VIDEO: Sheffield's hills are '˜devastatingly hard' - admits radio star Greg James in triathlon ordeal

Exhausted radio star Greg James hailed Sheffield's seven hills as being '˜devastatingly hard' to ride as he battled through a charity triathlon.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Feb 2016, 14:18 BST
Updated 11th Feb 2016, 14:20 BST
After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.
After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.

The presenter and DJ cycled through the city, heading out towards Dronfield and then back in through Bradfield, before taking on a one-mile swim at Ponds Forge and then a ten-mile run.

Pal musician Example - real name Elliot Gleave - and fellow presenter Nick Grimshaw joined him for the last stages of the triathlon, James’ fourth out of five consecutively for Sport Relief.

After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.
After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.
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BBC Radio One’s Greg, speaking to The Star from Ponds Forge, said: “The hills were devastatingly hard because they’re really hilly and difficult, but they are also very deceptive because you go down the wonderful declines and then suddenly you go ‘oh hang on a second, I’ve got to go up in a minute’ and its just about worth it.

“You’ve got to trudge your way up, but the view is beautiful up there.”

The Sheffield leg of the five-day challenge started badly when the journey from Glasgow’s Gregathlon took almost twice as long. In the morning he also took to Twitter to post a picture of him being helped up off a Sheffield road.

However, he has raised a staggering £308,000 so far.

After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.
After recovering from an earlier tumble while on his cycle ride, Greg stripped down to his swimwear with friend, Example, who joined him for the indoor swim part of his Sheffield triathlon. Example isn't stopping there, he's promised to run all the way with Greg to the BBC Sheffield studios to keep his pal's moral up as each pound of the pavement strikes agony through his body on the penultimate day of BBC Radio 1's Gregathlon for Sport Relief.

Greg, who admitted the challenge had proved tougher than expected but said the cause was keeping him going, added: “I was going up one of the hills in the city and my brain was going ‘come on then, get those legs up’ and my calves went ‘no mate, not going to happen’ and they stopped working.”

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Example added: “I was on the train on the way up here and I saw this on Instagram and I’m thinking I’m going to have to take the baton and do it by myself!”

Fans encouraged Greg along his route, and several were waiting at Ponds Forge in the hope of meeting him or joining the run. He also stopped off, including at the Admiral Rodney in Loxley, and posed for photographs.

Greg said the support had been ‘incredible’, adding: “People were following me on the bike and then going ahead and waving, and then going ahead and waving again. At one point I thought ‘are we going in a circle? because I swear I’ve seen that person five times or everyone looks the same.”

Greg has passed the half way mark of BBC Radio's Gregathlon for Sport Relief and is on day four in Sheffield. Not only will he be dealing with increasing agony from aching muscles with but tiredness will make everything that bit harder. Greg said: "We had the worst journey last night from Glasgow to Sheffield. What was supposed to be a four hour journey turned into seven, so I've only had 4 hours sleep. That's why the challenge has been harder than I thought, it's been exhausting travelling from city to city. It's been great having some guests come up and see me though, it'll be so nice having Grimmy and Example with me today. Even though my body is saying please stop, there is no way I'm giving in. I'm in the zone, even if my legs are not. I think they might still be in Belfast. I'm hanging by a thread. There are lots of people involved with this and we're all feeling it today. I really need everyone's help and support to get through the next two days." Visit sportrelief.com/Greg for more info.Greg has passed the half way mark of BBC Radio's Gregathlon for Sport Relief and is on day four in Sheffield. Not only will he be dealing with increasing agony from aching muscles with but tiredness will make everything that bit harder. Greg said: "We had the worst journey last night from Glasgow to Sheffield. What was supposed to be a four hour journey turned into seven, so I've only had 4 hours sleep. That's why the challenge has been harder than I thought, it's been exhausting travelling from city to city. It's been great having some guests come up and see me though, it'll be so nice having Grimmy and Example with me today. Even though my body is saying please stop, there is no way I'm giving in. I'm in the zone, even if my legs are not. I think they might still be in Belfast. I'm hanging by a thread. There are lots of people involved with this and we're all feeling it today. I really need everyone's help and support to get through the next two days." Visit sportrelief.com/Greg for more info.
Greg has passed the half way mark of BBC Radio's Gregathlon for Sport Relief and is on day four in Sheffield. Not only will he be dealing with increasing agony from aching muscles with but tiredness will make everything that bit harder. Greg said: "We had the worst journey last night from Glasgow to Sheffield. What was supposed to be a four hour journey turned into seven, so I've only had 4 hours sleep. That's why the challenge has been harder than I thought, it's been exhausting travelling from city to city. It's been great having some guests come up and see me though, it'll be so nice having Grimmy and Example with me today. Even though my body is saying please stop, there is no way I'm giving in. I'm in the zone, even if my legs are not. I think they might still be in Belfast. I'm hanging by a thread. There are lots of people involved with this and we're all feeling it today. I really need everyone's help and support to get through the next two days." Visit sportrelief.com/Greg for more info.

“The support’s been great and people have been beeping in the city and waving out their vans.”

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Greg’s challenge finishes in far less hilly Norwich tomorrow and is ahead of the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief flagship games in Sheffield in March.

There members of the public will be able to swim, cycle or run, mixing fun with fundraising, for the cause.

Money raised will help people living incredibly tough lives in the UK and across the world.

To sign up visit www.sportrelief.com.

Text GREG to 70703 to give £3 to @sportrelief.

Related topics:Greg JamesSheffield