Whitstable athlete Glenn Burgess is preparing to tackle one of the most gruelling physical and mental challenges in the UK on Sunday – Ironman Wales in Tenby.

The 39-year-old from Chestfield has been preparing to join a field of 2,500 athletes for the long-distance triathlon, which features a 2.4mile swim in the chilly seas off the Pembrokeshire coast before a 112-mile bike across hilly Welsh terrain followed by a 26.2-mile marathon run.

Each stage of the race has a cut-off time and there is a strict 17-hour limit for completing the entire distance and Burgess said: “If you don’t meet the times you don’t get to carry on.

“Ironman Wales is considered by many to be one of the toughest Ironman races in the world due to the tough hilly route and unpredictable weather.

“The swim could be calm or could be in surf and rain, cold and gale force winds are all also possibilities.”

Burgess works for Active Life at Whitstable Sports Centre, the swimming pool gym and Herons in Herne Bay and coaches the Active Life Triathlon Club.

He said: “I expect it will be one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever done. I’ve only done this distance once before on an easy course in comparison.

“I hope to finish in about 14 hours or hopefully less. The competitor in me wants to beat my friend Mark, who is also taking part and another friend’s time of 15hours 2mins from last year.

“I wish I could have trained more but I’m confident that next week I’ll be able to call myself an Ironman.”

Burgess – who claimed he was considering an Ironman tattoo should he complete the event in Tenby – said: “The bike is normally my strongest leg but I’m feeling a little underprepared having not put in any really long rides – 60 miles is the furthest I’ve been in training.

"I don’t doubt I can cycle the distance, I’m just concerned it’ll be a bit slower than I’d ideally want and it will leave me exhausted before the marathon run.”

He added: “I’m lucky to have a pool at the gym I work in so get plenty of time to swim all year round and Whitstable is a great place to prepare for a sea swim as the current is strong so can really challenge you.

“This year my focus has been on my running as I’m undertaking a challenge to run 100 marathons in a year before I turn 40 in mid-December to raise money for the Pilgrims Hospice.”

To support Glenn’s efforts, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/100MarathonsBefore40-GlennBurgess