IN addition to competing in races last weekend, several Okehampton Running Club members were busy helping at the Endurancelife Horseman Xtreme Triathlon.

It is the first time this event has ever been held, with Dartmoor being chosen as an ideal setting to test these tough athletes to the limit. Held over the full ironman triathlon distance with a 2.4 mile swim, a bike ride of 108 miles across moorland roads and finishing with a multi-terrain marathon over the moors, this event went beyond even an ironman. Volunteers from ORC helped marshal both the swim, held at Roadford Lake, and the run which was organised by Okehampton member Mervyn Rice.

Starting from Meldon Reservoir the run went along paths and a small section of the Granite Way into Okehampton, before following the footpath out to Chapel Ford and onto the moors where the rest of the distance was run, including the summits of Yes Tor and High Willhays. Despite the incredible endurance needed to complete an event of this nature, many of the athletes actually enjoyed the experience of running on the moors well into the evening, with the lucky ones seeing a wonderful sunset from the top of Yes Tor.

The last competitors finished the run after midnight, having started the swim at 7am, and with only the light of a head-torch to see by. After a great deal of hard work setting up the route and helping marshal both the swim and run, Mervyn and his wife Susie also had the stress of watching their daughter Jenny compete. They needn't have worried though as she had an amazing day, finishing first lady from a field of experienced athletes, in her first ever full ironman length triathlon, completing in 15hr 9.59