Taking on an Ironman is no small feat, but for our Sales Manager Liam Dunphy, one challenge simply wasn’t enough.
After completing his first Ironman in Leeds last year, he decided to take on the gruelling challenge for a second time, this time tackling the course in Tenby, Wales. With a sea swim, cycle ride and a full marathon to complete, it was another serious test of endurance, determination and stamina.
“I’ve always liked doing physical challenges and have done triathlons and marathons in the past,” says Liam. “The aim was always to do an Ironman. I thought I’d probably stop at the one last year but the itch to do another was too strong!”
To prepare himself, Liam trained for seven months, completing 11 training sessions every week. His schedule involved four weekly runs, three weekly cycle rides, two weekly swims and two gym sessions, as well as a long run and cycle every weekend.
The Ironman course itself starts with a 2.4-mile sea swim; Liam had trained in a lake but with its strong currents and waves, the sea presented a completely different challenge. He then moved onto the next section; a 112-mile cycle around Tenby, at an elevation of over 2000 meters, to a peak fittingly named ‘Heartbreak Hill’.
The last section of the Ironman challenge involves running a 26.2-mile marathon, including four laps out of Tenby and back.
“The weather that day was absolutely brutal,” says Liam. “It rained from the moment I left our hotel at 5am to the time I finished around midnight. That made it a tough day for my family spectating as well, since they got more than a little wet! But it was amazing to ride and run through crowds of people cheering us on, a really great feeling.”
Liam finished the race in an incredible 14 hours and 26 minutes, although he admits he found the Tenby course much harder than Leeds, which he had finished in 12 hours and 58 minutes. So the big question, of course, is will Liam be competing again next year?
“I might end up divorced, but I’ll definitely be doing another one!” he says.
And we will of course be there to cheer him on! Well done Liam, from the Signs Now family.
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