Dr Paul Davies, a 50-year-old GP in Ambleside, Cumbria, is taking part in Triathlon X on Saturday, said to be the hardest ultra-distance triathlon.
The triathlon in the Lake District – which brands itself ‘the world’s toughest’ – involves a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle rise and a 26.4-mile run (a full marathon distance), including going up and down Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England.
He is fundraising for the St Mary’s hospice in Ulverston.
Dr Davies told Pulse he is taking part because ‘I quite like a challenge’ and it’s ‘a chance to enjoy a really full day in the lakes in places that I know and love already’.
He added: ‘I don’t have an awful lot of time for training really which is probably similar to a lot of GPs.’ He is also busy with an amateur dramatics production over the summer.
His GP training will also help him, as he does out-of-hours work ‘including some night shifts, so I’m still used to staying up all night, which will come in quite handy for this particular event,’ he said. The race starts at 4.30am and the first competitor is expected to return around 6pm.
You can sponsor Dr Davies here.
