Hawaii ironman 2016: Mel Hauschildt’s unusual training program

IT’S the strangest, most unorthodox training schedule ahead of the Hawaii ironman but Mel Hauschildt believes it is what is required for her to make a big mark on debut on Sunday.

Mel Hauschildt has an unusual training regime for ironman racing.

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IT could be the strangest, most unorthodox training program of any athlete in the Hawaii ironman but Mel Hauschildt believes it is what is required for her to make a big mark on debut in the toughest multi endurance race in the world.

Hauschildt, who have up steeplechasing due to a string of injuries, has revealed details of her ultralight training program for the torturous 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run race.

While her rivals have pounded the pavement in earnest, putting the kilometres into their legs and arms, Hauschildt deliberately lightened her load.

Her training involved just a smidgen of the hours her rivals put in week in and week out year round.

Mel Hauschildt is one of the favourites for the Hawaii ironman women’s title.

Hauschildt has revealed her lead-up saw her run just 50km a week — less than half that of her rivals — and just over 7km more than the final leg of the Hawaii ironman.

She also did just 10km or so of swimming per week — around a third of the workload done by her rivals.

“My bike training is about the same though,” said the Australian hopeful, who nailed around 500-700km week on her bike. “I just don’t run or swim as much as the other guys.

“I know it might seem like I don’t do enough but I am strong and fit and healthy and I know what my body can sustain.’’

Despite a string of injuries which have delayed her debut in the infamous Hawaiian race, Hauschildt boasts an impressive ironman record with three wins from three starts in the last 18 months.

Mel Hauschildt switched from steeplechasing to triathlon to avoid injury.

“I do feel like I can have a rally good crack at this,” she said.

Pre-race favourite for the event which will take the elite women around nine hours to complete, include defending champion winner Daniella Ryf and triple world champion Mirinda Carfrae.

In 2011 Hauschildt switched from the track to triathlon to minimise the impact training and racing has on her body and has flourished in her new sport.

Just a year into the change she raced off with the first of two world 70.3 half ironman crowns.

And while she’s been forced onto the sidelines for multiple injury time outs, she has also won all three ironmans she has contested and multiple world half ironman medals.