#InspiredbyHannah - Run, Swim, Bike
Almost 2 years ago a bunch of friends who grew up riding with Hannah, started plotting a plan to remember their incredible friend and raise funds for the charity so close to their hearts in the process.
Ideas flew about, a marathon? a ball? a sponsored ride? But it was decided that they needed to do something that challenged them, after all the challenge faced by Hannah was unimaginable.
So Run, Swim, Bike for Han came about. The challenge?
Half marathon
Tag-team the length of the English Channel (32km between us!!)
London to Paris
The challenge kicked off with the team of four storming around Bath Half 2020 - completing Step 1. However this was swiftly met by a global pandemic... with pools closed and international travel no longer possible the challenge was paused.
2021 came, along with the stresses of final year university exams, continued pandemics and the return of Run Swim Bike for Han v2.0. A few adjustments were made, the half marathon was swapped to a scenic tour of London and the cycle was made 'pandemic proof', staying on UK soil and heading Burghley - Blenheim - Badminton - Nunney.
Run was first, although the downpour in the English weather made the team question if they were actually completing the swim... The training in the run up to the first challenge sadly knocked two team mates out - a broken foot and a rolled ankle!
Two weeks later and it was time to swim. With an injury keeping the team at three members, there were nerves about whether they'd be able to make up the 32km (1,280 lengths!!). But thanks to friends of Hannah stepping in to make up the fourth leg, along with 5 packs of jelly babies (!!) the swim was complete!
Last up was the cycle... it's safe to say the team were far more comfortable riding a horse than a bike! However 3 days of cycling, two trips to Halfords, one very sore back, four prestigious eventing venues and faith in humanity resumed - the cycle and challenge was complete! Even getting a catch up with Willberry himself at the end!
The team managed to raise an awesome £4000 (http://bit.ly/RunSwimBike4Han) for Hannah's charity, but one of the proudest things achieved during the challenge was being able to share the story of their dear friend Hannah to incredible people met along the way.