THIS week a team of UNFICYP personnel will embark on an epic charity challenge – to run the full length of the buffer zone in just 60 hours.
The four man team – comprising three British soldiers, Wayne Rowett, Andy Gillies and Simon Thomson, and one UN civilian, Max Dyck – will set off from near Famagusta at 6am on Wednesday, hoping to arrive in Kato Pyrgos area by 6pm on Friday.
In that time they aim to cover 240 kilometres – or 5½ marathons – of varying terrain in temperatures ranging from minus seven degrees to +12. What is more, they’re doing it all with just three hours of sleep.
Dyck said this is the first attempt of its kind: “The buffer zone has been cycled over two days, walked in a week and segments driven with ease on most days, but the only two known attempts to complete it continuously on foot have faltered around the half way mark.”
Asked about the 60 hour target, Dyck said: “This time is the cut off time for international ultra-distance races of this length. The attempt will be made in as continuous manner as possible; sleep will only come if time is made up and it does not jeopardise the 60 hour window. Current plans see only one three hour stop.”
The team will cover a range of terrains as they jog from east to west coast, from the mountainous loose gravel tracks of the Troodos to the wide open plains of the Mesaoria.
“There will probably be rain and possibly snow in the mountains all of which adds a further degree of difficulty,” Dyck added.
Throughout the 60 hour challenge, the team will be supported by off-road drivers, a doctor and a physiotherapist to treat minor ailments and handle possible emergencies. “Nutrition is obviously vital to the success of an event like this,” said Dyck, “and will contain a mix of solid foods, rehydration and isotonic drinks, liquid carbohydrate drinks and soups.”
The team has been preparing for the gruelling task for the last six months: “A lot of sweat and effort has gone into training and preparation for this event… We did several 45km runs in the mountains, 50kms on the flat and a 12 hour test run.”
Dyck’s own training schedule has included 45-50kms each Saturday, an eight km “loosener” on Sunday, 10-13kms every Tuesday and Wednesday and a 16-20km run on Thursday. “Generally I averaged 100-120kms per week,” he said.
The team has raised over €2,200 in donations so far, of which half will go to Help for Heroes; a British charity launched in 2007 to support servicemen wounded after the September 11 attacks in New York.
The other half will be divided between the UN Children’s charity, UNICEF, and The Captain James Philippson Trust Fund, which was set up by James’ friends and family to support various charities after Philippson’s tragic death while serving in Afghanistan.
n To sponsor the team, email [email protected] mentioning the total amount, or an amount per kilometre, that you would like to give. For more information about the Captain James Philippson Trust, visit: http://www.captainjim.org/
