Laura Massey-Pugh, 39, plans to swim, cycle and run her way into the record books by embarking on her challenge, which she is calling the Triathlon Project, next month, in the run-up to her 40th birthday.
Four years ago, Laura and her husband, Stevie, achieved the fastest circumnavigation by a mixed tandem cycling team, which took them 18,000 miles across 21 countries in just 179 days.
Now she wants to subject herself to another super-human feat of endurance by covering 5,624 miles – the equivalent of travelling from Derby to Los Angeles – in the pool, on her road bike and by foot, starting on May 6.
But where her tandem trip saw her and Stevie traverse Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America, her triathlon challenge will take place somewhat closer to her home in Mickleover.
Starting with a 2.3-mile swim comprising 155 lengths of the 25m pool at Etwall Leisure Centre, she will then cycle 112 miles by travelling on the A5132 between Hilton and Swarkestone four times.
Then it’s onto the 26.2-mile marathon run, which Laura will complete by running along the Great Northern Greenway from Mickleover to Egginton twice.
She will start and finish from the Mickleover Court Hotel each day and expects each triathlon to take her 16 hours.
Stevie and Laura met through a mutual love of long-distance cycling, but Laura got into triathlons after taking up ultra-distance running and enjoying the variety of switching between being on two wheels and on two feet.
With her celebrating her 40th birthday this year, she decided she wanted to mark the occasion by taking on a solo challenge and setting new world record in the process.
“I’m very excited to be taking this challenge and looking forward to seeing how it goes.
Although I’ve done plenty of big events, I’m not some superhuman athlete; I’m just someone who loves endurance events, and I want to see what I can do as a solo athlete.
“It’s very different to the tandem ride because it’s the same route every day, so I can plan everything, whereas before we didn’t know what we were going to encounter from one day to the next.
“Doing the same route day in, day out might sound boring, but there will always be something to think about, plus there will be people supporting me and, hopefully, accompanying me on the run, so I’ll have plenty of company too.”
Although the official world record for the most consecutive iron-distance triathlons is 120, by German athlete Jonas Deichmann, there is no official record for women.
Instead, Laura believes the previous furthest was a triple Deca – 30 consecutive triathlons in 30 days, which was also achieved by an athlete in Germany.
Her challenge will take her into new territory and into the Guinness World Records, as long as she completes the challenge – and has the evidence to prove it, which she will need by employing volunteers to help her log her progress.
Laura has been training with a professional coach since December and is being supported by a number of local firms, including performance sportswear manufacturers HUUB, which is supplying her swim skin, cycling and running clothing.
And she is also using the triathlon challenge to raise money for charity, with the proceeds from sponsorship going to YMCA Derbyshire and AYUP – which stands for Alfreton Youth Umbrella Provision and provides safe spaces where young people can enjoy activities and make friends.
Dean Jackson MBE, founder of HUUB, said: “Laura is taking on an incredible challenge and we are providing her with the latest tech and equipment to ensure she has every chance of achieving the record.
“Our slogan is that it’s what you don’t see that makes you faster and there will be plenty of hidden tech within her kit that will make things as efficient as can be across the swim, bike and run.
“We’re all really excited to be a part of her world record attempt and what’s even better is that I won’t have to go far to cheer her on, since she’ll be covering all those thousands of miles within a few miles’ radius of our home city of Derby!”
Gillian Sewell, CEO of Derbyshire YMCA, said: “We’re really proud that Laura has offered to use her amazing challenge to raise money for the YMCA and we’ll all be cheering her on.
“I completed the London Marathon last weekend and that took every ounce of effort to prepare for. To think she will run a full marathon after a long swim and a bike ride for 40 days straight quite honestly blows my mind.”
James Simpson, a trustee at AYUP, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Laura has chosen to help us out by raising money for us.
“The Triathlon Project that she’s taken on board is beyond normal for anybody to be able to do, but by donating money, I’m sure everyone can help to keep her going and keep her motivated.”
To find out more about Laura’s Triathlon Project challenge and to make a donation, visit the Triathlon Project website.
