Ironman UK

  • Team True Spirit: servicemen who have suffered from severe multiple spinal and limb fractures to amputations take part in IMUK tomorrow


  • At the pasta party last night inside the grounds of the ReeBok Football stadium, The Premier Lounge was transformed into a starry-lit sky setting the stage for an evening of celebrating serviceman and women and the heroes taking part in IMUK tomorrow.

  • The evening literally ended on a high with an awe inspiring performance by Viva Arial Dance, a female duo who kept athletes captivated as they ‘danced’ 30ft above the floor on lengths of silk and a single hoop.

  • Pasta Party held at the Bolton Wanderers FC Football Stadium

  • Left - Right: Desiree Ficker (USA), Toby Radcliffe (UK), Joanna Carrit (UK), Romain Guillaume (FRA), Yvette Grice (UK)

  • “It’s definitely not an easy course, the bike is beautiful but it is not quick (the course record is a 4:57 by 2009 Champion Philip Graves) So enjoy it, you could be out there a while.” - Toby Radcliffe.
  • 2010 female champion Yvette Grice (UK) is back to defend her title. Standing in her way is 2006 IM World Champion runner up, Desiree Ficker and 2011 IM Austria Runner up Diana Riesler.

  • Race Briefing this evening at the ReeBok Stadium

  • We are less than 9hours away from race day. Before we say good night and sleep well, we leave you with one of the many inspiring stories to develop here at this week.

  • Team True Spirit athlete, 23year old Joe Townsend

  • Ironman, it’s the ultimate endurance race and the ultimate sporting family triathletes want to become a part of. Ironman provides people the dream, a goal, motivation, inspiration that they can, that anyone, CAN DO THIS. Joe Townsend WILL DO THIS.
  • Joe is a young lad from East Sussex, England. He is just 23 years old and a Royal Marines Commando who was injured in an IED blast in February 2008. Joe hopes to complete all 3 disciplines of IMUK solo and within the time limits.
  • This is what he has to say about the challenge he has taken on:

    "When I was asked in conversation if I fancied doing a leg of the Ironman, I thought "Hey why not," but as the event started to get closer realization of what I had got myself into sunk in.

    I started to up my training and push more and more miles and as my fitness improved so did my enthusiasm for the event. At this stage I was only down to do the bike and the run legs but the more I trained the more I fancied a crack at the whole thing.

    I have never been a strong swimmer but I thought I would jump in the lake and give it ago. The first session went ok and I didn't drown (which was a bonus) so I thought "sod it, if I am doing the other 138 miles what's an extra 2.4 going to hurt!"

    With some swim coaching and a lot of practice in the lake and on the bike I am now starting to feel confident about completing the task ahead.

    These past months have been hard going and the training seems to have taken over my life, though I am thriving off the focus and drive to conquer the event and become an IRONMAN!
  • Joe’s teamates in Team True Spirit are fellow servicemen who have suffered from severe multiple spinal and limb fractures to amputations of one, two or even three limbs. We will be watching out and following them tomorrow, there numbers are:

    #1258 Joe Townsend
    #1259 Kingsley Ward
    #1261 Craig Preece
    #1262 Mark Allen
    #1263 Cliff O’Farrel
    #1266 David Hill
    #1268 Mike Goody
    #1271 Mark Allen
    #1292 Russ Clamp
    #1293 Steve Caton
    #1294 Ryan Hewitt
  • Good Morning Bolton!

    It’s 5:30am and the athletes are finishing their final prep before entering the water at Pennington Flash for the start of the 3rd IMUK.

    We are potentially looking at a scorcher (in English terms) here today in lovely Lancashire. Currently there is not even a breeze in the air and the forecast is a sunny high of 20degrees.

    There is total of 1269 athletes of whom 1039 are British men and women embarking on their ironman journey this morning.
  • There are a number of first timers taking on the ironman challenge here in Bolton today. The course here in Bolton presents a stern enough challenge to the seasoned triathlete, for those entering into uncharted waters in search of their first taste of IM glory give yourself a pat on the back. The hard work has been done and now is where the fun begins.

  • IMUK: is this the toughest bike course?

  • Is the course here in the UK the hardest IM course in the world? Philip Graves, 2009 Champion holds the course record at 4:57. No one else has ever dipped under the 5hour mark here. Will a new course record be made today, the conditions look good, but the winds across the open countryside could prove torturous.

  • Swim start at Pennington Flash

  • Before athletes start the bike there is the little task of a 2.4 two mile 2 loop swim to complete in the Pennington Flash. If anyone knows where the name originated from or what a ‘Flash’ the team has been wondering where this name came from and we would love to know.
  • It’s your birthday. What do you want to do? Well 10 age groupers this morning are doing an ironman – that's one way to celebrate!

    Happy Birthday to:

    Keiran Hill, 44
    Philip Taberner, 42
    Maria Hindle, 41
    Jayson Rees-Hughes, 40
    Dean Forrester, 40
    Thomas Bird, 38
    Kevin Milne, 35
    Emily Cowan, 33
    Christian Ashurst, 33
    Ryan Hepworth, 24
  • Athletes are in the water, we are 15minutes away from the start of IMUK 2011.
  • We have one athlete running towards the swim start out of T1...hurry up you have 12 minutes to go!
  • Fraser Cartmell, 2010 champion holds the swim record in 43:35. The water out there is flat, still and calm. Perfect conditions.
  • We are 4 minutes away, athletes are in the water and the British National Anthem is about to be played.
  • The water temperature this morning is hovering around 18degrees. Not too chilly for the wet suit swim.
  • National anthem is playing we are seconds away from the start.
  • Racers AWAY!
  • The swim here is two loops. Lead swimmers should be completing the first loop in around 10minutes.
  • George Duffy #658 of Canada is our eldest competitor here today at 71 years young.
  • The eldest female is also a Canadian, #1062 Mary Goodacre, 61
  • We have around 50 plus swimmers finishing their first loop.
  • There are some fast age groupers in the swim mix here, #950 lee Durkin is noted to be pretty fast!
  • The exit ramp here at the swim is soon going to be busy with1269 athletes heading into T2, we are 35 minutes into race day.
  • The lead two swimmers have just made the final turn at are heading home.
  • Sounds like someone is having a nice draft today, we do not as yet have any sighting on who the swimmers are.
  • The swim cut off for the 2.4 mile swim is 2hours20minutes
  • We predict the next 5 minutes to site the lead swimmers.
  • 1st swimmer is just approaching the last buoy and heading towards the ramp. They will then have approx a 200metre run into T1.
  • Sorry for the delay there, 1st swimmer out #4 Romain GUILLAUME (FRA)
  • followed by #9 Oliver Simon, #11 Aaaron Farlow
  • #20 Yvette Grice (UK) is defending her title here today and she holds the female swim record at 00:50:04. She is first female out the water today.
  • 1st Age grouper out the water Miguel Platero #43
  • Pro men #8 Paul Hawkins, #3 Nick Saunders 4th and 5th out the water
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