IRONMAN UK

LOOKING FOR AN OFFICIAL BRITISH IRONMAN EVENT TO START YOUR LONG-COURSE CAREER? CONSIDER IRONMAN UK, WHICH IS FAR MORE MANAGEABLE THAN THE EPIC IRONMAN WALES…

The locality and calm lake swim make Ironman UK an ideal first-time choice,” says Janine Doggett, who finished 1,169th place out of 2,000 athletes in 2015 with a 14:34:27 finish time. “Pennington Flash offers swimming every Saturday morning so you can visit in the weeks leading up to the big day. And on race day getting to the starting line is straightforward.”

The two-lap swim, which offers the chance of a breather on land after the first lap, is another boon for iron beginners and weaker swimmers. But it’s the bike course that’ll truly challenge newbies and anyone whose bike leg is their weakest discipline. The two-lap 180km course goes through some beautiful Lancashire countryside, but the 1,641m of total ascent puts it at the higher end of official Ironman bike legs, with the 3km Sheep House Lane climb the star of the show.

“The run finds a 10km point-to-point route before you begin the lapped 8km course, which you have to complete four times to make it up to the full marathon,” adds Doggett. “It’s mostly flat but the laps are mentally challenging.”