WHEN thousands of people lined the streets of Bolton to watch this year’s Ironman, no doubt many were thinking — ‘I could never do that’.

But one woman is out to prove that anyone can, despite never having attempted a triathlon of any level before and admitting she is petrified of the challenge.

Jaqui Theaker has already shed three stone and by July next year hopes to have transformed herself into an iron woman, ready to take on a 2.4 mile open water swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run.

Miss Theaker, who has worked for Bolton Council’s children's and adult services for six years, said: “For the past four years, ever since I watched my first Ironman, I always wanted to do one.

“When they ran across the finish line, I cried.

“When you watch it, it’s just their faces, I get really emotional about it. I thought, I really want to be able to do that.”

Three years ago, Miss Theaker decided to join V1ntage Health & Wellness Studio, Knowsley Street, Bolton, and has gone from a size 24/26 to an 18.

Every week, she does eight to 10 hours training, including 6.30am classes, two to three lunch breaks and after work sessions of high intensity exercise, spinning and swimming.

The 34-year-old said: “Before 30, I did nothing, no exercise. I was really overweight.

“I hit 30 and had a bit of a mid-life crisis, I stopped smoking.

“I love it though. To me, it’s not a chore.

“You do it and you feel so much better. It’s a way of life.”

She has signed up to do next year’s Ironman with V1ntage founders Gareth Price and Ian Harrison, as well as fellow members, who will raise money for V1ntage’s F1rst Step project to provide free group exercise classes for Bolton schools.

Miss Theaker said: “I’ve not started running yet. I’ve starting swimming. I’ve been doing open water swimming for the past few weeks up at Pennington Flash.

“We are lucky because we can train on the circuit. I want to try every discipline at least once. I want to get two or three triathlons in there.” On October 2, she will set off on a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro after being inspired by a group of celebrities who scaled the heights of Africa's highest peak in 2009 for Comic Relief.

She said: “I thought, if Cheryl Cole can do it, I’m doing it.

“When I think about Kilimanjaro now, I think about when I get to the top. I’ll be an emotional wreck.

“My mind is on that at the moment.

“If I make it to the top, I will have a mental boost from that.” V1ntage arranges group cycling, mountain treks, open water swimming sessions, trips to Manchester’s velodrome and offers health and wellness programmes.

Miss Theaker said: “Gareth kind of normalises it for me.

“I’m petrified of it but I try to break it down and I try not to the think of the whole thing together.

“As long as I have finished in the 17 hours, I have done it. I’m not thinking, I want to do it in 12. My Ironman is 17 hours. I have got to do it now, I’ve said it. I’m a lot fitter than I look and I’m a very strong person, I’m very determined.”

She is planning on having a ‘before’ photograph of herself on her T-shirt while she is doing the running part of Ironman, to celebrate her health and fitness journey.

She said: “All I want to do is inspire and motivate people, it sounds so cheesy. If I can get one person to think, she has done that, I can do it.

“All I used to do is go to work, come home and sit on the sofa. I would eat a lot of chocolate.

“I would eat constantly, from getting home. I’d eat lots of bread, not a lot of protein.

“Now I’ve realised that protein fills you up, you don’t have to eat that much bread.

“I’m eating over 2,000 calories a day.

“I have six meals a day but I eat the right food such as lean meat, protein, good carbs, wholewheat pasta, wholemeal bread. I do have treats. I will have the odd bar of chocolate every now and again.”

The others taking part in Ironman are Kerry Harrison, Dave Evans, Rhauri Mundy, Rhian Vickers and Jackie Gavin.

Miss Theaker, who lives in Sale, said: “Working as a team, it really does to support you — the belief and the encouragement that they give you.

“It’s weird, I’ve never had that before.

“You don’t get that at most gyms, you’re just a number.” Mr Price, who lives in Lostock and completed this year’s Ironman, said: “The more I talk to and watch as V1ntage members take on challenges, the more I realise it’s a great way to bring balance into your life.

“I do advocate a scary goal and, even then, it needs to be time framed. Just entering a 10km run and then turning up and walking most of the route isn’t going to bring lots of exercise and healthy eating into a balanced way of life. Something like Ironman is achievable by anyone and, yes, my message to everyone is simple, if I can do it, anyone can.

“It needs a lot of training, a lot of healthy meals and a lot of sacrifice and discipline.

“Most of all it needs a strong mind but, if someone who needs to be healthier needs a way to achieve this, then surely a scary challenge and the support of family, friends and colleagues can bring this about.”