THE majority of people head to Hawaii for some R&R - but not emergency planning officer Adam Elderfield.

Adam, 47, who works at Ealing Hospital, will be pushing himself to the limit as a competitor in the annual Iron Man World Championship on October 26. He qualified in his age category at an earlier race in Italy.

The competition brings together the best male professional and age group triathletes from around the world, with the best of the best completing the course in under eight hours.

It will be his sixth race over the distance, comprising back-to-back 2.3m swim, 111-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon.

“My advice to anyone getting into long distance endurance events is to get a good alarm clock,” says the father of two, who rises at 5am every day during his current training schedule.

One of Adam’s biggest concerns is the heat.

Recent hot weather here has offered ideal training conditions and he often finishes his sessions with a sauna or by sitting in a hot bath for 20 minutes.

His wife will be cheering him on, but he admits to feeling more exhausted than elated when he crosses the finishing line.

“It does become something of an obsession and I don’t want to see a bike or a swimming pool for a while after this,” he added.