Sunday will see one of the most talked about races on the sporting circuit return to Tenby and Pembrokeshire - when nearly 2,400 athletes will once again ‘face the dragon’ for Ironman Wales.

Ths sold out event begins on Tenby’s North Beach at 6.55 am on Sunday with the gruelling 2.4 mile swim - providing one of the most spectacular swim locations on the triathlon circuit.

Once competitors are out of the water, the 112 mile bike course takes athletes through the scenic countryside of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, passing by numerous castles and iconic landmarks, before the marathon sees entrants take on 26.2 miles over a four loop run in and around Tenby.

Despite challenging bike and run courses, athletes are treated to consistent and motivating inspiration from some of the most vocal and enthusiastic spectators in endurance sports.

Here we hear from some of the entrants from across the UK taking part. Good luck all!

Keen swimmer Ian Marks (race number 1519) from Carmarthen had a pacemaker installed back in April fter being diagnosed with heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy, will be taking on his second Ironman.

“I was hospitalised for almost a month - 5 months later and I will be on the start line for the Ironman at Tenby!

“My goal is only to finish the race in 1 piece.

“Good luck to everyone else doing Ironman and thanks to all the supporters and people of Tenby and Pembrokeshire,” he added.

Will Birmingham from Hextable, Kent (race number 661) is hoping to become an Ironman before his next challenge of preparing to become an Irondad in February!

“I am bringing a support crew of 22 friends and family members and my amazing wife with bump,” he said.

They will be there to cheer everyone from the cliffs at the start, up heartbreak hill and across the finish line -with all the boys dressed in cheer leading costumes with pom poms.

“I have raised my target of £1,406 for Macmillan Cancer Support - no clues as to how I came up with my fundraising target!”

Luke Owen (race number 1482) who turned 40 this year is taking on his second Ironman, having completed Copenhagen with his wife last August in 12hrs 50mins.

Currently living in Honiton, Devon but a proud Welsh speaker from Barmouth North Wales, Luke is looking forward to coming home for the weekend!

“Appreciate any support out on the course come Sunday, where I will be cheered on by my wife Rae, son Osian and daughter Amelie, plus members of N1 Tri Club, ” he said.

Kelvyn Davies (race number 2291)?and his son Jamie Davies (645) both from Ferndale in the Rhondda hope to be celebrating crossing the Ironman finishing line as well as their landmark birthdays.

“I will be doing Ironman Wales for the fourth time this year - this is a brilliant event and the support is absolutely unbelievable,” said Kelvyn.

“It will be extra special for me as I will be lining up on the start line with my son, I am 50 this year and my son is 21.

“He has lost over 5 stone to be on the start line, and I can’t wait to stand on the beach Sunday morning alongside my son at the start of this very special event.”

Serving Police Officer in the Metropolitan Police Force in London - Iwan Lawrence who was born and brought up in Llanteg, and a former pupil at Tavernspite Primary School and Greenhill School, who went onto complete sixth form in Llandovery College, will be taking on his first Ironman.

His ‘proud and excited’ parents and family will be kepping an eye out for him comperting - Iwan’s race number is 728.

“Ironman Wales is going to be my first Ironman - I’ve been told this event is the hardest Ironman on the circuit and also been told it’s the best for atmosphere!” said Daniel Seymour who lives in Newport, South Wales and is traveling up early on Saturday morning to Tenby with his wife.

“I’m going to need all the help from the crowd to get me round - this is my biggest challenge to date, I’ve done a few triathlons but nothing to this scale!” added Daniel whose race number is 1409 and.

Matt and Becky Vermeer from Brighton will be on the start line for their first Ironman attempt after a ‘challenging journey’.

“I broke my collarbone racing a 70.3 at the end of May and then my wife was hit by a car when out training in June!” explained Matt.

“With three kids and normal work/life juggling it’s made preparation even more challenging. However, we’ve raced LCW before, love Tenby and the Pembrokeshire coast, and cannot wait to experience the day this weekend.

“Success will taste even sweeter given our setbacks!

“Our bib numbers are 1316 and 472 if anyone fancies cheering us on,” he added.

Simon Williams has traveled back to Wales from living in San Francisco to compete in Ironman Wales.

“I?was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer in June 2016, and got in to triathlons as part of my recovery in July 2017.

“After a few short distance events I completed my first Ironman in May 2018. I grew up in Abercynon and spent many a happy summer in Tenby so it was an obvious choice to add this to my bucket list,” said Simon, who gives a full account of his story at www.si405.com

Jacquie Fagan (race number 496) who lives in Swansea and is an Ambassador Project Co-ordinator for Breast Cancer UK is taking on the Ironman Wales challenge and then the iconic Snowdonia Marathon on October 27 for the charity.

“Tenby is renowned to be one of the toughest Ironman courses on the circuit and now that I’ve done the training, I would like nothing more than to raise a few pounds for the fantastic charity that I work for!”

“I’ve trained for 12 months and have had such an amazing journey. To say it’s been tough is an understatement! It’s tested me mentally and physically. It’s taught me so much about myself and given me confidence and belief that I can achieve anything I set out to“ achieve.

“Turning up to events, talks, swims, meeting new people, training sessions, battling the elements, finding the strength to run and run after 100 miles on a bike, week after week. To swim in deep choppy open water when I used to get sea sick in the shallow end of the pool.

“These are things I could never have done a year or two earlier. It’s amazing what you can really achieve and overcome when you want it bad enough.

“Please please dig deep and pop a few pounds on my JustGiving Page, it will make all that blood, sweat and tears even more worthwhile,” added Jacquie who can be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jacquie-fagan

Amanda Scott (race number 430) from Macclesfield but living in Aylesbury is doing Ironman with a twist!

“I have intestinal failure and am aiming to become the first artificially fed Ironman,” she explained.

“I’m raising money for St. Marks Hospital Foundation as they keep me alive. My super power is that I’m fed through the heart with total parenteral nutrition.

“I’m also raising money for PINNT the charity that supports artificial nutrition and ‘Kidneys For Life’ in memory of my mum Leonie Scott who passed away in 2015 from renal failure.

“I aim to smash the Ironman course and to create a new breed of athlete - that of the organ failure!”

Robin Campbell (pictured right) will be returning to Tenby to attempt Ironman Wales on Sunday in aid of Velindre and in memory of his brother-in-law Mike Evans himself a ten times Ironman.

“It will be my sixth time, with previous years’ including a practice Long Course Weekend where the road to Narbeth rearranged my skull (featured in your paper in 2016)!” he said.

“I would be very grateful if you could promote support of www.justgiving.com/teamevsy as there will be many of us to whom the event in Tenby is particularly special given Mike’s passion.

Tony Pickance of Burton on Trent (race number 2344) will be taking on the challenge after a rather significant operation!

“Well this time last year I’d just donated a kidney to my sister - I couldn’t make a cup of tea as I wasn’t allowed to lift a kettle!” he explained.

“I’ve done an Ironman before, but this is my first since the operation, and my first Ironman Wales.

“The heatwave this year made training really hard as I have to be particularly careful with hydration. But I’ll be there on the beach and looking forward to it...I think!”

Sian Mahoney from Port Talbot said that Sunday’s event will be her third in a row for Tenby.

I?also completed Bolton a few weeks back, I have to say though, it wasnt a patch on Wales, although I may be biased!!

I am doing it to raise funds and awareness for two local charities Ty Olwen and Ethan Perkins Trust.

“I will be wearing my club colours #CelticTri we have quite a few members entered too, also a coached member of #Teamtrininty

“My bib number is 360 - I? hope to hear some shout outs around the course and also hoping for better weather than last year!”