DAVID AND DIANE HOLLAND

By Graeme Olsen

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David and Diane Holland never used to be "sporty" people.

David and Diane Holland have lived in Witchcliffe (near Margaret River) for 8 years after moving from Perth with their two boys, Matthew and Michael, and David's parents, Frank and Beverley. During this time they have successfully established a tourism business providing farmstay accommodation. This has given them the opportunity to enjoy the rural lifestyle and raise the boys on a farm as well as share it with guests from cities right across Australia and around the world. Diane, at the age of 39, hadn't been much into sport or exercise very much at all. She hadn't been running since her high school athletics days (which she hated), and wasn't much into riding or swimming either. Husband David was in a similar state. Now, four years later, both Diane and David compete regularly in triathlons. David in particular has already participated this year in the Australian Ironman Championship in NSW in April, and is now registered for Ironman WA in Busselton this month. Two Ironman events in one year for someone in their forties is a pretty good achievement.

How did it all start? Diane noticed an advertisement for a novice, ladies only event that was 6 weeks away. David convinced her to enter, and in no time Diane was swimming (slowly), running, and even out riding on her old mountain bike.

The race was held at Matilda Bay in Perth and included a 300m swim, 10km bike ride, and 3km run (novice distances). Diane completed the swim using breaststroke, was exhausted after the bike leg up the hill, and walked for most of the run. But at 39 years of age she had completed her first triathlon.

As time progressed David and Diane both got fitter and gradually increased the distances they completed. Bouyed by their progress, they entered longer races. David decided that he would like to try a half Ironman event (1.9km swim, 90km bike ride, 21.1km run) and then a full Ironman event (3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, 42.2km run).

After 2 half Ironman races in Busselton, he qualified for the Australian Ironman in Forster, NSW, in April 2004. This is a "real" Ironman event, and David finished mid-field in the 40-45 year old category in a time of 11 hours 49 minutes. In that race, the winner (Chris McCormack) finished in just over 8 hours, and the last competitor finished just before the cutoff time of 15.5 hours.

David and Diane say that the greatest part of triathlons is that you get to compete at the distance you want, against competitors the same age, but also alongside the best competitors that the state has to offer, and in the case of the Ironman event, the best in the world. David says "It is so exciting to have an Ironman event in our own back yard in Busselton. It will be awesome to see the best triathletes in the world competing and I would like to encourage all the locals to get out there and support this event. We age group athletes need lots of cheering to bring us home to the finish!"

One of the things this story shows is that even if you're what some people would refer to as "on the better side of 40", you can still be fit and enjoying a healthy lifestyle, no matter where you are now. David and Diane have shown that anyone can do it, and it's never too late to start.

"It really isn't about winning", says Diane, "but being out there and doing it no matter how long it takes to finish. And that's what Ironman is all about - every finisher is a winner!"

David and Diane operate Redgate Farmstay - www.redgatefarmstay.com.au