Russell Clarke, a triathlete with a few conventional races under his belt, figured that after ironman-distance there had to be something else to challenge him. He found his answer in the world of ultra-distance racing - and now has a whole new level of events to challenge him. This is the story of his conversion.

"Why?" was the common reaction from my mates at the triathlon club as I informed them of my intention to take part in the Himalayan 100 mile stage race, isn’t competing in Ironman hard enough for you?"

"Why?" was a very good question and, in truth, having read many race reports of races like the MDS (Marathon Des Sables) and other 100-milers I needed to find out for myself which was the tougher challenge. Having only taken up running in my late thirties, the improvements in performances came in regular steps and in 2004 I managed to achieve PBs in all the normal race distances finishing with a 2.52 marathon. And so, at the age of 47, I looked to the world of triathlon for new challenges.

As always, I jumped in at the deep end with my first three triathlons being a standard distance race, then a half-ironman race, and then my first Ironman all within four months. I finished in 11:24 and the Ironman bug was well and truly planted. So, now having raced six Ironman races around the world, the time seemed right to have a go at the next challenge, an 'Ultra'.

The Himalayan 100 fitted the bill as it coincided with my 50th birthday and I have always wanted to see Everest. How did it compare? Well let’s just say I underestimated just how hard this race was!

Day one was a real eye opener for me, 24 miles, 18 of which were all up hills so steep that I was sure that my legs and lungs would explode – which obviously had a lot to do with the altitude, some days the stages took us up to as high as 11,380ft! It was very much a case of surviving and the mental strength that you need in an Ironman came in very handy to help get me to the finish. The demands of competing day after day were new to me. I train six days a week but never have I run five consecutive days of this distance.

The one thing that helped me most in the race was the strict discipline that you have to use in a Ironman regarding nutrition, knowing what your body needs to fuel if to keep performing for long periods of exercise. This was however also nearly my downfall, as at one stage on day three the marathon I found myself sitting on a rock with no water or food and with still more than six miles to the finish, wondering just how I would get to the end. If it wasn’t for the kind donation from other runners offering me chocolate and gels, I think I would still be sitting there. I had lost concentration and was taking the race for granted, something that you can not afford to do in a race of this distance and difficulty.

So is there room in an Ironman's training and race season for Ultra races? Well, for me, definitely yes, and I have already pencilled in doing two of the early season UK races; the 'Tames Towpath' 55-miler in January and the 'Tring 2 Town' 45-miler in February, as part of my early phase base-building training. I have plans to do three Ironman races in 2008 and as part of my triathlon club (Tri-Anglia) I hope to compete in a team of three in the UK's first double ironman-distance event (7.6k swim, 224 mile bike and 52 mile run) which take place in Birmingham next August.

For me Ultras are here to stay, after all what better way is there of meeting like-minded people and travelling to some of the worlds most beautiful places at the same time! For more information on the Himalaya Stage Race see the organiser's website: www.himalayan.com

Co-incidentally, and the reason that we got to know about Russell in the first place, one of the Tri247 back-room crew, Britta Sendlhofer, herself a triathlete and editor of Fell Runner magazine, was also on the Himalaya Stage Race. She has also written an account of her journey on her website and has supplemented it with a whole gallery of photographs.