Now or Never

YOU won’t find a fitter looking ironwoman than Hayley Bateup.

But the Kurrawa postergirl says behind the sculpted arms and cheese-grater stomach you’ll find a body that’s feeling the affects of 19 years in surf lifesaving.

Her quest for a maiden IronWoman Series title isn’t getting any easier and the 31-year-old, who is nearly twice the age of her youngest competitor — 16-year-old Teisha Jenkins — knows time is running out.

Bateup is quick to downplay her chances in the 2011-12 series, saying shoulder and foot injuries have already ruined her title hopes.

But she’ll be pushing as hard as she can in the season-opening round at Surfers Paradise on Sunday and the three-time Coolangatta Gold champion can’t be discounted.

“My preparation hasn’t been the best but I’ve got lots of experience so you never know what can happen,” Bateup said.

Bateup is a former Australian open ironwoman champion and one of the most successful Coolangatta Gold athletes of all time.

But an IronWoman Series title is something that’s eluded her.

Her last round win in the series was at Kurrawa in 2009 and she says a breakthrough title will come.

“I’ve still got a few years left in me yet,” she said.

“I think I’ve got around four years to hopefully do that (win an IronWoman title).

Bateup underwent shoulder surgery last year and missed the entire 2010-11 series.

She made her return to professional racing in the Coolangatta Gold this year, finishing third in an encouraging performance.

But she says the shoulder has since worsened and with plantar fasciitis in her foot, winning this year is a distant hope.

“It’s my first short course ironwoman in a long time,” she said.

“I’ll go as hard as I can. The shoulder’s weak and I don’t have that normal strength to pull through on the ski.

“My running’s normally strong but I haven’t been able to run.

“I want to go in there and hopefully have a really good race and my foot holds up.”

Sunday’s endurance race comprises of a board-swim-ski format with run legs in between.

It suits Bateup to a tee, with the opening leg her strongest asset.

“It’s good to have the board first. I’m a strong board paddler so to have one of my best legs first is definitely going to help,” she said.

“If it was one of the others first I probably would have struggled.”

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin