SOMETIMES certain sporting exploits do not gain the media exposure that some feel they may deserve.

Perhaps the sport is considered to be of a minority variety or simply deemed not to be as ‘sexy’ as headline-grabbing football or rugby.

There is a long-held view in the industry that if a story is not going to be talked about in the pubs, then it’s not worth printing.

In Hot Off The Press this week, I could have chosen to rabbit on about the conclusion of Euro 2008 and highlight how far behind I believe England are after some of the quality football action I've seen on display in Austria and Switzerland over the last four weeks.

Or, I could have elected to enter the annual debate surrounding the state of British tennis after another Wimbledon fortnight where singles hopes were dashed before they had properly started, with the exception of Scotland’s Andy Murray of course.

Potential other talking points were England’s chances in the autumn’s Rugby League World Cup after Friday's impressive success against France at Toulouse, alternatively my belief that there could be a shock in store when the 2009 Super League licences are announced later this month, or the reasoning behind why I think Warrington Wolves may benefit from appointing an experienced director of football to help them move forward beyond 2008.

Despite such hot topics, I’m steering away from the popular to tip my hat off to 20 members of a Warrington club who are going to put their bodies through what I can only describe as absolute hell this weekend - and probably just for the fun of it in some cases! The more I have thought about their story this week, the more they have amazed me.

Most people would know that taking part in a marathon is an arduous process, from the training required to the race itself.

Those who swim for pleasure in the town’s leisure centres will no doubt understand how strenuous it would be to swim the equivalent of 152 lengths in a lake.

And anyone who has ever ridden a bike can also gauge the exhaustion levels of pedalling the distance from Warrington to the other side of Bradford - and back! So I’m now giving credit where it’s due to the score of Warrington Triathlon Club members who will undertake all three aforementioned challenges one after the other in the German Ironman event on Sunday.

A 3.8 kilometre swim in open water, a 180 kilometre cycle ride and - if you’re still standing - end the day with a run/walk over the marathon distance of 44.2 kilometres.

Imagine the pain - aches all over, the buckling calves and the stinging blisters.

Those attempting the tortuous challenge, not just the athletes from Warrington, must be made of true grit.

They must have staggering mental strength to be able to carry on when their body is saying it’s time to stop, which it surely must do at some stage of such titanic struggles.

The training - up to 16 hours a week for the past 12 months in some cases - speaks for itself in terms of the dedication required to even contemplate attempting what Frankfurt has to offer on Sunday.

Those that finish the Ironman event will well and truly deserve their medal and will surely cherish the silverware for the rest of their lives.