Love Island contestant reality TV star Adam Collard will be in Bolton as he takes one of the toughest races in the world — Bolton Ironman.
Ironman UK arrives in Bolton this weekend for a three-day summer spectacle of sporting fun and action.
This year sees Adam take on the second of his three Ironman races this summer as he raises money for Marie Curie.
Super-fit Adam will be looking to add Bolton’s gruelling Ironman UK to the list after a successful outing at Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire in June, before he rounds out his challenge at Ironman 70.3 Swansea in two weeks’ time.
This year’s Ironman is also a special one for Donna Cooper from Astley Bridge, who works in the Bolton Mayor’s Office and is one of more than 100 Bolton athletes taking part.
Donna has already completed the Ironman no less than twice before, but this year she is making it a family affair by taking part alongside her son, Will, for the first time.
The mother-son duo are raising funds for The Christie in memory of Donna’s mum.
People can support them on their Just Giving page or head to the town centre to cheer them across the finish line.
Donna and Will are joining 1,800 other athletes from across the UK and around the world to take on the Ironman challenge.
As many as 5,000 local people of all ages and abilities will also be taking part in the weekend’s other events, Night Run and Ironkids.
Spectators will be on hand with the fabulous support that makes Bolton a favourite with competitors, including in Victoria Square where the red carpet leads to the finish line beneath the famous Ironman gantry.
Not least, the Sheep House Lane Wrestlers will be back giving full support to athletes while dressed in their usual wrestler attire. They will be out on Sunday’s Ironman route singing words of encouragement to all the athletes.
Helping to keep spectators in Bolton town centre happy will be a family fun zone with face painting, ice cream, football, a climbing wall and caving bus for children.
A festival zone will offer food, a bar and music.
Parking at NCP Deane Road car park is £2 all day on Saturday and Sunday (enter and leave on the same day).
The weekend gets underway with Night Run on the evening of Friday 30 June, when hundreds of athletes complete either a 5k or a 10k officially timed route through the town centre.
Ironkids sees 4,000 children and young people race their own route on the Saturday morning, which is always a real showstopper.
Then on Sunday (2 July), the athletes will line up at Pennington Flash for the fourteenth Ironman UK.
The 2.4 mile (3.8 km) swim course is followed by the 112 mile (180.2 km) bike course, which runs from Pennington Flash to Bolton before heading out into the countryside.
Then comes the 26.2 mile (42.2 km) run course that laps around Bolton town centre before climbing through Queen’s Park to Chorley New Road.
IRONMAN UK Race Director Dean Smith said: “IRONMAN UK race week is finally here and Bolton is ready to welcome all of the athletes. It’s not long now until they’re on the start line at Pennington Flash, and beginning their race journey to the finish line in central Bolton.” He continued: “Bolton will be out in force in support and we can't wait to see the athletes show Bolton what they can do.”
Councillor Nadeem Ayub, Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Culture, said: “Every year we look forward to welcoming the fun and excitement of Ironman weekend back to Bolton for what is a special date in our diary.
“I’m proud to say that thousands of Boltonians young and old will be taking part across the weekend. I’m particularly pleased that this year the council has its own team entering the Night Run event, and that some of those running will be completing their Couch to 5k training.
“It’s fantastic to see local people joining the action to get fitter and more active. Good luck to them all and enjoy the weekend.”
Donna Cooper said: “This year will be extra special for me because I’ll be competing with my son, Will. I know from experience that Ironman is a tough challenge and I’m so proud of all the training he’s done.
“I’m sure he will have a huge sense of achievement when he sees that famous finish line come into view.
“We’re raising funds for the Christie in memory of his grandmother and we’re grateful to anyone who can support us.”
To support Donna visit www.justgiving.com/page/donna-will-imuk
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