IRONMAN racing—which consists of a 3.8 kilometer swim, 180 kilometer and 42 kilometer run—is a grueling test of stamina and strength but most of all will and determination.
Forty five-year-old New Zealand native Cameron Brown—who is just a few days short of 46—is a true IRONMAN.
Most people his age just participate in age group competitions. But Brown continues to push his decades younger compatriots to the limit whenever he takes the starting line at IRONMAN races.
The 12-time New Zealand IRONMAN winner did it again recently in Subic as he placed second to eventual winner Nick Baldwin but not before pushing the younger Baldwin to his absolute limit before narrowly missing out on the gold medal.
Brown trailed Baldwin from the start but during the run part of the race, the Kiwi was gaining fast on his younger competitor and overtaking him seemed all but inevitable.
“Cameron is one of the best IRONMAN athletes in the world and when he’s not far behind you and gaining, you’re scared and I was very scared. It was just gritting my teeth and just pushing and giving it everything I had,” said Baldwin during the post-race interview.
But the weather was not kind to Brown. A cloud cover hung over the race course cooling Subic from the harsh sun. The clouds suddenly parted allowing the blistering hot sun to bake the course and the competitors.
Brown withered under the heat and gradually lost ground allowing Baldwin to post the convincing victory.
The 30-year-old Baldwin submitted a time of 8:50:13. Brown finished at second with a time of 8:56:49 while Simon Cochrane, also from New Zealand, finished at third place with a time of 8:58:58.
Brown was used to chewing up deficits and coming from behind to eventually win. The sudden change of weather didn’t help Brown. Baldwin found his second wind when the cloud cover lifted and the sun baked the runners with blistering heat.
He may not have won this time around but the race validated Brown’s stature in the sport.
At almost 46 years of age and still chugging along at a grueling test of strength, stamina and determination, Cameron Brown is a true IRONMAN.