I am a proud Scot, born in Elgin, Morayshire in 1955. At private school in England I was non-academic, but a good cross-country steeplechaser, long-distance athlete anything over 1500m, and rugby football and squash player. I was best in the school for my final two years winning the school steeplechase. I could ride a bike and swim. I left school in 1974 and immediately went straight to work unconventionally as all my peers went to a University.

Irrelevant fact, between 1974 – 2015 I never weighed more than 10st ie 140lbs or 65kg.

I then worked more than full time in the Thomas Cook Group (travel agency and foreign exchange money provider) with overseas stints living in Bahrain 2 years till 1980, and Hong Kong 10 years until 1993. I did very little sport apart from some social golf and a couple of half-trained for Marathons in Hong Kong 1983 and Seoul 1986. I left Thomas Cook in 2000 and became a troubleshooting self-employed Programme Director, working in the private equity and venture capital sectors for 20 years, finally retiring in late 2019. My eldest son was born in Bahrain and my younger Hong Kong.

My sons’ mother died in 2005 of cancer. My younger son Andrew who was working for Britvic on the Gatorade brand decided to raise money for cancer charities by running 2006 > morphing into triathlon 2008 > morphing into Ironman 2010 >. I had always watched both sons playing hockey and rugby at school and traveled the country supporting Andrew’s endeavors. After a few FD Ironman’s my new wife and I traveled to Mallorca (Spain) to support Andrew in the grueling 2014 Ironman Mallorca, following him around the island by car where we could and greeting him at the finish line. He PB’d it despite the searing heat.

After returning from this event I wondered if I could perhaps ride a bike and also fundraise alongside Andrew? I was so very proud of his achievements and for such an admirable cause, that when I returned to UK I bought a cheap starter bike with a view to complete a 85 mile bike ride in April 2016 for Sue Ryder hospice as my (new) wife had cancer from 2011 and her sister died of cancer in 2016. I had done a few 10k’s with him too from 2015 onwards and completed the sprint distance London Triathlon in August 2015. The challenge of the triathlon was immense and it shows in this finishing photo.

So why?

It was a combination of raising money, giving something back, being with my son and, having seen so much death, getting myself much fitter and healthier in mid-life for my family. Finally the planning, preparation and training for events.

What do you enjoy most about the sport?

The challenge (at my age), the focussed training and the success/achievement.  Prior to starting, my son made a few conditions – having a full medical check up, getting myself a coach and listening to my body.  I find the combination of the three sports very challenging as I am not an expert in any of them.  They keep me focussed, keep the 6 day a week training different and make me look and feel good (for my age).  Finally, I enjoy the discipline of preparing for an event, knowing I have prepared for it with military precision and have Plans B and C tucked up my sleeve

What if/any challenges did you come across getting started at an older age?

The challenges were both hugely mental and hugely physical.

The physical challenge was most resolved with the help of my Tri coach Phil Murphy of Total Tri Training.  He quickly found out that my discipline (from my program management background) and determination (inherited from my late parents) and the personal support from my wife and sons made for an excellent canvas on which to paint!!  The commitment of time to training was a big ask of my wife, but she could see I was relishing it – even though it took over our holidays in Laguna Beach and Palm Desert where I even hired a bike!!

Mentally it was the fear of failure, listening and learning and self-belief.  My only grandson also now supports me (along with my wife) and this spurs me along.  The mental challenge has been far greater than the physical one.  I have had to trust my body, my coach, and my son – who does every single step with me throughout every event I have undertaken.  Thank you son for giving up all your races so you can finish with me.

4. What benefits have you noticed?

Until Lockdown and event cancellation I was in great shape both mentally and physically.  Since Lockdown I have added some timber, which I will need to shift before any of my forthcoming events I enter/have entered which are postponed.  I feel I am stronger mentally than ever, possibly even moreso than in my glory days as a directorial wage slave. I feel I can achieve what I want to achieve these days.

5. What are your short term/long term goals and what drives you to train?

In the short term I have the Tour of Cambs 100 mile Gran Fondo, the London Triathlon and Enervit Peterborough Marathon booked and paid for.  I would like to do another overseas IM 70.3 with my son soon and my dream is to complete a FD Ironman somewhere – not Wales.  What drives me to train?  Fear of failure, the medal and the achievement plus all I need is an event to train for.  I find it nearly impossible to train without a specific event in my calendar.  The event enables me to project manage my training to perfection.

Any other random thoughts?

It is an expensive hobby for someone in retirement, but I always want to have the best of everything from goggles to sunnies to bikes.  That’s why I have at least two of everything, except bikes of which I now own 4 and am looking at my fifth, a Cervélo P3X.   I have become a huge triathlon brand stalker and ambassador.