At 6.30am on Sunday the 22nd June FM Environmental’s Kevin Fitzpatrick dived into the warm Mediterranean Sea that cradles the picturesque town of Nice in the south of France. Just over thirteen hours later, having swam, biked and run through the stunning Cote d’Azur, Kevin crossed the finish line of one of the toughest one-day endurance tests in sport– the Ironman triathlon.
The ultimate challenge for the triathlete, the Ironman-distance triathlon comprises a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26 mile marathon to finish. It is as much a test of mental resilience as physical fitness with athletes dedicating up to 12 months of the year training for the event.
“I turned 40 last November and decided I had to mark the sombre occasion with something memorable. I wanted a challenge and the Ironman just seemed insane enough to fit the bill.” commented Kevin.
Almost 2500 other enthusiasts entered the race in France which has become one of the biggest events on the Ironman calendar, however the challenging bike course and intense heat did take its toll.
“Around 1900 athletes finished the race as heat exhaustion got to many during the marathon. The scenery around Nice is spectacular but after 13 hours on the go all you want to see is a cold beer!” remarked Kevin.
Kevin would like to thank his sponsors FM Environmental and Grundfos Pumps in supporting his trip. He hopes to return to Nice again next year but this time he intends watching the event from the beach rather than enduring it on a bike!