On 23 September I'll be taking on IRONMAN Italy, a 140.6 mile ultra-distance triathlon.
The race comprises a 2.4 mile ocean swim, a 112 mile cycle and a 26.2 mile marathon to finish. In order to be successful, competitors must complete the distances, back to back, in under 16 hours. Whilst I'm aiming to finish in nearer 12 hours, there's no doubt that this is mega!
The motivation to attempt this frankly insane challenge, was borne out a combination of factors. Not least of which is a drive to prove that once you put your mind to something almost anything is achievable. However by far the most significant influence is a wish to raise money for two charities who once stepped in to help me.
In 2010, I broke my neck playing rugby in Hereford. After an x-ray confirmed the break, the Midlands Air Ambulance flew me to Oswestry hospitals specialist spinal unit, where an MRI scan identified the severity of the injury. Within a few hours of being immobilised on a wet and muddy rugby pitch in Hereford, I had had a bone marrow transplant and a fusion of vertebras C4 and C5 by a super surgeon in Shropshire.....they'd put me back together!
A week in hospital, 4 months in a fixed neck brace, a year of mind-numbingly dull stretches and I was back playing competitive sport...Hockey! From the moment I was injured and all the way through the recovery, the RFU Injured Players Foundation where on call and in full support. They visited me at hospital and at home to provide reassurance that should I loose mobility they would be able to provide the necessary facilities to ensure that life could go and that I could keep fishing.
7 years on and I’ve never been fitter. In the last eight months, my training has seen me swim 4,739 lengths or 3.5 times the English channel; cycle 1,674 miles or from Oxford to Edinburgh and back...twice; and run 400 miles or 15 marathons. I feel epic but what would make it all even more worthwhile, is if you would help me raise some money for these two awesome charities.
The link for each of the charity pages are below with a little more info on each. I would like to keep funds as equal as possible and any contribution, no matter what size, would be hugely welcome and a massive motivator to get over the line in a few weeks time.
If you've read it this far then good work and thank you so much in advance for your support
Much love, Fred
