Ironman Madness – Three Hares Take on the Ultimate Challenge
What do you get when you combine a 3.8km swim, 180km on a bike, a marathon, months of training and a questionable decision made many months earlier? Three very tired Hadleigh Hares — and three fantastic Ironman achievements! Tim and Steve headed to Vichy in central France, while Kev took on the notoriously tough Ironman Wales. All three faced the ultimate test of endurance, with swimming, cycling, running, hills, weather, tired legs and plenty of mental battles along the way. And, as one helpful spectator sign at the Vichy Ironman pointed out towards the end of the race: “Therapy was also an option.”
Tim & Steve’s Ironman Vichy Adventure - 23 August 2026
So, what exactly is an Ironman? It is a long-distance triathlon comprising a 3.8km (2.4-mile) open-water swim, a 180km (112-mile) cycle ride and, finally, a 42.2km (26.2-mile) marathon.
Shorter triathlons are also available!
After quite a few months of training, there we were in Vichy in central France, getting ready for the big event. We could see the marker buoys set out in the Lac d’Allier for the swim course, and from the shore it looked like a mighty long way from one end to the other!
There were nearly 1,000 people taking part. A handful did not start and around 90 started but did not finish, leaving 892 finishers. About 98% of the other competitors also appeared to be in age groups younger than ours!
Tim’s Race
What seemed like a good idea in December became very real at 7am when you are standing in your wetsuit ready to go! The swim went well for me and I finished in my expected time, despite some very scratchy reeds and a few competitors who couldn’t swim in a straight line.
Out on the bike and a good, flat route out of Vichy meant all was well — until we hit the hills! It was physically and mentally tough, but the French love a cycle race, so there were plenty of people cheering us on in villages along the route.
Over 100 miles of closed roads — I wondered how that would go down in Suffolk!
Thankfully, I was off the bike at last. The first run lap was all about getting mind and body sorted, but then the next three laps were ticked off. Cruelly, you have to run past the finish three times before you finally get over the line.
My fourth Ironman completed in 14 hours and 22 minutes, finishing 752nd out of 892.
Steve’s Race
This was my second Ironman, my first being in 2016, so I was feeling a bit rusty!
Swimming is my weakest of the three disciplines, so I started in the last — and slowest — wave. My aim was to stay relaxed and try to save my energy for the bike and run.
The last 800m of the swim seemed very long and I knew I was slowing down towards the end. The bike route had some very long climbs, with many miles of continuous uphill, some energy-sapping headwinds and also some — but not enough! — lovely downhill sections too. With over 2,000m of climbing done, I was glad to get off the bike. My legs were feeling pretty tired. The run is usually my strongest of the three, but with tired legs and muscle cramps I had to dig deep. I was very happy to finish!
14 hours and 15 minutes, finishing 738th out of 892 finishers.
A huge thank you to our support team of Jill Cox, Lisa Ryder and Paul Barton for cheering us on and helping us celebrate in the bar afterwards.
Kev’s Ironman Wales 2026
“Never in a million years did I ever see myself signing up for a full-distance Ironman..?”
The thought of running a marathon after 112 miles on the bike — which comes after the small task of starting with a 2.4-mile swim — has always felt like an impossible task for me, and one I could never see myself being physically and mentally fit enough to accomplish.
Completing an Ironman is something I’m very proud of, especially Ironman Wales, as it’s renowned for being one of the toughest courses around the world due to the sea swim and extremely hilly bike and run courses.
Just to make things even more challenging, I also had the weather to contend with. It didn’t stop raining all day, which made the bike ever so difficult. The descents were frightening, being so wet and slippery.
I’m relatively new to swimming and swam as well as I could hope for. Certainly wasn’t the quickest, but I got the job done and onto the bike next. On completing the bike in 7 hours 34 minutes, I was then onto the marathon — a distance and sport I’m most familiar with.
I’ve run a few long-distance races before, but never after a gruelling 112 miles on the bike around Pembrokeshire.
Despite the weather, the atmosphere and the crowds were amazing, and listening to the Welsh National Anthem on the beach before the start was quite something.
Kev completed the 3.8km swim in 1:57:39, the 180km bike in 7:34:44 and the 42.2km marathon in 4:21:36, giving him an impressive overall time of 14:23:36.
Will I do it again? I’m not so sure. But no doubt, after a few days to reflect on my achievement, I’m sure I could easily be persuaded…
Three Ironmen – Three Incredible Achievements
Between them, Tim, Steve and Kev have taken on some of the toughest endurance challenges around and shown an impressive combination of preparation, determination and sheer stubbornness!
From the hills of Vichy to the rain-soaked roads of Pembrokeshire, all three crossed the finish line having completed a full Ironman.
Huge congratulations to Tim, Steve and Kev — an incredible achievement by all three Hares.
And for anyone now thinking that a full Ironman sounds like a good idea…Just remember the wise words of that Vichy spectator:
“Therapy was also an option.”
