Ironman Brian aims for the double

INSURANCE executive Brian New is aiming to become Britain’s first Double Ironman – and raise money for charity at the same time.
The 45-year-old project manager with CIS in Manchester will compete in a gruelling 280-mile ultra triathlon starting in Birmingham on August 2-3.
Contestants will have to complete a 4.8 mile swim, a 224 mile bike race and a 52-mile run within the space of 40 hours in the country’s first-ever Double Ironman event.
Brian, (pictured) from Great Sankey, Warrington, will be one of 48 contestants in what literally involves covering twice the distance of an Ironman event.
He said: “I consider myself very fortunate to be invited to take part as 20 years ago I suffered a serious knee injury and was told I would never run more than a few miles again.
“Once I was told that it became a matter of proving them wrong.”
Father-of-two Brian is the British Triathlon Association Coach and also coaches members of EnduranceUK, a Warrington based endurance club.
His training regime to prepare him for his bid to become the first Double Ironman includes regular seven hour bike rides followed by three hour runs – often starting a midnight.
But in fact his body is no stranger to the tests the contest will pose.
It will be his 11th major race, coming hard on the heels of the Lanzarote Ironman triathlon, which is regarded as the world’s toughest Ironman event, which he completed in 13 hours in May.
He said: “I found it tough going because of the heat and humidity and the hills and winds which made the bike stage much harder than normal.
“The Double Ironman will be a enormous challenge.”
Two years ago, Brian completed the 145-mile Grand Union Canal Race which is Britain’s longest non-stop running race.
In the Double Ironman he will be raising money for Bowel Cancer UK because a cycling friend was diagnosed with the disease at 49. He can be sponsored by visiting www.justgiving.com/Lifeandsavings