I'm taking on a series of massive challenges this year in aid of Positive Action on Cancer. 

These grueling events: the Celtman, X-man, Norseman, and Scottish Highlands Coast to Coast are perhaps the toughest in the world featuring 17,220m of ascent on bike and foot.  Over the four extreme triathlons between June and September, I'll swim 7.5 miles, cycle 430 miles and run 100miles.

 

Back in the autumn of 2007 I took part in the Bristol 1/2 marathon. At the time my mother-in-law was undergoing intensive chemotherapy at the BRI Oncology unit on St Michaels Hill.  Surrounded by so many fit and able people, the contrast between our two lives was quite stark and I felt very emotional during the whole of the run. Sadly in 2008 Diane died – she was 61 and had been receiving treatment for

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia for two years.

 

The following year I decided to start raising money for cancer charities by taking part in triathlons and multisport events. Starting with the Blenheim and Bath City Tri in 2009 I progressed to IM 70.3 in 2010 and then full IM events in 2011, raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research along the way.

 

Attracted by the more ‘off-road’ events in the tri and multisport calendar I decided to take on 4 long distance events in 4 months to raise money for Positive Action on Cancer (PAC).

 

Why PAC? Well my local Triathlon Club, Frome Triathlon Club has chosen PAC as its charity of the year and, having lost several members of my family to cancer I admire the work the charity does for suffers and carers.

 

Jill Miller founder of PAC was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and as a result had a mastectomy, saying: “Counselling at that time unquestionably saved my sanity. Having someone to listen to me took away a lot of the fear and enabled me to cope with the set of changed circumstances in my life”. As a result of her experiences Jill was determined to offer support to others in a similar situation. Only a year after her diagnosis Jill founded Positive Action on Cancer as a telephone helpline to support women with breast cancer. Then, in 1995 it became a registered charity.

 

I also hope to raise the profile of long course triathlons in the UK and highlight events such as the Celtman and X-Man, in which athletes compete in some of the most beautiful parts of the UK.”

 

The four extreme events consist of

 

The Celtman (23 June)

The first Scottish long distance triathlon. Based near the Isle of Skye on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. The race has a 2.5 mile swim in Loch Sheildaig, a 125 mile bike ascending 6250ft around Rosshire and a marathon up 4045ft over two Munros.

 

X-Man (14 July)

The first off-road long distance triathlon in the UK starts in Eastbourne and ends in Salisbury. The race has a 2.5 mile swim off Eastbourne beach, a 112 mile overnight MTB ascending 9500ft along the North Downs Way to Winchester and a trail marathon ascending 1650ft along the Clarendon Way to Salisbury.

 

Norseman (4 August)

One of the toughest on the long distance circuit. Norseman is a linear race from Eidfjord to Gaustatoppen mountain in Norway. The race has a 2.5 mile swim in Eidfjord, a 112 mile bike ascending 13750ft up to and across the Hardangervidda National Park and a marathon which climbs 5900 feet up the Gaustatoppen mountain

 

Coast to Coast (16 September)

A non-stop race from the east to west coast of the Scottish Highlands. 23 miles of trail running and 82 miles of mountain biking and kayaking, climbing 15452ft across the Highlands and finishing in Glen Coe.