Next year, Hereford Triathlon Club’s head coach, Ian Rivers is aiming to break the world record for the fastest solo crossing from New York to the Scilly Isles.

Preparing by rowing the equivalent of crossing the English Channel every day from his Hereford home, the former soldier said: "I’m trying to row at least 21 miles each day. I've got the rowing machine set up on my driveway and I train every morning and every evening."

The former Great Britain Age-Group Team member described his incredible challenge, saying: "I think it will take about two and a half months. Depending on the tides and weather, I will cover between 3,200 and 4,000 nautical miles."

Above: Ian Rivers and his home training set-up.

Ian already has amazing fundraising experience, taking part in the Arch to Arc Enduroman challenge, which saw him travel from Marble Arch in London, swim across the channel, and finish at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

In 2016, together with fellow Hereford Triathlon Club coaches Julie Hardman and Nicola Goodwin, they became the first people to swim the entire length of the River Wye from source to sea. 

He’s now fundraising for St. Michael’s Hospice in Herefordshire, the Special Air Service Regimental Association and The Veterans Orthopaedic Centre Appeal at The RJAH hospital in Oswestry, saying: "This has been on my bucket list for 30 years. I can't wait to give it a go and hopefully raise money for two great charities too.”

The physical and mental aspects of the challenge will push Ian to his limits, but he insists that his experience in the British army will serve him well. Saying: "Having studied previous attempts to cover the distance, I’m almost guaranteed to encounter extreme weather and the potential for the boat to roll over."

He continued: "It's important that I prepare for events like that mentally and physically. I think I’ll be rowing for at least eight hours a day so setting a routine is really important. There will be dark moments and bad weather but I've encountered isolation before so I know how important it is to set a routine, stick to it and have a sense of purpose every day."

Ian is an amazing example of how athletes across the world of sport are adapting to the current conditions and making their training work for them. You can see Ian training here.

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