Andy Ridout, Managing Director of advance-TRS, has started training to compete in the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon in Norway next August – all because of a celebration.
Andy has previously competed in the London Marathon and the Barcelona Triathlon. Says Ridout, 39, ‘Me and my team were celebrating our 100th placement – we started this business just over a year ago.’From a standing start in 2010 the new company, advance – TRS, now supplies top quality professionals across the railway industry. ‘We were talking about growing the business and feeling pretty confident about it,’ says Andy, ‘I found myself thinking out loud about a parallel physical challenge to sit alongside expanding the business.’
The idea of the Norseman Xtreme had come to him some time ago. The race starts by jumping 20 feet into the icy waters of the, wonderfully named, Hardangerfjord, from the loading bay of a car ferry. Competitors then swim three miles to the town of Eidfijord for the start of the cycle race – 112 miles of harsh gradients including seven mountain passes. After that comes a gruelling 26 mile run. The first 15 miles are fairly flat then it’s an 11 mile uphill push to the top of Gaustatoppen – an extreme climb of 1850 metres. Andy Ridout plans to raise £10,000 for a charity very close to his heart, the Railway Children.
‘In India 11 million children live on the streets and in the UK 100,000 run away from home every year, often as a result of sexual abuse, neglect and violence. As a father of three I find this both shocking and distressing and am committed to generating as much money and awareness as physically possible to help the situation,’ says Andy. ‘After all, what if these were my children?’ Over the coming twelve months Andy plans to visit children in the UK and India who will hopefully benefit from his campaign.
The Norseman Xtreme is thought to be one of the toughest triathlons yet devised. The whole event runs point-to-point and is unsupported. Competitors need to bring their own crew to carry food, extra clothing, water and supplies.
Already Andy is hard at work building up a core base of stamina and muscle ahead of distance endurance training next year. ‘I run to work which is about six miles or cycle taking a longer route. I also swim. It helps that I live in a hilly area. I like to train in the morning. A typical routine is a swim of 5k before cycling to work.
I did the London Marathon and really enjoyed it. That’s what drew me to triathlons. Barcelona was great but Norway will be a totally different experience. At first I put the idea to the back of my mind but it shaped up as a challenge and I knew I had to do it. ’ Says Paul Merton, Operations Director at advance – TRS, ‘Anyone who knows Andy understands that he is not one to shy away from a challenge. When he sets himself a target it will be completed. £10,000 is a lot of money, but if anyone can do it, it will be Andy Ridout, I’m confident.’
To launch the fund raising campaign Ridout has been asked to speak at 2012’s Dinner at the Roundhouse on the 11th October and is currently auctioning logo advertising space across his running vest and cycle jersey – see below*. To join the fun and support the cause you can secure your company logo space by contacting Andy directly on 01483 361061 or [email protected]. Alternatively, simply donate at Andy’s Virgin Money Giving page.
To track Andy’s fundraising and training progress please ‘like’ advance TRS on Facebook or visit the company website at www.advance-TRS.com More info about the Xtreme Norseman can be seen at http://www.nxtri.com
Advance-TRS has placed over one hundred candidates in employment throughout the UK and internationally.
The niche railway recruitment consultancy is now among the fastest growing suppliers to the majority of the rail industry’s key players.