My names Andy, I’m 34 and
weigh over 20 stone I’ve probably drunk and smoked too much
(although I’ve now packed up the fags). I spend my days sat at a desk
in an office and am well on my way to a heart attack / diabetes / other serious
medical problems so it’s time for a change and this is the challenge……..
In July 2012 I will be taking
part in the UK Ironman which consists of a 2.4 mile open water swim, than a 112
mile bike ride followed by a 26.2 mile run all in under 17 hours!!
In order to
facilitate the training and to ensure we train correctly and loose the weight
correctly and safely a local trainer has agreed to take on a small group of
‘couch potatoes’ and train us all to a level where we can be race fit for next
July. He is giving up a vast amount of his time (and one of the potatoes is
getting on-on-one training sessions) and about £5k worth of training for this.
To follow my
progress I have a blog set up at http://bigandyscouchpotatotoironmanjourney.com/
So why Diabetes UK? Well I’m about to start a
family and want to be around for my wife and our children when we have them. My
wife is Type 1 diabetic and was not diagnosed till in her early twenties, the
last 10 years have been a constant struggle to get her bloods stable and under
control but we’re finally on the right path and are expecting our first child
early next year. Without the help of her diabetic care team at Dorset County
Hospital and Diabetes UK I don’t
think we could have got though it, they have provided us with a great deal of
support and I’d like to return the favour!!