IEUAN MAN WALES

Just after 1030 pm on Sunday 13^th September I completed Iron Man Wales in Tenby. The event started at 7 am with the Welsh National Anthem and a 2.4 mile sea swim which I completed in 1:30. There followed a 1 km run to transition before starting the 112 mile cycle through Southern Pembrokeshire. I managed this stage in 8:07 including over 2000m in climbing on what is considered one of the toughest cycle courses on the Iron Man circuit. I concluded with a rather sedate hilly Marathon (26.2 miles). The whole thing took 15.5 hours but I was safely within all the cut-offs, had an hour and a half in reserve at the end and most importantly, I thoroughly enjoyed what became a very emotional day for me and my family.

While I started from a reasonable base fitness level and a background in fell / marathon running the swimming and road cycling was entirely new for me this spring. I bought a bike in March, did my first “open water” swim in May and this event was only my 3^rd Triathlon (of any distance). However, this achievement has only been possible because of the support and at times sacrifices made for me by many dear friends and family members.

I am particularly indebted to the following individuals; my wonderful wife Nia for allowing me to be absent for long periods to train and for insisting that I raise money for charity, to my cousin Sarah Tagg for inspiring me to enter in the first place (she completed the course over an hour quicker than me and is clearly the strongest Iron Man in our family), to my friends Chris Hornung, Tanya Sharp & Anton Fries (all multiple Iron Men) for their patient advice, to Ollie Foot & my brother in law Llyr Evans for getting my cycle and swim times quick enough for this to become remotely possible, to the staff in the UHW sports and social club for their encouragement (and zipping up my wetsuit!), to my friend and colleague Huw Jenkins for allowing me the flexibility within our small team to “dove-tail” training with work, to my parents for supporting me always including during the fledgling cycle events in North Wales over the summer and screaming me on this Sunday and to my parents in law for their hospitality as we regularly descended on them with bikes, wetsuits and clutter to rehearse in West Wales. Finally, to my siblings Clare & Gwilym, Michael Tuthill, David Tuthill, Chris Gildersleve, Steve Froom, Johann te Water Naude, Rob Sharp (Fresher), Tom and Jack for combinations of emotional support, welcome advice or practical help during the training and preparation. 

Thank you all, I am truly grateful. IHD

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