I am the unlikeliest IRONMAN…

Eleven months ago I had to learn to swim as I was never taught.

I hadn’t cycled since I was teenager.

I could think of 100 things I would rather do than run a marathon…

But I am doing it because I believe with support and hard work anything is possible.

I cover all of my own costs so that your donations go directly to supporting young people to transform their lives. 

For those of you who, like me, had no idea what an IRONMAN was when I agreed to do it (!), it is a 3,800m open water swim, 180k bike ride, 42.2k run.  

Having never done anything like this...I have to get race ready - which means learning how to do triathlons in the lead up to the full IRONMAN.  This is my journey so far...

The Haywards Heath Triathlon - 30th April - 768m swim / 35km cycle / 6.8km run - COMPLETED!

Stourhead Immortal HALF - 1,900m swim / 90k cycle / no run because of injury 

BRIGHTON PADDLE ROUND THE PIER 2,500M SWIM - COMPLETED! (actually completed 2,695m because I can't swim in a straight line)

IRONMAN 70.3 (HALF) - 1,900m swim / 90km cycle / 21,1k run - COMPLETED!  This was a good day!

FIRST FULL IRONMAN ATTEMPT Barcelona - 30 September - 3,800m swim / 180km cycle / 42.2km run - swim completed in 2hrs, 4mins, 144k cycle in 5hrs, 47mins - not allowed to complete because I missed the 2nd road closure bike cut off time :((

I said I would complete a full IRONMAN...so...2018...

IRONMAN 70.3 Majorca (HALF) - 12 May 2018

THE MONSTER 1-7 July 550 miles over 7 days...day 1; 5km swim in Loch Ness then 5 days of cycling, then day 7; 36 mile ultra marathon

FULL IRONMAN Copenhagen 19 August 2018

Why I am I doing this?  Because I run The OPERA Global Youth Foundation.  The money we raise, goes directly to supporting disadvantaged young people who overcome huge challenges to find, gain and stay in work.  Without always realising, we expect young people to do things that feel impossible for them, but I believe that with time, training, coaching - and bloody hard work – anything is possible.  I had hoped, and trained as hard as I could to complete a full IRONMAN in 2017, but I simply wasn't fast enough on the day.  When we face set backs in life, we can do two things; give up or get up and keep going.  I choose to keep going.

When I'm tired, when I lose the will (usually on the turbo or treadmill), when everything hurts and still there is training to do, when self-doubt creeps in and says its all too hard and I'm not good enough, when I dream of waves crashing over me and drowning (this is an actual dream) - this is what keeps me going; your support gives young people who deserve the chance to #thrive not just survive.

#thisgirlcan #thrive @weareopera @ironesther

You can text 70070 with THRI71 £5 or £10

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME - IF YOU ARE A UK TAX PAYER DON'T FORGET TO ADD GIFT AID - ITS AN EXTRA £2.50 on EVERY £10 - AND COSTS YOU NOTHING!

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