Ironman Dave Hall

Dave Hall, senior learning mentor at Byron Wood School, completed the Ironman triathlon in Switzerland in July. Dave tells his story...

On Sunday 25th July I completed the Ironman Triathlon in Switzerland. I swam 3800m, cycled 180km and ran 42km, all in 15hrs 34mins. It still has not really sunk in yet - I am not sure it ever will.

One of the catchphrases of Ironman is "Swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles, run 26.2 miles, brag the rest of your life." Ha ha ha ha! I am not keen on bragging. "Completing the Ironman has made me walk a little taller - it's good for the confidence. But it's hard training for and racing the Ironman, especially in the winter.

Friends and family have said it is a massive achievement. The children at school have asked me a lot about it. During the last school year, I did a few presentations around school promoting healthy lifestyle and what I do to keep fit. That was really good fun and I hope the children too will get a fitness/active lifestyle habit.

I want to try and get more children into sport and to stay in it. I and my colleague Nic Cassin want to run a cross-country club and hopefully we can sow the seeds for a lifelong attachment to sport/fitness, like what happened to me. Byron wood has a varied program of after-school activities. There is something pretty much every day of the week. It is a really exciting time at Byron wood and we have had a good Ofsted inspection.

I also get to spend more time with my girlfriend. Without her support and patience and listening to the fretting and worrying, I doubt I would have got through the year.