Eddie is due to start his attempt at the Enduroman Lanzarote Ultra triathlon tonight Wednesday 28th January 2009 at around 9pm.

Although Eddie usually has issues with mobile phones, he has promised me that his wife Lynn will text me updates throughout the challenge. Please leave your words of support here.

I wish you the best of luck Eddie and to Lynn who also has a long couple of days ahead of her.

I know you are nervous about the swim, but you have done the training this time and of course, you are Enduroman No 1!!

Steve

Good luck Eddie and Lynn, so wish I was there with you both.

Eddie, the swim will be fine, at least you won't be in there for 10 hours!!!

And remember...'this ain't no stinkin' ironman'!!!

Claire
xxx

Message from Lynn -

Ed has just set off - 18.20pm


Go eddie! Go eddie! Go eddie! Go eddie!

Best of luck Eddie. Have a good one and I hope the sea and weather favour you. By the way you guys are crazy.

Phil McNeill

Eddie has just reached the top of the volcano at that overlooks El Golfo and is heading back down towards the coast.

I spoke with Eddie just before he started, he is aiming for sub 30hrs which is 6 hours faster than the record. Weather predications are very good, so hopefully he won't have to race the freak storms that he had to go through last time.

Remember Eddie - this is what you are doing it for:

Good luck Eddie!

I hope all goes well.

Message off Eddie...

He is eating a tin of spag at the end of the El Golfo loop, 11 miles done. It is very dark and there is no moonlight. Eddie says all he can think about is swim.

Lynn is not happy about the dark n scary El Golfo lap!!

Steve has text the... 'this aint no stinkin' ironman...' line for Eddie, and Lynn has replied...

'Bloody hell! not this again!!'

I think she heard that a bit too much back in December!

Eddie is doing well, he is at Atlantic Gardens now and he is happy.

Go Eddie! Go Eddie! Go Eddie!

Last thing I heard (about 1am) was that Eddie had done the long lonely mountain road and was heading back to the Enduro villa for a break, before heading back out to the last El Golfo loop.

Eddie completed the run in 10 hrs, 3 mins and is going to start the swim at 9am.

Bet he is REALLY looking forward to that!!!

Swim Eddie swim!!

Keep inspiring me mate, have a good one.

JFT Graham

Just spoke to Eddie as he was putting his wetsuit on. He was extremely pleased with his 45 mile run although his ankle gave way during the last section causing him considerable pain. After a hot bath and some food, and not through want of trying, he never managed to get any sleep at all before the swim. He is due to start swimming sometime around 9am.

He was 2 hours faster that record pace after the run, however he will be taking an extra 90mins recovery (compared to when the record was set),before the swim. As long as he completes the swim in less than less than 8 hours, he will definitely break the record.

Time to turn on that Enduroman switch mate.

He who dares Rodney..... he who dares!

Steve

At 9am the total time so far will be 14hrs 40mins. The record is 36hrs.

Steve

Congrats on the run Eddie.

Have a good swim!

Message from Lynn: Eddie has done 1.5 laps (out of 12) in 39 mins which is around 6 hour pace (The record was 6hrs 41mins). He's going great guns by the sounds of it. Lynn is nearly out of credit so she may have to visit the Orange shop in Playa blanca in between feeds. He's a big boy Lynn, let him swim on his own for a bit. He went for a sleep in the car when I did the swim - cheeky git!

good running Eddie.
keep it up on the swim.

'it ain't no stinking ironman :-)

Message from Lynn: 3 out of 12 laps done. The sea's getting lumpy and the wind is starting to pick up. He had fruit cake and a sports drink on the last feed. Time he had a cup of tea!

That's 1/4 of the swim done in 1.5hrs, so a 6hr swim is still on the cards.

Swim skinny bloke swim!

Eddie said he wondered when the 'stinkin' thing was going to be said again! Eddie is on his way back to complete 5 laps. He completed 4 laps in 1hr 55mins. Lynn says he looks cold and he isn't saying to much.

Make the most of it Lynn!!

Message from Lynn: On his way back in to finish 7.5 laps. He will be pleased to pass lap 8. Swimming well. His old shoulder injury (he hasn't had the injury long, it's just that the injury is on an old shoulder ), has started to give him jip. The sea is well choppy now.

Keep it going Ed, show these johnny-come-latelys how it's done!

Just spoke with Eddie on the phone. He is sitting in his car with his wetsuit on! He finished the swim in 5hrs 47mins and 35sec. He said that he was only going to have 2hrs rest. He has already gone over 30hrs without sleep. The running clock is now at 20hrs and 50mins. With a 2 hour break and what will probably be a 6 hour bike, I think Eddie could actually go under 30hrs. Fantastic effort Eddie.

Well done for your fantastic swim Eddie. I bet you were so glad to get out of that water.

Good luck for the bike, you can sleep after that!! (and so can you Lynn, I hope you are holding up ok, it ain't easy being the support crew!)

Update from Lynn:

Eddie started the bike at 5pm tonight

He has already passed through the 'village of the naked lady' (don't ask!!)

He has just had a cuppa and Lynn has said that she thinks he is going to suffer - 18 miles in 1 hour 30 minutes.

Come on Eddie! You're doing a great job!!

Just spoke to Eddie at the top of the Miradore. He only took 2 hours between the swim and the bike BECAUSE the wind had changed direction to the South which rarely happens on the island. This means Eddie had the strong winds behind him all the way to the top of the island. The last text I had from Lynn, is that he just climbed Mount Claire, and has around 25 miles left to do.

Well done mate - all down hill after Mount Claire!

Well done Eddie, good to see those legs still have it in them.

Message from Lynn: He has finished! The bike took 7hrs and 17mins.

I'm not sure of the total time, as Lynn text me after I went to bed. I will have to wait until Lynn confirms the exact timings but if he started the bike at 5pm, he would of finished at 00:17hrs, giving a total time of 29hrs 57mins.

Well done Eddie. He is 52 next month! Awesome. See you in a few weeks.

Steve

Inspirational stuff Eddie, well done!

Just spoke to Eddie and the above timings are correct. He needs to get a couple of nights decent sleep in. Jo Kilkenny flies out this Sunday and is due to start Monday evening 2nd Feb.

Enduroman IV signing out...

Well done Eddie

Congratulations Eddie. WELL DONE