TRI-Rivington have 34 members competing in Ironman UK next Sunday. Here are some of the super athletes who will be taking on the ultimate swimming, cycling and running challenge, the stories behind their attempts and the best things they have got out of training for the event.

Ray McGloin is the Tri-Rivington coach and is supported by a great team including Michael Hallas (strength and conditioning) and Steve Riddle (beginner swimmers).

"I feel very privileged to have coached and prepared these remarkable men and women for this year’s Bolton Ironman," said McGloin.

"They are remarkable because they have all committed themselves to many hours of weekly training in all weathers since last October, while honouring their many commitments to work and family. I am so excited with anticipation at seeing all these guys cross the Ironman finish line."

Alex Metcalfe – 1396 – said: "I'm doing Ironman because it's a ridiculously difficult challenge. I'd done eight marathons and I needed to push myself further – and I wanted the tattoo!

The hardest thing is not the training but the sacrifices to be able to fit in the training around work and other commitments in life. Having people to train with has got me through the last year’s hard work. Everyone at Tri-Rivington has become like a second family. I really could not have imagined getting to this point of readiness without them and without our fantastic coach Ray McGloin. His commitment to everyone at the club is phenomenal.

David Wright – 1851 – My little boy Oscar suffers from joint hypermobility so I decided to pick a hard challenge and raise funds for the little known The Hypermobility Syndromes Association and also improve awareness. The smiles on my children's faces when I told them I had signed up was worth all the hours and hours of training that were about to hit me. What I have enjoyed most is conquering the swimming."

Jacquline Parkinson – 363 – said: "I found everything hard. I literary could not swim one length of front crawl 10 months ago, hadn't cycled since I was a teenager, and hadn't run for years. Now I'm swimming four kilometres-plus weekly, doing 80-100-mile cycle rides and 16-plus miles of running weekly – a complete transformation within 10 months."

Dan Knight – 579 – When I first signed up for the Ironman UK, I didn't realise what a challenge it would become. My partner and I had been trying for child for many years. We successfully became pregnant follow IVF. I signed up for the Ironman in September 2015 and my son was born in November 2015. I was torn between being a great father and training relentlessly, evenings and weekends. I worked away in the week and trying to juggle family life and doing something I love has at times been a challenge. However, having the support of my wonderful partner and focused sessions, I am able to have both. I have become a better athlete as a result of been a father and training smarter. I'm living my dream."

Phil Penney – 1977 – I started in September after some deliberation and can honestly say it's been the best thing ever.

Baz (Fatman to Ironman) – 1536 – is doing it for Cystic Fibrosis in memory of his wife's cousin who died of the disease aged 18. He said: "My training started in Jan 2015 when I was overweight. I lost a couple of stone and decided to learn to swim. Mrs Fatman tells me to shut up and get on with it so I am."

Andrew Lee – number 802 – said: "I have been laughing for the past 11 months. It's been a fantastic journey and it's only just started."

Scott Crighton – 965 – is doing IronmanUK for the Kidneys for Life charity. He said: "The best thing about Tri Rivington is that every day people are doing an inspirational challenge for real life heroes and their charities."

Mark Cotton – 1241 – "This year has been epic. An absolute roller-coaster of emotions and there have been many highs and a lot of lows. The merciless mickey taking I received after I had a crash actually picked me up and made me realise I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and get back out there. I've made some friends for life, now let's get this job done!"

Kamlesh Patel – 1103 – is doing it for Bolton Hospice and said the Ironman training has taught him how to swim and enabled him to make friends with people he would not meet in his normal life.

Michelle Fairclough – 334 – is doing it for the Once Upon A Smile charity.

Rick Blyth – 933 – whose charity is the Zak Vali Foundation said what he has enjoyed most is eating lots of food guilt-free

Lucy Clark – 325 – has only recently arrived from Abu Dhabi, where she lives, to prepare, acclimatise and compete. Her charity is Scope.

Steve Haslam – 1309 – whose charity is Bolton Hospice, said: "I have overcome many challenges in attempting to become an Ironman. The main one was to learn how to swim from scratch. The best part of being at the start line will be knowing a lot of people have believed in me, especially my wife Sarah who has been my rock in this."

Julie Hamilton – 295. Her charity is Salford bowel cancer support group and she has learned how to swim front crawl.

Alex Holcroft – 780 – said he has been impressed by seeing how much the group has improved since the dark winter months.

Janine Knightybob – 396 – is raising funds for Make Kyle Smile. "Kyle is my cousin’s son who is 11 and has cancer for the third time. We are raising money for treatment in America."

Steven Hulme – 199 – said: "I have enjoyed the group swimming and how much I've improved. I enjoyed the group cycles and I only did one group run and got injured, so I can't say I enjoyed that!"

Matthew Pemrick – 1765 – Being superstitious and after previous injuries prior to events I won't commit to raising money for charity until I've done my last run week. If I come through that unscathed, then as always I will be doing it for The Christie. My favourite moment was the get-together and behind-the-finish-line scenes at Southport Triathlon where Tri-Rivington took over.

Ian Bolton – 1874 – said: "I have loved improving my strength and endurance."

Kathryn Orrell – 361 – is doing it for Bolton Hospice. She said: "It’s been a fantastic journey."

David Shorthouse – 1807 – is doing it The Christie.

Sharon Roberts – 367, Hazel Reader – 228, Stuart Whitehead – 1523, Dean Ramsden – 1779.