And in the process, climbing the equivalent of Scafell, Ben Nevis and Snowden.
It might be exhausting just to read about such a journey, but for one Wigan man it was all in a day's work.

Martin Holden entered his first UK Ironman competition, in Sherborne, Dorset, to raise funds for new sporting equipment at Wood Fold Primary School, in Standish, where two of his three children are pupils.

The 38-year-old former Oldham rugby league player completed the gruelling course – 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 26-mile run – in a very respectable 13 hours, just four hours behind the winner.

He said: "It was a tough day out there's no doubt about it but after spending the best part of 10 months training, I was ready for it.
"I had been running a half marathon and doing 50 plus miles on my bike each week to get prepared.

"It was a very enjoyable experience believe it or not. I saw it as a challenge, not so much physically but mentally.
"It's a real test of everyone's ability to complete a race like that.

So many times during the competition your body is telling you to stop, but the challenge is to get through those bad parts."

More than 1,500 people entered the race, which was screened on Channel Four, including around 100 professional athletes.

Competitors are given 17 hours to complete the course, after which, their efforts are deemed invalid.

Martin, of Standish, who finished 713th in the race, said: "The UK course is one of the toughest Ironman courses out of the 23 in the world. I don't think anyone finished after 17 hours but there were around 300 who didn't make it to the finish at all."

Thanks to his super-strength and determination, Martin managed to raise £725 for Wood Fold Primary School, which will now be put towards sporting activities.

He said: "I am very passionate about getting kids into sport instead of sitting around, which is why I gave this money to the school on the understanding that they use it for sporting equipment or activities. There are so many overweight children today it's ridiculous.

"I like to involve my own children in sport, as long as they are out doing something I'm not bothered. My eldest son Jonathan, who is eight years-old, has already done a junior triathlon so hopefully he's going to follow in my footsteps!"