Just a few months after breaking his back in a fall triathlete Iain Veitch is preparing to test himself in one of the world’s most extreme physical challenges.
Entries for “The Celtman” event in Wester Ross on 15 June come with a warning that competitors will face a swim in exceptionally cold and jelly fish infested waters, a bike ride with 2,200 metres of climbing built in and a run over the equivalent of two Munros.
Undeterred after a serious back injury in late March, Iain, who won a third Edinburgh New Year Triathlon to launch his 2024 campaign, said: “I have been cleared by the surgeon to compete after falling and suffering a compression of the spine which led to fracturing a vertebrae at the bottom of my back earlier this year.
“It was only properly diagnosed two or three weeks ago but the chiropractor has assured me it isn’t going to crumble and leave me paralysed.
“I’ve never done The Celtman before so it’s massively frustrating but at least I’ll be there without having too many expectations although I will, of course, be pushing the rivets.”
While in the early stages of recovery Iain travelled from his home in Peebles to inspect the course.
“It took two and a half hours just to drive round and the course record is about 11 hours with some competitors expecting to be out for about 18 or 19 hours.
the man who, in 2023, won a triology of races encompassing the highest peaks in Scotland, Wales and England.
“Getting a result is unlikely at this stage for me but it really would be the cherry on the cake because the course is a behemoth” added the man who, in 2023, won a trilogy of races encompassing the highest peaks in Scotland, Wales and England.
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