Mission accomplished

Kurt’s Ironman goal is complete

By Melanie Louden

Kurt Peterson put in hours of training so he could complete the Taupo Ironman, raising funds for the Cerebral Palsy Society at the same time. Photos: sportograf.com

“You are an Ironman!”

Not many people got to hear those words, but Cerebral Palsy Society member Kurt Peterson is among them.

Kurt finished the Taupo Ironman in December 2022, in a time of 14:28:10, after setting his sights on the goal 33 months earlier.

His plan to participate in the Ironman, raise funds for the Cerebral Palsy Society and break stereotypes in the process, featured in the February 2022 edition of The Review.

After completing triathlons, half marathons and a practice Ironman, Kurt, 35, was set.

“I don’t know if you would ever feel ready for a challenge like an Ironman, but I felt prepared as I had done the distance, I just had to put it all together.”

The Aucklander says the hardest part of the event was cycling the back end of the course where there weren’t many spectators to cheer him on.

“It was raining hard and you’re cold and you’re getting big saddle sores from the seat. It was like a brutal training ride.”

In contrast, the highlight of the event was “without doubt, the last 200 metres of the run when Mike Reilly says those famous words ‘you are an Ironman’ and all your friends and family are there to celebrate with you”.

Mike Reilly is known as the voice  of Ironman events, but has retired, with December’s Taupo event being his final race.

Cerebral Palsy leaves Kurt with weak muscle tone down the left side of his body, and limited movement of his left ankle.

He is grateful for the “massive amount of support” he received that meant he was able to complete this “personal mission”.

Kurt says the outcome was close to how he imagined it.

“I had finished the race so many times in my head beforehand. It felt so great to do it for real.”

Among Kurt’s goals was raising funds for the Cerebral Palsy Society. His efforts resulted in more than $2000 of donations.

“It astounds me that people can be so generous. But the most important part is raising awareness of Cerebral Palsy, and disabilities in general, but also on a human level trying to get the message across that if you put your mind to it and work your ass off you can achieve anything.”

Cerebral Palsy Society General Manager Clare Williams is thrilled for Kurt, and delighted that he has raised awareness and funds, while completing such a grueling personal mission.

“What Kurt has achieved is incredible, and we couldn’t be more proud and grateful, for what he has done.”

Unsurprisingly, Kurt already has his sights set on his next goal.

“There’s no rest for the wicked,” he says.

He became a national champion in para-triathlon in his class a few weeks before the Ironman, and now he’s working towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where he hopes to be the first para triathlete to compete for New Zealand.

This article was originally published in the January to April 2023 edition of The Review magazine.

For more information:
Melanie Louden
Communications Manager
melanie@cpsociety.org.nz
Mobile: 022 087 8191