So when the Launceston orthopaedic surgeon was unveiled alongside Casey Mainsbridge as one of Triathlon Tasmania's newest life members, he counted it as a bonus.

The veteran athlete was thrilled to be recognised for his service as a competitor, former TT president, committee member and technical official at a function last weekend.

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"I felt quite honoured - a bit humbled by it because I've got a lot of enjoyment out of doing triathlons," Butorac said.

"I've been doing them for quite a while now, I think my first one was back in 1999 or thereabouts.

"Initially I improved quite a lot in all three disciplines and started doing those individually with some success and along the way inevitably you get caught up with the running of different things.

"I did a bit on the committee and was chairman of the state branch of Triathlon Tasmania for a couple of years and technical official along the way as well.

"I don't think I've done anything out of the ordinary, it's probably more the fact that I've been doing it for a long time that I was rewarded with a life membership, which I'm very grateful for."

Butorac said completing the 2008 ironman event in Kona, Hawaii had been a highlight of his association with the sport.

He finished the 3.8km swim, 180km ride and 42.2km run in 11:08:43.

"I ended up doing several ironman triathlons - I got a spot to go to Hawaii and do the Hawaiian ironman which is kind of like the ultimate," he said.

"I had thoughts that one day I might try to qualify to go again but I'm quite confident now that I'm not going to do that - I've accumulated a few health issues and it's very time consuming to train for an ironman - but anyhow I'm quite glad I've done that one."

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The physical toll of distance running has seen Butorac compete in triathlons less regularly in recent times.

He was set to make an appearance in this year's Bridport triathlon - a race he's graced for "donkey's years" - before bushfire smoke from the mainland forced organisers to cancel the event.

"The last 10 years or so I've started doing more multi-sport racing - it's kind of like triathlon but there's rarely swimming involved - it's more like mountain biking, trail running and kayaking," Butorac said.

"I've been doing those a fair bit over the last 10 or 15 years and even that ... running hurts me too much nowadays to train regularly so I'm tapering off from those sorts of things."