FOUR Launceston-based triathletes tackled the Ironman 70.3 UK event on Sunday, June 28.

Paul Howard, Dan Kinver, Mark Knight and Matt Luxton have been training for the event together since the turn of the year. For Dan and Paul, it was their first ever Ironman 70.3 event.

Regarded as one of the toughest in the world by former ironman world champions and the toughest on the European circuit, the Exmoor-based course offers a very unique challenge.

The elements did not favour a quick bike time due to the rain setting in 15 minutes before the start of the race, but it did keep the temperature down for the run.

The event started with the national anthem and a loud horn at 7am. The swim was a 1900m (1.2 mile) open water lake swim, which was a mass start of 800 people in their wave, and a further 900 in the second wave, which started 15 minutes later.

Once that was completed, a beautiful but brutal bike course of 56 miles was the next challenge. It's a course that the four had practiced a couple of times as a group in the lead up to the race and has over 5,600 feet of climbing.

Matt explained: "As you can imagine, Exmoor hills are pretty but uncompromising and frankly most cars struggle up the hills. Once that was completed in times ranging from 3 hours to 3 hours 25 between the four of us, it was then on to the run."

The run, which traces the edge of Wimbleball Lake for part of its three loops is a mixture of grass banks, concrete and gravel paths spans a half marathon distance (13.1 miles). Again a serious challenge even by itself due to the steep hills within the course, with 1300ft of climbing in total.

"As you begin to get close to the end, your mind starts to tell you all sorts of things, your body goes through varying stages of cramping and the finish line can't come quick enough. You would think that crossing the line would bring feelings that would stop you from wanting to do that ever again, however, it seems to be quite the opposite," added Matt.

The next challenge is already booked and Ironman 70.3 UK will likely see all four try again next year, all aiming to better their times.

To read the full race reviews from Dan and Paul as they go through how they got started, visit http://www.mattluxtonhealthandfitness.com">www.mattluxtonhealthandfitness.com.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.