Day can’t escape Eckstein comparison as he chases Cooly Gold record

ALI Day knows he won’t be able to escape the comparisons with Caine Eckstein as he chases a record sixth Coolangatta Gold win.

ALI Day knows he won’t be able to escape the comparisons with Caine Eckstein as he chases a record sixth Coolangatta Gold win.

Day and Eckstein both have five titles in the iconic endurance event and Day heads into the race next Sunday as overwhelming favourite to win a sixth title and stand alone as the best in history.

Eckstein has not attempted the race since 2014, when he raced for almost 30km with a torn bicep in an attempt to win his sixth title.

Day is undefeated in five attempts at the open event.

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Coolangatta Gold finish on the Gold Coast. Ali Day wins Coolangatta Gold Photo Harvpix

The Surfers Paradise ironman, who is preparing for a gruelling season which includes the world championships in Adelaide in November and the six-round Nutri-Grain series starting next week, said it was difficult not to think about the record.

“It was never a goal of mind to win this many, or even win one,” Day said.

“It was always about challenging myself and just seeing how I was going to go at it.

“The first one came along and then the second, the third, the fourth and it is really unbelievable for myself and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to take it in fully just because the race means so much to me and the people that have done it before mean a lot of me as well.

“I don’t think I’ll take it in fully until the day I retire and look back and reflect on those wins.”

And if he wins on Sunday?

“It won’t change anything, I’ll still be the same person and I’ll still look at the race exactly the same and want to come back the next year and do it again,” Day said.

“I’m just really eager to get out there now and do it again.

“This race just really gets me excited.”

While Eckstein will line up for Queensland in a State of Origin relay event to raise funds for charity, his absence from the main event means the clash every fan of the sport wants to see will not happen again this season.

And with Eckstein 33 in November, the likelihood of a clash against Day grows slimmer every year.

Ali Day training at North Burleigh beach. Photo by Richard Gosling

And while he would love to go head-to-head with his idol, Day is at peace with the fact it may never happen.

“He was a big part, one of the biggest parts of why I’ve ever wanted to do the race because I idolised Caine, I loved his work ethic, I loved that he trained on his own and always did it the hard way,” Day said.

“He was someone I really admired.

“When people asked me years ago (if I wanted to go head-to-head), I’d say: ‘don’t get him to do it, he’s too bloody good at it’.

“I’ve got a huge amount of respect for him and his brother (ironman great Shannon) but especially Caine, because I know how hard these races are to win and how much effort goes into them.

Caine Eckstein wins his fifth Coolangatta Gold title.

“I think it’s nice that maybe (we never will go head-to-head).

“It will be one of those things that we have that mutual respect for each other and it’s a nice thing for us both. If the opportunity came up, for sure, I think we’d both jump at it.

“But who knows if that will ever come about.”