Award-winning Scottish hotelier Nicholas Russell has completed his seventh full distance Ironman challenge.
Taking place in Austria earlier in the month, 56-year-old Russell crossed the race’s finish line in 15 hours and 41 minutes, following a 3.8km swim in open water, followed by a 180km cycle, followed by a 42.2km marathon. The cycling portion of the race includes a significant climb high into the Austrian Alps – achieving a height 450 metres higher than Ben Nevis.
The monumental race is considered the ‘jewel in the crown’ of European Triathlon sport. To achieve Ironman status, competitors must finish the total distance within 17 hours of the start.
Despite suffering a knee injury six months prior to the race which meant he was temporarily unable to run or cycle uphill, Nicholas, who is managing director of Balbirnie House Hotel,adapted his training plan to include indoor cycling and race walking over 300km on the Kirkcaldy Prom.
He credits the Glenrothes Triathlon Club for providing the support and encouragement he has needed to complete seven of these huge physical challenges.
Nicholas said: “Joining our amazing, local, friendly and inclusive club ten years ago was a life-changing decision. It has been such an honour to represent the club and successfully complete seven Ironman challenges in a row.
“My ongoing training over the decade has taken me significantly further than the entire 40,075 kilometres of Planet Earth, and I have certainly counted my many blessings in being able to proceed, every single 100 metres of the journey.”
It has been a big month for Balbirnie House Hotel – while Nicholas has been conquering the Austrian Alps, the hotel’s patisserie team has been competing in the latest series of The Great British Bake Off: The Professionals.
The category A listed 1777 Georgian mansion opened as a hotel in the late 1980s, and added its Millennium Ballroom in 1999. With four decades of continued ownership, Balbirnie House has in particular developed a reputation as a top wedding venue.
