Royal Russell School Teacher Takes Arch to Arc Challenge

Published on isbi School News dated Wednesday 28th of March 2012

Published by, and with thanks to, Mr Nick Hitchens at The Croydon Guardian.

A teacher with a taste for endurance challenges is preparing to take on an Olympics-inspired adventure.

English teacher Jonny Muir has scaled the highest peak of every county in just 92 days and explored the remote islands of Scotland with just a tent and a sleeping bag for company and is now preparing for a triathlon-style challenge that will see him race from London to Paris in just five days this summer.

The 30-year-old, who packed in a life of journalism to join the Royal Russell School, Croydon in September is supporting charity Kith and Kids, dedicated to helping disabled children but says the challenge is about living life to the fullest.

He said: "It is great to support a cause but the main reason I am doing it is just doing stuff for the sake of doing it. There doesn't need to be a great cause, you can just do something for the pure joy of it. I wanted to do this during the Olympics as a tribute to the spirit of what it is all about."

Joined by three friends Mr Muir, who has written three books about his adventures will run 80 miles from Marble Arch to the south coast near Dover, kayak 26 miles across the channel and then cycle 150 miles to the Arc de Triomphe.

He said: "The running and cycling parts aren't a worry, I do a lot of endurance, it is the kayaking that fills me with dread.

"The only kayaking experience I have was four years ago on the River Wye so this is a huge step up.

"To be honest, it's not the physical side that is the concept of being in deep water and the fear of the unknown."

As preparation Mr Muir is preparing to take on the Bob Graham Round, in the Lake District, running up 42 mountains in 24 hours climbing the 28,500ft, almost the equivalent of Mount Everest.

He said: "That will be a huge test but I enjoy doing them while I can."