The only man to put on his wedding list "PlanetX TT bike" !

I have been doing triathlons for four years now (having got into them through a good mate Nick Armstrong, who I used to work with). He suggested I might want to give it a go.

So; I bought myself a race bike and did a couple of duathlons to kind of warm up! Not being able to swim (a bit of a handicap really!) I decided to join Ryton Tri and get some well needed help. With Bob's help (and a lot of sweat and tears) I could swim 400m by my first Triathlon, The Hebburn Sprint. After swallowing half the pool, I managed to swim 400m in a 10mins. The bike and run wasn't too bad.

I then got the triathlon bug, being the person I am (ask my wife!) I decide to miss out the Olympic distance and went straight on to The Day In The Lakes the following year. This was a tough race as it was a sweltering hot day, and the fells are not for my liking!! I managed a time of 6hours 30mins. Some folk said I should really have done the Olympic distance but; hey ho, I like a challenge (again, ask the wife!).

Having done quite well in the Lakes, I was persuaded; OK I decided to enter the 'Outlaw' which is a long course event (the fabled Iron-man). I knew with the support of my wife, Heather and my family (both fair; and foul weather!) I could give 100%. with this in mind I approached the coach, Colin Gardener, who produced a six months training plan that should, hopefully, have me in good shape come race day on 24th July!

I am currently on week nine at the moment and, it's going quite well. I am biking to work twice a week, up with the Larks at 5:20am, my work colleagues think I'm mad! I'm not sure they're wrong! As well as that I'm training every day and twice as much at the weekend. My social life has, consequentially collapsed and I'm sure my friends think I've left the country. I'm sure going to make up for this after the 24th, goodbye Iron-man hello pint (or pints!).

Heather also tells me our shopping bill has more than doubled since I started. I eat like a horse, but I'm still losing a few pounds, a good diet; if you're a masochist.

I really would like to thank my friends and family for all the support they are giving me and Coach Col for his knowledge and advice. But I would most like to thank Heather for her unstinting support, I know it's not easy supporting me through this and hopefully, come the 24th of July I really will be able to call myself an Iron-man.

Training Plan

1. Work, Train, Eat, Sleep.
2. Work, Train, Eat, Sleep
3. Repeat Ad-nauseam until you get REALLY REALLY TIRED...... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Oh. And Nick. It's all your fault!