A superfit dotcom driver working from the Tesco Folkestone Superstore in Cheriton is aiming to join an elite group of only seven ambitious athletes in the world who have completed one of the most challenging endurance events imaginable.
The Challenge
Kevin Magnay is training to take part in the Enduroman Arch to Arc Triathlon. The renowned challenge requires athletes to run, swim and cycle from Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Only 64 athletes have ever successfully completed the challenge in its quarter-of-a-century history, and only seven of those have finished it without a wetsuit. Kevin is looking to become the eighth.
Because the challenge is so extreme, the 43-year-old will have to carefully monitor his heart rate throughout, ensuring it remains in what is known as 'zone 2', a low-intensity, steady-state cardio effort at 60 to 70 per cent of his maximum heart rate.
Kevin's Training Regime
Kevin said: "The training involved to take on this triathlon is huge. I completed 12 marathons last year, including eight ultras, back-to-back marathons and one in America's Death Valley."
"I did do a Channel swim in June 2022, starting in complete darkness, swimming through blooms of jellyfish, before landing outside La Sirene restaurant 13 hours 52 minutes later. I was the 2,368th person to complete a solo crossing since the first one 147 years earlier. More people have successfully climbed Everest than swum the Channel."
"As exhausting as it was, I felt I had more to give – so I decided to try to get a place in Enduroman. It's described as the world's hardest triathlon."
"I will start from Marble Arch, run 80 miles to Dover, swim the Channel and then cycle 181 miles to the Arc de Triomphe Paris."
A New Life by the Sea
The athlete used to be a taxi driver in London before he joined Tesco and moved to the coast. He commented that it is a change which has enabled him to fully pursue his dreams.
He added: "I started working for Tesco during the Covid lockdown. Little did I know it would change my life, because it's given me the freedom to live by the sea – a dream I've always held but realistically only thought I'd do nearer retirement."
Charity Work
Kevin also volunteers for the charity Aspire, which organises Channel relay swims. He helps on the assessment days, training weekends, and does some team-leading.
The charity, which helps people with spinal cord injuries, has raised more than £300,000 in the past three years, thanks to the Channel relay swims it organises.
The Tesco worker is hoping his Enduroman Arch to Arc Triathlon challenge this August will raise even more funds for the charity.
He continued: "I'm funding the whole event myself and all money I raise will go directly to Aspire. I'm very lucky and grateful for the support I've received from so many people so far."
"My Tesco colleagues have been very supportive. Since working at Tesco, I've achieved a much better work-life balance, allowing me to attempt a challenge such as this and support Aspire."
"My Tesco customers have also been really supportive and many are now good friends. I even travelled to America as support crew for an ultra-triathlon a customer was attempting."
Anyone able to donate to the fundraising campaign can go online at https://tinyurl.com/mr3p2apr
