Name: TEAM MAD

Team MAD (Mother and Daughter). People have sometimes used this adjective to describe the challenges that we have done.

Triathlon background

Trisha: British Ironwoman Champion 2002 (2.4-mile swim, 112 miles bike, marathon) in 10hrs 56mins at age 43; I was asked to represent GB 2002 & 2003; Scottish 100m time trial champion 2001.

Rachel: British Youth Triathlon Champion 2001; silver medallist British Youth Relay at European Triathlon Relays, Poland 2001; 3 Blues for cycling and a half Blue for triathlon at Oxford.

We believe we are the first mother and daughter to simultaneously hold British triathlon titles.

Together as Team MAD we have completed 2-person non-wetsuit relay swims of the North Channel and English Channel in 2017, the Round Jersey swim (2022), and the Jersey to France swim (2024).

How old are you?

Trisha: 67 / Rachel: 40

What do you think will be the toughest moment during the event?

Trisha: I think it will be waking up after the sleep in Dover before the swim. I hope I will be able to move!!

Rachel: I find a good power nap is essential to recover between our planned 2-hour slots. However, I have to set 2 alarms on my watch to make sure that I can get up and start again!

Favourite discipline (run, cycle, swim) and why?

Trisha: Run/walk. Of the 3 disciplines, this is the only one where you can listen to a good podcast and enjoy lovely scenery at the same time. Favourites include Gaby Logan's The Midlife, Graham and Maria, and Dr Chatterjee.

Rachel: Run/walk is the easiest thing to do and allows you to explore new routes. I've also been listening to French podcasts to try and improve my French comprehension.

Why do you push yourself to this level?

We've always believed that the best way to live is to keep setting goals that scare you a little. It gives us a sense of purpose. We have also both lost people close to us to cancer — doing this for Maggie's gives the challenge a purpose that goes well beyond the finish line. Raising money is almost as hard as the challenge; it takes up a lot of time, but there is great satisfaction in knowing you have helped others.

What made you want to take on Arch2Arc?

Trisha: After completing a series of open-water swims, I wanted to find a challenge that combined all three disciplines and pushed us both beyond anything we'd done before. The Arch2Arc is the ultimate expression of that — and doing it with Rachel makes it all the more meaningful.

Rachel: When Mum first suggested it, I knew I couldn't say no. When I was 16, I said I would beat Mum's Ironman time and as time has gone by I have realised what a challenge that is. The Enduroman challenge and the chance to do this with Mum was a much more appealing prospect than Ironman solo!

We've been building towards this for two years and this is our chance to do something truly historic. We shall hopefully be the first ever mother-daughter relay team, first two-person female relay, and first non-wetsuit team.

Favourite post-training meal

Trisha: Banana and cheese sandwich and a milky illy coffee. Wine Gums and millionaire shortbread made by an amazing baker, Louisa.

Rachel: Any egg, cheese and bread combination, and an illy coffee.

How can people follow or support your journey?

https://www.teammadenduroman.co.uk/sponsor-us/ — Thank you very much!

Least favourite discipline?

Trisha: Swim. I find it the hardest, but I love the freedom of swimming in the Lochs of Scotland — Loch Ard and Loch Chon are two of my favourites.

Rachel: Swim. I love it once I'm doing it, especially open water, but it's always a barrier getting to the pool. The lake by my apartment isn't open 24/7, so swimming requires more planning than run/walk or cycling.

What does finishing Arch2Arc mean to you personally?

It's been a two-year journey, and I genuinely think we'll need a moment to process it. But above all, it will mean we've done something that has never been done before — as a mother and daughter, as a Scottish team, as an all-female non-wetsuit relay — and that we've raised serious money for Maggie's along the way.

Hidden talent outside of sport

Trisha: Absolutely none! Although I'm a demon at snap — perils of growing up in a family of 6.

Rachel: I can't describe it as a talent, but I'm learning French and working towards a C1 French exam — which will be very handy for the French section of the challenge!

What do you do for work?

Trisha: I have run my own Therapy business for over 25 years. I am a skin aesthetician and one of my favourite parts of my job is helping clients with acne. I also have a custom-built pod for my thinAir business.

Rachel: I run my own consultancy helping the transport and infrastructure sector with business development and sustainability.

What does a typical training week look like?

Trisha and Rachel: Most weeks are built around a mix of swimming, cycling, walking/running, strength work and Pilates, guided by our coach, Paul Robinson. The aim isn't just big volume, but also making sure the sessions have some structure so we keep improving while staying healthy.

Paul tailors each plan to us individually. We're both training for the same challenge, but our weeks can look quite different. Trisha currently has more time available to train than Rachel, so the overall volume might be higher, while Rachel's sessions are often designed to be more time-efficient while still hitting the key goals.

Swimming is a big focus because of the Channel crossing, with a mixture of threshold sessions and longer aerobic endurance swims to build stamina. Cycling is mostly steady aerobic riding with the occasional tempo session, while walking/running helps build durability and time on our feet.

Strength training and Pilates are also key parts of our routine, helping with injury prevention, posture and core stability so we can keep training consistently.

Nationality / where you’re based

British

Trisha: Glasgow, Scotland

Rachel: Denham, South Buckinghamshire

One word your friends would use to describe you

Trisha: Resolute

Rachel: Determined

Who or what inspires you?

Trisha: Proving that age is no barrier. I became British Ironwoman Champion at 43 and completed an Ice Mile at 63 — the oldest female in the world to become an Iron Ice Woman (Ironman and Ice Mile). Every year I set a new goal that surprises people, and myself actually.

Rachel: It's lovely to be able to do this with Mum, and the thought of achieving a number of firsts makes it impossible to make excuses. Plus it's a more interesting way to get to Paris than taking the Eurostar!

What keeps you going when things get really tough?

Trisha: Break it down into segments — 30 minutes at a time — knowing how great you feel when you have done it.

Rachel: The thought of the food that I can have post-training. I plan my walks around what I can eat afterwards!

How are you preparing differently for this compared to other races?

The level of training is significantly more than any previous challenges. I think it can best be described as "If you don't see me in the swimming pool, I'll be out walking, and if you don't see me walking, I'll be on the bike". We have a coach, Paul Robinson (Ultra Endurance Tri), which has significantly helped our preparation.

Moreover, the time needed to prepare is so much more than previous challenges, and the recovery time along with support — e.g. osteopath, clinical massage therapy — is a lot more intense.

Any unusual or extreme training methods?

Trisha: I have a Brass Monkey Ice Plunge which I find fantastic for recovery, especially after long walks and cycles. I love the thinAir machine (adaptive oxygen therapy) — it really helps with recovery between hard sessions, helps with fitness and reduces inflammation.

Rachel: I too have bought an ice bath, which massively helps, and a thinAir machine. There is very much a fear of FOMO with Mum! These are the two things that really help me to recover from training.

Have you ever wanted to quit during training? What got you through it?

Trisha and Rachel: No.