Largs & Millport Weekly News | Sport | Iron woman Nicky cycles and swims to Nice

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 23rd April, 2008 12:00

Iron woman Nicky cycles and swims to Nice

LARGS female athlete Nicky Walker is adding her own unique twist to competing in Ironman France Nice 2008 (swim 3.8k, bike 180k,run 42k): she is going to cycle to the start… from London.

Endeavouring to cover the 900 plus mile journey in 10 days, Nicky will set off from Greenwich, London on Monday June 9th and will be heading straight to the white cliffs of Dover courtesy of the A2.

She will commence her French Odyssey in Boulogne. Travelling 70 to 110 miles per day, Nicky will finish her epic journey cycling up the Promenade des Anglais on Wednesday 18th June allowing herself just three days to launder the Lycra before the Ironman Nice 2008 on Sunday 22nd June.

The impetus for this huge effort is three causes close to Nicky’s heart: Erskine Homes (www.erskine.org.uk) - an organisation based in Scotland providing nursing and medical care for former members of the Armed Forces where she and her son do some voluntary work; Disability Snowsport UK(www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk) - a unique charity whose ethos is that anyone regardless of disability can take part in and enjoy snow sport; and the British Biathlon Team (www.britishbiathlon.com).

As a veteran biathlete herself who thinks nothing of skiing cross-country for miles at a time before hurling herself to the ground to shoot with a rifle, Nicky was appalled at the withdrawal of funding for the British Biathlon team in favour of “deserving” summersports (beach volleyball) for the London Olympics 2012. Nicky hopes to raise enough sponsorship to benefit all three causes significantly.

Preparing for both events is a huge challenge in itself, particularly with a family and home to run and the current inclement weather. Nicky trains 12 to 14 hours a week, running from anything between 45 minutes to 2 hours; cycling both outdoors and indoors on her bike trainer and can be found in the pool at Vikingar in Largs at 6am several mornings a week.

There is a soft spot to this iron woman, however: Nicky has promised herself some fine French cuisine each evening as well as performance-enhancing patisserie en route to help her on her marathon journey. Definitely a case of sugar and spice on the way to Nice…

If anyone would like to support Nicky’s venture, please take a look at her website

http://www.nice-tri-nicky.co.uk/

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