Lacey Group backs Gold Coast girl smashing goals

Ellen Guiney is a 24-year-old Gold Coast based athlete who became hooked on triathlons three years ago, specifically Olympic and 70.3 distances.

With several races now under her belt, including sprint and Olympic distances, as well as a few 70.3’s, Ellen has achieved some amazing results whilst racing against some of the best triathletes in the world.

“I came fourth in the Olympic distance at Lausanne, Switzerland and placed 10th in Nice, France, both in 2020,” Ellen said.

Competing more locally in Australia for the past 18 months, Ellen has some big goals to look forward to.

“My ultimate goal is to compete professionally in the full Ironman course at Kona and complete it in under 10 hours,” Ellen said.

The full Ironman distance, for those who are unsure, is a 3.86km swim, 180.2km bike and 42.2km run.

While her ultimate race might be a few years off, Ellen has her immediate sights set on some local events as she continues her journey towards Kona. First up is the Tweed Enduro this weekend (26-27 February), where she is hoping her new bike, sponsored by Lacey Group, will help her secure a great time.

“After the Tweed Enduro I’m looking at the Mooloolaba Tri in March and Airlie Beach in April. I’m also thinking about entering the Hell of the West, which is Queensland’s toughest triathlon, out at Goondoowindi,” she said.

With the Cairns Ironman midway through the year on the calendar, Ellen said her goal for 2022 is to secure her pro license and compete in the Sunshine Coast Triathlon in September.

Currently studying and working as a nurse, Ellen trains 15-20 hours per week, combining a mix of the three triathlon disciplines.

“I love the variety and challenge of triathlon training, you can never get bored. It’s also a great community and I’ve made so many amazing friends who are just as crazy as me.”

Based in Burleigh after growing up in Victoria and the Northern Territory, Ellen said she stumbled into triathlons a few years ago after returning to Australia following a stint overseas.

“When I came back to Australia, I felt like something was missing in my life. I started swim training and shortly after that someone handed me a bike. I competed in a triathlon, and I ended up winning some money,” Ellen said.

Since then, her dedication to the sport has become more serious. Having just picked up a new coach, you might see Ellen out and about on her bike or going for a run around Burleigh, or just spending time with mates.

When Lacey Group’s team leader, Adam Lacey, met Ellen at last year’s Cairns Ironman event, he knew he wanted to help her achieve her dreams.

“With a business mantra of Building Life and a passion for the sport myself, I believe Ellen is the ideal sports person to represent our brand. I could see the potential in her straight away and wanted to offer our support,” Adam said.

“Ellen has a great future ahead of her in the sport and we can’t wait to see what she achieves.”

For those who are unfamiliar with triathlon distances, Olympic is 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run. 70.3 is also known as a half Ironman and comprises a 2km swim, 90km bike and 21km run.

 

 

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