I'm sure there are plenty who have now heard enough about Ironman Wales, but as the Observer asked last week to hear how it went, here's my story:

"I knew a little about Ironman before it came to Tenby in 2011, with a couple of locals having successfully completed one further afield.

"If I'm honest, I was a little negative about it all myself the first year; it was a distraction to the club, with a few of the members already committed, and personally, not being a swimmer, runner (or bike rider some would say), it was of no real interest to me.

"Then the show that is Ironman Wales came to town. Along with other members I volunteered to marshal and found myself with the great honour, if not a little stressful, of leading out the first runner around the marathon course.

"What an experience it was with the unbelievable support every step of the route. I arrived in Tenby at 6.30 am and left around 11 pm and had loved every minute of it.

"On October 2, 2011, I was up at 7 am watching the one-hour TV coverage, after which they opened entries for the 2012 edition.

"If they televise this year's event, I recommend you don't watch it with your credit card nearby, because before 8.10 on that same day, I had entered.

"At over 40 years of age, it was a tall order, having given up swimming at the age of 16. In fact, my idea of swimming during the second half of my life was from one end of the pool to the pool bar whilst on holiday or dive bombing the mother in-law!

"Running as a child was chasing a football or school punishment in the form of cross country, and even then I would sneak off and hide in the trees.

"Two weeks after having entered Ironman, I took part in my first ever triathlon, competing in the Pembrokeshire Go-Tri series at Tenby Leisure Centre.

"Four-hundred metres in the pool, followed by an 11-mile bike ride, followed by a 5km run, followed by the reality of what I'd gone and done!

"The training for Ironman started almost immediately. More of the same on the bike, regular dips in the pool and the treadmill replaced the turbo trainer through the winter months.

"As May arrived, I put all my birthday money together (and Christmas and next birthday) to buy a wetsuit. The very next day, with my new training buddies, I was in the sea to try it out.

"The following day I was waiting for the shop to open to see whether they did refunds! The swell of the sea off North Beach, 11 degree sea temperature and cramp in both calves had terrified me.

"I shall not go through the next 20 weeks of training, the first time around was enough for Mrs. R. and the kids. The moods, the tiredness, the stress of re-mortgaging to pay for it all, disappearing most weekends to take part in a long bike ride or triathlon, not to forget the extended family with the additional baby-sitting duties for my mother-in-law and solo drinking for my father-in-law (probably feel more guilty about that than anything).

"Before you know it, Ironman week was upon us. More nights of not sleeping due to the nerves, the anxiety, the fear of jumping in the sea at the same time as 1,600 others, it was all taking its toll in probably the longest week of my life.

"A day off work on Friday for a last swim, to register and to soak up that atmosphere. Deep breaths having picked up my number and race bag, everyone else was six-foot three inches tall and probably weighing less than 10 stone.

"On the morning of the race, I was awake before the 4 am alarm call. Possibly one of the hardest parts of the day was trying to eat breakfast at that time of the morning, although washing it down with at least three cups of coffee was no problem.

"I was parked up in Tenby by 5 am and headed off to meet the gang to go to transition together; no turning back now. Sixteen-hundred athletes loading their bikes with drink and food, pumping up tyres and squeezing into their wetsuits. which definitely fitted better before all the carb loading, honest!

"Everyone will have their own race day story to tell. Mine was reasonably eventful with a mechanical problem just after Pembroke, a very large kamikaze rat in the lanes before Angle, having to ride over the bike of a fallen competitor on the ascent of Coppet Hall (sorry mate, it was you or your bike).

"I then managed to pick up the wrong legs in transition, legs with faulty knees that took me to dark places during the run (and walk) stage on a slightly undulating marathon course. But I made it - many didn't - and with no broken chain, no broken skin and no broken bones, I had a relatively uneventful time.

"The emotion that hits you as you step on to the red finishing mat is indescribable. The realism that you've made it, that all your mates have already finished or are just behind you. The noise of the crowd even loader than the incredible noise I'd listened to all the way around the course.

"The journey was over and what a journey it had been! Even though I'd marshalled in 2011, watched it on TV and spoken to friends who had competed that first year, nothing however had prepared me for the support of the crowds on race day.

"From the gun at 7 am until I crossed the finishing line, it was overwhelming. Wearing kit of a local recognised club, I lost count of how many fellow competitors thanked me personally for the support of the Pembrokeshire people; I was very proud!

"So here comes the Bafta speech - to my Mum for having me, my dad for managing a Facebook message, my training buddies who know who they are, the thousands who cheered me and everyone else all day, including family and friends who had travelled from afar. Lastly, my poor suffering wife and kids, not only had they to put up with the 10 months of training, but they too had a tough Ironman day with the early start, late finish and chasing me around the county in between. Hopefully being able to call me 'Iron daddy' made it all worthwhile.

"As Steve Redgrave would say 'shoot me if you see me doing it again'!"

Gareth Rees, president,

Tenby Aces Cycling Club