Being a father whilst looking after your own health can certainly be a challenge.
Managing the workload of day to day life and ensuring your wellbeing doesn’t suffer can be a fine balancing act – but it’s one that Lawrence Soni has managed to get a good handle on.
An Army veteran and a father of five, Lawrence has found that this physical activity has given him an additional sense of purpose in his busy life. We caught up with him to find out more.
Tell us a bit about you and your background
I’m Lawrence Soni, a British Army veteran, husband to Julie and dad of five, based in Warrington. I share my journey as Iron Dad UK. Life after the Army has had its difficult chapters, and family and endurance sport have helped me build a new sense of purpose. My message is “All in with balance”: having ambition while being present at home.
How did you come to the point where you felt you might want to tackle an Ironman event?
I missed the sense of purpose and challenge I had in the Army. Endurance sport gave me something to work towards again. When I started, I couldn’t swim more than 50 metres at a time. Finishing IRONMAN 70.3 Bolton showed me what could change by taking that first step and keeping at it. I’m now preparing for further challenges in 2027, including Manchester Marathon and a full IRONMAN in Copenhagen.
How did you find the training and fit it around other commitments?
With a job and five children, a training plan is key. I have to look at the week ahead and make the sessions fit around the rest of life. The support of Julie and the people around me matters enormously. The balance is being committed to training while remembering why I’m doing it and who I want to be at home.
What are your top tips for MAN v FAT members building extra activity into their week?
Start with something you can realistically repeat. Put the sessions into your diary and plan them around your actual work and family commitments. Talk to the people at home so the plan works for them too. Pick a goal that means something to you, and get support rather than feeling you have to work everything out alone. You don’t have to start with an Ironman. Start where you are and build.
What are the biggest benefits you’ve found from regular physical activity?
Purpose, structure and a sense of achievement. It has filled a void I felt after the Army and given me a positive challenge to keep coming back to. I want my children to see that you can start with very little experience and improve, while still making family the reason behind it all.
Follow Lawrence’s story
You can keep up to date with Lawrence’s exploits on his Instagram page. We wish him well for his upcoming events!
