SCHOOL teachers Nathan Smith and Hayden Allum know about the lessons they have learned as competitors in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman series.
They will both tell you there are no short cuts.
To be in the mix, it's about hard work, discipline.
And you must do your homework — otherwise you will get found out.
Smith, 33, of Caringbah, and Allum, 26, of Wanda, are two of just four NSW athletes in surf life saving's toughest regimen.
The ironman event comprises ski, board and swim legs and competitors also run between each of those disciplines.
"I get out of bed at 4.45am and Hayden and I are in the water training at 5.15am.''
- Nathan Smith
The gruelling series starts on November 29 at Smiths Beach at Yallingup, Western Australia, when the longtime friends will represent the shire.
It will be Smith's 13th series; Allum's fourth.
"We are only the athletes that train locally for the series," Smith said.
Smith is a physical education teacher at Blakehurst High School.
Allum teaches youngsters at Brighton-Le-Sands Public School.
The pair of elite competitors get out of bed before sunrise six days a week to prepare for the ironman competition.
The elite-level entrants devote much of their life away from their full-time jobs to the competition.
Smith said many of the competitors lived and trained full-time in Queensland because of funding.
"Teaching is my bread and butter," Smith said.
The father of three girls has grown up in the surf life saving movement, along with Allum.
"I get out of bed at 4.45am and Hayden and I are in the water training at 5.15am," Smith said.
"I have known Hayden for many years. We have both been involved in surf life saving clubs."
Allum said there wa a "limited social life" for him.
"You go through a lot of hard training for competition," he said.
