"An awesome race, one for your bucket list, slickly organised from start to finish!! Overall it was a great day out and it was fantastic to see so many new athletes taking up Triathlon"

Time: Olympic distance 2011 - 2:06

A former rower, Stuart has been the fastest British amateur athlete at the ironman World Championships in Hawaii on two occasions. In the 2011 season he was fastest amateur overall at UK Half Ironman and finished in 3^rd place at the Virgin Active London Triathlon Olympic distance race. During the week he is in Business Development for the Daily Telegraph.

"The best part of the race was seeing ordinary people (not the elite 5% body fat athletes) sweating, grimacing but ultimately smiling as they crossed the finish line"

Time: Fast!

A teacher, athlete and qualified coach, Declan was the top Irish finisher at the Ironman World Championships in 2010. He has qualified and raced in Hawaii on four occasions and brings that wealth of experience to his triathlon coaching. An interrupted season in 2011 due to injury means that he is raring to go in 2012.

"It is incredible to be a part of the world's largest triathlon and race alongside elites, celebrities and first-timers. I can't wait for this year"

Time: Sprint distance 2011 - 1:15, Olympic Plus distance – 3:35

A publisher at Haymarket, Jenny is an accomplished triathlete with an overall win at Norseman in 2008 at the top of her resumé. This race is accepted to be the toughest ironman distance race in the world and finishes with a 2000m climb up a mountain. Jenny has also raced in Hawaii at the World Championships on three occasions and is a qualified Level 2 triathlon coach. At the Virgin Active London Triathlon in 2011, Jenny doubled up by winning the Sprint distance race on the Saturday and the Olympic Plus race on the Sunday.

"I'm not sure how such a huge event managed to feel so friendly and run so smoothly. I had a great weekend and was also happy to shave nearly half an hour off my time from 2002 (my first triathlon)"

Time: Olympic distance 2011 – 2:06

Also from a rowing background, Tim has regularly finished as the top British amateur athlete at Ironman races around the world. A four time finisher at Ironman Hawaii, he also has the distinction of a sub 9 hour finish at the ironman distance achieved in Copenhagen in 2011. Tim finished 4th in the 2011 Virgin Active London Triathlon Olympic distance race, all while holding down a full time job as a commercial lawyer.

"I got a great buzz speeding down the embankment on my bike on traffic free roads - the magnificent Westminster landmarks certainly helped to take my mind off the burning sensation in my quads!"

Time: Olympic Plus distance 2011 – 3:04

Married with four children, Matt was voted the top British amateur triathlete of the year for 2011 as a result of some incredible performances culminating in the fastest time ever by an Irishman at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. Along the way, Matt also won the Olympic Plus event at the Virgin Active London Triathlon and the Dublin City Tri. An excellent swimmer, Matt is always very near the front of races after the first leg and doesn’t often get overtaken.

"Triathlon pushes you to dig deeper both mentally and physically than you ever thought possible. The sense of achievement and satisfaction knowing that you have given everything to reach your goal is unrivalled"

Time: Fast!

In his first serious year of triathlon in 2011, Sam had some exceptional results. Overall wins at several events, the leading British amateur at Ironman UK and a 9hr 12mins finish at the World Championships in Hawaii confirmed that he will be a real force in the sport going forward. An ex hockey player, Sam combines his training and racing with work as a business development executive.

"London triathlon is truly an amazing and unique event, it caters for people from every walk of life. This is an event for all and one triathlon we should all be proud of"

Time: Fast!

A former five time national champion and World and European team gold medallist, Richard has a long list of achievements as a professional athlete racing in the 90s. He then moved to the post of high performance coach to the British Triathlon elite squad and was coach to two athletes racing in the Athens Olympics in 2004. Currently living in France, Richard has returned to triathlon racing at an amateur level and has already had some excellent results.

"Each person has their own individual goals for the race but crossing that finish line unites every person with that amazing feeling of having achieved something"

Time: Fast!

In 2010, Alison was overall amateur champion at the 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater. Amateur champion and fifth overall at UK Half Ironman was another highlight in a year that included impressive second place finishes at three other half ironman distance races. A stress fracture of the foot meant that 2011 was a frustrating experience but Alison still managed to win the Scottish Middle Distance championship. 2012 kicked off in fine style for Alison with an overall amateur win at the Abu Dhabi long distance race in March.

"I started swimming for my local club Oldbury Swimming Club when I was just 4 years old. It was here where my dad - Ian - taught me how to swim my first width!"

Time: 1hr 56mins 48sec

From that day on it was clear that sport was for me, as I would love winning from an early age. I even loved swimming up an age group to be racing with and against the older girls.

My uncle Derek (who when I was younger I called Auntie Derek) first introduced me to the sport of triathlon when I was just 8 years old. It didn’t take long for him and my dad to realise I had potential. My training at that age was mainly on a Tuesday evening where I remember cycling around Langley Leisure Centre several times, then straight into the pool for 2 hours swim training, before finally running home with my dad. Quite an intense training day for an 8 year old! 

I was entered into the Milk Series, which was held at Appleby, near to the Lake District, when I was 9 years old and ended up winning my first triathlon. At this age I wasn’t too worried about whether my glasses were taped to my helmet or my equipment was in the correct place, all I wanted to do was make my dad proud (naturally the competitor in me came out even at 9 years old!) 

That was where and how this whole journey started …… under the guidance of my dad and Auntie, sorry I now mean Uncle Derek, my Triathlon seed had been planted.