But to take on an Ironman event requires the ultimate in fitness and endurance, sometimes for as long as 17 hours of competition in one day.

Half a dozen intrepid Hawkesbury triathletes will take that challenge when they compete in the prestigious $60,000 Port Macquarie Ironman Australia Triathlon this Sunday.

All members of the Hawkesbury Triathlon Club, which is based at Deerubbin Park and has club meets once a month, Michael Mahboub, Stuart Borwick, Lars Koppelhuber, Laurie Shorten, Darren Farlow and Greg Burford will subject their bodies and minds to the most gruelling of endurance events.

They will be among 1800 competitors aged 18-75 from more than 30 countries and every State and Territory in Australia that will greet the starter with a 3.8km swim, 180.2km bike ride and 42.2km run in and around the picturesque seaside city in front of them.

Entrants are given 21/4 hours to finish the swim, must complete the cycle by 101/2 hours and need to hit the finish line within 17 hours to be declared a finisher, although with the race record currently standing just inside nine hours, the top competitors will never need anywhere near that long to get around.

The Hawkesbury six are planning to be somewhere near the front of the field as they strive for the ultimate goal of booking themselves a start in the ultimate Ironman event, the World Championships at Kona, Hawaii, in October, with 70 qualifying spots for grabs across all the age groups, to be allocated proportionally to the number of entrants.

There is also the lure of the $10,000 cheque to be presented to the winner of the event, with prizemoney paid down to 10th place.