Forres man completes gruelling Ironman triathlon to raise funds for charity
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A FORRES man has raised £2000 for charity after completing a gruelling Ironman triathlon.
Calum Neil (28), swam 3.8 kilometres, cycled 180.2km and then ran a marathon to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee.
The Ironman event – which 2044 people competed in – was the first that Calum has ever entered. It took place in Hamburg on June 4.
"This has always been the pinnacle, so I'm relieved to have finished the event," Calum said.
"I've done a few half-Ironman challenges but never a full one before, so, as it's the big one, I decided to make it a fundraiser.
"I've been really touched by the amount of people that have supported me.
"People have limited money this year more than most years, and all of the £2000 has come from people I know – friends, family and colleagues – so it means a lot."
The 28-year-old, who works as a strategy consultant in London, undertook much of his training in and around Forres, where he has been a regular swimmer.
During lockdown, with swimming pools closed, running became a new pastime – and it was at that point Calum realised he was two-thirds of the way to a triathlon.
Despite, by his own admission, not being the most confident of cyclists, he decided he had to take the Ironman challenge on and began training.
Final preparations for the event, though, were far from ideal as he came off his bike at a half-Ironman in Spain and injured his hip in May.
Despite somehow managing to limp home and finish, with his bike spokes loose, the accident left Calum hobbling for 10 days.
However, determined as ever – he recovered to smash his way through the Ironman in Germany, completing the swim in 1 hour 6 minutes, cycle in 6 hours 56 and marathon in 3 hours 47.
"Coming off my bike in Mallorca made me a lot more cautious on the bike in Hamburg," Calum admitted. "Cycling has always been my weakest part, but I'm chuffed with my marathon time.
"I had no idea if I could do constant exercise for that length of time, or what it feels like to cycle for seven hours and then start a marathon.
"I never had a proper training plan, my job is so busy so sessions were hard to fit in. My philosophy was try to do three or four hours during the week and something big at the weekend.
"But I'd never done a marathon before April, and then I cycled 200 kilometres in the gym for the first time after that. Going into it, it was mostly about survival."
Calum is still collecting money for the International Rescue Committee – a charity which helps people affected by conflict and natural disasters.
He added: "The IRC is an excellent charity that targets countries and areas worse hit by spontaneous disasters and helps people in the most dire need across the world."
On completing another Ironman, he said: "I won't be rushing to sign up for another full Ironman, but if somebody wanted company I'd consider it!"
To support Calum's fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/calum-neil-1
