IRONMAN insights - meet Annabel Heney
Posted on Thursday, 5 February 2026
The ANZCO Foods race team is gearing up for ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand on Saturday 7 March.
We're highlighting a few employees representing ANZCO Foods this year so you can get an insight into the crew's training and nutrition leading up to the big day.
Today meet Annabel Heney
HR Advisor at ANZCO Foods Corporate Office
Competing in IRONMAN 70.3
Tell us about your sporting achievements prior to signing up for ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand
To be honest I haven’t come from a big sporting background. I casually participated in school sports but would have classified myself as ‘unathletic’ and more aligned with the ‘couch potato’ demographic! The decision to take this challenge on has been a big change for me and the idea of completing a half IRONMAN had always seemed unachievable. Watching my colleagues, Tanya Da Costa and Jayne Schaapveld, complete the race last March was really motivating, and it showed me that it was possible, particularly with the support that comes with signing up with the ANZCO Foods race team.
How has your training been going over the past few months?
I have really enjoyed the training and it has become part of my weekly routine. There are definitely days when I don’t feel like putting on my running shoes or bike helmet, but the fact that I know there is an event waiting for me, which is quickly approaching, gets me out the door. Each session provides a new sense of accomplishment. Sometimes that is just getting the workout done, but there are also those runs or rides or swims when you feel good and can push yourself to hit a new milestone. That has been really satisfying and has motivated me to continue working towards my goal.
How are you balancing training with work and everyday life?
As the training workload has increased, my IRONMAN life has had to be given higher priority, so it has been harder to balance my training with time with friends and family. I have been very fortunate that I have had really supportive people around me and I have been able to train with some of my friends, which has been a good way to see them when our usual methods aren’t quite as easy at the moment. As for work, my managers and colleagues have been very supportive and I have made sure that my training does not have a material impact on what I need to do when I am in the office. The most obvious change in terms of my work life is the big bag of food I bring in every day to keep on top of my nutrition!
So you have had to change the way you approach your nutrition?
Another reason why I thought signing up to IRONMAN New Zealand would be a good idea was that I would be able to justify eating more sweet treats! Turns out, I now love the convenience of a boiled egg instead!! Getting the nutrition side of training for an IRONMAN has been a learning curve. Eating the right things definitely makes training easier, so finding the right balance of foods that are convenient and nutritious has been important. Cherie Richardson, one of the ANZCO Foods race team captains, has given me some great ideas on how I can stay on top of things and I have slowly got better at managing this part of it.
Tell us about being part of the ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand race team?
It has been an amazing experience so far. The team is incredibly supportive, and it has been great to have a formal training plan to keep me on track and make me understand what needs to get done. It is amazing to think I started off running 0km and now can go out and run 20km! It has also been great that the Canterbury based members of the team have regularly organised group rides and swims, which has helped to bring some variety to the training.
What would you say to a colleague thinking about joining the team next year?
You do not have to be fit to take this challenge on. I am proof of that! The ANZCO race team are there to support you along the journey, so it provides you with a massive headstart versus taking something like this on by yourself. So if it is something you have had in the back of your mind, doing it with ANZCO would be a great way to make it happen.
Leave us with a memorable story from the past few months of getting ready to become an IRONMAN.
For me, it has been about swimming. I started swimming at our local pool with my friend and success at that point was not feeling like the lifeguards were keeping a close eye on us in case we drowned! Recently I completed my longest swim so far of over 2,000m. I never thought it would be possible for me to be doing that, and it has been an amazing experience to see what consistent training and dedication can lead to, and to share that experience with a friend has made it even more meaningful.