If you've been out in Cardiff recently you may have seen three men running around carrying ironing boards, irons, and clothes and wondered what's going on.
Friends Gareth Anthony, Chris Seymour, and Scott Neale are taking part in an 'extreme ironing ultra-marathon' on February 20.
The 'extreme ironers' are taking part in the Brecon to Cardiff 70km in February which will see them not running an ultra-marathon of more than 43 miles with a one-metre ironing board, an iron, and clothes to iron.
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So as not to get in the way of other runners the group will be setting off 15 minutes behind everyone else but with the same cut-off times.
The friends will be raising money for When You Wish Upon A Star, a charity that helps families with terminally ill children to fulfil a wish.
Gareth, 47, who organised the fundraising, said he used to do half marathons and marathons "years ago" for charity before starting ultra-running.
"I stopped doing it for charity because we started doing 100-milers and long-distance events so I didn't want to do anything for charity just in case I didn't finish it," he said.
"So I was trying to think of something that we could do – a short ultra (well, 70k) that had a bit of a twist in it.
"I was looking at these guys who were extreme ironers and there was a man who'd done the Marathon de Sables in the desert. No-one had done an ultra-marathon in Britain [with an ironing board] as far as I could see so I thought I'd give it a go."
'Extreme ironers' have also done sky-diving, mountain climbing, and scuba diving, all while carrying an ironing board, an iron, and some clothes.
Gareth, who lives in Marshfield, said those running the event would let them participate with ironing boards on the condition that they started 15 minutes after everyone else but with the same cut-off points.
"For me I thought that's more of a challenge," he said.
Gareth said he was inspired to choose the When You Wish Upon A Star charity after speaking to a friend whose child had leukaemia. His partner then suggested he raise money for When You Wish Upon A Star.
Gareth added that the group's target was initially £500 but, at the time of writing, they have raised £1,470 through their JustGiving page.
Chris, 48, who has run the Brecon to Cardiff marathon twice before said that Gareth asked to join him this year to raise money for charity.
"I then realised what I'd bitten into really, which is having an ironing board on your back for the best part of two months getting the training in," Cardiff resident Chris said.
"We're getting a few heads turning."
The three friends are all train drivers for Transport For Wales. Chris has been a train driver since 2002 while Gareth started his career in 2001.
Chris says he has known Gareth for all of his career, getting to know Scott over the last five years. The friends go out running together when their shifts allow them to.
While Chris regularly runs and completes ultra-marathons he said he's never done anything like this before.
"I'm always running – I run to work, I run home from work. I do around about 10 miles a day but the actual training with an ironing board started around Christmastime," Chris said.
Scott and Gareth will both be running the Wild Horse 200 later this year using this ultra-marathon as part of their training for the gruelling 200-mile trail.
This month Scott is also completing the Badwater 267 – all with an ironing board on his back. Starting on New Year’s Day competitors have 31 days to complete 267 miles on foot and can complete the distance anywhere they want.
As well as the ironing board, iron, and clothes, the team will have to carry the kit required for running the ultra-marathon. They plan to stop to iron the clothes throughout the run – at the start, middle, and end.
While out training with the ironing boards Chris says they've attracted attention from passers-by.
"I even had a guy just a moment ago who stopped his car in front of me and got out to chat. He said he's seen all the stuff on Twitter and how fantastic it was," he said.
"I get works vans tooting their horns. January is a month where I'm normally training and it's quite dark and dour but now it's turned into a bit of parade whenever I go out really. Seeing the smiles on people's faces is fantastic."
Gareth added: "It's fantastic. I've got to be honest, I've gone past some people and they haven't batted an eyelid which is even funnier I think.
"Other people are beeping their horns. I was running to work the other day going down the A48 and people were stopping their cars and videoing. It's a bit of fun I suppose."
The team are raising money via their JustGiving page here.
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