YOU might imagine after putting their bodies on the line on a daily basis, doing an Ironman would be the last thing a firefighter would want to do with their spare time.

But as fire safety officer Paul Norris explains, taking on a challenge that pushes them to the edge is second nature.

Norris, aged 51, will lead a crew of eight Bolton firefighters in the Ironman UK tomorrow, carrying on a proud recent tradition.

It will be the fourth time he has taken on the Bolton event and his ninth Ironman in total, with a 10th planned in Florida in November to make it a round number after doing his first in 2005.

"I think, for a firefighter, doing an Ironman is just a natural progression," said Norris.

"It's the nature of the job. You have to stay physically fit, but you also like to take on challenges.

"We are also naturally very competitive.

"In Bolton, my colleagues Neil Mercer and Chris Rainford were the first to do it and the word spread through the firefighting family.

"The fellas think 'if he can do it then so can I'."

Of the eight Bolton firefighters taking on the challenge this year, which involves a 2.4-mile swim in Pennington Flash, followed by a 112-mile bike ride over the hills of Rivington and Belmont and a 26.2-mile run that ends in Bolton town centre, four will be doing it for the first time.

Alongside veterans of the event – Norris, Marc Murphy, Mike Lewis and Mark Berry – colleagues Alex Sugden, Jason Jones, Dan Winters and Robert McDonagh will be taking a step into the unknown.

The professional triathletes will be hoping to finish in under nine hours, while most of the 2,700 amateurs taking part will be happy just to cross the line inside the 17-hour cut-off point.

Novice Dan Winters has boldly set his sites somewhere in between.

"I have never done an Ironman before and have been training for 11 or 12 months," he said.

"I couldn't swim when I started training and I am completely self-taught.

"I also only started riding a road bike two years ago, but while my target time is in the 13-hour bracket I would love to do it faster.

"My dad, Mark, is my motivation. I am taking part as a tribute to him.

"He was a keen cyclist but lost his battle with cancer and I will be doing the bike section on a bike I inherited from him."

Spectators who want to cheer on the Bolton crew should find it easy to spot them as they have their own kit, emblazoned with their sponsor Metro Taxis. The Bolton firm is supporting the firefighters' effort for a second time, providing £1,500 which will be donated to Bolton Hospice.