Why? - I CAN, the Children’s Communication Charity, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, staff and supporters (the “125 Champions”) are being challenged to raise funds and awareness of the importance of communication.

 

Why a sponsored triathlon? - In my book, any event worth sponsoring has to be a proper challenge requiring effort beyond what would normally be considered! In recent years I’ve completed many ultra-marathons without sponsorship including the Coast-to-Coast (169 miles in 5 days), the Fellsman (62 miles), Hardmoors 55 and the Lakeland 50.

 

So you might think that this is not much of a challenge then...?

 

Well, normally, I’d agree with you. The distances in this challenge used to be normal for training. However, while hiking in Scotland last year, I was unfortunate enough to pick up Lyme disease from a tick bite. My slow recovery from this means that I have been unable to do any serious training for over a year – so the distances I’ve chosen, and doing the 3 events on the same day, mean that this is going to be challenging enough!

 

Why Todmorden?

Around Todmorden in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire is a very special area which I’ve only just started to explore. This challenge takes in some of the best bits that I have found so far!

 

The challenge –

Bike – 100km – Calderdale and surrounds, including Cragg Vale, Stanbury & Trawden (TBC)

Run – 25km – An off-road route around Todmorden

Swim – 1.25km open water – Gaddings Dam, Todmorden (distance might vary depending on water temperature!)

 

... in just one day – 12th Oct 13

Please sponsor me - and / or come and join me on any one, two or all three of the sections!

 

Update -

Well, I’m pleased to report that I made it around the course that I’d set myself – 5:45 on the bike (with approx. 45 mins for breaks) and 3:15 for the run (with another 2.4km after the swim, down the hill & back home for a nice cuppa!) Conditions were pretty foul all day – a mixture of rain, mist and drizzle (the photos will give you an idea!) and strong wind!

 

I had great support all the way around on the bike and the run – and even on the swim (a big thank you to Mark for doing the hard work on the bike into the headwind up the long climb over to Howarth, the first section of the run and keeping an eye on me in the water too!) On the bike, thanks to Mark, Clare, Sarah & Dan; on the road support – Adele, Katya & Drew; on the run – Dave, Kath, Geoff and Mark; and Kate – the queen of flapjack! The re-fuelling stop at the Old Rock Cafe in Trawden was very welcome too and helped to keep me going for the final 30 km on the bike!

 

For safety reasons I had to cut the swim to 250m (2 lengths of the reservoir) – the low cloud meant that I wouldn’t have been able to navigate across from the far side, and the water temperature (8.7 degrees) was a little below the minimum guideline of 11 degrees for triathlons!

 

A hardy bunch of supporters made it up the hill to watch the “trial by swim”! Thanks to you all. It wasn’t really the day for hanging around on a hill!

 

Thanks,

Jonothan