Who's the daddy

Rob Dunford

Optometrist Rob Dunford is perhaps the most experienced of the squad and, on the evidence of this photo alone, looks like he knows what he is doing.

The 45 year old, who works for G.C. Bateman Falmouth & Helston Cornwall, has already dusted off his bike and is raring to go.

Despite a strong background in the sport he says his last event was five years ago so getting back in the saddle ‘could be interesting,’ . He says the Optician challenge was the catalyst for his interest in getting involved in the sport again and we are happy to have him, and his experience, on the team.

The Optician Ironman Team is born

Emma Saville

After much toing and froing the Optician Ironman team has finally taken shape. In honour of this I have decided to introduce the team members one by one.

Naturally it's ladies first.

Emma Saville is a 31 year-old Mobile DO working for Batemans Opticians in Surrey and Sussex. Emma has been sporty for ten years now after a sedentary start to life. During that time she has become increasingly interested in triathlons and is extremely excited about the Ironman project.

She says she is well placed to succeed aided as she is by her husband a keen duathlete.

The Optician Ironman Team is born

Optician drug scandal

After my last jokey post about my foot things took a turn for the worse. By last Monday night I had visions of me being the subject of a modern-day remake of Reach for the Sky as my foot slowly succumbed to an infection.
Despite having a foot full of blisters ( mainly on the toes) the offending area was on the ball of my foot, but well and truly infected.

A trip to the doctor followed and a couple of days rest, well almost, working at home.

And the scandal?
Last year it was the Tour de France and we all know the problems Dwain Chambers has been having but £13.70 for a week's worth of penicillin ( Flucloxicillin and Phenoxymethylpenicillin, the doc wanted me to take both as he couldn't be sure what type of infection I had). What would Aneurin Bevan say!

I'm now counting down the days until I can get back out on the bike.

Footsore but smiling 1hr 56

Apologies to anyone surfing over the breakfast table but I had to share my pain. Blisters....argghhh.

Wokingham half marathon day turned out to be a glorious spring-like morning and, despite the crowds holding me up, I managed a time of just under two hours.
As ever it was my feet that limited my speed but to get a time under two hours for me was good. I finished the race happy if a little footsore.
Not that I get any sympathy around here. After breaking the news to my mum about the race she assumed I was 'at the back with the old people' while my production editor wanted to know while my time wasn't closer to one an a half hours.
One thing I do know now is don't put TCP on a broken blister.

Even better news. After starting the recruitment process for the optician Ironman team I have started to have . The call to action in the magazine has brought people forward so if you are thinking about giving it a go please let me know.

Keep on running

It's been a busy old week. Four bike commutes ( 6hours) three swims (2hrs) but just the one run!
My feet are complaining at the moment after I stupidly ramped up my running volume dramatically in a bid to get better. For a while I though I might have plantar fasciitis but now I'm not so sure.

This had made me realise three things, (at least)
Training plans are good, 'cos you stick to them
No one is immortal
And, as Mario used to say " listen to your body".

This weekend I'm signed up for the Wokingham Half marathon which seemed like a great idea (back in November when I booked it) to try and boost my run times ( my worst bit of the trioathlon). Now I'm not to sure.

I'll let you know how I get on next week.

Optician launches the search for its six brave souls

There can be few sporting events which have the impact on your life that competing in an Ironman event has. For at least four months you have to train, get flexible, get serious about your nutrition and bring harmony to your life. If you think competing in an Ironman event is about pounding the pavements and pedals the hardest and sprinting up and down the local pool --think again.
The key to success in Ironman is steadily built strength and slowly attained techniques which allow you to compete and complete the event in a relaxed and controlled manner. That takes dedication, hard work but above all mental strength.
The payback is not just completing the event and joining an elite club of supreme athletes. It is also about recognising just what you are capable of both in sport and in life.

If you think this is for you and you are an Optician reader drop me an email to put yourself forward for one of the six places we have on offer.