Here are three crazy events that have caught my eye. Check them out if you are up for a challenge (and have a lot of time spare to train).
3. Ultraman –
For those who think the Ironman Triathlon is too short, try the Ultraman. Held over several days, the event starts with a 10km open water swim. After the swim is a 420km bike ride followed by an 84km run.
The good news is you have a support team to cheer you along and give you food and drink. The bad news is it takes a long time to cover the distance.
Now that is one tough event. (ultramanoz.com)
2. Matterhorn run -
Do you enjoy a mountain walk with a view? Well, what about starting and finishing in the town of Breuil-Cervinia, Italy, and running up and down the famous Matterhorn.
Normally, this is a favourite spot for mountain climbers. They leave at dawn, climb the mountain and try to be back by dusk. But if you have limited time why not try running up and back? It's faster!
Catalan mountain runner Kilian Jornet demonstrated this recently. The running legend smashed the record by 20 minutes to run from the village to the summit and back in 2hrs 52min. The footage will become a HD movie and is worth seeing.
It is an amazing act of strength and endurance to ascend and descend this mountain at speed. Check out parts of the descent.
1. Arch to Arc –
Without doubt the toughest event on the planet. If you thought swimming the English Channel (34km) was a tough act, then try running from London to Dover (140km) as a warm up.
Then swimming the channel followed by a ride from the French coast to Paris (291km). That is just crazy!
From London's Marble Arch to the Paris' Arc de Triomphe, this event takes around 100 hours to complete including navigation of the channel tides. (www.enduroman.com/#/arch-to-arc-events/4583446845)
Jeremy Dover is a former sports scientist and pastor
Jeremy Dover's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/jeremy-dover.html