Try a triathlon, in under a minute!

The Virgin Active “World’s Shortest Try-Athlon World Record Attempt in Aid of Local Charity “We Love Lichfield”, around Princes Park, Burntwood on Monday 5^th May

 
KP Events, organisers of the Lichfield Half Marathon and Cathedral Dash are staging a World record attempt; the ‘Virgin Active World’s shortest try-athlon’ on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May 2013 at 10am to raise money for local charity We Love Lichfield.

The try-athlon will be around the UK’s smallest park – Princes Park off Farewell Lane in Burntwood. Participants will cycle first on an exercise bike supplied by Virgin Active for 10 seconds, then run for 55 paces before swimming the final leg in a specially designed pool.  In total, the whole event will last approximately 25 – 45 seconds and everyone will get wet! Anybody and everybody can take part and the event will be sent to the Guinness Book of World Records for verification.

People can register for £5 through www.kpevents.net/enter-an-event and a percentage of the entrance fee plus collections on the day will go to We Love Lichfield.  It is hoped that over 500 people attend raising in the region of £1000 for the Fund.

Kevin Wilson of KP Events said he dreamt the idea up after the World’s Smallest Fun Run attempt last year.  He said: “Princes Park is the UK’s smallest park and we had over 300 people run around it last Spring Bank Holiday.  The weather was fantastic and everybody had a great time, raising money for We Love Lichfield so I thought we’d have another go.  But this time I thought we’d be a bit more adventurous.  Triathlons are normally for the super-fit, our event is about ‘trying’ a triathlon and in true British style everyone taking part will have a great time and achieve something special.

Not only will participants attempt to become record-holders but they can also raise money for our favourite charity, We Love Lichfield, which gives away grants of up to £1000 to local groups and projects across the District.”

Julian Fisher, Donor Advisor for We Love Lichfield said: “What a brilliant idea…another unusual family fun event to add to the District’s extensive sporting calendar. I’m delighted that the organisers KP Events have chosen the We Love Lichfield Fund as its charity and I hope that lots of people can take part in what will be a fun occasion.”

Staff from Virgin Active teamed up with Kevin Wilson from KP Events and Julian Fisher from We Love Lichfield Fund to officially launch the ‘World’s Shortest Try-Athlon’.

Local triathlete Ian Dempsey (pictured second right), is very impressed with the idea of a try-athlon.  He said: “What a fantastic idea.  People think that a triathlon is only for the super-fit.  But with a try-athlon everybody can take part and who knows, some people will enjoy the experience and carry on to longer distances, and all in a fantastic cause too.”

The Virgin Active World’s shortest Try-Athlon world record attempt forms part of a running-themed May bank holiday weekend across the Lichfield District starting with a running exhibition on Stowe Field in Lichfield on Sunday May 4th from 9:30am and then it’s the Lichfield Half Marathon at 10.30am starting from King Edward’s Leisure Centre at 10:30am.

For more information visit www.kpevents.net

Picture caption: (L-R) Matt Lancaster (VA), Julian Fisher (We Love Lichfield), Sue Wright (VA), Kevin Wilson (KP Events), Dan Toth (VA), Andy Alden (VA), Chris Brooks (VA) Ian Dempsey (VA) and Gemma Howells (VA) celebrate the launch at Virgin Active