This year, Nigel Stoddart will be taking part in a program of Triathlon events leading up to an Ironman Challenge later in the year. He is raising money for Cancer Research UK and is hoping to raise £15,000 over the course of the year.
He would be very grateful if anyone interested in supporting him and the charity would make a pledge via: www.justgiving.com/tristoddy
Tell us about your Ironman challenge in 2006?
I am hoping to raise money for Cancer Research by competing in a number of Triathlons in 2006. I guess like some many families, various forms of Cancer has affected precious people in my life. With some physical effort on my part I aim to raise much needed funds, vital in researching this destructive disease.
I have set up a donation website www.justgiving.com/tristoddy where friends, family and work colleagues have already been very generous in offering their support to my cause.
I will be competing in a number of events across the country at various Triathlon distances, culminating in the ultimate challenge for a Triathlete, a full Ironman. Although some events are still to be confirmed I should also be competing over 5-6 sprint and 2-3 Olympic distances.
In particular the Ironman will be a massive challenge for me, requiring many many hours of Training and preparation.
Although the main event is still nine months away, Training has already started and by the end of the training plan I will be averaging between 18-20 hours per week. I am hoping to complete the challenge in 12 hours, the cut off is 18 hours, when they drag you off the course for your own safety.
So what is Triathlon?
Triathlon is the fastest growing sport in the UK at this time, and consists of three events, Swimming, Cycling and Running Normally completed in that order a Triathlon is a test of technique and stamina against fellow competitions and the clock. There are hundreds of events held every year in the UK Triathlon season (May-October) over a number of different distances.
The three main distances are:-
- Sprint - Swim 600Metres/Bike 25K/Run 5K
- Olympic - Swim 1500Metres/Bike 42 KM/Run 10K
- Ironman – Swim 2.4 Miles/Bike 118 Miles/Run 26.2 Miles
All three events are completed straight after each other and are only separated by a transition stage where you change kit, collect bikes and refuel.
For most Triathletes the pleasure is in completing the course, however in many events there are prizes for the professionals and amateur age groups, giving everyone an opportunity to win something. The thing I like most about Triathlon is the friendship and support you get from the watching crowds and in particular other competitors. Despite their pain or standing in the race, almost all Triathletes will encourage and cheer you on and offer friendly advice.
How did you get into Triathlon?
I decided to start competing in Triathlons after watching a friend compete in a local event. Triathlon was always something I had wanted to do but never really got round to doing. After giving up playing Rugby and Football three years ago due to injury problems I missed the physical competition. I also found myself putting on a few pounds, so that was an extra incentive to get fit again.
Although I have always been relatively fit I had never competed in individual swimming, cycling and running events, and so with a little preparation and advice from magazines and web forums I competed in my first event in Cheltenham last year. The event was a sprint distance 500M Swim/20K Bike/5K Run, and I loved every minute of it. I finished a respectable 35 th out of 216 and hit my own goal of under an hour finishing in 53.45.
I am now completely hooked on the sport, and spend a lot of my spare time training, entering or preparing for races. I have recently joined the Cheltenham Tri Club which has been a great source of help in training with like minded athletes.
What equipment is required?
This really depends on the level that you personally wish to achieve and the distance that you want to compete over. In my first sprint event, I wore shorts during the swim, put on a t-shirt, a borrowed bike helmet and used an old mountain bike during the bike stage, and then an old pair of trainers for the run stage. To start with I would advise anyone new to Tri to just use what they have, and find out if they like the sport before investing in any new equipment.
Triathlon can be expensive if you decide to compete seriously over longer distances. A good new Triathlon Bike starts in the region of £1500, and a wetsuit (required for open water swims), can cost anything between £150 - £300.
How much training is required?
Again this depends on how seriously you take the sport. I completed my first triathlon with just a base level of fitness. However I did make sure I could complete each individual event distance before entering.
Most of the hard training is completed in the winter months, with an equal amount of time and effort spent on each discipline. Like many new Traiathletes swimming was my weakest discipline. Although the shortest distance in a Traithlon swimming is the most technical so I spent some money on technique lessons and more time initially in the water.
I currently train 9 hours per week, consisting of a 2 hour Bike Ride, 3 X 1 hour swims, 2 X 1 hour runs, and 2 X 1 hour Indoor Bike Rides and 45 minutes of core stability work. Although this schedule will have to double leading up to the Ironman.
However not everyone wants to compete over long distances or against the clock. I would say that anyone with a good base level of fitness, and some familiarity of the course could successfully complete their first Triathlon.
How is the sponsorship going?
Very well, so far I have raised just short of £700.00. I would obviously like to raise as much as possible so I will be pestering fellow Traithletes and Club Members over the next few months. I recently had an article in the local press published which resulted in a pledge from my local MP! Every bit counts.
I would also like to thank the directors at PSU for their generous support to my campaign. They have kindly purchased a Wetsuit, Tri Suit and paid for my entry into the Ironman event at considerable expense.
I’m just hoping they don’t expect me to win the event!
