The ultimate duathlon.  

The starter, 27-29 July: 200 miles of cycling from Lake Garda to Venice over three days.  

Then, four weeks later, the main course: the Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc - a 100 mile single-stage run, at altitude, with over 30,000 feet of ascent.  The UTMB winner typically takes 20 hours; the "normal" runners - who have endured some punishing races just to qualify - take 40 hours; and of the 2000 runners that start, less than 50% finish within the 46 hour cut-off.

Why would anyone attempt this? 

http://bridge2bridge.hertford.ox.ac.uk/about/

http://www.ultratrailmb.com/page/20/UTMB%C2%AE.html

The answer is to raise sponsorship for student hardship grants at Hertford College, Oxford.  Hertford College has a proud history of championing student access, with one of the highest percentages of entrants from state school and deprived backgrounds, which is now threatened as the cost of university education rises.  Hardship grants will allow gifted students an education they could not otherwise afford.  The bike ride from Hertford's Bridge of Sighs to Venice's is to celebrate 100 years of the Oxford bridge.  

When I committed to both this bike ride and the UTMB run I didn't expect to secure places in  both...

I am paying my full entry cost for both the bike ride and UTMB run so all money donated will go direct to charity.  So please help - and motivate me to keep going - thank you!!

Happy cycling and happy running!

Sam

 (ps For friends in the US - you can use US credit cards to donate here but be careful with the amount - remember it's in GBP!)

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