A Bournemouth sportsman has spoken of his excitement for the “challenge” ahead of Ironman Wales.
Joe Day, a student at Health Science University in Bournemouth, just signed up for his first full-length Ironman in Wales, having suffered a broken back in his last half Ironman race in Bolton.
Registration for the event in September 2026 is now open, with Wales potentially being the only full Ironman in the UK due to the Leeds registration being delayed.
An Ironman race is a triathlon event, it includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle, and a 26.2-mile run.
Day said, “I am excited for the challenge of Ironman Wales, to test how far my body can go.”
Lewis Eccleston, the winner of this year’s Ironman Wales, said: “It’s an iconic course, and to win it was just incredible.
“It’s hard to put feelings into words.”
Eccleston, 32, from Manchester, beat 1,655 other competitors to the finishing line with a time of 9:34:02.
A highlight for Eccleston, as well as many of the spectators, was the opening of the race.
He said: “They play the national anthem, and you look around and see all of the supporters.
“I had to take my goggles off as it made me so emotional.”
Joe Chipperfield, friend of Joe Day, said: “I can’t wait to see Joe in Wales as I’ve seen him train so hard while at university, and the atmosphere is meant to be insane as well.
“I’m very excited.”
Ironman Wales is hosted in Pembrokeshire and starts with a sea swim, and many of the competitors were expecting rough weather.
When reflecting on the swim, the race winner said: “Once you were in, you couldn’t see the buoys in front because of the waves!”
When Eccleston came round for his second lap of the swim he could see people being helped out of the water on rescue boards.
He said: “I thought to myself I just need to get through the swim.”
For Day, a Bournemouth-born and raised sportsman, his answer to why he is nervous of swimming in the sea at Wales: “Jellyfish!”
While Day will be hoping for strong finish at Ironman Wales, Eccleston is likely to attend, but still yet to decide.
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