Cycling from his home in Stirling to work at Glenfarg has kept Binnwaste Management general manager Iain Taylor both fit for work and for competing in some of the country’s most gruelling endurance challenges.
The 2011 Coast to Coast Challenge saw the 39-year-old fitness enthusiast run, cycle and kayak a total of 109 miles from Nairn to the Glencoe Hotel – all in an amazing 13 hours (1hr 30mins faster than his 2010 time).
“It is one of the most demanding physical challenges staged in Scotland,” explained Iain, “and at times you just feel you can’t go on. But you have to keep pushing and pushing and harnessing your determination to finish.”
The mammoth challenge – which has seen Iain raise nearly £4,000 for CHAS in his first two years – takes 2,000 competitors on an awe-inspiring journey of endurance:
8 mile run from Nairn to Cawdor Castle; then
54 mile cycle to Fort Augustus; then
2 mile kayak on Loch Ness and 2 mile run: then
16 mile offroad cycle to Fort William; then
14 mile trek up Ben Nevis before joining the West Highland Way and running up the north side of Loch Leven and kayaking across to Ballachulish and running the final leg to the Glencoe Hotel.
Although the Coast to Coast is the most arduous on Iain’s challenge calendar, he manages to fit a few half marathons and other events into his busy schedule.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to complete a challenge like the Coast to Coast,” he said. “It’s so tough. The worst is coming out of the kayak and having to get your legs working again for a run. You can stop to grab a warm drink and a bite to eat at the refreshment stations but you daren’t sit down or relax or you simply wouldn’t be able to get going again.”
Iain’s participation in the annual event came as a result of a challenge from some footballing friends who claimed rugby players like Iain were inferior in fitness. “OK, I didn’t manage to beat them but I gave them a fright. Wait until next year! I might even persuade a few of the team at Binnwaste Management to join me!”