11/5/2018

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When BRi Director Mike Bourne sets his mind to something, there’s no telling what he might achieve. Competing in the Australian Ironman Championships in Port Macquarie on Sunday 6th May 2018, our Director has shown us yet again why setting primary goals, having contingency goals, and next level goals is so important not only in business but also in one’s personal life.

 

Goals are what gets Mike going. They are targets that draw him out of bed, because he knows that if he falls short, he fails himself. They are the dreams that fire him up and turn the work he is doing into the most exciting thing he can think of—even if to others the work seems tedious. Going back and forth in a pool for months on end, riding for kilometre after kilometre or running for hour after hour might seem boring to some, but to those who are dreaming of a big goal in triathlon, it's a vital nutrient in our training diet. Ironman is definitely not for the faint hearted, it is a long-distance event consisting of a 3.8km swim, a 180km bicycle ride and a 42.2km run. Raced in that order and without a break, it and considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.

 

Most Ironman events have a limited time of 17 hours to complete the race. Any participant who manages to complete the triathlon within this timeframe is designated an Ironman. With a stellar time of 13.06 hours, Ironman Mike Bourne did himself and his BRi family extremely proud.

 

Ironman is not just a physical challenge but a mental venture as well; to be able to keep physically performing for anywhere up to 17 hours takes stamina and focus. After bowing out in WA due to heat, Mike was determined to finish the job this time, “quitting wasn’t an option.” Mike had a good swim, a tough ride and an even tougher final leg, “the run portion is definitely my biggest challenge, too many years of basketball & football (AFL) and way too many surgeries.”

 

It takes a team of support to conquer such a mean feat, with a rigorous 20-week training program to prepare for the tremendous task many athletes only dream of finishing. Mike’s training crew have played a huge part in helping him get to the level he needs to be at to even consider competing, with his biggest thanks going to wife Rosemary for, “the patience and understanding to put up with an interrupted schedule for such an extended period of time.”

 

Mike has no plans to stop training and continues to set goals for himself, already planning to ease back into it and do a few ½ Ironman’s over the next 8-9 months. “It’s an amazing sport, which is so inclusive of all competitors no matter how young, old, fast or slow.”

 

We are incredibly proud of Mike’s accomplishment of not only completing Ironman but achieving such a great time. Our very own BRInspiration - Well done Mike!

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