Ironman Harwin hopes to win big in Las Vegas

IRONMAN Michaela Harwin will hope her number comes up when she competes at the Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Las Vegas in September, writes Mark Wood.

The 42-year-old supply teacher from Bison Hill, Whipsnade, qualified after bagging one of 50 qualifying slots at the Triathlon – Ironman 70.3 UK at Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor last Sunday, where she finished 12th her age group.

Reputedly the ‘toughest’ half Ironman in the world she was one of 1,600 competitors to take on the 1.2-mile swim in Lake Wimbleball, 56-mile hilly bike ride and half marathon.

Harwin prepared vigorously for the event, winning the Active Luton Sprint Triathlon female veteran section in March and has improved her swim times with the help of Luton Masters, part of Luton Swimming Club.

She said: “I had the event booked for 12 months and started training in September 2010.

“To be honest I feel pretty amazed. The course was tough.”

For the full story, see this weeks Luton News / Dunstable Gazette