Keen to find an obscure and unnecessary physical challenge the Artemis Great Kindrochit quadrathlon was the obvious choice.  No one I've come across has ever heard of it, let alone completed it and bizarrely every competitor finishes by swinging a sword into a watermelon.  The only drawback is having to abandon my usual "beer & no training required " approach & ensure some adequate preparation (see "yomping" ex-bootneck in the Brecon Beacons, left).Our target time is 12 hours, plus some extra  minutes! We must swim 1.5k across Loch Tay, yomp 24k across 7 munros, kayak 11k back up the Loch and cycle 54k to finish.

The serious bit...........

When I'm cursing the whole endeavour around hour 10 it would help to know that it's not just me benefiting.I would be grateful for your help in raising money for the Royal Marines Benevolent Fund. 

This fund picks up the pieces when serving or former Marines struggle to support themselves and their families.  In 06/07 the fund made welfare grants of nearly £70k to buy, for example, food, clothing, powered wheelchairs, glasses and respite care.  They also made £5,000 immediate grants to the families of the 17 Marines who died in service.  The Marines are risking everything in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, and I think we should support them in return.  All contributions great and small gratefully accepted.