Oli (left) and training buddy Tom relax after completing the swim, bike, run.

Kindergarten parent, and Chair of our Trustees, Oli Foot, took part in a Half Iron Man Triathlon to raise funds for the Centre's new Bursary Fund yesterday. The Half Iron Man Triathlon is infamous for its gruelling length and race conditions, with three endurance events taking place one after the other on the same day.

Oli (32) is a development scientist, living in Penarth with his partner Mia and their two daughters who have both attended the Kindergarten. He competed in the Beaulieu Middle Distance Triathlon at Buckler’s Hard in Hampshire, swimming 1.18 miles in the tidal Beaulieu River, followed by a 54 mile cycle ride and 13 mile half marathon run, in a total of 5 hours 43 minutes.

Oli got involved by accident through a friend looking for a training buddy. "I told him I didn't have a suitable bike and thought that was that" explains Oli "two weeks later he emailed me saying I could borrow his Dad's bike."

The worst thing about training says
Oli is "winter running after work to Cardiff

station in the cold and wet with bad trainers, getting blisters on my feet that took a week to heal and sore nipples from wet clothes, waiting on the platform freezing cold for the train home." and the best thing "my training partner Tom."

After an early start at 4.20am on Sunday, Oli had his wetsuit on and was in the water for 6.15am.  

“The water was lovely and warm. There were 200 in our wave and the mass start was good fun, a bit like white water rafting; a mass of froth with bodies everywhere. A big surprise was a bloom of jelly fish that had washed into the estuary.”

Oli did well in the swim but fell behind a little on the bike leg, still managing to finish the 54 miles in a respectable 3 hours 10 minutes. Oli came back into his own in the running leg, his favourite part of the triathlon, finishing in a good time.

“After the first 7 miles of running I knew it was possible if I could avoid hurting myself. I was so amazed to finish and strange as it may seem it was such good fun. The New Forest was beautiful and my family and good friends were there to cheer me on. I really enjoyed the event and would love to do another one, but probably next year…though there is another Half Iron Man in Rutland on the 6th September 2008, so I could be tempted…””

All proceeds from Oli's triathlon go to the Cardiff Steiner Early Years Centre Kindergarten Bursary Fund, ensuring children of parents with lower incomes can enjoy Steiner Education here. The Centre is a Registered Charity, and receives no financial support from the government, surviving on fundraising, donations and financial sacrifices made by staff and parents.

Oli explains why he decided to support the Fund.

"Both our children went to the Cardiff Steiner Early Years Centre, giving them a fantastic opportunity to develop and mature in a caring, family like environment before being immersed in more formal mainstream education. By supporting the bursary fund, children of parents with lower incomes can benefit from Steiner Education at the Centre. The money raised is going to a very special cause, and any donations will be really appreciated, so please sponsor me now!"

Oli has an online sponsorship form at www.justgiving.com/oliironman where it is quick, easy and secure to donate. If you haven't had a chance yet you can still donate online up to 1st August 2008.