The Isa Rats Running and Triathlon Club life members are set to tackle the Julia Creek race on Saturday, which has repeatedly been proclaimed as one of the toughest triathlons in the country over the years due to its fierce conditions.

The female masters duo has been in and around triathlon for as long as they can remember but both have different stories of being introduced to the sport.

Rackham, who has always been in Mount Isa, acknowledged that it was her son Kerry Rackham who spurred her interest in exercise.

“I was about 45 years old,” Rackham said.

“I started off because my youngest son was playing soccer. I used to go down to the oval on an afternoon while he was training and so I sort of started walking around the oval, then jogged, and then went from there.”

Before then, the 72-year old claimed to not have been doing any sports whatsoever.

“I could hardly run across the road. I started off very slowly but things got easier as years went by.”

On the other hand, her good friend Rosina Oliver was introduced into triathlon during the mid-80s after competing in water skiing.

“I used to do a bit of competition in water skiing,” Oliver said.

“We were going up to Darwin one time and I told my husband that I might start doing some running. I couldn’t even run from my place down to the end of the block. I just have a feeling that my body needs to do something physical.”

It was around this same period of time when Oliver and Rackham met but amazingly the two, at such similar ages, rarely train together, let alone with the Isa Rats.

“We don’t train together. We both do our own thing, not with the other groups. We go and do our own runs, bikes, and swims. The Rats do have their programs for training but the only thing I meet up with them for is when they go out and do some open water swimming.”

Oliver, who is 71 years old, described her rise up the ranks as mainly due to teaching herself the fundamentals of all three legs in triathlon.

“I’ve never ever really been taught to do anything. I never owned a bike in my life then a couple of years down the track, I eventually did. I never had actually been swimming too. The first stroke I did was breast stroke, and then after that I went down to the pool and taught myself to swim. That’s how I got into it.”

Rackham, who resides on a three-acre property in Breakaway, said that one of the primary reasons she continues to keep entering races is the friendly environment at her local club.

“The Isa Rats have always been encouraging to the new people that are coming along. If you come last, it doesn’t matter. They just appreciate that you’ve made an effort. There are no expectations on any of the club members.”

On the eve of their next Dirt n Dust the two, who both enjoy gardening, almost share the exact same goals for their races.

“If you really train hard, then you can go out there on the day and give it your best shot. Whatever your time, or wherever you come. It doesn’t really matter. As long as you’ve done everything you can. Just give it your best shot. I’m really happy with that,” Rackham said.

“Our aim is to go out there to start and to finish. Sometimes you’ll get out there at the start line and say to yourself ‘what am I doing there?’, but it turns out to be fine. We might be getting slower, but we’re still there (at the finish),” Oliver said.

This being said, Rackham, who has won three North Queensland Championship half marathon races at Mackay, Cairns, and Townsville, will be motivated once again to get the job done in Julia Creek.

“That I can still be doing it quite comfortably at 72 years old (is an achievement),” Rackham said. 

Oliver, who is also an Avon representative, could only agree with her Rats teammate.

“It’s good to know that you can do these sorts of things, and still achieve. It’s a good feeling in that regard.”