Fit Wakatipu athletes showed up in numbers at the Lake Hayes Showgrounds on Saturday for the Fresh Choice Women's Triathlon in what were chilly autumn conditions.
More than 100 competitors took part in the triathlon, duathlon and 8.1km run, making the 20th anniversary of the races a successful day.
While winners Andie Lowry (triathlon), Viv Buchanan (duathlon) and Sarah Cole (run) impressed with their times on the clock, there was no-one more inspirational than Susan Heal, of Alexandra.
Ms Heal did not set any records, but the recent breast cancer patient was the story of the day when she simply showed up at the starting line.
On January 6, she was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer meaning she was a high priority for surgery a month later, on February 9.
Released from hospital only four weeks ago, Mrs Heal was determined she would be showing up for what was her third triathlon.
"It's embarrassing, but I entered the day I came out of hospital.""I'm not meant to be driving, but they didn't mention doing a duathlon."
Mrs Heal said by doing the bike and run she was able to keep life regular.
This time last year she had entered in her first triathlon, the Fresh Choice triathlon, after her friend had encouraged her to give up smoking and get active.
"I feel so much better now. There is no way I could do this if I was still a smoker."
She would have entered the triathlon this year, but said being stuck in hospital meant she was not quite swim-fit and thought she could handle a run and cycling only four weeks after surgery.
"If someone told me a year ago I'd be doing this, I would have slapped them and charged them with insanity."
Ms Heal said she still had a long road ahead of her, but planned to attempt next weekend's Motatapu event.
If her fitness held up, the Moke Lake Triathlon in a few week's time was also something she would aim for.
Race director Geoff Hunt said there had been the usual strong camaraderie among competitors and several beginner level entrants were also keen to race in the all-women environment.
The triathlon course included a 300m swim or 2km kayak on Lake Hayes, followed by a 15km bike ride on the Lake Hayes-Arrowtown road into Speargrass Flat Rd and return, followed by a 5km run/walk on the Lake Hayes track.
The duathlon began with a 1.5km run on the Lake Hayes track, followed the triathlon's 15km biking leg and concluded with a 5km run to the finish line.
The run covered 8.1km around the Lake Hayes track.
Results.
Triathlon:
Andie Lowry, 54min 50sec, 1; Tamsin Browne, 1:00.14, 2; Kylese Zaiger, 1:3:56, 3.
Kayak option:
Louise Parker, 1hr 8min 40secVeteran: Hayley Stevenson, 1:11.24.
Team: Open: Team Quickforce, (Paula Shaughnessy and Sarah Clayfield) 1:2.42.
Veteran: Pinnacle Physio (Leigh Sonntag, Colleen Thompson, Susan Mawhinney) 54min19sec.
Duathlon:
Open: Sarah Anderson, Dunedin, 1:4.06.
Veteran: Viv Buchanan, 56min 49sec.
Team: Scissor Sisters (Natalie Munns, Lilly Alspach) 59min 52sec.
Veteran team: QRM, Queenstown, 1:05.09.
Run:Veteran: Sarah Cole, 35min 25sec.
Open: Karen Gallager, 38min 33sec.
