The Ironman is recognised in the X-Training world as the toughest test of indoor fitness that anyone can undertake. It dates back to 1993 and was originally organised by Dave Brown who owned Weights and Measures gym in Worcester. It was based on the same 10 exercises as the Ultrafit course, but the weights were 50% heavier and the course ended with a 2000 metre row. There were only ever about 15 competitors who could even attempt the course and It very much favoured the big,, muscular guys. Robert Volpe is the only current X-Trainer who has taken part in it. 

Stuart Leng then took over the organisation of the Ironman at One on One Fitness Centre in Worcester in the late 90’s, but on a completely different course. The course was designed in the hope that it would attract a wider range of X-Trainers by reducing the weights and lengthening the distances on some of the Cardio Stations. The course was still probably twice as hard as a standard X-Training course, but for the first time, attracted a number of female entries, including the legendary Michele Parsons.

The course varied from year to year and one year had 12 exercises which were drawn on the day of the race to decide the order(Pick and Mix was the term given to it). The event attracted 30-40 competitors and Adam Horder and Lee Rankin are both previous winners, so you can see that the event many of the top names in the sport. Micky White’s first ever X-training event was the 2003 Ironman where he came an incredible 5th and was the last event to be held at One on One.

Having joined the Prison Service in 2003, Stuart Leng eventually started taking X-Training and Circuit classes at the Dragons club in Sale, Manchester and  thereby found his new venue for the continuation of the Ironman in 2005. Another new course was designed and it was a worry to see whether the event would have enough support. Thanks to fantastic support from The members at Dragons and Stuart’s many contacts in the sport, the event was a success and attracted over 40 competitors. The course was changed again for 2006 and had as it’s finale,  a daunting weight carry discipline. Again there were over 45 entries and nearly a third were women, providing an unbelieveable competition where the first six were separated by only 25 seconds on a course taking well over 30 minutes.

This year, an Intermediate category has been introduced for the first time, but it will take even the best athlete over 20 minutes when they are normally completing a course in 8-12 minutes. The course is the same as last year and if you want to know how hard it is ask Kirk Gibbons and Gary Nicholas, two of the sports greats who literally collapsed in total exhaustion at the end of last year’s event. It is the ultimate challenge of body and mind for any indoor athlete and when you have completed it, you can really and truly call yourself a X-Trainer. This year’s event will be the biggest yet and hopefully the platform to create an awareness on a much bigger scale.

Kirk Gibbons	Gary Nicholas	Stuart Leng