Ironman Wales in preview!

Team Whittlefit will be at Ironman Wales on Sunday 14th September. What can we expect? Here's a race, course and event preview of Ironman Wales 2014.

Ironman Wales, in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, has been called one of the toughest and least-forgiving Ironman races in the World. Is that true? Well, we'll find out, because WhittleFit athletes will be there to compete on Sunday 14th September. Wish us luck - or come and support!

Ironman Wales: the background. Pembrokeshire is a lovely place to visit, with more castles than any other county in the UK, and a gorgeous coastline (officially protected by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks authority). So why not pay it a visit over the weekend of Ironman Wales and come to cheer us on!

Ironman Wales is an extra draw for some top-class triathletes because it has 50 qualifying spots up for grabs leading to the Ironman World Championships in Kona to be precise. Local athlete Olly Simon looks set to do well (and is sure to have plenty of that famous Tenby support). Will any of Team WhittleFit be on the plane to Hawaii?

The race has quickly gained a reputation with a challenging bike and run courses, but also for the enthusiasm of the local residents in hosting the event. The crowds have turned out huge numbers for the start of the race, on Tenby’s North Beach being one of the most iconic settings for an IRONMAN swim anywhere in the world.

The race was first held in 2011. That year, the sea was extra-rough thanks to the tail-end of a hurricane passing through, and the run course included a steep path at the castle ruins on the outskirts of Tenby.

What's the course like? Ironman Wales, like all the long distance races in the WTC Ironman series, consists of a 2.4-mile (3.8km) swim, a 112-mile (180km) bike and then a 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run (yes, that's a marathon!) At Ironman Wales, the swim is in the sea, the bike is in/up/down the challenging hilly countryside of Pembrokeshire, and the run isn't exactly a walk in the park, either. The run course has changed twice since that first year, but it never gets easier! Add in the famously unpredictable weather and temperatures of Wales in September and you can see why Ironman Wales is considered a real challenge.

Biggest challenges at Ironman Wales: Hmmmm, let's see, could it be the challenging 2.4 mile swim in the cold, often rough, waters off the Pembrokeshire coast? Or the dash up the beach and long run to T1? Or maybe your pick of the many hills (some might call them mini-mountains) of the Ironman Wales bike course? Or perhaps the wee jog (sorry - marathon distance run) on undulating roads in and around Tenby?

Whatever the challenges presented by Ironman Wales you can be sure of a fantastic local reception and incredible support. The beach start is packed (even at such an early start time) with enthusiastic locals and that support continues throughout the day and around the course.

And isn't that what makes this sport of ours so amazing?

To everyone racing Ironman Wales next week, very best of luck (and may there be a permanent tail-wind!)