IRONMAN Paul Guinan is ready to take on the world after a gruelling trial of strength and stamina.

The fireman from Blackburn competed in the British Ironman Championships for the first time.

And the experience of swimming 2.4 miles across open water in a wet suit, cycling 112 miles and then running a marathon has failed to put him off the demanding sport.

Superfit Paul, a 28-year-old former Royal Marine, had set himself a target of 12 hours to complete the event at Wolverhampton but did it in just over ten.

The fitness fanatic is still waiting to hear how well he did in the race but reckons he came about 60th in a field of 300.

Paul, who lives in Bentham Close, Mill Hill, with his wife Catherine, trained every night for six months in the run-up to the event. He also guzzled his way through mounds of pasta and high energy drinks to help build up his muscles.

He now plans to travel to Germany in the hope of qualifying for the world championships held each year in Hawaii.

The Chorley based firefighter said: "I was really pleased to do it in 10 hours but wasn't really prepared for how tough the event actually was.

"Next time round I will be cycling and swimming further during my training sessions.

"The Ironman challenge is something I have always wanted to do. I have been doing triathlons for seven or eight years and have built up to this.

"It was really hard work but it was all worth it in the end. It gave me a great sense of achievement to compete in the event."

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