While his 60-year-old dad Peter was only ever a “champion of buying two pizzas and eating them all at once”.

However, the Wheatleys are set to create ultraman triathlon history should they finish the toughest three-day endurance race in Australia.

“As it turns out, we’ll be the first father and son to have ever done the double as it were. Dad is actually going back for his third ultraman and I’ll be there now for my second,” Wheatley said.

Ultraman triathlons started in 1983 to reflect guiding principles of the Hawaiian culture: aloha (love), ohana (family) and kokua (help).

Running on the spirit from the inaugural Hawaiian race has not only resonated with father and son, but their support crew consisting of wife, daughter, her boyfriend, the in-laws and even his West Australian-based brother.

“We’re sort of getting the band back together, really,” Wheatley said.

“But it’s a good opportunity for all of us to celebrate the sacrifices; we spend a lot of time apart due to training, due to work and just life, and it’s a good time to just enjoy quality time together.”

Less than 1000 athletes in the world have completed an ultraman triathlon.

But that lacklustre number promises to not hold back the Wheatleys from defying the odds.

“There is an element of wanting to show my girls they can do anything,” he said.

“I’m not an athlete; I’m just a normal guy.

“I have absolutely no racing pedigree whatsoever

“It’s just sheer bloody hard work, quite frankly.”

Five of the 54 triathletes from 11 nations racing the combined 515km Noosa event are Tasmanian. 

Westbury’s Steve Muir joins Hobart pair Jason Clark and Mel Kemp in entering their first Ultraman Australia.

“So we are probably over-represented in terms of population,” Wheatley said.

Competitors start out on Friday week with a 10km swim to be followed by a 140km bike ride through the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Backing up to a further 280km bike ride on day two and a 84.3km double marathon run on the third day is a tough assignment.

The fact that each day must be completed before the 12-hour cut-off barely fails to phase Wheatley.

“It’s not about the time you get, but about the time you have,” he said.

Now into his third year of competing and his dad the best part of 15 years, Wheatley said the ultra-distances are more appealing than standard triathlons.

So much to the point that reaching the famous Hawaii race is the measuring stick that he believes is within his reach sooner than later.

“The reason I like this endurance stuff because it is very much in the head and in the heart,” he said.