Well folks, as most of you are already aware, I took part in the UK Ironman 70.3 triathlon at Wimbleball, Exmoor back on the 20th of June. It was simply amazing! It was also the hardest physical challenge that I have ever done. It took me 7 hours and 35 minutes to complete the 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile ride and half marathon run. Not bad for my first ever triathlon, let alone first ever Iron distance event! To put it into context though, the race winner finished in 4 hours and 17 minutes. It was a great experience though and I learnt loads about triathlon and how to do things differently next time (yep, I said next time!). Even after the pain of Wimbleball, I have seriously got the bug for this event now. I just want to say a massive thankyou to all those who supported me in the runup to the race. You made the pain worthwhile.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

As a few of you will already know, I try to get involved in some sort of event roughly every other year and try to raise money for charity.  I've always wanted to do an endurance 'Ironman' event so now I am having a go at one and see if I can raise some money for charity along the way.

For those of you who have never heard of Ironman before, it's an endurance triathlon event where competitors first swim a set distance, then cycle, then finish with a run. In the '70.3' Ironman, we race over that exact distance; 70.3 miles. I will first have to swim 1.2 miles across Wimbleball Lake up on Exmoor (yes, i'll be wearing my wetsuit). If I manage that, I will then have to cover 56 miles on my bike around a murderously hilly circuit out on the moor. If I have anything left after that, I have to run a punishing half marathon of 13.1 miles. Well, they don't call it Ironman for nothing you know!! 

This year i'm raising money for several charities. My first choice charity is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).  The brave men of the Lifeboats go out in all weather to save those stricken by water. They operate a 24/7 365 days a year service and they are unpaid. That's right. They are all volunteers. They ask for nothing from the people they save and even the Government doesn't contribute to their existance. They are completely funded by public donations. And remember, it's not only people in trouble at sea who can call upon the lifeboatmen. At Cockermouth in December, Lifeboatmen (and women!) were on hand to rescue those trapped by flood water. You don't have to live near the sea to benefit from their skills!

Other charities who will benefit from your donations this year are the Childrens Hospice Association, Leukaemia Research Fund and Marie Curie Cancer Care and Life Education Centres. All very worthy causes, I think you will agree?!

I have pledged to raise £1000 and with your help, I will reach that target. And remember, your donation isn't just for these charities. On June 20th you can sit there relaxing in your gardens in the glorious sunshine with the satisfaction of knowing that your donation also paid for the pleasure of imagining me, my 8+ hours of pain and punishment, swimming in that freezing cold lake for an hour, my sore bum from that razor sharp saddle of mine, my aching muscles, my chaffed skin and my blistered feet. Your donation must surely be worth that much alone?!!!

Thankyou all for your support. I will let you know how I get on and share some amusing photo's too hopefully after the event.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Mike