My name is Derek Stewart and in 2008 I entered my first triathlon to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Centres and it give me a reason to get fit and learn to swim properly. In 2010 I completed my first Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile marathon) and proved to myself what was possible with a focused approach. Since then I have completed another 2 Ironman, numerous ultras, two staged races; the Marathon des Sables (5.5 marathons in 6 days across the Sahara Desert carrying your own equipment and food); Grand 2 Grand 6 marathons in 7 days (again carrying your own gear) and in September 2019, the Tahoe 200. A 205 mile non-stop race, with 40,200 ft of climbing and ascending, which I completed in 85 hours and 16 minutes including 7 hours sleep. It's been a journey of discovery and 2020 is shaping up for more adventures with 3 races in the calendar.
Lanzarote Ironman was dedicated to my friend Neil who lost his 3rd battle against cancer on 9 December 2011. On returning from his 2nd bout of cancer he rose to the challenge of taking part in a triathlon which he succeeded in doing despite, as it turns out, his cancer having returned. Neil's story is inspirational -you'll be missed my friend.