IRONMAN UK champion David Clamp sets off on the first leg of the DecaUltraTri today determined to bounce back from a “rookie mistake” that dashed his dreams of a world title.

The 55-year-old personal trainer goes into the ultimate endurance event - 10 ironman races in 10 days in Leon, Mexico - on the back of a disappointing debut at the world championships earlier this month.

He was hit by severe cramp in both legs during the bike section of the race in Kona, Hawaii and eventually completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run in 11hrs 56mins 6secs, finishing 46th in his age group.

It was a bitter pill for the former Bolton Harrier to swallow, who believed he had a chance of victory after qualifying for the Championships by winning the 55-59 age group of the Ironman UK event in Bolton in July.

“I was very disappointed, as I think that a fairly novice error was the reason (for my cramp),” said Clamp, who lived for many years in Bromley Cross before leaving his job as a teacher at Tottington High School to start his own fitness company.

“During the bike section I drank 16 pints, mostly of the organisers' sports drink, which I assumed would contain enough sodium and other electrolytes,” he said.

“At 70 miles I got severe cramp down both legs, the like of which I have never experienced.

“I could barely push the pedals round for the last 30 miles.

“It was so frustrating as a simple procedure of taking regular salt tablets would almost certainly have resulted in a different outcome.”

Clamp had been well placed after completing the swim in 1:12:30, battling through choppy conditions in the Pacific Open.

And he believed he was in good shape at the half-way point of the bike ride, before his body let him down.

“I set off on the bike ride feeling strong,” added the father-of-two, a veteran of more than 40 ironman races.

“The temperature was 90 degrees and there were 25 mph headwinds, but I was pulling through the field and as we approached the turn-round at 60 miles, I was looking forward to a following wind on return.

“As is typical for Hawaii, the wind did an about turn and hit us head on with gusts so strong that it was difficult to hold the bike steady.

“But I still felt I was holding something in reserve for the run.

“In training I had been jumping off the bike after 100 miles and going for runs at 2:50 marathon pace.

“On this day I was barely able to maintain 10-minute miles and took a very pedestrian 4:22 for the run.

“My heart rate was as high as if I were running way faster as the body struggled to cope with the electrolyte imbalance...a tough lesson learned but at least I have an immediate chance to put it right.”

Clamp has raced the DecaUltraTri on two previous occasions, finishing runner-up in his last attempt.

Follow his progress at www.decaultratri.co.nf.