• Those of you who know me will have seen my mission to get fit plastered all over Facebook for the last year and a bit. After using Michael Pates beginner triathlete programme (designed for chubby American blokes) at the gym as a much needed low impact way of building fitness I've had a mid-life crisis and decided to take the plunge and "TRI" the real thing in Stratford on 14th May.
• My sprint triathalon effort will be 400m pool swim, 18km cycle and 5km run.  Since making the decision to enter 5 weeks ago I've been translating what I've been doing in the gym to outside - slowly but surely as I'm carrying extra pounds.
• So it's not going to be easy - and I'm not going to be quick. I'm a strong - but not particularly quick swimmer, the cycling is all new to me as until Easter weekend I'd never ridden a road bike, and not cycled at all since 2005! And as for the run -I'm trying not to think of it. but will just put one foot in front of the other at whatever speed comes along. I've entered for a personal challenge - but with parents who've suffered from cancer (and friends too) thought it would be good to use the opportunity to raise some money too.