Norfolk Chamber president Ian Hacon is proving that he practises what he preaches this weekend.

For the entrepreneur whose business coaching enterprise focuses on the importance of physical fitness and wellbeing will be competing for England in a triathlon.

Mr Hacon, 46, has been chosen by national selectors to compete in the 45 to 49 age group at the European Long Course Triathlon Championships in Weymouth on Sunday.

The father of three will be tackling the event's 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile (full marathon) run just seven years after he embarked on a fitness regime 'to get in shape for 40'.

Mr Hacon, whose office in Magdalen Way, Gorleston, is distinct from most in respect of its cycling and treadmill desks - 'I have found I can use a keyboard while I am walking at 2mph on the treadmill or cycling at 10mph' - won the national call-up weeks after his fifth place age-group finish in the Mojo Middle Triathlon in Peterborough.

He said: 'I am absolutely thrilled to be representing my country in my third 'Iron distance' race. After a full season of racing and challenges, I was delighted to achieve qualification, especially after a serious cycle accident nearly killed me in March this year.

'Seven years ago, I did virtually no structured exercise and could have been described as a couch potato, slobbing out on takeaways and a few too many beers. After deciding to take control of my life back then, I have now completed five marathons, countless shorter distance triathlons and other running races as well as two Ironman triathlons, last year in Nice, France and just a few weeks ago in Bolton, UK.'

The qualified accountant, whose varied career saw him rise to financial controller at Anglia Television before becoming the CEO of Bradwell-based Blue Sky Leisure, now passionately believes phyical fitness is key to business success.

He said: 'My journey inspired me to change careers from being a successful CEO to forming my company Yellow Brick Road where I help other business leaders on their journey from good to great by focusing predominantly on their wellbeing and effectiveness.'

He said increasing numbers of business leaders were responding to his message and respected research showed the positive impact of fitness and wellbeing on a company's workforce.

He said: 'One study showed that companies that have a policy of good staff engagement make twice as much profit as firms that do not, and companies that focus on wellbeing on top of that make three times as much profit.'

Mr Hacon has been sponsored for Sunday's triathlon by some of his clients and associated companies, including 3sun Group run by his brother Graham.

Graham Hacon said: 'I am very proud of my little brother, it is great to see a top local businessman competing at such high level and still fitting in family and work.'

Matthew Good, CEO of ACS Consulting in London, said 'Ian recently joined our firm as an Associate Partner, so we were delighted to be able to support him in this epic achievement'

Peter Foster, managing director of Hugh J Boswell, said: 'We are delighted to be supporting Ian in the European Championships. We are very proud of Ian's achievement in reaching Team GB as we have long and successful relationship with him.'