The newsletter for ground operations
September 2014
//////////////////////////// Mark, Set, Go! Mark Fleming is gearing up for an ironman competition – and needs your help for a good cause. Why do you want to do an Ironman? I want to do the iron man because I feel it’s the biggest challenge there is in sport. Everyone I talk to tells me it’s a very hard event to participate in, and the impression I get back is that you have to be this super-fit human being. I want to prove that you don’t have to be this crazy fit person but if you have the motivation and commitment, then yes, I and others can complete this event. What training are you doing to prepare? The training is five to six days a week. I am doing lots of cycling, running and swimming. I try to fit in 15 to 20 hours per week. I swim in the pool and the sea – the reason being that in the pool I do lengths to improve my endurance, but I need to swim in the sea to improve my strength as it’s rough most of the time. I run between 25 and 30km every third or fourth day. Finally, I try do 80 or 90km twice to three times a week on the bike.
What does Ironman entail? Basically it entails a 3.86km swim in the sea, a 180km cycle, and finally run a full marathon – 26.2 miles. Most ironman events expect competitors to complete the event in around 17 hours. What motivates you when you feel like giving up? I think of the less fortunate people who cannot do this, people who may be disabled or have an illness. That is what drives me on. I am lucky to be able to do an event like this, so I have no excuses to hit any kind of wall. What tip would you give someone who doesn’t exercise but wants to start? No matter how busy your life is, start off by fitting in two one-hour sessions a week. Start off running in your local park. Join a fitness class with your mates. Join the Bike To Work scheme and get out there. You’ll feel great. Doing exercise will become your new evening soap, Fair City will be a thing of the past!
What do your family, friends and employers think of you doing this? My family, friends and workmates think this is a great thing I am doing. Not only the event, but doing it for charity also. It creates a good atmosphere around the place and it’s a privilege to be a part of. Does it make it easier knowing that you will raise funds for St Francis Hospice and the Jack and Jill Foundation? Yes, it makes it a hell of a lot easier knowing I am doing this event for charity the St Francis Hospice and Jack and Jill Foundation. When training, I think of these two organisations and it spurs me on. And knowing the funds we raise will make such a difference to the lives of many people is an honour, but also a great sense of satisfaction. We all know the day-to-day hardship these people go through, so to get involved and help out is amazing.
Thank You!
Welcome to the first edition of our Ground Operations newsletter. The Engagement Team has done a fantastic job in bringing this together and I really hope you enjoy the content. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all most sincerely for what has been a tremendously difficult summer. Your contributions to keeping the show on the road have been nothing short of outstanding; we could not have gotten through the summer season without your commitment and dedication. Thank you,
Mike, Gabriel & Rob
Mark is competing in IRONMAN Barcelona on Sunday October 5th 2014 Please support Mark to raise much needed funds for our two chosen charities. Sponsorship cards are available from your Engagement Team
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