david-mckenzie

David McKenzie was a successful professional cyclist, who raced in Australia, Europe and America throughout his 15 year career. In October 2005, David, more commonly known as ‘Macca’, decided to hang up the bike and move towards other pursuits, including triathlon.

We caught up with Macca while we worked together as assistants to the manager, with the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) team at the Australian Cycling Championships in Adelaide. It was here that I talked to him about what he had achieved during his cycling career and found out more about his future athletic plans.

Macca was an accomplished road racer, with a Tour of Italy (Giro d’Italia) stage win (2000) to his name. He won the stage after a 150 kilometre plus solo break, proving what a tough cyclist he really was. Among his many successes, he was National Road Champion (1998), won 11 stages of the Sun Tour, won Melbourne to Warrnambool (2001) and won the Bay Criterium Series (1996). In 1991, he was recognised by the VIS as having a talented future and by 1994 he had joined the Australian Institute of Sport, and started his European career. Macca also rode for Selle Italia (Italy), Navigators (USA), Linda McCartney (Europe), IteamNova and Wismilak teams.

I spoke to Macca about how he used his cycling off season in a constructive manner to keep his weight down and maintain a relative fitness level for the start of the next season. Not only did Macca run and swim during his off season, but he once placed 10th in his age group in a SuperSprint-run Gatorade Triathlon. He found swimming relaxing due to its low-stress activity level, while it kept his cardiovascular system working at a high rate. Running was used in Macca’s program to minimise weight gain but to also ensure he did sufficient weight bearing exercise to maintain adequate bone density levels. Both his running and swimming, along with the odd triathlon, were integrated into his core stability and weight program.

Macca, now 31-years-old and no longer spending countless hours on a bike, has given some thought to getting into triathlon more seriously. With literally thousands of kilometres in his legs, Macca is an endurance athlete and would love to one day do an Ironman. His more immediate aspirations include completing some Half Ironman races.

Macca lives in Melbourne with his wife and two children and realises that training for an Ironman will require a huge sacrifice of his time. Because of his family commitments, it is more practical that he focuses on Half Ironman races and allows his body to adjust to running 21 kilometres after a 90 kilometre time trial.

David is blessed with no injuries of a biomechanical or skeletal nature and his genetic talent, I think, will allow him to go along way in the world of Half Ironman triathlons.

David McKenzie’s 2005 Highlights

1st Stage 2 Tour of Japan JPN
2nd Stage 2 Tour of Tasmania AUS
3rd Stage 5 Herald Sun Tour AUS
3rd Stage 3 Herald Sun Tour AUS
4th Overall Herald Sun Tour AUS
4th Stage 2 Herald Sun Tour AUS
4th Stage 6 Tour de Langkawi MAS
5th Stage 5 Tour of Japan JPN
9th Overall Tour of Japan JPN
45th Overall Tour de Langkawi MAS
49th Overall Tour of China CNH