City gears up for first Ironman event

Leeds hosted the World Triathlon Championship Series in Roundhay Park from 2016 to 2022

Leeds is to host its first Ironman event on Sunday with organisers hailing the city's "passion" for triathlon racing.

About 2,500 athletes will take on the gruelling endurance challenge, starting in Roundhay Park and consisting of a 3.8km (2.4 mile) swim, 180km (112 mile) bike ride and a marathon.

The city has been associated with triathlons thanks to the achievements of the Brownlee brothers and The Brownlee Centre - the UK's first purpose-built triathlon training site.

But Leeds has not hosted an event since the 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series. Ironman race director Lewis Peacock said: "I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to race in Leeds."

"It's an iconic location," said Mr Peacock.

"Triathlon and Leeds, they go hand in hand. It's got such a rich history in the sport."

Mr Peacock said Ironman events were enjoying "an upward trend" in Britain and across the world, with the challenge "becoming more relatable and achievable for your everyday person".

However, he said: "It does take a lot of hard work, a lot of training, a lot of commitment and a lot of sacrifice to get to the stage where you can complete an endurance event of this nature."

Sunday's race is one of only two full Ironman events to be held in the UK this year, organisers say

A total of 2,430 people will take part in the event, including 352 women.

The youngest competitor will be 18, with the oldest aged 78. The average age of those taking part is just over 39, organisers said.

"There's a lot of variety in abilities of people taking part and we hope we are going to get all of them across the finish line," said Mr Peacock.

The event - the only full Ironman triathlon in England this year - will begin at 06:00 BST.

After athletes finish an open-water swim in Waterloo Lake, they will then complete a three-loop cycle route that runs through or near Shadwell, Thorner, Bardsey, Wike, Harewood, Eccup, Arthington, Adel and Alwoodley.

Athletes will then head back to the park for the marathon, which consists of four laps around the site and its surrounding streets.

Road closures

A number of road closures will be on place for the cycle event and marathon.

They include:

• Carr Lane between Shadwell and Thorner (closed 06:00 to 15:30)

• Bramham Road and part of Thorner Road, both to the east of Thorner (closed 06:00 to 15:30)

• The A61 Harrogate Road between the A659 at Harewood and Wike Lane (closed 07:00 to 16:30)

• The A61 Harrogate Road between Wike Lane and Wigton Approach, near the Grammar School at Leeds (closed 07:00 to 17:30)

• Alwoodley Lane between its junctions with King Lane and the A61 Harrogate Road (closed eastbound 07:30 to 17:30)

Road closures in Roundhay for much of Sunday include North Park Grove, Gledhow Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Old Park Road and the stretch of Street Lane between Devonshire Avenue and Princes Avenue.

Park Avenue will be closed near the Lakeside Cafe from 06:00 on Saturday until 17:00 on Monday.

Athletes are expected to start crossing the finishing line – located near the park's cricket pavilion – from around 14:00.

'Special' event

Athletes from as far as the US and the United Arab Emirates will be among those on the start line, with more than half of them taking part in their first Ironman.

Sunday's race will be much closer to home for 21-year-old Sam Hollis, from Moortown.

"It's quite a special thing to be able to do it on your doorstep," said the teaching assistant.

"When we were kids all we did was go around Roundhay Park. Everywhere we are racing is somewhere relevant to me."

Mr Hollis, who has been training since November, said he was inspired to take up triathlon after watching the Brownlee brothers win two medals at the London 2012 Olympics.

He is also using the biggest physical challenge of his life to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of his grandmother Barbara, who died with the illness in 2003 aged 69.

Fittingly, her birthday falls on Sunday.

"It's nice to do something in her memory," said Mr Hollis, who cycled to Birmingham and back to visit his girlfriend on several occasions as part of his training.

"I'm looking forward to it and excited to get it done now."

Sam Hollis is fundraising for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of his grandmother

Euan Holwill will also be on the start line, although the 24-year-old medical student from Cookridge admitted he wasn't looking forward to the first challenge of the day - a 03:00 alarm.

"I have been going 100 times a day between being really excited and existential dread," he said of the race.

"The sensible part of me is going: 'You have trained for seven or eight months and you are ready'.

"Then the other part of me is going: 'This is a stupid thing to do, it's going to hurt so much'.

"This is going to be the hardest event I have ever done. It's going to be a massive challenge."

Student Euan Holwill says he is feeling both excitement and dread ahead of the event

For 29-year-old wealth manager Ryan McCarthy, his biggest challenge has been fitting in training.

"You have to remember that it's a hobby at the end of the day," said Mr McCarthy, who wanted to complete his first full Ironman in the city he fell in love with as a student from 2014 to 2018.

The Londoner's busy schedule means training has sometimes consisted of late-night sessions on an exercise bike at home and 05:00 starts before work.

Still, taking on an Ironman in a city close to his heart was a "no-brainer".

Having given up drinking as part of his preparations, he said he was looking forward to enjoying a few beers after the event and devoting more time to his fiancé Hannah and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - and Mr McCarthy's occasional running companion - Maisie.

Ryan McCarthy has been squeezing training in around his busy work life

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