Take 5 with Matt Bevilacqua – Ironman

Healthy Horizons had the chance to Take 5 with Matt Bevilacqua recently. Matt became the first Tasmanian to qualify for the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series, the championship for the nation’s top 15 competitors. Now based at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast  Matt is a super fit athlete and one of the best blokes you’ll ever meet! So what does it take to be one of the Nations best Ironmen?

What is your favourite exercise?

It would have be ski paddling downwind. I just love working so hard for 10ft runner that can take you for kms at a cracking pace it’s so rewarding for hard work!

What is your biggest fitness/health/sporting challenge?

Moving interstate and maintaining such a tough training program under Michael King year after year. Also, 4.30am wake up for swimming 6 days a week for at  least 42 weeks of the year.

What motivates you?

I want to find out just how good I can be. How fast I can go and what I can achieve.

What is your best health/fitness tip? 

Set goals, maintain your routine while taking strictly no shortcuts. You can always go further, harder or faster than what you think you can.

 What has been your biggest achievement in health/fitness/sport?

I have a few :

• Making the 3rd Nutri Ironman Series Round.
• Completing the Coolangatta Gold – it is the most pain I have ever been in so far and mentally a race where you seriously find out what you are made of.
• But the best feeling I have ever had is finishing third in the last round of the series at Coolum and running up the beach seeing my mum crying and high fiving Joel (my brother).