Ironman World Championships Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Plymouth College maths teacher, Andy Norris, took part in the World Ironman Triathlon Championships in Hawaii last month.

This event is the pinnacle of triathlon and endurance sport, consisting of a 2.4 mile sea swim, a 112 mile cycle and a marathon run. Andy gained his qualifying time at the UK Ironman event in July, qualifying in the 40-45 age category. In Hawaii, amateur age group athletes race alongside pro-athletes in what is considered the toughest Ironman, due to temperatures well into the 30s, high humidity and strong trade winds.

There were 1500 people in the mass swim start, with Andy managing a time of 1 hour 14 minutes. The conditions on the bike and run this year turned out to be the toughest in recent times with cyclists being blown sideways. Andy kept a steady pace of 19.5mph and finished the bike in 5 hours 50 minutes. The run sees many experienced athletes struggle as conditions are so much tougher through the black lava fields of Hawaii's big island, but Andy managed to pace his run perfectly and even put in a personal best Ironman marathon split time of 3 hours 12 minutes.

With a total finish time of 10 hours 23 minutes, it was the culmination of 12 years of striving to reach this iconic race and finish well up in his age group on the world stage.