Think an Ironman is impossible, think again - as new book ‘Dead Meat to Athlete’ by Paul Smith tells the inspiring journey from Cancer patient to Ironman competitor.

You’re 43, cruising through life and you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer.

What would you do next? When Paul asked himself that question he thought it would be a good idea to swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 more and then run a marathon.

Join him on his good humoured and brutally honest journey as he deals with a devastating one in a million bowel cancer diagnosis to his time in hospital battling with the mother of all surgeries.

Then on to an epic 10 month adventure into the world of triathlon as he finds a way to train his broken body towards his dream of completing one of the worlds toughest triathlons Ironman Wales held in and around Tenby.

Paul is a first time author who moved to Tenby, with his wife Maria after falling in love with the town and county after completing Ironman Wales in 2015.

“The book is an honest account of my triathlon journey towards completing Ironman Wales just ten months after a devasting rare bowel cancer diagnosis of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (appendix Cancer) in the Summer of 2014,” explained Paul.

“To finish that race was a massive achievement for me.

“In November that year I went under the knife for a very invasive operation which is often referred to as the ‘mother of all surgeries’.

My journey to the Ironman start-line the following September was a long and difficult one but the power of exercise and the challenge of that race was exactly what I needed to help me cope mentally and physically with the cancer diagnosis and the painful recovery from the surgery.

“The book itself describes the journey from my diagnosis through my time in hospital and onto my training and recovery as I prepared for the Ironman.

“Triathlon was my salvation throughout that journey and I describe in detail what it meant to me to use exercise as a positive force that helped both my mental and physical health.

“My intention in publishing my story is to spread the word about this rare and often misdiagnosed and misunderstood disease and offer some inspiration and belief to people who are intimidated or unsure if they could complete a long distance triathlon,” continued Paul, who launched the paperback issue of ‘Dead Meat to Athlete’ at the Long Course Weekend in Tenby.

The book is also available on Amazon Kindle and can be purchased directly from the author at deadmeattoathlete.com.

Paul Smith is a first time author who moved to Tenby, Pembrokeshire with his wife Maria after falling in love with the Town and County after completing Ironman Wales in 2015. He is currently living in France where he is lucky enough to spend his time skiing and snowboarding in the winter and bagging cols in the summer.