The wait is almost over… in just 4 days the first Iron distance on UK shores kicks of with the Enduroman event. Not only is Enduroman an Iron-distance race, it is a homage to endurance and long course racing - offering the only Deca-Iron race in England, the Quin, triple and double distances. Completing this beast is 99% of the battle, but such is its pedigree it attracts the best endurance Iron-athletes from around the world who compete in it competitively.

I’ll be previewing the race all week and here is the first in the series featuring an interview with Enduroman Director, Edgar Ette, explaining what Enduroman is all about, the distances raced and much more.

Hi Edgar, not long till race day now. Could you tell us a bit about the special format of Enduroman and what sort of distances will your athletes be covering over the coming days?

The race is over a 10 day period and the format has a unique feel to it – the Deca Enduroman starts and for the first five days Enduroman have a dozen people who we will feel intimately connected with as we watch and help them progress around the course.

The athletes have 22hours to complete their stage - like the Tour de France, the Enduroman Deca and the Quin is a stage race with a cumalative time. Each daily stage consists of swimming 2.4miles in a lake, cycling 112 miles around the beautiful New Forest in Hampshire and then running 27 miles around the private grounds of Avon Tyrall Manor house.

On day six of the event another group joins the Deca athletes - the Quintuple Enduroman athletes - and their apprehension and enthusiasm help lift those who have survived the first five days of the Deca. On day eight the Triple Enduroman starts - these are doing consecutive disciplines i.e. swim 7.2 miles cycle 336miles run 3marathons 72miles. On Day 9 the Double Enduroman starts - this is a large proportion of the field and many will be racing rather than trying to survive.

Halfway through the day the 100 mile ultra run starts and finally on Day 10 the Single and Half Enduroman starts with the survivors of the Deca & Quin. The athletes all cross the finish on the same day.

Enduroman isn’t just about racing is it? The event has a fantastic reputation for camaraderie amongst its fellow competitors and support crews. Tell us a bit about what the special atmosphere is like

The Enduroman team the athletes participating and the athlete’s support crews all come together for short periods during an Enduroman event. We might never have met before but immediately strong bonds form because we are all there for the same purpose “to enable the athletes achieve their chosen challenge”.

The one thing that stands out at Enduroman events? If any athlete or athlete support crew member needs any physical, mental or mechanical support, every individual seems to gel together and between us the problem is solved. Enduroman have seen the race leader stopping to help another athlete during a low period. We have had support crews lending kit that they may need themselves later. Support crews doing BBQs for all around. By the end of an Enduroman event every one has made new friends and some people have made a life long friend.

Could you tell us a bit about your course and what athletes can expect from the terrain and mult-lap format?

The terrain like always suits some more than others and the weather plays a big part in that also. The lake is shallow with no visibility and no black line on the bottom, The bike ride has the odd horse crossing in front of you and the run is off road round the lake and through a small wood, so not the best place for a fast time but the setting for the UK Ultra is absolutely stunning with the athletes having use of the manor house and facilities, the New Forest with its horses wandering freely, truly a lasting experience.

The multi lap format works absolutely perfectly for Enduroman enabling the athletes lots of personal support by family and friends, it also helps us the organisation to maintain far better control of everyone’s well being. The athletes have said they like the format for many reasons; it enables them to control what’s happening around them in the field, get exactly the right amount of foods and drinks on demand and be happy in mind that their support are also OK.

What does a traditional Iron-distance athlete have to do to adapt their game and race to finish, never mind win, Enduroman?

Any Ironman athlete has enough physical ability to achieve an Enduroman and those that have jumped up to Double Enduroman have been delighted with their achievement.

Casting your eye down the start list - are there any names that jump out as particular talents we should watch out for?

I feel all the names I know in the start list have a particular talent.

For Iron-distance athletes that are reading that are interested in going even longer for 2012 and dream of a deca. What would you recommend be their next step?

For those athletes who are thinking of going for things like Deca there are many ways to glean info, to get in touch with someone who done one, or get onto a forum, or ask Enduroman, but the very best method although it is hard work is to be a marshal or support crew at an event: it is a remarkable experience to be involved with the greatest ultra distance athletes in the World there is no better place to learn about logistics, race strategy, feeding regimes, kit - every detail is there to be observed whilst helping others achieve their ambitions.

Ultra Athletes are just normal approachable people seeking to achieve personal sporting challenges.

Love Enduroman? Want to hear more? Keep visiting all week as I preview different aspects of the race and cover it all week. Tomorrow I’ll be speaking to a Double Iron European Champion as he gives us the low down on some of the tri talent on show in this unique event.