Be part of this incredible world record attempt
Laura will be attempting 40 iron-distance triathlons IN A ROW. She will be pushing herself 16 hours a day and eventually covering 5,624 miles during the full 40 day challenge.
Just let thank sink in for a moment!
Laura is raising vital funds for YMCA Derbyshire and youth charity AYUP, supporting young people with safe places, support and opportunities when they need them most. If you’re as inspired as we are, there are several ways to be part of this incredible journey:
- Volunteer as a Guinness World Records witness and help make history
- Cheer or run alongside Laura — full marathon distances not required!
- Sponsor a day for £100 — with photo opportunities and recognition on social media
To get involved, please contact YMCA Derbyshire directly at [email protected]
To follow the challenge and make a donation visit Triathlon Project website.
“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.”
“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.”
Gillian Sewell, CEO of Derbyshire YMCA
But what if she can?
Starting on 6th May, Laura Massey-Pugh plans to swim, cycle and run her way into the record books to celebrate her 40th birthday.
Already a world record holder, 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, but this time it’s all happening closer to home in Derbyshire.
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. Laura believes the previous furthest was a triple Deca – 30 consecutive triathlons in 30 days, which was also achieved by an athlete in Germany but not officially recorded.
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. YMCA staff are pleased to be part of the volunteer team helping with this.
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.
Dean Jackson, founder of HUUB, has just completed the London Marathon with Gillian Sewell, YMCA Derbyshire’s CEO, running alongside her every step of the way. Dean 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!”
