Becoming Ironman

After completing the London Marathon in 2022, Jamie decided that in 2023, aged 37 it was the right time to sign up and do a half-ironman (a long-distance triathlon race, consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run).

“I hope that by doing the half ironman, I can show others that for some, cystic fibrosis can be about ability, not disability. We all have our challenges in life and in goals we wish to reach. But it’s not the size of the challenge; it’s the drive to achieve it. CF is my fuel to build the fire that pushes me on to defy the odds,” says Jamie.

Jamie’s ironman training is going well so far, and he has kept a positive attitude through it all, despite some setbacks.

He has had a few injuries on the way, alongside two chest infections and a few lung bleeds, which have made training difficult.

The biggest challenge for Jamie regarding training has been finding the energy to fit everything in.

In terms of balancing his CF treatments and training, he has said that he wrote a plan early on to try and help him manage everything he needed to get done each day.

“I do have struggles some days, but I try not to panic as you can’t get back a lost day. I’m not the fastest or strongest in any way, shape or form, but when I’m out exercising, it helps me forget the challenges I’m facing with CF and allows me to feel free and enjoy the moment,” Jamie explains.

Jamie has found that exercising makes him feel like a normal person, and in the future, he plans to take on the London Marathon again, as well as the London to Paris bike ride.

Jamie says that a challenge has to feel impossible for it to excite him, giving him the focus he needs to keep fighting for his health.

Thank you to Jamie and everyone who joins Team CF, we appreciate all you do to raise awareness and funds for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

If you're already taking part in an event on behalf of the Trust, or want to organise your own, get in touch with us at [email protected] or find out more about Team CF here.

This article was originally published in the March 2023 edition of CF Life. You can read the magazine in full here.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition which causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. It affects more than 10,800 people in the UK. One in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.

Since 1964, we've supported people with cystic fibrosis to live longer, healthier lives - and we won’t stop until everyone can live without limits imposed by CF.

Fundraising carried out by our community helps us fund vital research and support those living with CF. Find out more about what you can do to help everyone with CF live a life unlimited.

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