TEACHER Lisa Adams and parent Leazan Mason went the extra mile in the Mallorcan heat to help prepare for a Channel swim next year.

Mrs Adams, who is assistant head of Lavington School, near Devizes, and Mrs Mason took part in a major Ironman contest along with 3,800 other people.

Mrs Adams said: "This year was the 40th anniversary of Ironman 70.3 racing, so it was amazing to be able to represent Lavington School and fly out to Majorca." The 70.3 refers to the total distance covered in miles.

The pair had to complete a 1.9k open water swim in the harbour of Alcúdia, followed by a 90k bike ride and a run of 21.1km on the beach.

Mrs Adams said: "We had completed a long, cold, hard winter's training but race conditions were superb with beautiful sunshine and by mid day it was extremely hot, which meant the run was incredibly hard work."

She completed the course in 6hrs 32mins and Mrs Mason in 6hrs 28 mins. Mrs Adams said: " This is the first of many challenges this year to build up to the Channel swim with the students next summer."

Mrs Mason said: "It was so exciting to fly the flag for Lavington School abroad, jumping on a plane with our bikes and kit seemed crazy, but whether every minute! I can’t wait to do something like this again.

“Now I have done one 70.3, I am definitely going to go back to Mallorca to race again, the location was beautiful."

Pupils at the school are in training to complete a relay crossing of The Channel.