Triathlete ready to take on world

By Melissa Donchi
HEALESVILLE triathlete Sue Pretto will travel to Lorient, France next month to compete in the 2007 World Long-Course Triathlon Championships.
Her first overseas competition will begin with a three kilometre open-water swim, followed by a 80km cycle ride along the Atlantic coast in Brittany and conclude with a 20km run around Lorient Port.
But while Ms Pretto expects the event to be tough she is no stranger to the competition circuit having already represented her country in the World Duathlon Championships in 2006 and coming fourth in her age group in last year’s world long-course event in Canberra.
A fitness instructor at the Vitality Health Studio in Healesville, Ms Pretto has been using her triathlon training skills to help her clients boost their fitness levels.
But while her ‘Bootcamp’ classes are notoriously tough, Ms Pretto’s own training regime is even more gruelling. Every week she runs, swims and rides a total of 350 kilometres!
“I love playing a part in helping people take control of their bodies,” Ms Pretto said.
“I can see my ‘pre-triathlete self’, in those who come to my classes and this motivates me to help them achieve their optimal fitness levels.”
Ms Pretto will be racing in Lorient on July 15 and says she is prepared for everything except the right-hand side of the road.
“The running and the swimming training is fine, but I don’t have much opportunity to ride my bike on the right hand side of the road in Healesville.”