Air Engineer Prepares for Ironman UK
Royal Navy aircraft Engineer, Collin Horton, who is completing promotional training at HMS Sultan in Portsmouth, has recently completed a full marathon (26.2 miles), a middle distance or “half iron” distance triathlon (1.9k swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run) and two Olympic or Standard distance triathlons (1.5k swim, 25 mile bike and 6 mile run). All this is just part of his grueling training schedule for the world famous Ironman UK which takes place at Bolton in Lancashire on the 22nd July.
Colin has been training for this event for months and can't wait to pound and cycle the streets of Bolton where he will be supported by both friends and family.
‘The triathlon consists of a 2.4 mile open water swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a full marathon (26.2 miles), a total 140.6 miles all to be completed back to back,’ he explained, ‘The cut off time to finish the full event is 17 hours so you can see the race will be extremely challenging and is by far the hardest sporting event I have attempted. I intend raising money and raising awareness of two charities, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Cancer Research UK.’
His wife Gillian added, ‘Whilst Collin has been putting in the miles, his training has definitely been a joint venture as we’ve travelled the breadth of the UK looking for suitable lakes and roads to train on. Some early mornings I can handle, but the cold lakes I’ll leave to him! Collin puts 100% into everything, this included, and I’m very proud of him.’
Colin has completed five operational tours in Iraq and more recently 4 in Afghanistan with 846 Naval Air Squadron, so he is no stranger to the stress that is endured in these extremely challenging Theatres of operations. However this can be incomparable to the suffering of those undergoing the anguish and pain that is cancer he explained, ‘They say cancer effects 1 in 3 of us.’ adding, ‘I have some good friends who are walking the devastating and emotional path that is carved by cancer. Wouldn’t it be great if during our lifetime we found the cure for this awful disease. Some of the money we raise will hopefully go in some small part to finding a cure.’
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