Enduroman Arch to Arc - Cancerbackup
Trudy Dixon is raising money for Cancerbackup
Participants: Trudy Dixon, Janet Harper, Julian Crabtree, ED
Story
Trudy Dixon Becomes First Woman to Enter World’s Toughest Endurance Event, The Arch to Arc Challenge
In August 2008, 32 year old Trudy Dixon from Bracknell will be the first woman to attempt to complete the Arch to Arc challenge - a 289 mile triathlon from Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The Arch to Arc is the most grueling and challenging endurance event known to man. The event starts with Trudy running 87 miles from London's Marble Arch to the Dover coast, then she must swim across the English Channel to the French coast, and finally complete a 180 mile bike ride from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The clock starts ticking as soon as the athletes start running towards Park Lane and does not stop until they reach the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Arch to Arc was originally set up as a team event. However, in 2001 after failing to get picked for a team, Enduroman, Edgar Etter, became the first Arch to Arc solo finisher. Since then he has thrown down the gauntlet to any individual that wishes to take up the challenge. Steve Haywood and Julian Crabtree became the third and forth men to complete the event this year. Until now, no solo female has attempted to complete the grueling event.
Trudy is competing in the event to raise money for four charities that are close to her heart - Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Age Concern, Cancer Backup and SEBEV (South East Berkshire Emergency Volunteers). She comments, “I’ve already run a number of marathons and competed in various Ironman competitions and triathlons, so in order to raise a significant amount of money for these charities I really needed to push myself and do something extreme. The Arch to Arc is the ultimate event and the fact I’m the first solo woman to attempt it makes me even more determined to complete it.”
Seven years ago Trudy was working in an accounts department. After giving up the desk job and focusing on her first love, sport (of any kind!), she has since competed in several marathons (including London twice), three tough guy competitions, the three peaks challenge, a number of triathlons and she’s even cycled 350 miles across Egypt in 6 days for Mencap.
In July 2005 Trudy set up BridalBootCamp Ltd, Britain’s first fitness camp designed to get brides in shape for their big day. Trudy is determined to help the nation get in shape and encourage others to achieve their own sporting goals. She comments, “Whether it’s a 5k run or a marathon, I want to show people that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I also want people to see how motivating and exhilarating challenging yourself can be.”
Trudy is already training hard for next summer’s event. She adds, “I’m looking forward to the run because I love running, but the swim is going to be hard – mainly because of the distance, but also because of the cold. I’m not a cold person. I don’t think I’ll like the night swimming, but I have the kind of disposition that says if I’m not dying or something hasn’t fallen off, then why stop?”
Organising the logistics and finance required to compete in an event as big as this is Trudy’s first challenge. She will be allowed one person to support her and one to feed her, so she’s hoping to establish a crew of 4 or 5 people on rotation. She also needs lots of equipment including a boat, campervan and clothes. Trudy has already received a lot of support from local and national organisations, including Bracknell Sports Centre who is allowing her free use of their pools for training and Sejwiz Delicatessen who has agreed to feed her and her crew – all of which can be seen on www.archtoarc.co.uk
In August 2008, 32 year old Trudy Dixon from Bracknell will be the first woman to attempt to complete the Arch to Arc challenge - a 289 mile triathlon from Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The Arch to Arc is the most grueling and challenging endurance event known to man. The event starts with Trudy running 87 miles from London's Marble Arch to the Dover coast, then she must swim across the English Channel to the French coast, and finally complete a 180 mile bike ride from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The clock starts ticking as soon as the athletes start running towards Park Lane and does not stop until they reach the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Arch to Arc was originally set up as a team event. However, in 2001 after failing to get picked for a team, Enduroman, Edgar Etter, became the first Arch to Arc solo finisher. Since then he has thrown down the gauntlet to any individual that wishes to take up the challenge. Steve Haywood and Julian Crabtree became the third and forth men to complete the event this year. Until now, no solo female has attempted to complete the grueling event.
Trudy is competing in the event to raise money for four charities that are close to her heart - Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Age Concern, Cancer Backup and SEBEV (South East Berkshire Emergency Volunteers). She comments, “I’ve already run a number of marathons and competed in various Ironman competitions and triathlons, so in order to raise a significant amount of money for these charities I really needed to push myself and do something extreme. The Arch to Arc is the ultimate event and the fact I’m the first solo woman to attempt it makes me even more determined to complete it.”
Seven years ago Trudy was working in an accounts department. After giving up the desk job and focusing on her first love, sport (of any kind!), she has since competed in several marathons (including London twice), three tough guy competitions, the three peaks challenge, a number of triathlons and she’s even cycled 350 miles across Egypt in 6 days for Mencap.
In July 2005 Trudy set up BridalBootCamp Ltd, Britain’s first fitness camp designed to get brides in shape for their big day. Trudy is determined to help the nation get in shape and encourage others to achieve their own sporting goals. She comments, “Whether it’s a 5k run or a marathon, I want to show people that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I also want people to see how motivating and exhilarating challenging yourself can be.”
Trudy is already training hard for next summer’s event. She adds, “I’m looking forward to the run because I love running, but the swim is going to be hard – mainly because of the distance, but also because of the cold. I’m not a cold person. I don’t think I’ll like the night swimming, but I have the kind of disposition that says if I’m not dying or something hasn’t fallen off, then why stop?”
Organising the logistics and finance required to compete in an event as big as this is Trudy’s first challenge. She will be allowed one person to support her and one to feed her, so she’s hoping to establish a crew of 4 or 5 people on rotation. She also needs lots of equipment including a boat, campervan and clothes. Trudy has already received a lot of support from local and national organisations, including Bracknell Sports Centre who is allowing her free use of their pools for training and Sejwiz Delicatessen who has agreed to feed her and her crew – all of which can be seen on www.archtoarc.co.uk