It is important to note that despite the title of this blog I am not a chunky chap. I have taken part in various bits and bobs over the years ranging from 100 mile cycle events to half marathons and insane cross country challenges (we will come to that later). However, it is true to say that I have never taken part in a triathlon let alone an Ironman.
My personal wish to take part in an Ironman started about 12 months ago when I went to visit a friend of mind in Madison, WI, USA. She and her boyfriend are much more serious athletes than I but we do share a common interest in running, jumping, skiing cycling and generally arsing about. It was them that got me thinking that it might be fun. As normal I read a few books and watched a few shows on the subject but ultimately what was holding me back was the lack of team participation. All the other things that I have taken part in I have done as part of team and I felt that I needed that motivation that comes from being part of team in order to succeed. Anyway time past and the idea was almost forgotten when a colleague of mine at work started talking about triathlon and how much fun it would be get involved. I talked to him about working up to Ironman and he seemed to like the idea so here we are.
I want to try to use this blog as some sort of diary of our progress. I am not the most dedicated of people when it comes to these sorts of things, by which I mean blogging, so expect some healthy gaps but hopefully if I can document our progress well enough then this may help future aspiring triathletes, of which I am one, to take part.
However, with that short introduction out of the way I would like to start with our story so far sorta speak. It is important to note that despite the fact that I will probably be the only contributor to this blog I will very much not be doing this by myself. The whole thing will be untaken with my co-conspirators from some of my last endeavours.
In 2011 I started working for a computer retail company in the south of England. The company had and still does have a fairly sterile feel for the most part as you would probably expect from a technology company. However, one of the chaps takes a fairly sizable role within the Royal British Legion and is the main driving force behind an event call the Exmoor 30:30. This is an event that takes place annually and involves teams of amateurs walking or in some cases running across the moorland carrying 30lbs on their backs. It is no small feet and not one that would be traditionally taken on by a group of computer technicians. On hearing about this event and that our company was entering a team I jumped at the chance. Since then we have done this challenge twice as well as several half marathons and in some instances a few cycling events.
Anyway on completing the 30:30 for the second time everyone felt like a different challenge, seemingly from my perspective, everyone came to the same conclusion by themselves.. Triathlon is next challenge. Despite varying abilities in the various disciplines the idea stuck and we are now staring down the barrel of a 7 month training program. The program has or is being put together based on information from several sources, some guess work, one aspiring personal trainer, the internet and some text books. I am sure we will be fine.
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