This September I will be attempting one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world — the Enduroman Arch to Arc Triathlon. In support of Aspire, a charity dedicated to helping people with spinal cord injuries. The journey begins at Marble Arch in London and finishes at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, covering close to 500km across three disciplines:
A 140 km run from London to Dover, 34km swim across the English Channel, and a 300km cycle from Calais to Paris. It’s often described as the “Hardest Triathlon on the Planet.”
I’ll be attempting it as part of a team of six, but this isn’t a traditional relay where each person completes one stage. Instead, we rotate through the disciplines roughly every hour, meaning each of us will take part in the run, the swim and the cycle repeatedly until the team reaches Paris.
At some point during the crossing that will almost certainly mean climbing into the English Channel in the middle of the night, swimming for an hour in cold open water, getting out, warming up briefly, and then preparing to do it all again. The hope is that the jellyfish will be sleeping.
And there is one additional rule that makes the swim even more challenging., we will complete the Channel swim without wetsuits — just standard swimwear, a hat and goggles — meaning the cold water becomes part of the challenge. As well as Jellyfish
Preparation for something like this takes months of training across running, cycling and open-water swimming, building endurance and gradually acclimatising to the cold-water conditions of the Channel. The event will test all of us physically and mentally, but it’s also a reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared goal.
The real purpose behind the challenge is to raise money for Aspire, a charity that supports people with spinal cord injuries, helping them rebuild independence through housing, employment support and rehabilitation services.
Last year I had the privilege of swimming the English Channel as part of the Aspire Channel Relay, It was an unforgettable experience and raised just under £5,000 to support Aspire’s work.
Taking on Arch to Arc feels like the natural next step in that journey. Because while the challenge itself is extraordinary, it’s nothing compared to the resilience shown every day by the people Aspire supports.
If pushing ourselves through nearly 500km of running, swimming and cycling can help support that work, then it’s a challenge well worth taking on. If you would like to support Aspire and the challenge, I would really appreciate it
About Aspire
Aspire is a UK charity dedicated to supporting people with spinal cord injuries to rebuild independence after injury. The organisation provides accessible housing, employment support, assistive technology and rehabilitation services, helping individuals regain confidence and opportunity.
About Enduroman Arch to Arc
The Enduroman Arch to Arc Triathlon is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world. Participants complete: 140km run from Marble Arch (London) to Dover, 34km swim across the English Channel, 300km cycle from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe (Paris). Total distance: approximately 474km
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