Maroochydore’s Maureen Cummings has completed 22 Noosa Triathlons and at 60, she shows no signs of slowing down.
With the 39th Noosa Triathlon returning on Sunday 30 October, she once again lines up for her favourite event, and we catch up with the triathlete ahead of her next challenge.
“For women in sport, the amount of female participation that has increased over the 23 years I’ve been taking part has been exponential,“ Maureen said.
“The calibre of women that are coming through now is inspiring to me as I go around the course. It’s my favourite event in the world and I’ve competed around the world for a long time.“
It becomes more of a challenge to get to the start line as she gets older, but Maureen loves a challenge.
“It doesn’t matter where I come in the race. It’s more about me being able to challenge myself against myself. I haven’t entered in my age group since 2017. I just do it for fun,“ she said.
“I just love being fit. That was a goal of mine since I was a little girl. My whole life I just wanted to be fit and I’ve succeeded most of the time.
“Injuries and stuff get in the way but I think you just have to have an inner desire and I’m lucky, touch wood, that I’ve got the ticker and I’m able to keep going.“
Watching the event grow over time has been a joy for Maureen, with close to 7000 athletes registered this year.
“It’s pretty amazing when you see all the bikes in the transition area Saturday afternoon,“ she said.
“The first year I competed was 1988 and I went straight from the airport to the transition area and put the bike up and walked straight in.
“It was nothing like what we do now and there weren’t nearly as many athletes. There might’ve been about 1000.
“But we had great quality back then. I was an elite performer and I think my best performance was 2nd in the female elite category. I was more nervous then than what I am now.“
Training all year round for the event, Maureen has just one day of rest every eighth day.
“I find the fitness from swimming, cycling and running, allows me to do lots more things because it just energises me, and if I don’t do something early in the morning, then I don’t feel fantastic,“ she said.
“It just allows you to do other things that a normal 60-year-old wouldn’t be able to do. I’m heading to Pickleball right now.“
Maureen said the race couldn’t continue without the amazing work of volunteers, organisers and sponsors.
“I’d also like to thank my support team, my coaches, my training buddies in swimming, and the Caribbean for putting us up in Noosa,“ she said.
“Seeing all the people that keep coming back each year is a testament to the event itself.
“The actual course is fantastic. I used to love going around the canal, and we did that up until the last few years, but now there’s too many bull sharks. Now we’re out in the ocean, which doesn’t bother me because I’m a swimmer.“
The Noosa Triathlon Festival Events provide a great opportunity for people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience to be a part of the iconic event.
Geoff Meyer, managing director of Oceania for The IRONMAN Group, organisers of the Noosa Triathlon, said that the Festival Events were a great way for people to be a part of the weekend.
“The Noosa Triathlon Festival Events offer a great mix of events which appeal to a wide range of people, as well as providing a great way for those new to the sport to get involved,” he said.
The Noosa Triathlon Festival Events kick off on Wednesday 26 October with the Noosa Run Swim Run, starting and finishing on Main Beach.
Friday will offer up a range of options to be involved in the event, starting with the Tour De Noosa – Garth Prowd Ride, with cyclists taking on a leisurely 28km ride beginning at 6am. Friday morning will also feature the 5km ASICS Noosa Breakfast Fun Run beginning at 7.30am, with the Fun Run raising funds for the McGrath Foundation. Friday’s activities round out with the 2XU Noosa 1000 Ocean Swim at 4.15pm.
Saturday morning will see the event’s youngest participants take to their start line, with the Noosa Superkidz Triathlon from 7.30am. Following that will be the Tingirana Noosa Special Triathlon which will see participants of all abilities take on a 100m swim, 3km ride and 500m run.
The pace will pick up on Saturday afternoon with the 5km ASICS Noosa Bolt and the Australian Open Criterium taking place, with the Criterium testing female riders over a 30 minute plus three laps duration and the men over a 45 minute plus 3 laps course.
Noosa Triathlon is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
For more information on the Noosa Triathlon Festival Events visit noosatri.com.au
