My name is Chris Pountney and I am attempting the Ultimate Triathlon.
A triathlon consists of three disciplines completed one after another; swimming, cycling, and running.
The Ultimate Triathlon consists of three challenges, each one taking one of these disciplines to its absolute extreme. The three challenges are to run the Marathon des Sables, to cycle the Tour de France route, and to swim the English Channel
The Marathon des Sables is a 240-km foot-race across the Sahara desert in which competitors must carry all food and kit. It is often described as 'the toughest foot-race on earth.'
The Tour de France is a 3,000km, 3-week bike race through western Europe which even many elite riders are happy just to finish. The route changes each year but always takes in some intense climbs through the mountains.
Swimming the English Channel is an incredibly difficult 35-km swim in cold water which takes months of daily training to prepare for, and on average 14 hours to swim. It is regarded as the pinnacle of open water swimming.