This Sunday I'm doing the Henley Challenge, an Ironman distance triathlon (2.4mile swim, 112mile cycle, 26.2mile run). For the last 11 months it has consumed my life and influenced every decison I've made. I dread to think how many hours I've trained for it, it's probably an hour a day on average over that whole time.

Why am I doing it, mainly because it's a serious challenge and far harder than anything else I've attempted previously, and it's important to push yourself to the limit sometimes. Some people don't think I'm capable of it, I'm certainly not the size of an endurance athlete and I certainly like my food and drink, but who doesn't like to prove people wrong.

It's also a great oportunity to help others though and the only way I can keep asking the same people for sponsorship is to make sure I do events which are harder so you know I'm going through the pain barriers to do them. Everyone who donates is offering huge support and makes me obliged to not let you down and complete the tasks ahead. When I'm half dead having swam 2.4 miles, cycled 112 miles and then trying to drag my fat arse around a marathon I'll know I can't stop as I'd be letting everyone who's sponsored me over years down, and also the kids who Unicef help in Romania.

So it doesn't matter how much, but if you'd like to help Unicef continue their great work, and also help me grit my teeth on Sunday then please feel free to donate to this page.

Many thanks,

Mark

P.S It won't be my last event in September either, as on Wednesday 25th I'm cycling London to London. Not a lap of the M25, we're actually going via France so will be 600 miles over 7 days. Hopefully I'll have had enough time to recover!