Kona is deemed the toughest challenge on the planet, but for Canberra Mum, Ntasha Gerebtzoff, the race to finish almost doesn’t compare to her race to make it to the start line.
At 41, Ntasha has recently returned home after finishing the gruelling long distance event on the Hawaiian Island and is now getting ready to line up in this months inaugural Women’s only event to be held in her home town, Canberra on November 29.
For Ntasha, Kona has been close to a decade in the making. With only approximately 80 slots up for grabs in her age group (40-44), it has taken her seven years to qualify for what is arguably one of most prestigious events on the planet. She never quit, she never lost hope.
Then, just five weeks out from a major qualifying event in Port Macquarie in 2014, Mrs Gerebtzoff hit the largest roadblock of her career – she was diagnosed with cancer. Two different types of cancerous cells were found – one type common, the other rare and aggressive– doctors wanted to operate immediately, ruling her out of Port Mac. Never underestimating her own body and it’s ability to fight the fight, she managed to convince medical staff to hold off until after the impending race.
After leading her age group for the first 10 hours of the event, 20 kilometres into the final run leg she suffered severe leg cramps which saw her finish a heartbreaking seventh – missing the qualification for Kona.
While at the time, she was devastated, even if she held onto the lead, her Kona dreams would have been dashed due to her impending surgery and subsequent downtime required for recovery.
Fast forward twelve months, she not only qualified for Kona, she completed it – a four-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre bike ride and 42-kilometre run – and she’s also been given a clean bill of health.
“I can’t wait to race again in my home town next month.
Triathlon really breeds you tough. It’s definitely influenced my life and mindset. The discipline, commitment and focus required for the constant rigours of training and racing have provided me with a source of confidence and resilience which I draw strength from, when faced with tough situations.”
“I’ll be racing a shorter distance in the All Womens Tri, but the best part of a triathlon is, that it doesn’t matter what distance you’re racing or how long you’ve been racing for, there is nothing quite like the feeling you get crossing that finish line. It’s all about the finish line – not the finish time! You know you’ve accomplished something you’ve been working so hard for.”
Entries for the inaugural Women’s only event in Canberra are now open, REGISTER NOW