Ironman Wales. Age 60. What could possibly go wrong?

This year I turn 60.
To celebrate this entirely sensible milestone, I’ve decided not to buy a sports car or take up golf (Heaven forbid) but instead take on Ironman Wales, which had a good crack and breaking me when I was 50 - see picture! It is widely regarded as one of the toughest Ironman courses on the planet and for those unfamiliar, this involves:
A 2.4-mile sea swim (often described as “lively”)
A brutal 112-mile bike ride with relentless hills
A full marathon at the end, just when your legs have stopped believing in you and, yes, the hills continue.
All of this will take place in Pembrokeshire, where the scenery is beautiful, the crowds are legendary… and the course shows absolutely no mercy.
Why am I doing this?
Partly because I’m stubborn.
Partly because I’ve always believed that if you’re lucky enough to be healthy, you should occasionally test that theory.
But mainly because I want to raise money for two charities that do extraordinary work every single day:
Martlets Hospice, who provide compassionate care and dignity to people at the most difficult time of their lives, and the International Children’s Palliative Care Network, of whom I’m proud to be a Global Ambassador, support children and families around the world facing unimaginable challenges.
Both charities work quietly, tirelessly and with immense humanity — and both rely on fundraising to keep going.
Ironman Wales will hurt. A lot.
But it will still be a privilege. What these charities and the people they support face every day puts a few hours of suffering in lycra firmly into perspective.
If you’re able to donate, thank you — genuinely.
If you can’t, a message of encouragement will still help when I’m halfway up a Welsh hill wondering how on earth this seemed like a good idea.
Either way, thank you for being part of this.
Now… please give generously — my knees would really appreciate it.