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City Beach triathlete qualifies for three prestigous international competitions

Kristie LimWestern Suburbs Weekly

A CITY Beach veteran triathlete has departed Perth to embark on her tough triathlon schedule featuring three world championships.

Sue Beattie, who is ranked second in Australia for women’s Ironman 70.3, will be competing at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Queensland, the International Triathlon Union World Series final in Mexico and the 2016 Oklahoma ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships.

The Stadium Triathlon Club coaching coordinator the 44-year-old said her preparation for the disciplines had been “tricky”.

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“I did not expect to qualify for all three so I kind of put my name in hoping I would get one,” she said.

“Balancing the three has been a bit challenging but I have got one race which is my focus and it is the long course that I have really been training for.

“In the other two, I am hoping to do okay but I think focusing on the long course is going to help to make sure I have got the fitness for all three.”

Beattie said a fellow coach at her club helped her design a preparation program.

“Because I have done a lot of triathlons, I have got a lot of endurance so I would be focusing more on specific things… my swimming is not great, so more technique and drills,” she said.

“My running is okay, so I have been focusing on getting more miles in and keeping the speed up and on the bike; just doing quite specific sessions whether it is a long ride or short.

“He has been just monitoring my process and making sure it is all going okay.”

The 44-year-old said it was the first time she qualified for any world championship but she often participated in events around the world while she was on business trips.

She said her husband was also competing in the events and they enjoyed triathlon more because of the social benefits.

“I am training with a club now and it is a lot more fun than training on my own and becoming a coach, there is really just to share that positive experience with other people,” she said.