Thales 'Ironman' faces up to Canadian challenge

A super-fit employee from Templecombe has qualified for a world championship Ironman event in Canada where he will be competing next month in support of the Alzheimer's Society.

Steve Green, a strategic purchasing manager, qualified for 2014 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon event by competing in a number of UK-based Ironman events during 2014 and achieving the required international standard race completion times.

The 51-year old will fly out to Canada where the event is being held at Mont-Tremblant in Quebec.

He says: “I’m looking forward to the challenge, though I am carrying a bit of a hamstring injury, so the training is a mixture of fitness work and treatment at the moment.”

This will be Steve’s third Ironman 70.3 world championship, having previously competed in similar events in Florida and Las Vegas.

He adds: “This is the first time the event is going to be held outside of the United States, so it should be interesting."

It’s going to be a 1.2 mile swim, followed by 56 miles on the bike and then a half marathon to finish – that’s where I may be hobbling a bit if the hamstring starts to play up.”

A dedicated charity fund-raiser, Steve has raised thousands of pounds for company-supported charities, as well as numerous local charities in the south west of England. He also took part in the Thales Grand Depart cycle challenge in July.

Steve is hoping to organise a Team Thales relay at the new Ironman UK 70.3 race in Staffordshire next year where teams of three will compete in the race and raise money for the 2015 Thales charity partner.

A website is available (https://www.justgiving.com/SteveMarcus/) for those wishing to support Steve on his latest Ironman challenge.