Nevada and the ITU Long Distance World Championships in France. "I don’t want to just make up the numbers. I will let everyone know when I am ready."
The key to her decision was her repeat victory at Abu Dhabi with its 3 km swim 200 km bike and 20 km run, along with a runaway win at a full distance race in Thailand last year.
Her IRONMAN 70.3 world title win last year means Hauschildt only needs to complete one IRONMAN race to validate her automatic slot at the IRONMAN World Championship.
"This time of the year, I usually have a few extra weeks 'to play with' in my schedule before the US season really picks up later on. So, while I've got these few weeks up my sleeve, I thought this could be a good chance to tick it off and see what all the fuss is about," she says. "The timing has worked out well and it's the closest IRONMAN to home."
"This time of year I can hopefully carry through some of the fitness I had from Abu Dhabi - with its longer swim and bike, and I will also be able to take plenty of time to recover well after the race without affecting my US season later on the year," she says.
After exploding on to the international scene with her first IRONMAN 70.3 world title in 2011, her injury-hit 2012 proved a blessing in disguise.
Hauschildt, a former Commonwealth Games medalist in steeplechase, got to work on her weaknesses while recuperating.
Her bike has become arguably her major weapon along with her potent run. While her swim is improved, it remains her Achilles heel.
"I'm not sure how the race will pan out. I've never run further than 30k, so I'm looking forward to pushing myself further than ever before and seeing what it feels like," she says.
Toyota IRONMAN Australia, Port Macquarie will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2014.