A Lancashire man is hoping to create a new world triathlon record and all while breathing only through his nose.
Ryan Abbott, from Skelmersdale, is set to take on a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.22 mile run, next month and he isn’t able to breathe through his mouth.
The unusual twist is inspired by his seven-year-old son, Arthur, who has cystic fibrosis which is a progressive, genetic condition that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, pancreas and other organs.
Ryan is hoping to create a new world record with a 140.6 mile triathlon attempt on Sunday, September 11.
The whole challenge, which will start at the Three Sister’s Water Ski Club in Bryn, Wigan, will be completed in one day across the north-west of England.
Ryan will tackle the 2.4 mile swim, wearing a snorkel adapted to prevent him from breathing through his mouth.
He will then cycle along the Leeds to Liverpool canal before joining the road at Burscough and then loop through the surrounding countryside by road to complete the 112 mile ride.
Ryan will finally run 26.2 miles along the canal to complete the ‘big nose challenge’ and will only open his mouth whilst eating or drinking..
Ryan will be raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Care, a charity that provides essential services and equipment, practical help and support to children and adults with CF as well as their families and Specialist Care Centres.
His son Arthur was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at five weeks old so Ryan understands the challenges and worries that CF can bring to patients and their families.
In recent years Ryan has been on a mission to learn all the tools, hacks and ways to be able to support not only his son’s health but his own mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
When he started to realize the benefits of conscious functional breathing he decided he wanted to share, teach, guide and inspire others to implement this way of breathing for themselves.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph Ryan said: “I am doing this challenge as I hope to show my son Arthur that I value my breath.
“Like most with the condition, he cannot afford to take his breath for granted. Arthur needs lots of medicine and hours of physio every day just to get a full breath.
“It is my goal to show him that we can optimise the way that we breath by using our nose and that we can turn what might appear to be a disadvantage into a gift.
“I am raising money for cystic fibrosis care who are an amazing charity helping disadvantaged families in these hard times that are also directly affected by cystic fibrosis.
“These families are often unable to work because of the effects and medicine required for cystic fibrosis. CF care helps these families with grants for food, housing, travel and wellbeing.
Ryan added that he is “a little nervous and also excited” about the challenge.
He said: “This far exceeds anything that I have ever done before in my life.
“I have never run more than a 10k, swam a few lengths of a pool, or rode more than 60 miles until very recently.
“There will be a lot of firsts set on September the 11 but I have the belief in myself that I will do it.”
You can support Ryan’s fundraising triathlon world record attempt by making a donation at: https://urbanicetribe.com/the-big-nose-breathing-challenge/
Follow Ryan's challenge on instagram https://www.instagram.com/urban_ice_tribe/
and the hashtag #thebignosebreathingchallenge
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