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Most people will remember him as the guy who flopped down in exhaustion at the finish line after becoming the first local finisher in the International Race Weekend marathon.

But Peter Mills, who did not start training until he reached his 40s, is more than just a runner. Training Zone caught up with the native New Yorker as he prepares to compete in the Ironman Couer D'Alene (2.4mile swim, 112 mile cycle, 26.2-mile run) - a qualifer for the World Championships in Hawaii.

What's your routine?

At the moment I'm swimming about 12,000 metres, cycling 125-150-miles-a-week and running between 40 and 50 miles.

It amounts to about 10-12 hours on the bike, six hours running and four hours swimming.

I rotate four disciplines - running, cycling, swimming and weight training.

I like to mix it up. It keeps it interesting and keeps me from getting injured. If I ran as much as some of the top guys on the island - the Marshalls or Kavin and Jay - I'd have a blow out. I need to vary it. That's what is great about doing triathlons.

What's your motivation

I'm trying to raise money for Team Hope (Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy for children with learning challenges)

So it's 50 per cent self satisfaction and 50 per cent giving back to charities.

It's a personality thing, too. People talk about obsessive Type A personalities. Those are the sort of people that become triathletes.

Unfortunately, I would fall into that category.

How does your hectic training schedule affect your life?

I have an understanding wife. She's a former 400m hurdler, she's a nutritionist and works with professional athletes, so I get quite a bit of breathing space at home.

It's just what I do to relax. There's nothing better to relive stress. It helps at work, too. I'm always clear headed and alert.

Did you/do you do any other sports?

I was a golfer. I was down to about a four handicap and then I just started having problems with my shoulders and my swing went and I just lost interest in golf.

I would say golf is probably tougher between the ears than triathlon. Mentally, it's the toughest sport I've ever played.

You can practice as much as you like but when you are standing over the ball you're still not sure it's going to go where you want it to. In triathlon/ironman, if you prepare well you will perform.

Anyone can be a triathlete and anyone can get faster.

When and how did you get into triathlon/ironman?

I really started in 2001. My family believe in spending their thirties fat. I did all sorts of sports until I hit 30 and then I did nothing, except develop a beer belly.

What changed was, I met my wife. She works with people who need to lose weight and at the time we met, I was big enough to be one of her clients.

She turned on the exercise faucet' and now she's struggling to find a way to turn it off.

Once I get stuck into something I pretty much see it through to a goal. The goal for me is to race in the Ironman World Championships. Once I've done that I can go back to playing golf.

Which is your worst discipline? Which do you least like to train?

I'm not a very fast swimmer, which is why I prefer the longer distance races. Swimming is the hardest of the disciplines to learn. It's my weakest discipline and I'm working really hard at it but I'm still waiting to get better.

In terms of training, a bike on a windy day is the toughest thing. There's nothing worse than a North Shore headwind.

How do you stop yourself from burning out mid-way through a 10-12 hour race?

There are four disciplines in triathlon - swimming, cycling, running and preparation. If you get any one of those wrong the race is a disaster.

Apart from a few people at the front, you are not racing a person, you are racing a time and a position. You have to keep your targets in mind.

For me, for instance, I'm aiming to qualify for the World Championships in Hawaii. I'll be racing 632 people in my age category and I have to finish in the top 20. For that I've got to come in under ten hours. The bottom line is, it's going to hurt. It's most likely going to hurt the most on the run, towards the end. You have to struggle through it. The good thing is by the time you get to that stage you can sense the finish line and that spurs you on.

Do you watch what you eat? What's your pre-race routine?

I'm not as disciplined as I should be. I enjoy a bit of stodgy food and a beer or two.

Generally before a race I just load up on carbs, tons of pasta.

Eat little and often is the advice my wife gives. In the morning before an Ironman, I'll have toast and tea and a protein shake.

Then once the race starts you need to consume 400-500 calories an hour. It's anything from eight-and-a-half hours to 14 hours for the race, depending on your level, and you're losing 1,000 calories an hour. I use Gatorades, bananas and load up on gels (basically just sugar and calories).

What are your favourite races?

May 24 in Bermuda, I love the atmosphere, the crowd, closed roads and the fact that all the top guys come out. It's a chance to race against the best.

Ironman Lanzarote is a breathtaking beautiful course and that would be my favourite race worldwide.

Anything you can do to take your mind off the fact that you are racing is beneficial.

If you can go from God this hurts to God look at the beautiful water then that has to help.

I like to run along the South Shore and I still find it impossible not to look.

What's your greatest achievement?

It's still to come. I've been bridesmaid a lot but never the bride. The older I get, the faster I am getting so I'm still hoping the best is yet to come.

Any tips for the rest of us?

Variation is important. If you do swimming, cycling, weights and running it keeps you from getting bored and losing interest.

Set yourself goals and stick to them. Training is much easier if you have a race to aim for. Try and get better every year. Find yourself some good training partners to keep you motivated, get as much advice as you can, take lessons on the technical stuff, particularly swimming.

Don't let it take over your life - leave time for work and fun and enjoy a few beers occasionally!

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