In the space of five years one Armagh man, Glenn Chapman, has gone from “doing no exercise” to completing his third Ironman – and just two weeks after a mammoth Long Course Weekend (LCW).
And, it appears that Glenn isn’t the only one who has caught the bug. With his wife and son, Clare and Edgar, now joining him, the Chapmans may be Armagh’s first ‘Iron-family’.
Glenn – who celebrated his 38th birthday the day after his last Ironman on October 7 – said it all started around five years ago when he committed to cycle the length of Ireland in memory of his late brother who passed away suddenly aged 15 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Before that, he admits, “I didn’t do any exercise at all!”
His cycle was a resounding success, raising enough money to purchase a defibrillator which was placed at Markethill High School, where his brother attended.
Speaking to Armagh I Glenn explained: “That sort of kicked the ball off. After that, I got into cycling and started running and then my friend asked me to do an Ironman with him.
“My first one was in Barcelona and then I did Cork a year ago but this is my first time with two sort of back to back.”
Left, Glenn with friend Jason Wilson and right, son Edgar after the Ironkids run
The two most recent challenges started in Belgium, with what is known as a Long Course Weekend (LCW), which follows the exact same distance and format as an Ironman challenge completed over three days instead of one.
Both the LCW and Ironman challenges include a 4k swim, 112 mile cycle followed by an on-foot marathon.
Said Glenn: “You start off in the morning, waking up about 5/5.30am to get breakfast well in advance of the swim, then at 7.30am you enter your bay and then leave around 8.30am.
“Then as soon as you are under the water it’s nonstop until you finish the marathon.”
The dad-of-one then went on to Barcelona’s Ironman, with good friend Jason Wilson, just two weeks later and completed his swim in one hour 36 minutes and his cycle in six hours.
But it wasn’t without it’s hiccups.
A foot injury made running the marathon next to impossible. Unwilling to be beaten – and with family and friends there in support – Glenn grit his teeth and completed the marathon at walking pace in six hours.
“I’m not disappointed at all,” said an unperturbed Glenn. “I’m over the moon really.”
There in support but also to participate was Clare – who completed the half marathon – and 10-year-old Edgar – who completed the LCW kids race and Ironman kids race in Barcelona receiving medals for both.
Of Edgar’s achievement, Glenn added: “He’s over the moon. He has his medals away into school assembly to show them off and give a talk.
“A lot of people attend these things to watch, it could be four or five people deep at the side. There were flame throwers at the finish line and a DJ playing music, it’s just an incredible experience.”
And, of his incredibly supportive wife – who has been equally sucked in by the hype – he commented: “She’s incredibly supportive and comes to training runs with me too.
“She gives me plenty of leeway to prioritise myself and a lot of people wouldn’t put up with the stuff you have to give up.”
Left, wife Clare and son Edgar and right, LCW finishers
The support behind Glenn extends even beyond his family.
A number of friends were responsible for bringing his bike over from Northern Ireland to Scotland and on from Scotland to Belgium and Belgium to Barcelona in a motorhome – staying to watch Glenn compete and cheering him on from the side.
Naturally, after each gruelling challenge, Glenn says “that’s the last!”
However, he adds: “I’ve got sucked in and don’t even know how.
“It came from the cycling and has become a sort of addiction to see how far I can push myself.
“I keep telling myself it’s going to be my last one and I still keep going.”
