A PAIR of cyclists will be taking one of the ultimate endurance challenges — the Race Across America.

Sarah Kemp and Marc Evans will begin the 3,000-mile event on Saturday and are part of an eight-man team from the Defence Sports and Recreation Association (DSRA).

The race begins from Oceanside, California before ending at Annapolis, Maryland.

The Salisbury-based pair are hoping to complete the distance in eight days. Sarah is head coach at Salisbury the Tri Club and both have been behind the club's Intro to Tri programme supporting local people getting involved in triathlon for the first time.

The DSRA team is hoping to be the first team of civilian defence staff to complete the event and are raising money for the charity ‘for you by you’.

They team will need to manage limited opportunities for sleep, the heat of the Arizona desert, the cross-winds in Kansas and climb across the Californian mountain ranges but say they are excited by the challenge.