Windermere woman sets world record in ultra marathon (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Windermere woman sets world record in ultra marathon
10:10am Thursday 16th August 2012 in News
By Helen Perkins, Reporter
Michelle celebrates her arrival in Paris at the Arc de Triomphe at the end of her ordeal
A LAKE District woman has become a world record holder in of the world’s most challenging endurance events. Michelle Rothwell, of Windermere, took on the ultra-triathlon from London to Paris, in the Arch to Arc Challenge.
The 25-year-old completed a 87-mile run from London to Dover, a 24-mile swim across the English Channel and a 181-mile cycle from Calais to Paris.
Michelle, a property surveyor, completed the challenge in 91 hours and 25 minutes, beating the previous record by a woman by five hours.
She becomes one of only 10 people to have ever successfully achieved the feat.
She said: “It’s an incredible feeling to have finished such an insane event and one I will look back on with fond memories.”
Michelle took on the endurance marathon to raise funds for North Lancashire and South Lakeland charity CancerCare in memory of her cousin Richard Scowcroft.
She said: “I pushed myself to the extreme both mentally and physically but did so in memory of my cousin. “He was an inspiration to me and I felt it was important for me to support the charity that helped his family in a time of need.”
Her worst moment came two hours into her swim, when her support boat broke down and she was forced to swim around it while those on board tried to deal with the problem. At the finishing point at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, she was greeted by husband Tom, mum Janet and dad Harold.
So far, Michelle has raised over £9,000 in sponsorship. CancerCare’s chief executive Lynne Stafford said “We are all utterly astounded by Michelle’s achievement and in awe of the sheer determination she has shown in completing this challenge for her cousin.”
Michelle’s efforts dwarf the achievement of Team GB’s Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonathan who took Olympic gold and bronze in the men’s triathlon.
All they had to do was complete a 1.5km swim, a 43km bike ride and 10km run! To sponsor Michelle visit www.justgiving.com/ Michelle- Rothwell12
