Thanks for taking the time to visit my fundraising page.
I'm fundraising for the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust. In September I'll be attempting the Enduroman Arch - Arc Triathlon.
The DKH Legacy Trust is a fantastic charity that creates life chances for young people through a range of their projects. I hope that my challenge can inspire people in the same way the charity inspires young people and you help me reach my fundraising target.
The Arch - Arc is a triathlon. A triathlon with a difference. It’s an ultra triathlon - it goes well beyond Ironman. It requires training, expertise and the ability to perform three disciplines one after the other within a limited period of time. It requires considerable mental and physical endurance and a pin-point strategic approach.
I’m not aware of anything comparable to this anywhere in the world. The run is 87 miles from Marble Arch in London to Dover following a pre-determined route. The route is challenging because during the daytime it is exposed and with very little shade from the sun. At night, it is dangerous because much of it is on unlit country roads. Having done the run, I will then need to swim the English Channel to France – about 20 miles. Many people swim the Channel, but they haven’t just run from London first! From a safety point of view this is the most dangerous part. The body core temperature will have dropped during the run, the body is fatigued and possibly injured, and it is risky to then get into cold water and swim. For this reason, the swim is done in a wet suit. Most people who fail the challenge have failed during the swim. Once out of the water, I will get on my bike and ride 181 miles from Calais to Paris along a pre-determined route. The challenge ends at the Arc D’Triomphe in Paris.
Only 7 people (since July 2001) have successfully completed the challenge – many have tried. The World Record is currently 81 hours and the maximum time limit is 168 hours. I will be aiming to break the World Record – but just to finish will still be a success, regardless of the time. This will require fitness, skill, determination and an element of luck with the weather!
I think I’m a bit different to the people who have attempted this before me. I am by far the least experienced. When I entered, I had only done one Iron Man triathlon – and that was at a slow pace. That was my sole background and experience. Others have had many years of triathlon, ultra marathons and swimming. I am thus coming at the challenge from a totally different point of view to the others. Ironically, this may be a good demonstration for one of the objectives of the DKH Legacy Trust. Have a dream/challenge, do something about it and make it happen.
Why do it..? Good question. I’m not entirely sure why people choose to put themselves through things like this voluntarily. I think it is just part of who we are. I got inspired and rather than sit back and dream ‘what if…’ I chose to enter it and set myself the challenge. I have had to change my life in order to do this and that has required the full support of my family
