Finding the balance - Wade McRae

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We talk to first-time ANZCO Foods IRONMAN® New Zealand competitor and Mokoreta farmer, Wade McRae, about balancing training with the demands of the farm and family, and his experience so far being part of the ANZCO Foods race team.

Q. How did you come to represent ANZCO Foods at IRONMAN New Zealand?
IRONMAN has been on my radar for a while. When ANZCO Foods announced they were on the hunt for athletes to join their race team it provided the extra push I needed to make the commitment. Being a dad to two young boys and dealing with everything that comes with a busy farm means I don’t get a lot of downtime, but I saw this as an opportunity to bring a little more balance into my life - even though it certainly hasn’t made me less busy!

I played a lot of rugby, representing Southland for a number of years, so fitness has always been a big part of who I am. Since the end of my playing days my focus has been on the farm, so it’s great to have the chance to challenge myself again through participating in ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand.

Q. What keeps you going on those hard training days?
We had a pretty awful spring in Southland, and that just increases the pressure when it comes to managing the farm. There’s certainly been days when I would have preferred not to train, but I also know that exercise is really good for my mental health and general wellbeing.                                   

Knowing my partner and the kids will be there in Taupō is also a huge driver for me. I want them to see me cross that finish line and celebrate the fact that I have taken on a challenge that has pushed me outside of my comfort zone.

Q. Tell us about the role nutrition plays in your training for ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand.
The importance of good nutrition was one of the lessons learnt from being a rugby player, and that directly flows through to how you train and care for your body as an IRONMAN.

I know I perform at my best when I’m focused on my diet and eating plenty of good healthy food. Most of the meat and vegetables we eat at home come straight off the farm, so I know it’s fresh, nutritious and is giving me the fuel I need to support my training load.                                                     

Beef and lamb are such fantastic sources of protein, zinc, iron and B12. We’re so lucky here in New Zealand to have some of the world’s best meat being produced right on our doorstep.

Q. Tell us about your wider relationship with ANZCO Foods?
As a sheep and beef farmer, I’m proud to supply ANZCO Foods. They’re market leaders and have always added a lot of value to our business.                                                     

ANZCO Foods is the perfect partner for IRONMAN New Zealand with its focus on nutrition and good health from New Zealand’s finest beef and lamb, and they’ve been really supportive as I work my way towards Taupō in March. Aside from giving me some extra accountability to get the work done every week, they’ve provided training and nutrition plans that will make sure I get to the start line with the best possible chance of hitting my goals.

Q. What advice would you give someone thinking of tackling an IRONMAN event in the future?                          It can be easy to overthink it, and the hardest thing is to simply sign up – you’ll figure the rest out later! ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand, at face value, is definitely a massive undertaking, but I certainly haven’t regretted taking the plunge.                                                                             

Secondly, be proud about what you’ve committed to and tell your friends, family and colleagues. They’ll help keep you accountable and provide you with the extra support you need. While IRONMAN is an individual sport, I’ve come to appreciate that it requires a team effort to get you to race day, which will make the experience in Taupō that much more significant and special.

Thirdly, be realistic about what you can do. There will inevitably be times when you just can’t make a training session fit in with everyday life, so don’t beat yourself up. Understanding that your training plan won’t go smoothly 100% of the time can help take a lot of the stress out of it. Training for IRONMAN is about consistency and incremental improvements, so one missed session won’t make or break your race day.                                                                       

And finally, but most importantly,eat plenty of beef and lamb!