Kathryn Eccles and Jamie Dury, dentists at Union Quay Dental in North Shields, finished their first full Ironman distance triathlon in Copenhagen on Sunday.
The pair completed the 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and 42.2km marathon course in a single day. Jamie Dury crossed the finish line in 11 hours, 40 minutes and 54 seconds. Kathryn Eccles finished in 12 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds. The event marked their first attempt at the full-distance challenge after previously competing in Half Ironman events.
Training for the race required months of intensive preparation. They fitted long bike rides, hours of swimming, and early-morning sessions around their working lives.
“It’s difficult to put into words how it feels to have actually completed a full Ironman,” Kathryn said. “There were moments during the day when it felt incredibly tough, but crossing that finish line made every early morning, every long training session and every tired leg completely worth it.”
Kathryn said knowing they were raising money for The Percy Hedley Foundation gave them an extra reason to keep going when things got difficult.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who donated and supported us throughout the journey,” she added.
Jamie Dury said a full Ironman is every bit as tough as you imagine it will be – and probably a little tougher.
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“But finishing in 11 hours 40 minutes is an incredible feeling,” he said. “The training has been a huge commitment, but being able to do it alongside Kathryn and raise money for The Percy Hedley Foundation has made the whole experience even more worthwhile.”
There were definitely some tough moments out on the course, but once you see that finish line, all you can think about is getting across it.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have done it,” Jamie said.
Support for disability services
The dentists have so far raised ÂŁ1743 for The Percy Hedley Foundation. The organization supports children, young people and adults with disabilities across the North East.
Bev Reid, corporate relationships manager at The Percy Hedley Foundation, said she was delighted to be collaborating with Union Quay Dental.
“Kathryn and Jamie have shown incredible determination in taking on such a demanding challenge, and their fundraising will help us continue to provide vital services to people with disabilities across the North East,” Reid said.
Donations can still be made via Kathryn and Jamie’s fundraising page. Every additional contribution helps the foundation continue its work across the region.
