Update @ 24/6/05 - With this event just a few days away I would like to report that it has taken me over 800 miles of running, 2238 miles of mountain and road biking, 264 miles of rowing 80 miles of kayaking to train for the event with 342 miles of walking it off to ease the legs.
I completed a 3/4 distance week of all events a month back on my own which went really well but am tired now and will be resting in preparation for the start. I am excited and keen to get with on with it after all the months of training and am looking forward to a break afterwards before I choose another adventure!
Thank you to all who have supported me so far it has helped while I've been stumbling around across the countryside, battling the risks of the bike, enduring the pain of the rowing machine and paddling through rain and hailstones. I also better thank the fishermen at South West Lakes Trust Wimbleball Lake for putting up with my singing and the water sports staff for looking after my kayak for me as my arms were so tired I couldn't use my non power steering van to drive my boat back!
Locations for the event are detailed to date as follows:
LOCATION ~ The 7x7x7 is based at Kingsbridge Rugby Club, High House, Kingsbridge Devon.
DAY 1 SUN 3/7 TRAIL RUNNING MARATHON start:11am
The first event is the off-road run. It will start and finish at Beesands and will be based around the South Devon Coastal Path. The route will be two laps of the same course.
DAY 2 MON 4/7 MOUNTAIN BIKE MARATHON start:11am
This course will start and finish at the clubhouse. It will consist of 3 loops of an off road course.
DAY 3 TUES 5/7 CONCEPT 2 ERGO ROWING MARATHON start:11am
This marathon will take place at a nearby location with a view designed to inspire! Organizers are hoping to hold this event outside, but will bring it inside based on weather conditions on the day.
DAY 4 WED 6/7 ROAD RUNNING MARATHON start:11am
Dartmoor for this marathon. It will be based on minor roads, following a circular route around some famous Dartmoor locations and stunning views to keep the participants going.
DAY 5 THURS 7/7 SIT-ON-TOP KAYAKING MARATHON start:9am
This is likely to be the longest and one of the hardest of the week's marathon challenges, physically and mentally. It will be based on Roadford Reservoir following a looped course.
DAY 6 FRI 8/7 "ON ROAD" MOUNTAIN BIKE MARATHON start:11am
This marathon will take place at Slapton, approximately 5 miles from event HQ. It will follow a lopped course along Slapton line between the sea and a fresh water ley.
DAY 7 SAT 9/7 MULTI-SPORT MARATHON start:11am
The final marathon comprises 4 mile paddle on sit-on-top kayaks, a 6 mile mixed terrain run and a final 16 mile mixed terrain bike ride. The event will start and finish at event HQ.
So here's hoping for good weather conditions and that I survive! I'll let you know how I get on...
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The ultimate multi-sport challenge. July 3rd - 9th 2005. A different 26.2 mile multi-sport event every day for 7 consecutive days! Various locations, Devon. UK
Who am I? ~ I am a 33-year-old Hospice employee & fire fighter's wife from Weston-super-Mare. I am no athlete just a 'normal, everyday' kind of person attempting this marathon of marathons event as a personal challenge to raise money for my two favourite charities.
What am I going to do to earn your money? ~ I will be one of the few women taking part in a gruelling seven day endurance sports event. The weeklong experience known as the Endurancelife 7x7x7 Challenge takes place in Devon and starts on 3rd July 2005. Advertised as "The ultimate UK based Multi-Sport Endurance Challenge 7 Marathons, in 7 Days, in 7 Ways" It consists of a different marathon distance event every day for 7 consecutive days. Day one, an off road running marathon, day two a mountain biking marathon, day three an open water kayaking marathon, day four a traditional road running marathon, day five a cycling time trial marathon, day six an indoor rowing marathon and on day seven a multi-sport, kayak, run and bike marathon.
Can I do it? ~ I have been training hard. After completing a 120mile Coast to Coast 2 day event in September last year I thought this could be possible. I have been training hard through the winter. I did my first marathon in February off road and a second one on the road in April running through cramp for 18miles of it. I have got up to half marathon distance on the rowing machine and am kayaking in 40mile triathlon endurance events. I mountain bike when I'm not doing all that! This will be the hardest thing I have ever attempted and will test me physically and mentally to the limit so for what the body can't manage I will rely on will power and determination will get me through.
Who benefits? ~ Two charities I have had first hand experience of; Weston Hospicecare where I work and who cared for my mother and the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund (FSNBF) who my husband, Peter and I have supported throughout his Fire Brigade career and have benefited from at Harcombe House in Devon. I will be financing all the cost of the event myself so the cash I collect will be spilt equally between both charities.
About Weston Hospicecare ~ Weston Hospicecare provides comprehensive care and support not just to individual patients, but also to their family and carers, touching thousands of lives each and every year. The Hospice promotes empowerment, freedom, choice, independence, peace and happiness. Above all it is about living life to the full, enabling people to live their life as they see fit. It costs in excess of £1.4million each year to provide our current vital services. I want my funds to help keep all this fantastic work going and support new projects we start in 2005.
Please visit my other fundraising page FB7x7 for details of the project I'm supporting for FSNBF and the websites for both charities www.westonhospicecare.org.uk & www.fsnbf.org.uk