Age: 44
E-mail Address: jim@teaminspiration.co.uk
Jim has an article
in Cycling
Weekly
Occupation:
Executive Coach & Keynote Speaker
Family status:
Married with 6 children Jodie 18, Megan 16, Elliot
14, Ali 12, Daisy 10 & Sam
5
What originally attracted
you to athletic endurance events?
Just wanted to see how far I could push myself mentally, spiritually and physically.
What inspired you
to take on the momentous challenge of RAAM?
Did the 4 man team event in 2005 and now wanted to push myself a little further
to stretch the mindset of what's possible and to inspire others to believe
in their greatness.
What sacrifices have
you made to enable you to compete in RAAM?
Less time with
my family and less focus on running my business.
Has your participation
in RAAM made an impact on your local community,
or another community?
Not yet, through Team Inspiration we will launch the Fitter Schools project
here in the UK as a build up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond.
What are conditions
like for cyclists/cycling in your local community?
The weather conditions during winter can be a little challenging. I live outside
of London in the countryside, so the traffic is not too bad.
Do you have any statements
to make to people in your local community?
Team Inspirations main mission is to inspire others to believe in their own
Greatness and enable them to do more, be more and have more in their lives.
Race History (recent
events participation and results):
I have competed in 10 Ironman races including Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand, Frankfurt,
UK and numerous 1/2 Ironman and Sprint distance over the past 24 years. I have
represented GB in my age group at 2 World Long Course Championships. Captained
Team Inspiration (4 Man RAAM) 2005 coming a credible 4th.
Other sports (spectator or
participant) of interest:
Football and Cricket
Your personal most
cherished athletic feat and why:
Hawaii 1985,
it was all so new back then, there was very
little knowledge about nutrition and training
for such events.
Considering all sports, what
were the events or outcomes that most impacted
your life in both negative and positive manners?
Seeing Julie Moss in 1982 struggle and yet still complete the Hawaii Ironman.
(Very Inspirational).
Who, above all is your greatest
sporting inspiration?
Seeing Dave Scott and Mark Allen slug it out in Hawaii year after year until
finally Mark beat Dave on his 7th attempt. Lance Armstrong's come back and
domination of the Tour de France.
What is the largest "life" obstacle
you have overcome to compete in RAAM?
Trying to maintain some sort of balance.
When you first heard
of RAAM did you ever think you would one day
enter the race?
It was an immediate
YES.
What preparation
have you employed to prepare for RAAM (in general
terms):
Currently in
the base training phase and will continue to
increase the hours over the winter months.
What is your ultimate
athletic goal?
To complete RAAM safely and ensure that I smile my way across America.
Obstacle to reaching your
ultimate athletic goal:
Trucks, cars and white vans!!!!
What intimidates
you most about RAAM?
Trucks, cars
and white vans!!!
What attracts you
the most about RAAM?
Pushing myself
further than I've ever been before and going
head long into the unknown.
What special talents
do you possess outside of ultra marathon cycling? (i.e., concert pianist, stand up comedian,
artist, other extreme sports, expert chef,
hostage negotiator, etc. anything welcome)
Being the best
partner and Dad I can be whilst training for
RAAM.
Please list all languages
that you speak.
English and Australian!! I know it's really poor!
Do you feel your ultra marathon abilities have peaked or the best is yet to
come?
It's always
going to be that my best is yet to come.
Favourite quote either
famous or not, that fuels your ambition:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, Our deepest fear is that we
are powerful beyond measure, It is our light not our darkness that most frightens
us, We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, talented, fabulous and gorgeous,
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small
doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
other people won't feel insecure around you. You were born to manifest the
glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission
to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others.
What would you like
most to express to the world?
We are all connected
and we need to accept other people to enable
world peace.
