Four members of Monmouth Tri Club are training hard as they prepare to compete in Ironman Wales on 14th September. Tim Morris, Dave Bowen, Gareth Dodd and Jules Boon are taking on the long distance triathlon consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and then a full marathon, said to be one of the hardest Ironman races in the world. The bike route has more than 5,000ft of climbing on the twisting lanes of the windswept Angle Peninsula. Swimming sessions have taken the four men to Cardiff to use the 50-metre pool, building up distance – tumble turns are not required in open water swims. They have also upped their regular swim sessions at Monmouth Sports Club to 3,000km per session rather than the old 2,000km. Cycling has taken the form of interval training (on flattish roads where possible) and hill training, averaging 150 miles per week. Since training began in earnest, collectively the lads have covered approximately 280 miles swimming, 2,800 miles on the bike and 1,800 miles running. To maintain this level of fitness training takes 14 or 16 hours a week, which has to be fitted around work, luckily the early mornings help this to be achieved. There has also been shopping to think of. Getting the correct kit for this endurance test is really important; it all has to be durable and flexible and also 'worn in' but not 'worn out' for the event. The latest purchases were full body wetsuits which will be needed for the sea swim. These were tried out in the pool to make sure that rubbing and chafing didn't occur. The greatest difficulty with the new wetsuits proved to be the drive to the pool with them on, especially when the heating was turned up to 29ºc. Jools has had a few tendon issues in his legs so running has had to take a back seat and while he concentrates on swimming and cycling, prompting a 280-mile ride and a six-mile swim, three miles in the sea. His best purchase to date has been the prescription goggles "a must, otherwise I would swim either in circles or a longer zigzag route." Tim is enjoying the camaraderie, banter and the competitiveness that has inevitably crept in but it has also proved to spur everyone on allowing targets to be met. Dave said: "It has not been easy to maintain my training schedule as this is the first time I have entered any form of triathlon and psychologically I have found it hard, maybe starting with the toughest event wasn't the most sensible. "However, with the support for the other guys I feel that I will be fit enough to compete and raising money for a very worthwhile cause is driving me on." Dave is raising money for Ty Hafan who offer comfort, care and support to life-limited children, young people and their families in Wales, helping them make the most of the time they have left together. Tim is also raising money for his chosen charity Scope supporting disabled people and families in England and Wales. If you would like support the lads with these worthwhile causes by sponsoring them go to their 'just giving' pages – http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TimMorris">http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TimMorris or http://uk">http://uk. virginmoneygiving.com/GarethDodd If you too would like to attempt your own personal Tri challenge get in contact with Monmouth Tri Club or if you are interested in joining the club visit http://www.monmouth">www.monmouth triclub.co.uk, email monmouthtri [email protected]">[email protected] or visit their Facebook page.