Gary Shaughnessy: From Parkinson’s diagnosis to completing the world’s hardest triathlon - and breaking the record for the longest distance ever run three-legged in 24 hours

Gary Shaughnessy has done a lot in the world of running, from completing 40 marathons to raising thousands of pounds for charity.
But perhaps his greatest achievement came in finishing the Arch to Arc Triathlon, dubbed the hardest triathlon in the world.
Starting at Marble Arch in London and heading to the heart of Paris and the Arc de Triomphe, the event consists of an 87-mile run, swimming the English Channel (Gary swapped in a gruelling row for the swim) and 181-miles of cycling.
What makes Gary's success even more remarkable is that it came after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2015.
The triathlon was one of a series of incredible challenges, including several marathons and ultra, that Gary has carried out in aid of Parkinson's UK, a charity of which he is the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
In between he even found time to set a new world record for the longest distance ever run three-legged in 24 hours.
He's not intending to stop yet though, with a host of events booked for 2023, including marathons in Newport, Paris and Madrid, cycling from Liverpool to Ukraine, swimming from St Kitts to Nevis, and a team cycle ride from Dover to Barcelona to attend the World Parkinson's Congress.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Running Tales spoke to Gary about everything from health and wellbeing to his role at England Athletics, where he is the Chair of the Board...
 
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You can sponsor Gary Shaughnessy for his 2023 events at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gary-shaughnessy2 and find more information at https://www.garyschallenges.com/
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