The two men, who met at a pilates class 2½ years ago, trained together in preparation for the gruelling competition which involved 12 hours of intense swimming, cycling and running in the picturesque North Island town of Taupo.
Nevin (36) said he had competed in two of the Busselton Ironman events previously and his training sessions with his friend were what helped him get to the finish line.
‘My motivation wasn’t really here this time around, but Hannes spurred me on; I couldn’t have done it without him,’ he said.
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READ NOW‘It’s a matter of finishing; we’re not in the league of elites.’
Stay-at-home dad Mucha (39), who moved to Perth from Austria in 2005, said training for long distance competition had been easier for him because he could fit the lifestyle around his duties as a dad.
‘Here you have a pool and a park; you just put on your shoes and you run,’ he said.
‘Eighty per cent of my training was on the porch with my bub next to me.’
In addition to completing his first full-length Ironman, Nevin said he had greatly improved his swimming skills, due to morning ocean swims and regular training with the Belmont Masters
Swimming Club.
‘I was a very poor swimmer. Three years ago I didn’t do freestyle, I would swim breaststroke in every competition,’ he said.
‘Ladies are always happy when men sign up to these things.’