We did it!  Thanks for all your fantastic support and
your amazing donations, we raised over £2,560 (£2,310 Just Giving and £250 directly via Charities trust accounts) for Little Havens Children’s Hospice Neil Coggins is
fundraising for Little Havens Children's Hospice (justgiving.com)! 
After an incredible 3 days in Snowdonia competing in Ultraman UK (UMUK 515) RACING QUEST (UK) LIMITED – The Home of
UMUK – the UK’s only ultraman distance triathlon my fantastic team (Alan, Pete and Belinda) got me over the finish line each day within the cut off time to earn me Ultraman status.  If you wish to share our Ultraman journey experience please see ‘My Slog’ below.

My Slog (I apologise for the long transcript, but it was a 3
day event so 3 times longer!)

My triathlon journey started at Little Havens Children’s Hospice in August 2010 after my inspiration Megan had endured the most
difficult challenge of all, sadly Megan’s journey ended but her memory and relentlessness of not giving up will live with me forever!  At this time I
felt helpless, her mother now my wife ‘Wendy’ had supported her incredibly through the past couple of years, our girls had been put through an experience that they should never had to experience, Little Havens had provided Meg with amazing care and we couldn’t have got through it without them. 

In the days that followed my friend Gavin had said he was
doing a sprint triathlon (Swim, bike run) at Blenheim Palace, I had done London marathon the year before to raise Money, so I knew I could run, but I’d only cycled to work and I could just about swim a length of a pool with no technique.  I knew I needed to do this to give something back to Little Havens, to help my physical health and wellbeing by having something to focus on and most importantly to do something in memory of Megan and put myself through the pain and experience I can only imagine Megan and other children at
Little Havens had gone through, so on the Little Havens computer I filled in my application form.  So my triathlon challenges continued building up to a Ironman Triathlon in 2013, then building upto Ultra distances in each discipline over the following 6 years, taking me to the this event the pinnacle of triathlon events ‘Ultraman’ on what was Megan’s 21^st year.

Pete (team member, mate, fellow cyclist, driver, meditator,
motivator, kitman, messenger, waterboy, roomy and all round top bloke) came to pick me up in his work van, we piled in all the kit, 2 bikes, spare kit, full ‘bag for life’ of snacks etc……….and of we set for Snowdonia.  Alan (team member, mate, fellow cyclist/runner, analyst, techy, nutritionist; advisor, navigator and all round top bloke) and his wife Belinda (team member, mate, fellow cyclist/runner, media (vlogger, photographer), cook, foot massager??? and all round top woman) had arrived 2 days previously and climbed Snowdon on
the day we arrived.  Not much choice for pre-event meal so we grabbed a pizza, booked into the hotel which was the start/end point for the event (apart from swim start on day 1).  Pete kindly offered to take the bunk bed whilst I had the double bed, got my yoga done and set the alarm for 5.30 start in the morning.

Day 1 – 6.2 mile (10km) Swim followed by 90 mile (144.9) Bike

So alarm went off at 5.30am, kettle on to make my porridge
and then eat it, remember to put my speedo’s on under my clothes, then out to the van for 6 o’clock so me and Pete could meet Alan to drive to Bala Lake for the swim start.  Arrived at the lake about 30 mins before for a 7am start, there were 7 other individual competitors and 2 relay teams (unfortunately one relay team had been let down by their swimmer so their chance of completing the event had finished before it had started).  The buoys were set up, basically you had to swim to 1^st buoy 500m the swim back to 2^nd buoy 500m x10 times.  So we got in the extremely cold water (I was told it was 15 degrees) and we set off. Whoosh off went all of the other competitors
leaving me behind to deal with the swash they had left behind them for little ole me to swim through, that’s probably the last of them I will see all day!  So as I continually tell myself it’s not cold, its not cold I swam up to the bright yellow buoy in the distance, to be honest it was an ok morning overcast and the water was calm apart from their swash so I got on with it. I had agreed with Alan every lap I would wave so he knew it was me as a few of us had similar wetsuits (apparently this worked) so he could count my laps and get
ready for me if I needed nutrition. After 3 laps I saw one of the other
competitors going the other way but on my side of the buoy, I thought this is strange, I’m pretty sure I was going the right way (it has been said I am not the best navigator but even I think I can work out how to swim up to a bouy and back!), oh well carry on. 

So at lap 4 it was my strategy to swim over to the pier and get a gel and energy drink from Al and then warm up the wetsuit much needed
after all the lake water I had drunk and carry on.  At this time Pete had
gone back to the hotel to pick up Belinda as the van only had 3 seats and come back.  The same strategy was put in place for the next stop, gel, but hot tea with a lot of sugars (Alan the nutritionist) and warming of the wetsuit.  On the last 3 laps the water started to get rougher and the water started splashing in my face, I was getting colder and I couldn’t see any other orange swim hats in site I just wanted to get this done.  Hurrah last lap the final time I will see that yellow buoy, I swam over to the finish line with the team and organiser and family cheering me in as the last competitor, I make them wait as I needed to warm the wetsuit one last time before I got out.  Over to the van, Pete has laid out all my cycle kit and put the heaters on in the van and helped me get out of my wetsuit and put a warm fleece on me, Belinda had got me a hot chocolate and made me brunch salted rice cakes with peanut butter and marmite crisps and Alan had checked my bike
and got my garmin computer started on the bike which would provide me with directions.  So the guy who was swimming the other way, decided that the water was too cold and decided to pull out of the event after 3 laps, tough call after all that training. Swim time 4:04:00

So after a good 20-25 minutes trying to warm up and get
ready for the bike I set off.  The directions I got from Al was you start
off basically going round the lake, we will met you at every turning point just follow the garmin computer on your bike. So up to the next turning and true to their word there they were Al and Belinda with their luminous jackets on pointing for me to take the turning and Pete spurring me on.  They would then overtake me Al would wind down the window ask me what I wanted at the next junction, e.g. snacks/drinks I would place my order, then he would let me know
if there where any hills coming up.  After spending the past 18 months
training in Essex, I soon discovered that I had not done enough hill climbing on the bike, up and down I went on the bike, even when I thought the road was going down it still felt like it was going up!  I tend to not look at the evaluation (1800m on day 1)before an event and just get on with it on the day, what would be the problem it was only in Snowdonia.  So another big climb,  Alan telling me get in your lowest gear and poodle up don’t burn too much energy, he was right as always.  So I reached the highest point of day 1 and then flew down the hill reaching 73.4km/h (45 miles per hour), gripping the
handle bars, squeezing in my bottom cheeks and hovering over my brakes like my life depended on it! At the bottom there was the crew with my late  lunch Bovril sandwiches, s&v crisps, marshmallows and a coke which Belinda had prepared for me all set out even covered in kitchen roll with wipes to the side, perfect.  Time was  going ok I was confident that I would make cut off which was 12 hours each day, so 60km to go Al informs me it was going to be a bit lumpy! Up and up we go down a little bit, then up and down again, then I see the guys they say stop get more fuel inside you, I said I was ok, Pete insisted that I did, so I listened and I did, ritz biscuits, rice cakes more drinks and off again up a big climb.  Al informs me it’s a big long
climb then a good downhill back to the finish line for Day 1.  He was true to his word too, as I pulled into the finish line there were my crew, the organisers/marshals and Alvaro (who came in first) and the film crew.  They all seemed very pleased to see me, I realised it was because I was last in 😊and they probably wanted to go home! I was much happier to see them, so interview with film crew, photo’s, thank you’s, recovery drink, up to the room to roll my legs on the foam roller, shower, change, down to the restaurant to meet my team
for dinner and a pint of Guinness, back up to room to do yoga, set alarm for 6.15am, then lights off at 10pm and try and get some sleep! Bike time 06:41:00 – Day 1 Total 10:45:00

Day 2 – 172 mile (275.3 km) Bike

Sleep wasn’t great, legs where restless, did the morning
routine porridge etc……….. and got outside in the car park for 6.40 to get the bike ready and line up for the start the race.  I realised that I didn’t really know any of the other competitors apart from Alvaro (who had kindly waited to see me in on Day 1), as I’d only seen them the day before in their wetsuits, swim caps and googles!  So organiser’s did their briefing and we set off at 7am, whoosh, I manged to keep up with some of the group for first 10 mins then decided I needed to pace myself especially when I reached the first big hill of the day.  So about a 5k steep climb, smiling at the photographers and film crew as they waited for me so I could be included in some of the film 😊!  Legs were starting to burn from the previous day I knew it was going to be a tough long day in the saddle.  I continued to climb up and down the hills as I am surrounded by the breath-taking scenery of Snowdonia national park, the rock faces of the mountains mirrored by the green hills as look to my left, waterfalls, streams, lakes, sheep, SHEEP!!! Blimey one comes straight out in front of me crossing
the road as I come bombing down the hill! 

I have my lunch Bovril sandwiches etc, every time I pulled
in Belinda is there filming me whilst commentating, can’t wait to see her Vlog, well not sure about the bit when I remembered I’d forgot to put my chammy(arse) cream on, maybe we need to edit that!  Pete would always shout electrolytes or salt tablets in your water bottles as he would have them ready each time after I stopped (apparently over the 3 days we consumed over 35 litres of water) and Al would make sure my protein bars were topped in my bike pouch (I’d tried to eat one every hour).  So of we go Al tells me there is the biggest climb of the event (3000m on day 2) coming up Pen-Y-Pass so I
prepare myself and carry on for about 8km, see Al and say ‘is that it’ he says ‘yes’, great I think that wasn’t too bad, see you at the next junction.  I carry on cycling for about 10 minutes to about half way point on the day and see a sign that says 20% gradient (extremely steep), considering the biggest hill we can find in Essex is North Hill which is about 12% and about a mile long, this was over double the distance and nearly double the gradient, I gritted my teeth (with the only joy in my mind thinking that Alan got something wrong for once) and get into my lowest gear, stood on my pedals and slowly get
myself to the top.  I made my descent down and started wondering to myself if I was going to make it, that climb alone took me about 25 minutes for 5km well over twice the pace what my average pace for that distance is.  I carry on there are lots of big climbs my legs are getting really tired, the team pull me in you need some more fuel(I burnt 14,715 calories for the duration of the event), I question the time, they say your ok keep going the pace you are and you’ll make it for cut off, I say 'I have to make it for cut off'!  The pressure was on, Al says a couple more climbs then a good 10km+ downhill where we drove through when we arrived, then a short climb back to the
hotel.  Let’s do this, head down on the handlebars as I try and make up
time on the downhill (I get a beep from Alvaro, he on his way back to his accommodation, even he’s not waiting for me I must be late!), the light is starting to fade, I hit the uphill putting in extra effort to make it, the hotel and over the finish line, I make it just within 9 minutes of the cut off time.   Great scheduling, they took me right to the wire, I knew it
was going to be tight, so relieved, I know I can do Day 3, I have too everyone here keeps asking me what my best discipline is (as I’ve been last to finish each discipline) and I’ve told them it’s the run, would be nice not to come in last on the final day.  Interviews, Guinness, yoga etc, you know the drill.  Bike time Day 2 11:51:02

Day 3 – 52.4 mile (84.3 km) double marathon run

After another restless night, whilst Pete nods of on his
lower bunk listening to his meditation for getting him to sleep, the alarm goes off for Day 3 the run!  Legs are aching from the past 2 days but this is the one I know I can do I have 12 hours to become an Ultraman I can do this!  As we get to the start line, I line up with the other competitors hardly recognising them, the organisers telling us they have changed the route, will now run the first 2 kms down the hill then back up again (still the exact same distance).  So off we go you guessed it Whoosh, Alan’s in my head telling me to pace myself I hold back and to my surprise I have another competitor with me the only woman in the event Penny a RAF Search and Rescue pilot from Anglesey, we pass a few words on the first 10km and she asks me if I
know the route, I sheepishly say no I’m from Essex we don’t have hills and carry on.  The team tell me again they will meet me at every junction, we run the mountain I cycled down yesterday which had the most idyllic views then a long downhill where I grabbed a salted rice cake, I carry on as my airpods play ‘Rule the World’ by Take That (Meg’s song) this is why I am doing this I think to myself, Meg will get you round.  On the run I carry a light backpack which I have 2 bottles of water in (x1 electrolyte/x1 salt tablets) and some gels, plan was to drink at least every 2km and gel every 10km.  Then grab additional food from the team as I needed it.  I could see another 2 competitors ahead of me one individual and another from one of the relays teams, they suddenly took a left turn, my team wasn’t there, what do I
do, shall I follow them ahhhh!  I shout up to them saying ‘are you going
the right way’ they raise their hand and carry on, this was on a climb (you walk the climbs in ultra-running, well normal people do) so as I’m walking up I’m worried what should I do I’ll ring Alan, great I have reception, no answer………..I ring again he picks up, ‘Al I’ve just turned right’, ‘Neil go back down to the main road and keep going straight you have gone the wrong way, only turn when we are there, we will be at every junction’. I try and call up to the other competitors but they are gone I head back down to the main road I have gone about an extra 1km, could be worse, I see Penny and her pacer have gone back ahead of me I must be going the right way.  I see the team at the junction with the other individual competitors team and I explain they have
made a wrong turn.

I carried on, it was great on the run as I actually saw some
competitors, other team crews in their vans (one team wearing Avengers outfits cheering us on at the side of the road 😊), film crew (Craig and Mike, great guys they did my promotional video with Alvaro), Ben the organiser and Rich briefing lead social media guru, the other marshals/mechanic, every time they saw me they cheered me or rattled their cow bells or beeped their horns!  I did have my own personal film crew Belinda, and my chief messenger Pete who would update my wife Wendy, who would in-turn update family/friends on facebook, so I felt very spoilt! I’d made it to halfway, one marathon to do then I’m done, I was making good progress just over 4 ½ hour
marathon so plenty of time I think…………

I sit down on the back of the van, whilst Pete takes of my
trainers and socks, and Belinda begrudgingly asks me if I want a foot massage, I said thanks Belinda but I wouldn’t even ask Wendy to go near those sweaty feet, I changed my socks, ate my lunch and drunk my coke, trainers back on and off we go!  When I saw the forecast earlier in the week it was rain, they were wrong the sun was beating down reaching 25 degrees I was getting hot and tired as I reached the biggest climb of the day, it was a good 5km uphill through a back lane, Pete had taken the van down as the marshal hadn’t said that he couldn’t, later finding out that he wasn’t meant too, if he had met
something coming the over way he would have had a very long reverse, luckily he got through.  The hill was tough but so picturesque, in Snowdonia you have man-made walls of stone everywhere (it reminded me of Gerald off ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ maybe they had their on Welsh wall layer ‘Gareth’), so finally got through the
climb.  The team meet me with half a marathon to go to the end, great news Alan was going to pace me home, originally he said he would do the last 10km with me but then decided he would go with half a marathon.  So the next 10km were up and down, seeing the top of Snowdon against the blue sky backdrop was a wonderful site, there was various viewing points, I said to Al I need to stop at the next viewing point where Pete and Belinda will be.  I shout out ‘emergency get the bog roll’!  Yes some times needs must, I open the
gate crouched down and had the most wonderful view I’ve ever had whilst having a four by two!  Back through the gate Pete and Belinda coming rushing over with hand gel and we are back off.  We saw an RAF search and rescue  helicopter above us and we informed that it is Penny’s work colleagues cheering her on, I was grateful for the wonderful support from the ‘Active Essex’ team
what’s up group, but a fly pass that was just showing off 😊

We had reached the home straight Al informs me all downhill
from here about 11km to go, we run and he keeps talking as I follow him, getting tired, getting quieter, just wanting to finish, but just keep
going.  Nearly there Al goes 'saviour this we are nearly there', I say ‘just
get me to the finish line’.  There it is Swallow Hotel the finish line,
the red carpet, Alan leaves me, kiss up to Meg and I run through to the finish line, it’s done I am an Ultraman!  Massive hugs and thank you’s to my incredible team, hugs from https://www.cycling4soup.com/ 
(film crew) and Winner ‘Alvaro’ (finishing time ’26:25:10’, not human), hug from Ben organiser (great event) and Pete grabs me a cold beer instead of an electrolyte bottle, emotional call to wife and my girls, and mum and dad. Photos with my medal(only 4 medals had been given out previously, so for a further 8 medals to be given out showed what a phenomenal field of athletes where in the event with me) with my Find Your Active | Active
Essex t-shirt on, yes you guessed it interview, photos, bath with snacks and beers whilst texting all back all the great support I have received from family/friends/work colleagues, dinner, Guinness x2, Yoga, Bed, knowing that I could wake up and have my cooked breakfast which I had paid for the past 3 days
😊
Run time Day 3 09:58:00

Overall Time 32:34:02

Again thank you so much for your wonderful support and
donations, I couldn’t have done it with all your kind words and generous donations which helped motivate me to get round.

Please think about your health and wellbeing and keep
active, you will feel better for it.

So what next year………………………………………………

Many thanks for your support and donations, we have

currently raised £1605!  We leave tomorrow for Snowdonia ahead of 3 day Ultraman challenge starting 7am on Friday morning.  The temperature of the lake is currently 15 degrees so going to be a cold start, hopefully dry but always hilly for the rides, but looks like rain for the run on day 3, so I will be putting myself through a mental as well as physical challenge to make it to the finish line on Sunday evening!  Lets hope the 4900 miles/410 hours of training and the 5.30am mornings this year will pay off! If you would like to
track me please follow this link for your live trackers https://track.trail.live/event/event-2155,
password is: Snowdonia.  My Bib number is 22 and my tracker
ID is tracker 15 Neil Coggins.  Again thanks for your
support (more info below), update you on my return!

For those who know me and to those who don’t I set myself an Endurance challenge each year to raise money for children cancer charities (Little Havens Children’s Hospice who have supported my family and other Essex families through end of life care) and to inspire people to be physically active Find Your Active | Active
Essex.  Personally I try and push myself a bit harder every year to aim to do the impossible in the world of ultra-triathlon (swim, bike, run) disciplines. This year I am aiming to complete the ultimate triathlon challenge over 3 gruelling days in Snowdonia, Wales. The challenge is called Ultraman Wales (UMUK 515)

RACING QUEST (UK) LIMITED – The Home of UMUK – the UK’s only ultraman distance triathlon and this is what I’m going to put myself through between 3^rd – 5^th September 2021:

Day 1 –
6.2 mile (10km) Swim followed by 90 mile (144.9) bike

Day 2 –
172 (275.3 km) Bike

Day 3 –
52.4 mile (84.3 km) double marathon run

Total Distance – 320 miles (515 km) all to be done in 36 hours (but each day has a cut off time off 12 hours, if you don’t make this you don’t become an Ultraman………..)

There are only 5 official Ultraman events in the world, the last I heard there are 15 of us competing and 2 relay teams, so why (find out in youtube link below)?

The competitors have been fortunate to have a team called ‘https://www.cycling4soup.com/’ who have teamed up with UMUK to do a promotional video for each competitor here is
mine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GmuXbfh034
(Please use sound).

Thankfully I will have a team friends who have completed
previous events with me, trained with me and supported me in past events.  They will support me through each day
providing me with (Navigation, nutrition, change of clothes, drinks, Vaseline and plenty of encouragement)!

If you would like to sponsor me to help me through this
challenge please contribute through this just giving page.  Every penny is much appreciated (especially for Little Havens Hospice who like many other charities have gone through tough times through Covid-19), I’ll give it my very best to try and get through.