INSPO Fitness Journal November 2017

IRONMAIDEN:
Erin Furness
Professional Ironman athlete Erin Furness is not only
successful in her own right, but is doing what she can to
help others on their own fitness journey.
As if training full-time, personal training
and coaching wasn’t enough, Erin is currently
also providing her services to two teenage
girls (first-timers in terms of joining a gym
and deciding on a programme) aimed at
creating awareness around the importance of
starting the gym experience the right way.
Erin is working with Kate Potter and Nicole
Taylor, who are sharing their experience
with INSPO Fitness Journal, hopefully to
encourage others to get active and try new
experiences.
Erin recognises the gym can be an
intimidating area for teenagers, but with the
right help and guidance it can be a rewarding
habit to create.
BY CALEB SHEPHERD
Erin has been competing in marathon
running and distance triathlons for
many years, turning pro after the 2012
Ironman World Championships in Kona,
Hawaii where she placed 10 in her division.
She now balances a full training load with
personal training and coaching.
For those with even a basic awareness of
Ironman racing, you’ll know that it takes a
huge amount of time and effort to train - but
it’s that training Erin loves the most, along
with the challenge of racing.
“It’s a pretty long day out there and I
think you’ve got to be resilient to be able to
make it through,” she says.
“I definitely love the challenge, and I
really enjoy the training side; pushing myself
and always trying to improve and get a little
bit better each year.”
The aerobic nature of the sport means
that once you reach a certain level it can take
years to make marginal gains and improvements,
but that’s all part of the Ironman
challenge.
Erin started out as a marathon runner,
taking up distance triathlon in 2010. These
days she mainly specialises in triathlon and
Ironman coaching now, and is a personal
trainer at Fastlane Fitness.
With a Bachelor’s degree from the
University of Waikato in Sport and Leisure
studies, she began personal training 12 years
ago and was hooked instantly.
“I really enjoyed helping people towards
their fitness goals. Once I started professional
triathlon I began to do a little bit of coaching
on the side as well.
“My coaching business is probably a bit
bigger than my personal training business at
the moment.”
Erin has coached a number of athletes
to achieve and surpass their expectations,
with some qualifying for the Ironman world
champs in Kona.
“It’s very rewarding working with people
and helping them achieve goals, particularly
in something like triathlon where you have
people who never thought they could do an
Ironman and after two years they’ve actually
done one.”
Erin thrives on helping people improve
their overall health and wellbeing through
training, and seeing achieve things they never
thought possible.
“Health and fitness should be enjoyable
and that’s something I really focus on, for
myself and anyone I’m working with.”
“It’s a pretty long
day out there and
I think you’ve got
to be resilient to
be able to make it
through.”
Her advice to young gym novices is “Definitely
work with a personal trainer or gym
instructor, just to learn the basics of what you
need to be doing. Definitely work with someone
you can be open and honest with so they
can really help you achieve your goals.”
Erin’s key personal focus is on rehabbing
an injury and she has her sights firmly set
on next year’s IronmanNZ event in Taupo.
Her goals are to gain a top five placing at the
event before heading offshore for the Pro
Ironman season.
Her long-term goals are to get back to
the World Champs in Kona in a few years’
time as a professional, as well as helping her
athletes achieve their goals and be in form
for their upcoming races.
14 INSPO – FITNESS JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2017