MIKE Horton will be a relieved man just to make it to the start line of Sunday's IronmanUK in one piece, never mind the finish.

After 12 months of intensive training, the 36-year-old Ironman debutant was quietly confident of setting a decent time, before a series of "mishaps" knocked him off course.

Five weeks ago he smashed up his bike after driving under a height-restriction sign with it strapped to the top of his car.

Thankfully, it was replaced within a fortnight by his home insurance provider.

Panic over? Not quite.

With two weeks to go before the event his wetsuit, which was shipped over especially from Australia, sprung a leak.

The seams split around his arms, rendering it useless, but, again, it was replaced within a week after the UK distributor agreed to take responsibility.

Now Mike, who works as a risk manager for the Co-op Bank, is counting down the days, hoping nothing else goes wrong.

"I just want to get going now and for it all to be over with, to be honest," he said.

"I had a big puncture as well the other day, so hopefully that will be my three things to go wrong and everything else on the day goes without a hitch."

Mike worked as a volunteer marshal at the last IronmanUK and was at the Macron at 8.30am the following day to sign up for this year's event.

He has trained six days a week, working with specialist coach Garrie Prosser, of Peak XV Tri Coaching, to get in the best possible shape.

His journey to the start line started following a chance encounter in the pool where he was learning how to swim two years ago.

After meeting some Ironman enthusiasts, he set himself a goal of taking part as extra motivation.

Mike did his first triathlon in May last year, and recently completed a half Ironman event in under six hours.

But just when he thought everything was going to plan, disaster struck.

"I had just done a training swim at Pennington Flash and arranged to meet up with some friends at Bolton Arena to do a lap of the bike course," he said.

"I hadn't long since changed my car from a 4x4 (which was big enough to fit my bike in the boot) to a saloon, and forgot my bike was on top.

"The Arena car park was full and I was late, so I called a mate who told me to park at the Horwich park and ride.

"I was still on the phone when I heard the crunch. My mate laughed, and I knew instantly what I had done.

"The bikes are carbon fibre, and the frame had just shattered on impact.

"I was really worried as I had trained for more than 10 months on the same bike, and even if I could get a replacement in time, there was no guarantee I would be able to get used to riding it in time.

"But things seem to have worked out. I have actually ended up with a faster bike because my home insurance does an old for new replacement.

"I paid £1900 for mine on ebay, second hand, but the insurers valued it at £3000 to get a new equivalent.

"I have had it fitted to my height, weight and arm length, and went out on it for a long ride last week and everything seems okay.

"Touch wood the wetsuit is okay as well. My replacement fits, but I won't have chance to test it in the water until the Ironman.

"Hopefully, though, my bad luck is over, and if my time at the half Ironman is anything to go by I should be in line to finish in around 14 hours."