Fitness fanatic model Nell McAndrew has launched a monster sports challenge taking place near Loch Ness on Saturday.
Ms McAndrew, along with rugby legend Gavin Hastings, has signed up for this year's First Monster Challenge - a 120km team relay duathlon around the shores of Loch Ness.
They will be competing in the same team, Beauty and the Beasts, as they look to do well against a 1,100 sell-out field. They are optimistic of their chances despite having lost a key team member, Liz McColgan. The Scottish athletics legend was forced to pull out of the event due to a recent hamstring injury.
Ms McAndrew said: "I've always been quite proud of my performances up here in Inverness. However, this year I am genuinely excited about our prospects, despite Liz McColgan being forced to withdraw from our team.
“Not only do we have Gavin Hastings, who is fantastic on the bike, but I have a couple of local athletes who know the course well and are capable of some great times. In fact we have poached the team captain from the 2007 and 2008 Monster winners, Graham Whyte! We are aiming for a top ten finish."
She added: "The First Monster Challenge has become one of my highlights of the year. I enjoy the event, and I love visiting this part of the world - the people are very friendly and the scenery is simply stunning."
All 1,100 competitors will take on one running leg and one cycling leg of the eight-legged event. Gavin Hastings said he was looking forward to his cycle in particular.
He said: "Losing Liz was a bit of a blow and we have had to rethink our tactics a little. However, I am still scheduled to take on the longest cycle. It's a steep 10km climb out of Fort Augustus, but the sound of a lone piper at the top will hopefully spur me onwards over the last next 12 gruelling kilometres."
Sir Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of event organisers FirstGroup, commented: "We have been overwhelmed with the interest in the First Monster Challenge 2009. Such was the demand for places that we increased the capacity of the event. We have teams from as far afield as Wales, Bristol, Ireland and even Barcelona competing. I hope everyone enjoys the event, gets round safely and raises lots of money for our charity partner, Save the Children."
On Friday evening, competitors will attend a safety briefing and pasta party at the event's start and finish point, Queens Park Stadium, Inverness, before rising early for the 7am start on Saturday.
