Mumbles Tri Relay: Jason Brazier took part doing the 20-mile cycle leg of a relay team.

Gower Ultra 50: Emma Jane Richards took part in this event running along the sandy beaches and coastline on the Gower. The weather was against her and it was very muddy underfoot, but Emma completed 26.2 miles so, a marathon under her belt!

Erra Road Relay Championships in Sutton Coalfield: Vicky Jones competed as part of a relay team for her ‘other club’ Aberdare Valley Athletics Club.

Barafundle Triathlon: Waring family Steph, Gary, Teaghan and Eddie chose the five-mile route starting at Stackpole Quay, along the countryside terrain, taking on a muddy obstacle course, then a dip in the sea at Barafundle Bay. Finishing with a run back to Stackpole Quay - great fun was had by all, especially Teaghan.

Ironman Barcelona: On Saturday, September 30, nine members successfully completed Ironman Barcelona which took place in the seaside town of Calella on Spain’s Costa Brava, 32 miles north of the city.

They were Paul Slack (10.41), Wayne Benger (10. 46), Pete Williams (11.08), Billy Connor (11.20), Steve Amos (12.35), Carlton Coates (12.51), Huw Bridges (14.30), Nicola Coates (14.49), Julie Slack (15.18).

The 2.4 mile swim was a single lap course in the 21 degrees warm Mediterranean sea. With a spectacular sunrise on the horizon, the pro athletes were set off from the Blue Flag awarded beach at 8.15 am, then a rolling start for the other 3,000 competitors plunging in to the briny -and it was very salty!

The 112 mile cycle took us south 25 miles along the fast and mostly flat coast road to Mongat. The skies were overcast and it was not too hot, but there was a strong headwind, which turned into a lovely tailwind helping us back to the turnaround point under Calella Lighthouse, where we were greeted with shouts of encouragement and flag waving from the ‘Aces posse’ - Dee Bridges, Dave Gosling, Keira Slack, Alex Maddox, George Amos, Millie Vickery and the Benger and Williams families. Back down again to Mongat and back with supporters still in fine voice and back for a third time, but only six miles south to the turnaround at St. Andreu De Llavaneres and back into the transition area beachside of Calella.

The 26.2 run (marathon) was a three-lap course alongside the beach promenade, where there were a lot of supporters, and alongside a railway line up to Santa Susanna. A welcome downpour cooled us down in the humidity; the event compere, Paul Kaye, who usually compares Ironman Wales, said in the briefing the day before that this would please the Irish and Welsh athletes, making us feel at home and also saying how bad the weather had been in Tenby - we’d let out a big cheer!

The race had to be completed within 15hrs 40mins in total and the finishing shute was a brilliant experience, with spectators on gantries either side, flashing lights and booming music.

At midnight, Paul Kaye asked everyone to be quiet for the next person in - how chuffed were we when our own first time Ironman, Julie Slack, entered the shute. The crowd went crazy as Paul gave Julie the Aces flag to run over the finishers line.

Next day, 600 women took part in the three-and-a-half-mile Irongirl run along the beach front. This race was dedicated to the mothers, sisters, daughters and wives of Ironman competitors. We cheered on Pete’s daughter Meg and wife Liz, with Meg coming in 20th place - well done both!

A fabulous week was spent in Calella, with a day trip to Barcelona, which is an amazing city with ‘fantastic buildings’!