Former All Black sets sights on the ultimate challenge

Liam Messam (left) is used to success on the rugby field and is now testing his endurance with an Ironman.

Former All Black Liam Messam will tackle his first ever Ironman this weekend.

The 40-year-old is aiming to complete a 3.8km swim, 180km bike, and a 42.2km run at Anzco Foods Ironman New Zealand. 

Messam played 43 games for the All Blacks, including victory in the 2015 World Cup and two Commonwealth Games gold medals in the sevens and is the Chiefs’ most capped player.

He now boxes professionally with seven wins, one loss and a draw to his name and this weekend, he joins about 2000 others aiming to complete the Ironman.

He didn’t know how people trained for the event year in and year out, because of the training workload involved.

“I caught myself slipping last week, as I was actually enjoying riding on the bike. It's been a grind, but I guess the light’s at the end of the tunnel, and it's getting pretty close to the finish.

“I actually don't know what I'm doing with myself for the next few months afterwards because it's been time consuming, but I've actually really enjoyed the different styles of training.”

He wanted to test himself mentally and physically.

“I love training, I love training hard and also with my boxing and rugby I've always pushed myself in the trenches, and I love to go deep and really mentally pushing myself.

“Then one day I just was watching a half Ironman, and I saw the pros go past and I was super impressed with just how fast they were running, they're pretty much sprinting, and then I just saw just your everyday person start coming off their bike and trying to walk and I just thought, this is it.”

For almost a year he has been training under the guidance of All Blacks Performance Coach Nic Gill, himself an Ironman New Zealand finisher, to hone his swim, bike, and run skills and fitness. 

“Nic has been awesome for me - and Theresa, our All Blacks physio who's also doing it - he’s been giving us lots of little gold nuggets.”

They did a trial run last Sunday, with a 2km swim and a bike ride to Reporoa and back, and then a little bit of a run.

“It was good just to get a lay of the land and to know where the transitions are.” 

He will be supported by friends and family on the day and will race alongside his brother who has also entered the Ironman. 

“All our mates are going to come down, they think it's pretty awesome that I've put myself into this situation to compete in the Ironman.

“I just want to get to the finish line and complete it … Someone said, just race your own race and don't worry about setting yourself a time to finish, just complete it. Because when you tell people you’ve finished an Ironman, they’re not going to ask you what the time was, they’re going go to ‘wow, you’ve finished an Ironman.

“To be able to complete an Ironman would be an awesome achievement.”