DAVE Clamp says mental strength will be most important when he takes on a jaw-dropping ‘double deca ironman’, writes Matt Turner.

He starts his challenge, which involves an challenge consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 122-mile bike ride and a marathon run every day for three weeks, in Switzerland next month.

The 57-year-old personal trainer, a member of Knutsford Tri Club, has already completed five ‘deca ironman’ races and won the deca ultra triathlon in Leon, Mexico last October.

Clamp, who has been undergoing physical tests at Liverpool Hope University as part of his training, said the timing of the opportunity to double the distance fell perfectly having been thwarted in previous attempts.

“I actually entered a triple deca ironman challenge a few years back but I fell off my bike and broke my collarbone on the final training ride,” he said.

“There were various events I could have done, I could have gone back to Mexico and done a five-day event but I got wind of the double deca challenge they were putting on in Switzerland.

“It all seems very good when you first discuss it but as it gets closer, reality starts to set in!

“I’ve been trying to gradually build up my training to the point where I’m now cycling over 1,000 miles per month.

“Plenty of the Knutsford Tri guys have done Ironman challenges but they’ve all told me they couldn’t imagine getting up the next morning and doing it again!”

Clamp, who lives in Oakmere, will attempt to swim for 48 miles, cycle for 2,440 miles and pound the pavement for 524 miles of running.

However, he told the Guardian the mental side of the challenge will be most taxing.

“The worst moment of each day is when you open your eyes in the morning,” he said.

“Everyone making their way down to the start is like a death march, there’s a lot of black humour but once you get going it gets easier.

“I usually find the second and third days to be the toughest, once I get past that I feel more confident of finishing.

“You’ve got to have that mental strength to get you through the bad days, when you’re feeling ill or haven’t had too much sleep and I’ve had enough of those days to build up plenty of resilience.

“When I did the deca ironman in Mexico I was very ill for a couple of days but I found it within me to push on.”

Dave is raising money for the East Cheshire Hospice and Brain Tumour Research in memory of a friend and fellow Knutsford Tri Club member.

Clive Reading passed away in January following a short battle with a brain tumour.

“This time last year, he was all set and ready to do the Barcelona Ironman and the following January he was no longer with us,” he said.

“As a club, we went to the funeral and it was such a moving occasion.

“It felt appropriate and right for me to do this in Clive’s memory and his family have been so supportive.”

Readers can sponsor Dave for his mammoth challenge by visiting https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/dave-clamp