City of Logan's 2024 Masters Athlete of the Year Marion Hermitage continues to inspire with her journey as a triathlete.
Triathlon ‘Master’ of endurance
A fter running, swimming and cycling around the world, from the rolling hills of Finland to Vietnam’s coastal villages, it’s safe to say Marion Hermitage is a master at triathlons. Having represented Australia 15 times at the Triathlon World Championships, the Daisy Hill triathlon enthusiast was a clear winner in City of Logan’s 2024 Sports Awards in November. Marion, 61, says being named Masters Athlete of the Year is an ‘honour’. The triathlon is a gruelling test of an athlete's physical endurance and mental fortitude. Each event consists of a single race that can include up to 226 kilometres of swimming, cycling and running. ‘It’s quite the privilege to be recognised for your hard work and achievements in your sport,’ Marion says. Humble, softly-spoken and disciplined, Marion is still working to improve her speed with a rigorous training schedule.
Her weekly training is not for the faint-hearted: 12 workouts ranging from 40 minutes to 3 hours each, complemented by additional Pilates and weight training sessions. ‘It doesn’t feel like a chore because it’s part of our lifestyle – keeps you healthy, fit and out of the medical system,’ Marion says. She can often be found running at Daisy Hill State Forest or making laps at a local public pool. This rigorous program has allowed her to push through particularly challenging triathlons – at the 2023 Ironman World Championship in Lahti, Finland, she cycled, ran and swam in freezing weather. Although Marion ended up with laryngitis the next day, she was pleased to have finished 8th in her age group and is always looking forward to breaking more personal records in future events. ‘You have to be mentally prepared and fit as well because you can’t just wing these events,’ Marion says. ‘I just train, try to achieve my best and
see what the outcome is at the end,' she says. This year, Marion hopes to qualify for the world championships in Wollongong this October. Being a ‘Master’ in her sport, Marion has this advice for aspiring triathletes: ‘Just make a plan, be realistic in your goals – don’t make them too hard to start with, just start small.’
Marion at the world champs last year in Townsville.
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