BILLED as one of the toughest races on the planet, the Ultraman contest is to wing its way to North Wales as an Ellesmere based athlete aims for glory.
Nick Thomas is Britain's only male representative in the invitation only three-day race which will take place around Lake Bala and in Snowdonia.
The event will take place on rugged terrain and combines a 10km swim and 90-mile bike ride on day one, a 180-mile bike ride on day two, followed by a double marathon of over 52 miles on the final day.
The top finishers from the 35-strong field will then be selected for the world championships taking place in Hawaii.
Hardest event on earth
Nick, who runs NJT Construction, as well as being a father of two, stands at 6ft 3inch and weighs 12-and-a-half stone and has previously taken part in 17 Ironman events in the last five years, registering a best placed finish of 18th from 1,600 competitors in Lanzarote, regarded as one of the hardest events on earth.
The Ironman events pale in comparison with the Ultraman competition, but with a year to prepare, the chairman of Ellesmere's Tri-smart running club, is getting ready to plunge into his schedule.
"At the moment I am just having a recovery period after the end of the season, but I will go into full training again in October," Nick said.
"There has never been an Ultraman on these shores but the competition is very intriguing. Whatever people undertake there is always an ultimate, and in triathlon, this is it," he adds.
Nicks' normal training regime includes five or six runs a week, ranging between eight and 23 miles, 300 miles a week in the saddle, and four 90-minute swimming sessions, and then there is the work he puts in inside the gym too.
"I have done triathlon events for nine years and I've always strived to do the best I can, and the same will go for Ultraman.
"I will condition myself to do what is necessary and I hope that the road crew I am required to have with me will give me the extra encouragement I need.
"My wife and daughter travel everywhere with me and my son sometimes comes as well, so I am not short on moral support, but if there are any businesses who might consider sponsoring me then I would be happy to hear from them," he said.
Ultraman will take place in Wales from September 3-5, 2011, and anyone looking for more information about the event can visit www.ultramanlive.com
Any businesses who might be interested in offering sponsorship to Nick can email him at trismartnick@yahoo.co.uk