The Forster resident has proved yet again that age is no barrier after competing in the “Holy Grail” of Ironman challenges – the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii for his second year in a row. 

The dentist of 44 years who operates out of the South Street Medical Centre, finished the gruelling 3.86km swim, 180.2km bike ride and 42.2km run in 14 hours, 28 minutes and 53 seconds, placing 16th in the 65-69 year age group and 1783 overall.  

Martin trained 15 to 25 hours a week for the event but says nothing could have prepared him for the harsh conditions on the day. 

He says while he was a bit disappointed with his overall time, he was proud to have been part of the event.      

“I suppose when you train hard you have high hopes,” he said. 

“It was just a brutal day. I don’t mind the heat. It was the wind that was an absolute battle. Cyclists were even getting blown off the road. 

“I’m not a very strong swimmer but it was particularly hard this year. The currents were strong and the seas were quite rough.

“I was very proud to have finished though because given the conditions it would have been easy to give up.” 

Martin has always enjoyed being active, having represented his mother country, Wales as an 18-year-old in a cross country running event. But it wasn’t until he came down under in 1996 and took up work as a dentist at Mackay Hospital in northern Queensland, that he discovered Australia’s popular triathlon scene. 

After purchasing an old bike, Martin joined Mackay's tri club and before long he was hooked on competing. 

“At that stage I didn’t even think of doing an Ironman,” he said. 

“I enjoyed competing but I never did particularly well. 

“I got into the buzz of it all when I moved to Forster in 2005. Two of my mates from Mackay came down to compete in the Forster Ironman and at the time I thought to myself ‘I’ll do one of these when I’m 60.” 

Two years later, in 2007, Martin competed in his first ever Ironman in Frankfurt, Germany and finished fourth in his age group. 

After that, he went on to compete in another seven Ironman events and has competed in around 30 marathons over the years including in Boston, London and New Zealand. 

Martin says it is likely he will travel to Hawaii for the Ironman again next year but not as a competitor. 

“I wouldn’t mind going over to watch. I’m in awe of the place and the event. But I won’t be doing another full Ironman I think it’s time to stop,” he said. 

The test on the mind, body and soul is what keeps him coming back to endurance events. He now has his sights set on competing in the Mooloolaba half marathon in 2016. 

“I like being fit and healthy whether doing an Ironman or marathon makes you both of those, I’m not really sure,” he says with a laugh.  

“Some days I feel too old for it and other days I don’t feel my age at all.

“I enjoy having a beer and socialising but at the same time I like being in some sort on control of my body and my fitness. I don’t think I’ll ever not do something.”