A 12-year-old girl inspired Len Mitchell to compete in his first Gloucester Mountain Man Tri Challenge.
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“I’d done a little bit of tri stuff before but hadn’t worked up the nerve to do the challenge. When I saw a 12-year-old girl could do it there were no more excuses,” Len said.
Fast-forward five years, Len has now completed the individual challenge four times and will this year go around as part of a three-person team.
“This year I decided to do it as a member of a team for a bit of fun. I’m doing the bike leg, Pod Mulder is doing the kayak and Tania Parkinson is doing the run,” Len said.
Len, who was the first local home in the 2013 race, said it would be great to see more Gloucester residents participate in the event.
“Last year there were three locals in the individual event and I just happened to be the fittest on the day,” he said.
“This year Tad Parish is going around again, he’s been a big part of my inspiration to do the race. Matt Leibrandt from council is Tad’s understudy.
"He started on the bike last year but didn’t get to finish and he was very keen to do the individual event this year.
“Matt’s looking really good. He shouldn’t be too far behind Tad.”
Len said the race was a credit to the organising committee and the people of Gloucester.
“The course has always been great and the organising committee are amazing,” he said.