The Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon is recognised as one of Scotland’s toughest one day events. A long time ago, during my young and foolish youth, I must have somehow agreed to take part, and on 10th July I will have to swim one mile across a Scottish Loch at 6am, walk/run 15 miles over 7 Munros, kayak for 8 miles and then do a 34 mile cycle. In one day. The days of milk and honey are over!

Till now I have persuaded myself my glory days of fitness that peaked at age 12 will somehow carry me through, and my training to-date has consisted of going for a jog three times a week. But typing this now that seems sadly inadequate... let the real training begin! You can follow some of our group training sessions, and of course the event itself, on our facebook page. 

The reason we're doing this event is to raise money for Mercy Corps, the non-profit organisation I now work for, and specifically for a project in Guatemala,  working with indigenous communities in Alta Verapaz and Quiche to enable them to secure rights to their land, and then to make profit off that land through improved farming and marketing of their produce.  If you want to find out more about the project, take a look at these short videos:

- Owning the Land: In rural Guatemala, Mercy Corps plays the role of neutral mediator to help farmers and finqueros resolve land conflicts peacefully, setting the stage for economic advancement. 

- Tilling the Soil:  Training newly landed farmers and helping them sell to lucrative markets is the second step in Mercy Corps' approach to rural economic development.

No doubt the day in question will be a typically freakishly cold July day, the type you can only get in Scotland - but all worth it I think for the cause we're supporting. Every penny you donote levarages four times it's worth for the project, so it will really have an impact - no matter how small the amount!