Endurance athlete Sam Boatwright has announced a world record attempt for cycling non-stop from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
Thirty-two-year-old Sam hopes to break the record for the fastest “end to end” in either direction by bicycle – without stopping. The record stands at 44 hours, four minutes and 19 seconds set by Gethin Butler in 2001.
Sam is known as the Epic Runner. In 2012, he ran 50 miles every day for 50 days covering 2,500 miles round the UK coastline and raising £20,000 for Help For Heroes.
Sam said: “I have been all the way round, now I’m going to go up and down. I want to go side to side as well but that’s one for the future.
“The bike challenge will be very tough. I know I have the mental strength and I am training hard to accumulate the power needed to average 20mph for 856 miles. I am up for it.”
Call out for sponsorship help
Sam, a secondary school teacher and personal trainer who lives in Steeton, near Skipton, Yorkshire, is looking for sponsorship to cover his costs. He will again raise money for the charity that supports ex-servicemen and women.
He also wants to inspire the ordinary man or woman in the street to try extraordinary things.
Sam said: “When I did my Epic Run I had never run a marathon, yet I ran 2,500 miles in 50 days. I’m a regular bloke, not an elite cyclist, but I want to show that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and are prepared to put the work in.”
Sam needs help from businesses and organisations to fund the challenge. He requires spare wheels, clothing, support crew costs and ideally, a whole spare bike to keep potential hold-ups to a minimum. And with the lightest gear, Sam will get the most from each pedal stroke.
He sys: “If I get a puncture, I want to be able to just swap the wheel and carry on. Likewise, if I have a mechanical problem a spare bike could make all the difference. All sponsors will have their logo displayed on all my kit so they can think of me as a moving advert literally the length of the country. I would also welcome donations in kind if any bike companies would like to help me.”
The start of the epic ride
Sam will leave John O’Groats on Friday August 21 with his support crew of parents Martin and Gill Boatwright and friends, ex-Army sergeant Martin Williamson and PE teacher Sajad Hussain. They will travel in a minibus lent by Sam’s employer, St Bede’s School in Heaton, Bradford. Local firms Mewies Solicitors, Watson and Buckle accountants, San Angelo’s restaurant in Baildon, Maxski.net and CT Ski have already pledged their support.
Sam can be contacted via email at [email protected] or see www.samboatwright.com.