Ironman / Be Brave and Shave

By Jonathan Brunner

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The Result

I could not be happier with the result - the race went accordingly to plan, with the swim in 58 mins, bike in just under 6 hours and run in 4:15 hours for a total of 11:30:07.Β 

A huge thank you to those that contributed to my training and fundraising, without everyone behind me I would not have been able to get across the line.

Cheers!

Bump in the Road - New Race Day: June 6

The race in Port Macquarie has been postponed until September due to flooding (best laid plans going awry?) so I am now booked to race in Cairns on June 6.Β 

Given my original race was actually going to be Busselton in December of 2020, it seems fate is pushing me towards a lifetime commitment to triathlons - we'll see how the next few months pan out.

For now, more time to prepare, more time to raise funds and more time to mentally prepare myself for waxing half my body. Thank you all for your support so far!

The Road to May 2

As anyone who has seen me since lockdown knows, triathlons are now the majority of my personality. I've shifted away from trying to keep up with current events or crack jokes and have instead just repeated that "an Ironman is a 3.8km swim, 180km bike, and then a marathon. Won't be forgetting sunscreen that day haha."

As Ironman Australia approaches on 2 May, I’ve decided to reach for additional motivation by using the event to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.Β 

On a serious note, every day 47 people in Australia are diagnosed with blood cancer (leukaemia), and every day 15 people diagnosed pass away. Blood cancer can occur in any person, at any age, in any state of life and health. This resonates sharply with me because this year my healthy, 23 year old cousin felt lethargic one day, went to the doctor, had a blood test and commenced chemotherapy a week later. Her treatment is continuing and so we're doing all we can to support her from the sideline. We have no family history of blood cancer. This disease does not discriminate.

As long as I complete the Ironman, I have two donors willing to match every dollar that you donate.Β 
Your $20 becomes $60, funding a support coordinator to be by the side of a newly diagnosed patient.Β 
Your $40 becomes $120, used to purchase lab equipment used for research.
If you donate $226 - one dollar for each kilometre I complete in the Ironman, it becomes $678.Β Β 

And to further seal the deal, I'm putting my body even further on the line with a variation of be brave and shave: if I raise $10,000, I'll wax my legs. I have no idea how to brace for the pain, and if you'd like to make that happen then be sure to donate !!

My Achievements

Congrats! You've hit your goal!

$80 raised - you've given a family a night of emergency accommodation!

You've covered genetic testing!

You've given a family a whole weeks accommodation near treatment

$1,000 raised - you've made a tube gene test with state-of-the-art-technology possible

You've covered 3 months of lab costs for vital blood cancer research

You've fund life changing research for 3 months

Thank you to my Supporters

$55.33

Anonymous

$83.52

Alexandra Priestley

Congratulations amazing achievement and awesome time!

$55.33

Erin Craike

$156.60

Roz & Mark Fahmy

Well done Jonty! A brutal challenge and you met it head on. Outstanding!

$11.27k

Anonymous

Well done Jonty, fabulous result πŸ‘

$156.60

Lara And Tom

Best of luck Jonty

$235.94

Karl May & James Sharp

We hope you smashed some goals yesterday!

$31.32

Sam King-jayawardana

$80

John Ratna

Great effort for a great cause

$83.52

Lucy Purchas

Great effort Jonty

$55.33

Gordon Thomson

Hope it went well!

$40

Mojtaba Danai

Good luck Jonathan

$83.52

Jeromine Alpe

Congratulations Jonty

$83.52

Caroline Brunner

So proud of you, such an inspiration πŸ’•

$100

Stephen Olifent

Well done, great effort and for a great cause. I am sure you also have proud parents. Ollie.

$83.52

Margie Stacey

Well done Jonty!! From a Margie

$31.32

Meina Rose

Great cause, hope the event went well!

$55.33

Graeme Mcburney

Great Cause - Good Luck!

$50

Terry Christoforou

Hey Jonty, best of luck for tomorrow, back ya! From tez and luce

$41.76

Christian White

Kill em king

$20.88

Hamish Baikie

$20.88

Sophie Herring

$154

George Anderson

Big love to you Jonty! Good luck tomorrow πŸ™†πŸΌ‍♂️

$30

Andreas

Go Jonty mate, you should be super proud and I’m sure you’ll do well!

$235.94

D'd & Col Morrow

George Anderson's Aunt &Uncle. Wishing you an amazing journey and Happy to help out for an amazing cause.

$31.32

Gillian Coles

$31.32

A.curtis

Love your work! Good luck out there chief xx

$31.32

Lauren Sutherland

GO JONTY!!!! smash it!

$55.33

Sarah Mellish

Goid luck Jonty

$80

Matthew

$55.33

Julia

$20.88

Gaurav Golani

Good luck

$104.40

Danni

$104.40

Ali & Toby Anderson

Good luck Jonty, I’m 4 years post transplant for my AML and all going well. Thinking of your cousin and sending best wishes for a full recovery.

$52.20

Manny

$52.20

Alan Garner

Good luck Jonty! Enjoy the day!!

$100

Dave Beynon

$1.02k

Alex And Laura

Best of luck Jonty. Make sure you take a moment to enjoy this massive achievement! Everyone will be cheering you on

$55.33

Alysha Brunner

Proud of you Jonty - best of luck!

$20.88

Gyan Ainkaran

Goodluck mate!

$53

Sam Lavender

Good luck fella!

$120

Dean Sheed

Go hard or go Home Jonty

$83.52

Anna

All the best amazing commitment and great cause. I am sure you will go well on 6 June

$20.88

Matt Stuart

$30

Christine Chung

Well done for supporting a great cause - enjoy the experience!

$100

Gareth Kirkby

Good luck!

$55.33

Christopher Richards

$1.02k

Keryn Brunner

Take it to the line!

$35

Anonymous

Fantastic work mate and wish you all the best

$20.88

Domi Poots

$104.40

Marg Bond

⭐️⭐️

$261

Helen Graham

Good luck, Jonty, for your Ironman triathlon. I’m very happy to support you in this awesome event.

$20

Anonymous

$100

Zoe Mcnamee

Go Jonty! From your bad neighbours x

$55.33

Rob O’hara

Love ya Jonty and love your work in getting ready for this. Being this dedicated to the training regime is a ridiculous achievement in itself, so it’ll be brilliant to have you bust out this bohemouth very sooooon! Thanks so much for yesterday mate. Was an epic day celebrating an even epicer (the epicest) bloke!

$20.88

Juliet

$30

Anonymous

Love your work

$104.40

Simon Watkin

Go Jonty-enjoy the event

$30

Courtney Bates-brownsword

Wow Jonty I had no idea you were an athlete?! You should have brought it up!! Best of luck

$208.80

Lady J

Go hard Jonty you are a superstar just like your Mama πŸƒπŸ»‍♂️

$415

Christina Jane Thomas

Keep up the awesome work Jonty ... you're in the home straight! What a great cause - well done.

$20.88

Chelsea

$31.32

Maddie Hompot

Go jont you legend

$20.88

Rachel Monahan

We're behind you and your cause, Jonathan! Great work and good luck on the day!

$31.32

Fiona Eslick

Good luck with the fundraising and the Triathlon - I am sure you will smash it Jonty!!

$53

Alice Wilson

Good luck Jonty!

$200

Ed Baghdasarayan

Well done mate - Great cause!

$31.32

Freya Appleford

Go Jonty!

$31.32

Sean Lowrie

$31.32

Noah Steward

You bloody legend

$83.52

Paula Rc

What a great cause Jonty! Hoping you can raise the 10K and more! You can tell us all about the IM / waxing experience in our May GT call :) Good luck!

$52.20

Helen Mcgee

Fair play Jonty! Best of luck on the day! I'm sure you will smash it! H

$31.32

Annabel De Mestre

$50

Tom Beverley

Go hard! Enormous effort - anyone that swims with jellyfish, whilst getting kicked in the face, swallowing salt water etc. that then has to run a marathon and lazy 180km cycle deserves a donation! Smash those energy gels :)

$55.33

Jj

Good luck mate!

$200

Karim A Raphaël

Well done for getting involved and for supporting a great cause. Best of luck to you on the day and to your cousin.

$261

Nick Houseman

Best of luck and a great cause to support too.

$150

Sarah Stevens

Good luck Jonty. Now everyone will be much less impressed with the marathon I'm going to run on 1 May because it's "just" a marathon!

$15.66

Anonymous

love you jont!! very proud xx

$500

James Nickless

You absolute legend. Such a great cause and let’s hope every dollar can make a difference. All the best in May 2nd - I’ve done the Port IM a few times.....so jealous of the feeling you will have crossing the finish line!!

$250

Jono Malone

Great work, best wishes for the fundraising efforts.

$31.32

Alex Courtney

$55.33

James Mcadam

Good luck mate

$104.40

Steffi Breidenbach

All the best with Ironman. Great

$104.40

Nana And Grandad

Give it heaps. We are proud of the effort you are making.

$55.33

Leonie Forster

Such a wonderful time with your Mum last night. Go well πŸ’•

$5.22

Ava Harrison

$100

Jill, Matthew & Henry

Like mother....like son! Go well and well done.

$31.32

Soph Hadley

Good on you!!

$55.33

Annabel Tremain

$100

Aunty Megan

So proud of you Jonty. Wishing you all the best for race day. xo.

$31.32

Caroline King

Amazing work!! Remember Nutri-Grain will fuel this event 😊

$55.33

Barbara Brunner

$31.32

Amelia

Such a good cause Jonty good on you!!

$515

Anonymous

Wonderful cause Jonty! Enjoy the Ironman journey.

$53

Angela Moscou

Go Jonty!!!πŸ’ͺ

$55.33

Jordan

#1 Ironman!!!!

$31.32

Somerset Mcgourty

$55.33

Jack Ridley

Get slippery!

$35

Jack

Good stuff Jonty

$31.32

Grace

Go jonty !!!!!

$31.32

Ryan

Good work jonty x

$20

Ellie From The Vic

Hope you’ve got the energy to come join me at the Vic afterwards 😏😏

$20.88

Jaime Ford

Good luck Jonty!

$55.33

Georgia Mann

$31.32

Anonymous

Great stuff Jonty!

$10.44

Josh Stevens

Well done mate! Great cause. Good luck with it πŸ’ͺ🏾

$31.32

Rossbank Inc.

Hi Jonathan, Not surprised it only took until March for you to beg me for money again. I’d be disappointed if it wasn’t so predictable.

$31.32

Georgia Boric

“Yeah I’ll just do a long run and a long ride this weekend”

$10.44

Anonymous

$865

Patricio

Good luck and it’s a worthy cause.

$31.32

Nick De Bres

The photo is a bit arrogant but good luck xx

$55.33

Emily Brunner

Good luck !! ❀️❀️

$55.33

Jonathan Brunner