IRONMAN Insights - meet Warick McKey
Posted on Friday, 20 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 Warick McKey
North Island Livestock and QA Manager at ANZCO Foods Eltham
Competing in IRONMAN 70.3
Taking on ANZCO Foods IRONMAN 70.3 is a big challenge. You obviously have a strong sporting background?
Absolutely. I think my sporting career peaked in 1966 when I won the under 5-year-old, 25-yard sack race!
What motivated you to join the ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand 2026 team?
Our son and his family live in Ireland. We planned a visit to spend time with them last July/August, and I decided to start running before we left hoping that during our stay Luke and I could go on some father/son jogs together. It was during that period that the IRONMAN invite came out, and when I realised that a few of my colleagues from the livestock team were signing up – including a couple of similarly mature gentlemen in the form of Steve Hesp and Grant Bunting – that provided the motivation to throw my hat in the ring too.
What part of your training are you enjoying the most?
Beating Hespy!
I hadn’t run for at least ten years, so I have enjoyed getting back into that. Unfortunately, getting back into running at my age is pretty hard on the body, so once I started to increase the time and distance the inevitable aches and niggles began to kick in. December was all about spending time with my physio, chiropractor and podiatrist to try and get things sorted, and thankfully I have slowly managed to get back out there.
How are you balancing training with work and everyday life?
I am an early riser and aim to get my training down before most people would be out of bed. I travel a bit with my role, so that means I try and plan a run or swim on those days as obviously it becomes hard to take the bike with me, and the other two disciplines are more time efficient.
How has your approach to nutrition and good health changed since starting this journey?
I love food. Because of that, I’ve always tried to stay active to try and offset any weight gain, but being in a more regimented training environment has definitely done me some good. I’ve dropped a few pounds, my cholesterol levels are going the right way, and overall I feel good.
Tell us about being part of the ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand race team?
I have always enjoyed being in a team environment but IRONMAN is very much an individual sport, so it has been great to have that community within ANZCO all going on the same journey with the same destination. The guys based in the North Island are a bit more spread out so it has been harder to some degree. That has made it even more valuable to see what the guys in Christchurch are up to and feel like we are all facing the same challenges. Having Steve as my training buddy has also been fantastic and we have kept each other honest and committed.
What are you most looking forward to on race day?
I can get extremely anxious about things, so I suspect hearing the start gun and getting going will be a relief in some respects. Obviously crossing the finish line and appreciating what I have just accomplished will be pretty special, but also supporting my ANZCO teammates out on the course and making sure everyone achieves their goals will be great. I know the event has an amazing atmosphere, so just being part of the day will be pretty cool.
What would you say to a colleague thinking about joining the team next year?
Do it. There are no criteria to being an IRONMAN – they come in all shapes, sizes, ages and capabilities. If you are considering it then start your journey now and begin building a base level of fitness. It will help you when the formal training process begins, both in terms of keeping up with the training plan but also ensuring you are able to avoid any frustrating injuries that might set you back.
Leave us with a memorable story from your IRONMAN experience so far.
Watching Hespy have his first wetsuit fitting was pretty amusing! I’m sure they gave him a wetsuit which was two sizes too small. It was a hot day and the suit stuck to him like glue and he couldn’t get out of it. Thankfully we eventually got that sorted!