James’s Ironman and Ultra Challenge

Physical Education teacher, James Perrett, 31, is preparing for the gruelling Nottingham Ironman Triathlon just months after completing the Cardiff Ultra Challenge for Winston’s Wish, raising over £1,500 in the process!

I thought to myself, what can I do that’s going to test my limits and hopefully raise a lot of money, which is when I decided on doing the Cardiff Ultra and Ironman challenge in the same year.  

James Perrett

“Trying to fit training in can be a little hectic as my wife, Ceri, is also a teacher, and we have Dottie the Dachshund to care for.”

“The Ultra Challenge, back in February, which was 43-miles from Brecon to Cardiff and over 2,000ft of climbing, took around four months of training. I was running five to six days out of seven, covering 40 plus miles a week.”

“The upcoming Ironman Triathlon in July, consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-miles of cycling and a full marathon, normally takes 24 weeks to prepare for. However, with only a few months between challenges, a busy few weeks at work and necessary recovery time from the Cardiff Ultra, I’ve only recently started training again.”

“I’m doing around 10 to 15 hours of running every week, plus two lots of training sessions. My goal is to beat my time from my Ironman Wales challenge in 2022, which took me 14 hours and 36 minutes.”

The feeling of crossing the finish line is like no other!

James Perrett

Having always enjoyed sport, James first started running when he was at university and after managing his first mile, he decided to push himself further and take on the London Marathon in 2015.

“I clearly knew nothing about running as I did the whole thing in a pair of cotton Primark shorts and to this day, my family still quote me after I said, ‘never again,’ when I crossed the London Marathon finish line.”

“It wasn’t until I watched the Ironman Wales in September 2017 that I got back into running and it would take another five years before I did complete my first Ironman challenge following injuries and the pandemic.”

Since then, James has completed the two-mile Swim Serpentine, the100-mile ride London and will face the Nottingham Ironman Triathlon in July 2025.

Why I’m supporting Winston’s Wish

Having lost his father when he was just 14 through a sudden and unexpected heart attack, James has been an avid supporter of Winston’s Wish.

For me, it’s about keeping my dad’s memory alive and helping those in need by supporting as many wonderful charities as I can and raise awareness for them.

James Perrett

“It’s not until recently I’ve begun to realise the impact that his death really had on me and my own health. I never knew how to talk about him or respond when people asked about him, but I’ve gotten a lot better thanks to my wife and her encouragement to be a lot more open.”

“As a teacher, I’ve got lots of students who’ve gone through something similar to myself and I want them and other to be aware of the amazing work Winston’s Wish does. I wish I was aware when I was that age.”

“I hope that my challenges inspire somebody to do the same, raise money for a charity and push themselves to their limit.”

Feel inspired?

Has James’s mammoth Ultra Challenge and Iron Triathlon challenges got you inspired? Then look no further!

Take a look at our list of events and challenges happening throughout the year, all over the UK and pick the perfect challenge that pushes you further than ever before.