Thousands flock to Napier for IronMāori

The heat was cranked for the first day of the 16th year of IronMāori.

Friday saw thousands of athletes and supporters headed to Ahuriri, Napier for the annual indigenous triathlon.

IronMāori race director Donna Whitiwhiti said the site was full to the brim.

"Our venue was very packed out, there were people everywhere."

Tamariki as young as five and keen kaumātua lapped up the sunrays and the Ahuriri coastline in distances from 500m to 5km.

However, Saturday's quarter-and-a-half triathlon event is not just a physical battle, but puts mental toughness to the test. Triathletes will tackle one, two or all three legs of distances up to 2km swim, 90km cycle and a 21.1km run.

Whitiwhiti says the key to success is taking the right frame of mind from training into race day.

"You just have to train, and you've just got to get yourself in the right frame of mind and get to the start line. And when you come through that finish line, it's a great achievement."

There were about 2000 athletes registered in their respective categories - solo and team, tāne, wāhine, and mixed - with 12 age brackets.

IronMāori was founded in 2009 by Heather Te Au-Skipworth and Wayne Skipworth to promote health, wellbeing and longevity in Māori communities.

Early this year, the mauri was passed to whānau-based social support agency Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, and the event has grown from 200 participants to 2000 competing this year.

Registrations are still open for IronMāori Tāmaki on 16 November.

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