Circle IT ironmen ready for race day

CEO Roger Harry says he has been training nine times a week for gruelling 140-mile course

Three executives from VAR Circle IT - including CEO Roger Harry - will compete in an IRONMAN this Sunday, all in the name of charity.

Talking to CRN, Harry revealed he is aiming to complete the gruelling course in 13 hours.

Taking place in Pembrokeshire, IRONMAN Wales comprises a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.

Harry (pictured, left) will line up on the course with Circle IT head of sales and marketing Martyn John (middle) and Gavin Forrest, who is principal infrastructure architect at the Cardiff-based managed services specialist.

The idea to enter the event grew out of Circle IT's participation in other challenges, including the Dell Management Challenge. The trio are raising money Princes Gate Trust, for which Circle raised £36,000 back in May at the Circle IT Charity Ball. That money was used to fund a new outdoor gym at Ty Gwyn School in Cardiff.

"Obviously there is a good charity element to it, but I think the personal challenge and team effort is also paramount. We want to put ourselves to the test," he said.

Harry - who founded £11m-revenue Circle IT in 2002 - has completed shorter Olympic and half-distance Ironmen courses as part of his training, but has never run a marathon.

"The hardest part is stopping drinking, because of the social side of the business and getting out an about with customers. I haven't stopped drinking, which could be to my detriment - but I'm having a week off this week before Sunday," he said.

"The weight loss has been phenomenal. I've always been a gym goer, but not an endurance athlete person. So doing six-hour bike rides and an hour in the pool and two- or three- hour runs has changed things quite considerably. You skin the weight off and the water retention quite quickly - for the last month I have been training nine times a week.

"I want to finish it and finish it well. I'm a believer in setting goals and if I can do it in 13 hours I'd be absolutely over the moon."

With their fundraising for the IRONMAN Wales challenge, a link to which can be found here, Harry and his team hope to reach £40,000.