Supehuman Sam set to sprint, spin and slog

0 - 0 • Published 29 May 2009 12:06 0 Comments

IMAGINE you"re on an oil rig 2.4 miles off of Aberdeen, you jump off the rig and swim to the shore, before jumping on your bike and cycling to Edinburgh, from Edinburgh you just run home to Peebles. Feeling tired yet!

Well if you are then spare a thought for Sam Anderson, from Edderston Ridge, who will attempt this herculean effort on July 12 in Germany.

Borders College lecturer Sam will be joined on the start line by over 2,500 other athletes hoping to complete the Challenge Roth Ironman event.

Last year Sam completed a similar event in Austria in 11 hours 10 minutes, this year he hopes to be nearer the 10 hours 30 minutes mark.

The 32-year old has been in training for the event all year, drawing startled glances from onlookers as he laid in the Tweed.

He said: 'After training most nights I would go and lay in the Tweed to cool down and prevent injury, I draw some funny looks alright.

'In truth training is the hard part because with competitors around you the adrenaline starts flowing and you push yourself on. It"s a hard slog on a winter"s night on your own."

Sam"s weekly training involves three or four swimming sessions of around 100 lengths, over 40 miles of running, a 50-mile cycle ride and relentless indoor training.

He said: 'Ironman is all about pushing yourself to the limit and constantly looking for that bigger challenge. I"m really looking forward to it now."

As well as making the physical effort Sam is also dedicating much of his time to raising cash for Cancer Research.

And has just launched his own webpage - www.justgiving.com/sam-anderson - to help with donations.

He added: 'The hardest part of doing an Ironman is getting to the start line but with all the donations for charity it makes that effort worthwhile.'

Many would think that after he crosses the finish line Sam will be putting his feet up in front of the telly with wife, Lisa but after 2 or 3 days rest, he"ll be back out lying in the Tweed as he gears up for the Half-Ironman Scottish Chamionships in Aberfeldy.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 29 May 09

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