LANZAROTE may sound like like the ideal place to spend a weekend lazing on the beach and enjoying a few drinks in the bars.

But for Daniel Banks, of Woodland Avenue, Bamber Bridge, it involved doing something just a little more strenuous.

In fact it meant a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and finally running a marathon to successfully complete the Ironman Lanzarote event.

It is known as one of the world's hardest ironman races as it includes a tough bike ride over the hills, and Daniel, a member of Tr-Preston club, described the feeling on finishing the race as "unforgettable."

He said: "Lanzarote brings you to the very limits of your capabilities.

"I aimed to finish in around 13 hours as my training had gone well.

"But the bike leg in Lanzarote is probably the toughest course of any triathlon race in the world. Cycling is my weakest discipline anyway and I lost a bit of time there.

"I ended up completing the race in 14hrs 7mins which was not as fast as I had hoped, but the feeling you get on the last 500m when the crowd are willing you on is unforgettable and will live with me forever."

The race started at 7am with the swim section in the sea at Puerto del Carmen.

Daniel came out of the water at 1hr 10 mins before getting on his bike for a gruelling 112 miles.

"After 80 miles the road rises up towards the mountains, which is where the legs begin to hurt. Once over the two major climbs it was back for the marathon finish along the sea front."

Tough as it was Daniel added that it was, "worth every ache, pain and blister" and admitted he will be returning to do it all again next year.

Daniel thanked to the members of Tri Preston and Bob Cummings for their support and training sessions.