Ironman feat tohelp African kids

Peter Jack is renowned for his feats in Ironman competitions, road races and triathlons, but what he is to take on next month, on his birthday, is surely enough to make the fittest in the country curl up under the duvet and go back to sleep for the day.

On Tuesday, February 9 at Limavady Leisure Centre the legal eagle will attempt Ireland’s first ever Indoor Ironman record.

The actuality of the task is immense when seen in writing for Mr Jack will attempt 152 lengths of a 25 metre pool, 180 kilometres on a gym bike and just shy of 43 kilometres on a running machine.

Beginning at 7am on February 9 and hopefully going strong until 10pm that night Peter Jack told the Sentinel: “I have already done eleven Ironman competitions and in celebration on my birthday I thought I’d get one ticked off early this year. And, let’s face it, it’s the only one I’m ever going to win because I am the only one in it,” he laughed.

Whilst the solicitor is facing the task with great humour, there is a serious message behind the massive feat ahead. The Limavady Branch of the Rotary Club have spent time and money aiding the building of schools in Malawi and the aim of the the sponsorship for this event is to help the Books for Africa fill those school’s with reading material. Whilst around 3,000 books have already been gathered for the event, the funds raised from Peter’s exploits will go to pay for their shipment and that of other badly needed materials as well.

Peter Jack said he is also hoping the legal fraternity in the North West will fully support his objectives and he also expressed his gratitude to the team at Limavady Leisure Centre for agreeing to accompany him on a relay basis throughout the day.

Training, as you would expect for a task of this magnitude, has been frenetic and Peter said that on Saturday past alone he swam 2 kilometres, spent 90 minutes on a gym bike and approaching five hours on a treadmill.

“I’ll have to pace myself properly, eat properly and take in more fluid than ever before, possibly around three times than normal.

“In fact I am offering a bottle of champagne for the person who guesses the correct amount of weight I’ll loose during the day,” said Peter.

According to statistics on the Rural Poverty Portal website the landlocked country of Malawi in south-east Africa ranks 160th of 182 countries on the Human Development index. With regard to education the website says: “Access to education, a major driver of wealth, is highly inequitable. Almost 30 per cent of children do not even start primary school.”

These stark figures will help Peter Jack focus on the task ahead-one which will require as much psychological dedication as physical fitness.

The last Ironman event Peter Jack competed in was in the 30 degree sunshine of Barcelona last year with the surrounding Mediterranean coast line as a very helpful distraction.

Peter said that looking at a black line at the bottom of a swimming pool will be a different matter. Using his Kindle to pass the time on the gym bike and an Ipod “with some good music on it” whilst on the treadmill he says will prove invaluable-but not as invaluable as human accompaniment. And, that is why he is urging anyone in a position to keep him company February 9 at the leisure centre to do so.

Asked if years spent in Limavady Courthouse in the course of his professional life provided a more than adequate psychological training, Mr Jack did not deny that!

Those wishing to donate books to the Books For Africa appeal can do so by bringing them to Peter Jack’s offices on 13 Main Street, Limavady or indeed bring them along to the leisure centre on February 9.