'My record bid to do 40 iron triathlons in 40 days'

When it comes to birthday celebrations Laura Massey-Pugh has decided to go all out for her 40th.

She is attempting to set a Guinness World Record by completing 40 iron-distance triathlons in 40 days.

Laura, from Mickleover in Derby, is more than half way through the challenge which involves swimming 155 lengths in a 25m pool, cycling 112 miles (180km) and then running a full marathon (26.2 miles/42.1km) everyday for 40 days.

"I'm 40 this year so I was looking for a challenge for my birthday and 40 back-to-back iron-distance triathlons seemed to fit the bill, but yes, it's a bit nuts," she said.

Laura, who works as a vet, said she started her challenge on 6 May and has already had to contend with some extreme weather conditions.

"I didn't expect a 30 degree heat swing in May.

"Within a week it went from... hail all over the bars of my bike and on my arms and everything, and then... it was 35 degrees and I was absolutely melting.

"That's made it really tough, those extreme temperature days have definitely been the hardest," she said.

Laura said her day started each morning at about 07:00 in the pool at Etwall Leisure centre before cycling at 09:00 for about eight hours.

She then runs a marathon in the evening, which usually takes her to until about 23:30 every night.

Laura said she had been supported by Derby Triathlon club of which she is a member and other local run clubs.

"I think that's been a massive motivation to be honest, so many people have got behind this, they have come out on the bike, they've come out on the run and I just think 'wow' I've got to keep going," she said.

Chris Redding, a coach at Derby Triathlon Club, said: "She would say that she is an athlete who would never win a race, that is how she pitches herself but she's got this ability to just keep going and it's inspiring.

"It's inspiring our club members, people are getting more active, they are getting involved and supporting it, it's just an amazing project."

Another club member Susannah Simpson said: "I don't think people realise the enormity of it.

"I cycled alongside her because I cannot keep up with her running, and I was cold and wet and I'd had enough - she kept going, and she'd been out on the bike in hail beforehand."

Laura already holds a world record with her husband Stevie for being the fastest cyclists to circumnavigate the world on a tandem bike.

The couple cycled 18,000 miles (28,968km) in 180 days in 2022.

While Laura's latest solo challenge is in pursuit of another record she is also using the opportunity to raise money for two charities.

Any funds raised will be donated to YMCA Derbyshire and AYUP (Alfreton Youngsters Umbrella Provision) - a small independent charity which provides support and activities for young people.

Paul Taylor from YMCA Derbyshire said: "I think Laura is amazing, she's inspiring so many people and we're working with lots of young people across the city of Derby and it's helping us to say, look you can do something because somebody like Laura is making a difference for you."

Dean Jackson, founder of clothing firm HUUB, which is also supporting Laura's challenge, said: "I work with the best athletes in the world, the Brownlee brothers, Alex Yee, and Georgia Taylor-Brown, but I've never met anyone with the tenacity to get up everyday and think 'I'm doing an Ironman' and to think that they are going to do 40 of them.

"She must be wired incredibly uniquely, because whenever you see her, she's always smiling and I'm like 'you know what you've got ahead of you today, you know what you've got behind you' but she's just so happy with it and she's just on a mission."

Laura said Guinness World Records has told her she would have to complete 33 consecutive iron-distance triathlons to set the record for a female athlete - the International Ultra Triathlon Association has previously recorded a 30 day record.

The record will be verified at the end of the challenge as Laura has had to keep logs and get volunteers to witness her activities.

"It still seems a long way off somehow because every day is so big, over 16 hours that I kind of almost don't dare think about it.

"I'm going to keep pushing, I'm going to keep going."

However, Laura said when she finally celebrates turning 40 on 1 July, she will be taking it easy.

"I will not be doing an Ironman... I will be drinking and eating pizza!," she added.

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