Catching up with Jack Sanders, feels like sitting down with a mate who’s just done something extraordinary. A few weeks ago, over a chat, I learned about his bold plan to tackle an Ironman triathlon - a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run, 18 months after a life-altering injury. His story is one of grit, goals, and a relentless drive that makes you want to lace up your trainers and get out there.

I started by asking about the injury that changed everything. Jack’s rugby career, which began at Caldy at age 10 and continued with Anselmians, ended abruptly on a rainy December afternoon in 2023 at Malone Field. “You never know when your last game of rugby will be,” Jack said, his tone light but reflective. An accidental collision at a ruck in the game against Northwich left him with two fractures in his C6 vertebrae. What followed was two weeks in Arrowe Park Hospital and over three months in a full spine brace. Yet, Jack’s response to my cautious question about the injury was pure him - resilient and upbeat, with a spark that likely made him a cracking teammate.

“The idea for the Ironman hit me in hospital,” he shared, grinning at the memory of raised eyebrows from his partner, Neve, his family and friends. “I needed a goal.” Rugby, with its demand for single-minded commitment, had shaped him, and replacing it with something as daunting as an Ironman felt right. “The parallels are there,” he said. “Rugby, Ironman—it’s all about dedication and pushing through when it hurts.”

Jack’s journey from neck brace to triathlon starting line wasn’t easy. Physio with Leigh Halfteck (who he still sees regularly) got him moving, and by May 2024, he was at The Oval running track, doing 200-meter run/walk intervals for 15 minutes. “It was a far cry from an Ironman,” he laughed. The hardest part? Holding himself back. “I wanted to dive in, but I had to keep myself on a leash - progressive buildup was key.” By June, he took the plunge (pun unintended) and signed up for the Hamburg Ironman, kicking off training with his first bike ride exactly a year before race day.

I asked Jack what advice he’d give to others stepping away from rugby or returning to fitness after a break. “Everyone’s different, but find something outside work and family,” he said. “Set a goal, any goal. Hitting it gives you a lift that’s hard to beat.” For Jack, running and open-water swimming were the toughest nuts to crack. Hours pounding Wirral’s pavements brought niggles, but the 11 degree waters of Manley Mere, his go-to lake, took the crown for “most challenging.”

When I pressed about personal goals for Hamburg, Jack kept it simple: “Start it, finish it!” I didn’t buy the no time goals line for a second - his competitive flame burns too bright. True to form, he skipped shorter triathlons and went straight for the full Ironman distance. Why am I not surprised? His rugby-playing brothers, Tom and Joe, haven’t caught the triathlon bug. “Running’s not what they’re here for,” Jack said with a chuckle, leaving them safe - for now!

Our chat was cut short by Jack’s training schedule - a three-hour run that evening and a six-hour bike ride “for breakfast” the next day, part of his seven session a week regime. So, how did he go in Hamburg? Spoiler: he smashed it! Jack crossed the finishing line in under 12 hours, a benchmark for a very strong Ironman debut, placing 1,479th overall and 149th in the 25-29 age category. From all of us at Anselmians, a massive well done.

Jack’s journey is a reminder that big goals can spark big change, even after life throws you a curveball. When I WhatsApped him this week to congratulate him and to ask about doing another Ironman, he replied, “I’m not ruling it out.” Here’s hoping he’s run that by Neve! For anyone inspired to chase their own challenge, Jack’s story says it all: set the goal, show up, and make it happen.