Happy Christmas

OK so I am getting fatter and more unfit.....not good for the challenge ahead, but it is Christmas after all. Always too excessive whatever the vice! alcohol, bad food or sorry Tanya, too much good food and of course me eating far too many Crisps!!
I managed football last week followed the next day by an hour on the trainer.........all I can say is I can't now use the bad weather for excuses when there is a turbo trainer on hand!

Lets get Christmas and New Year out of the way then watch out Tom, I'll be like a finely tuned athlete!! by March!!!

All booked and ready for the Forum event on January 16th now, so if anyone wants to watch me ride a stationary bike to help raise the MS Society profile then please come along!

Happy Christmas everyone who reads my blog, and I'll have more exciting news soon.

New business and lack of training!!!! Again

Sorry again, it has been so long since the last blog update.....the past couple of weeks has been very hectic. With so much organising reference the new business venture, Core Vehicle Solutions.
It amazes me how much there is to sort out when starting a new business. The list is endless. All I want to do is be a professional new vehicle supply consultancy.....and I am nearly there now!!!

So training has been on the back burner for a little while, but I am now getting into it again. Sunday saw me venture into the garage and put Lance Armstrongs DVD on about his 7 Tour wins, then me cycling on my trainer trying to keep up with him. Unfortunately he did beat me !!
Then last night was a great runaround on the football pitch despite losing by one goal.... not bitter or anything, but a very dodgy handball Stef if you are reading this!!! then a slightly early finish due to Pete injuring himself......should be a draw I'd say!!!
So away tonight to go to a close friends funeral tomorrow in Cheshire. RIP Paul Turner! You are sadly missed.........as he would say to me "Get Bent"!!

where have i been!!!!

It has certainly been a while since the last post! But the training has suffered in the past couple of weeks. I have been working hard to set up a new joint business venture supplying new vehicles to corporate and retail clients.
This is taking a lot of hours and energy at the moment but things will change in the next couple of weeks. And especially when I manage to find the wasp in the garage it will help! Pescy thing!

So the only training that has been done is playing football on monday nights. I must try and get my training act together soon though. Don t want to undo the good work done over the past months. It has been very hard too with the loss of a friend and colleague last week. I could not do too much because I was thinking about him and his family left behind.

Good news in the way of sponsor! Aswell as the fantastic leaflets produced by Barnwell print and the help and promise of help from Alex and his bike shop Streetlife, I and my co directors at Core Vehicle Solutions and also Browne and Sons are paying for the cycling kit!

Another bit of good news is Alan from our Loddon football is hoping to come on the challenge and also a chap named Ed whose father is the treasurer at the Norwich MS Society. So support is certainly growingm

That's all for now, as I am typing all this on a blackberry and it seems to be taking forever!

Pics as promised

pictures from the MS Society promotional day

Some pictures from the day are going to be uploaded soon either from my mobile when I figure out how to! Or from PC later

Saturday 14th November

A day to remember, firstly I would like to say thanks to my brother and nephew for coming down to Norwich and helping with the whole day.....that is the promotional event in the Castle Mall shopping centre. Also a big thank you to Lorraine and her colleague from the MS Society in Norwich for their kind help in shopping Mall today. Myself and Tom cycled on our trainers for 5 hours today in bright orange t shirts and with everyones help raised over £300 for the MS Society. Also a big thanks to Streetlife Cycle shop and especially to Alex for the help with the trainer tyre fitment and equipment supplied. All of this is much appreciated.

I will try and sort some pictures tomorrow and fill in more info about the day but I initially wanted to thank everyone involved.....not forgetting my beautiful wife for looking after the boys...... and George for handing out leaflets, and getting things kick started this morning!!

Its all go!!

So the week in North Wales was very busy and very nice. Enjoyed seeing my family and friends....lots of them too!! Also managed a bit of indoor climbing and a few training runs.

I was also sorting the leaflet proofs and sponsorship forms with Julian from Barnwell Printing. They have done an excellent job in producing the information........so if anyone wants to see a copy please let me know. As I can't seem to upload them!!

Since getting back I have set up the static trainer in the garage with a TV and DVD player.....just waiting for my motivational dvd disc now on Lance Armstrong's 7 Tour wins!!

Also went for a very wet ride on Sunday in the pouring rain....it was very refreshing to say the least! Then played football last night, whereby I ran so much I thought I was going to throw up!! At least it burnt about 1100 calories!

Thursday will be the next opportunity to train.

Oh and I have entered the Norwich Half Marathon at the end of this month!! another goal to aim for. And finally the big promotional push in the Castle mall shopping centre is only just over a week away....looking forward to it!

Holiday in North Wales

Me, Tanya and the boys are off to North Wales tonight to see the family, so my nephew Tom will be over too, an excellent opportunity to discuss the challenge ahead and I will get him jogging up the hills for a spot of training!! Also do a spot of route planning with Tom and my brother. Not sure I will get my brother running up the hills though.....! Bless!

Lots happening and had supportive calls from the MS Society in Norwich and London/UK Head Office for help with any info and publicity. Hopefully the details are being put on the MS website and on the Justgiving fund-raising pages, not just on my Justgiving page.

One more day of work then pack up the car and away we go!!

Wow! An obstacle is often a stepping stone!

So what has been happening in the past few days??? will this morning I managed to do my own 'time trial' route of 12 miles and knocked 2 minutes off the time....this was despite a strong wind blowing and the majority of the time it was a side wind or head on!!! So well chuffed with that performance.

I played football last night for an hour plus a warm up etc. So that was 90 minutes of running. Did score a few which is always nice considering I can't normally hit a barn door!

On Sunday I went for a good ride of 34 miles to Norwich and then back round to Bungay, before heading back in to Loddon. Really trying to get more hours on the bike and in the saddle, so my aim is to build this time up to 4 hours, currently at weekends the ride is about 2 hours. It is finding the time that is hard.

I have now ordered myself the static bike trainer for the garage, so now the winter is getting near I'll have no excuse to not get on my bike!

A BIG thank you to Katy at Face Partnership for the training material, it is excellent stuff. And it is already useful. It has given me new goals and something to work to.

Last Friday I managed a 4.5 mile run towards Hardley and back round Chedgrave, which actually felt ok....Must remember to put my name down for the Norwich half marathon soon.

The event is getting close now in the Mall, Norwich, so hopefully this will go fantastically??!!

I'll be able to get some training in North Wales next week, but unfortunately I have no means of transporting the bike so it will be all running! and hopefully a bit of trekking up Snowdonia.

Thats all for now folks!!!

Apologies to myself and everyone

A bit of a lapse in the diary / blog writing, probably because I have had a poor week at training, with only the football from last Monday evening and a short ride at the weekend, I really need to 'pull my finger out'!!!

Had a lovely reply last week from a Katy, 'Mark Cavendish's' people from his website about hopefully being able to help in some form with the raising the profile of the challenge.

I should have some personalised posters, sponsor forms and leaflets soon from Barnwell Printing that I can distribute around and hope to gain more sponsors.

I must say I really am personally finding it hard work at the moment to gain commitment from people about helping either by donation or sponsorship. It maybe the current financial climate or possibly that the challenge still appears to be so far away for most people except for me and close people around who are arranging everything. Then the time is flying by. Also trying to arrange all the events and logistics of everything when there are so many other commitments is rather difficult. But I know it will be worth it in the end!!

A good week!!

So the journey home on Tuesday was quite hard, due to a wind issue, and that wasn't from my backside either!! But I really wanted to get home in under an hour, so that meant averaging 17 mph? I thought I could manage this ok and I felt I was going at a great pace. When I stopped the watch at my door and looked at the time.....it said 1 hour and 57 seconds!!!!!! Gutted. But hey that is the goal next time I come to work.

Then last week the story was published in the 'Eastern Daily Press' and in the 'Beccles & Bungay Journal'.

Things are also looking fantastic with the support from the Norwich MS Society for our stands in the Castle Mall and The Forum in Norwich.Plus Chapelfield shopping centre have expressed an interest in a stand going up in there too.

I had a long chat with Julian who is in the chair of the Norwich MS Society, and he is inspirational. He rowed the Atlantic for the MS Society!!! So I am not quite that mad yet!!

Through my good friend Nick Barrett speaking to Dean Ashton, it also looks like Dean may come to help out with publicity in the Castle Mall subject to other commitments, which will be fantastic ......especially as the stand will be outside the Canary Store!!!!

So much has been happening this last week and I feel the momentum is building nicely. The annoying stumbling block at the moment is this Public Liability Insurance for the charity stands which I need to sort.

I had a good ride on Thursday and Saturday last week, and so got some more hours under my belt on the saddle so to speak!!

I have been reading the Mark Cavendish autobiography and there is a good bit of advice from someone in there that spoke to Mark about training, they said "whatever and however you do your training make sure it is 16 hours per week".....that is a fantastic way of focusing and I intend to utilise this to the max and to help my efforts.

Bye for now.

New training drive

So I have the new bike, and managed to take it for a spin on Sunday after a boys night out on Saturday.....(not the best training practice!! Beer, a curry and late night!!!), Up and out at 7.15am and managed to get 28 miles done. Enjoyed the bike but a little niggle with the gears changing on their own.....deja vous! or should that be mange tout!! in the words of Del Boy.

Monday, and woke up with aching calf muscles but that is because I am not use to my feet being in the correct positions like they are now with the clips on the pedals. Then played football for and hour last night .....which was a good run around, shame we lost!

Tuesday, and cycled to work to how much quicker it was, managed the trip in in a couple of minutes over and hour, so want to try and get that under an hour! The trip is 17 miles so not a bad time but could have pushed harder if the gears had been set up so not slipping. We'll see what the trip home brings?!

Its arrived!!!!! its a Bike!!

The new Specialized Allez Sport Road Bike has arrived and I can't wait to ride it!!! But unfortunately I will have to wait a little longer to finish work.

Oh .....also my mum and dad have arrived too!!! with my bike which was kindly collected from Stoke, by Tom (nephew) and Ray (brother). My mum and dad have brought it down from Sandbach so I can get some rides in!!!

The Polar watch and additional parts has been serviced, so nearly ready to go!! How exciting!!

In the last week I have only managed a couple of rides and the football on Monday night, but hoping to come to work on my new bike on Friday to give it a proper spin!! It is just like Christmas!!

Ball & Bike

Great start to the week for fitness.............football late last night and then cycling early this morning. Managed to also get some weight training in too!! wherhey!!

I just want my new road bike, so I can get some serious rides in!!

Windy, Dark and quite cold

It was a shock this morning and would have been so easy to turn over and go back to sleep......but my boys made sure that was not possible and so it was cycling gear on and out on the bike. Managed an hour before having to get back for work.

At least I have managed to get out this week and get some training done, which is a vast improvement on last week!!

Disappointment

Went to collect and pay for the bike but it was the wrong one!!! so ordered one for end of October but can't wait.....and managed to find a different model in the North West which my nephew Tom can collect for me !! Star!

So then hopefully I can talk my mum and dad into bringing it down in September.

Training has been difficult this week, but hoping to get up early for a ride in the morning!! 20 miles ish....on the Claud Butler still unfortunately!

Beautiful Morning

The sun was just coming up when I was out on the bike this morning, and it was a great spectacle!! Some fantastic views, and this made the 20 mile ride all the better. A bit of hill training thrown in for good measure too.

Collecting the new road bike next week and I am like a child waiting for Christmas! Here is the one............. hopefully it will be quicker than my Claud Butler mountain Bike!!

Abysmal Week of training

Not a lot to say but since the tuesday 4th Aug, I managed only a short ride of 45 mins on thursday 6th, because I felt like shit, and this carried onto the saturday whereby I had planned to do 2-3 hours, but I just could not get out of my pit!! My head would not let me.

So the next exercise I managed was football on Monday night, followed by walking 5 miles pushing my number 2 son, Oliver, around in his pram on a power walk!!

I have been looking in several shops and on websites at road bikes trying to decide on the right one....it is so difficult, and they have such a waiting period for them too.

Here are some pics of me in Snowdonia doing a spot of scrambling.....................

And a spot of climbing.................

D Day Date for the Tour De Peaks!!!

Friday was good, managed to get circa 20 miles done, and then it was a food and drink weekend with my family who had come to visit from up 't' North.

And with business committments the next opportunity to train following the weekend of frivolity, was this morning......Christian and I managed to get 21 miles done and do a spot of hill training again, tackling a couple of hills two or three times.

The DATE is now set...............18th July 2010!!! so less than a year to ensure total fitness and minimal body fat....maybe I need to take a leaf out of my nephew James's book and visit China for a Year!!! it worked for him!!

Picture of me near the finish of training on Friday at my visiting family's holiday let..........

Bike Service and f f f frustration

From last Tuesday onwards then>>......The bike was serviced on Tuesday day, and come the morning of Thursday 23rd July Christian and I set off on a planned shorter ride....only to find one of the back roads had been relaid with chippings!! which was a nightmare....then my gears started slipping. Now there is nothing worse than the inevitable 'nut crunch' when you go to stand up and push hard on the pedals only to find the gears slipwhen the full power and weight is launched on the pedals! So after tweeking the wire tightness most the way round the ride I think they are now sorted. So we managed 12 miles on the Thursday.

Saturday morning I planned a biggy! So I went out on my own and managed 3 hrs and some 40+ miles, so well chuffed. And the main thing was feeling really good afterwards.

Sunday, Tanya and I went on a 5 mile walk, then Monday was football night. And after not being very well Sunday night I was not sure about being able to run around a football pitch after a ball, but as it turned out the run made me feel a whole lot better.

So the rest of this week as been a let down and no real exercise, Friday tomorrow and I hope to get a couple of hours in!!!

Watch this space for developments over the weekend on the planning of the charity event and a confirmed date in July 2010.

Train train train....that is the key!

On Sunday 19th July, I went for a solo 18 + mile ride after changing a puncture on my front tyre. It wasn't bad as I averaged 15 mph.... not quite Lance Armstrong!!

I have been changing things on the bike, by removing the mud guards to hopefully improve speed but then got absolutely soaked and so decided that was a bad idea.

On Monday it was football night...... we are getting a good attendance at this. Soon we will need to play 11 a side and have subs....we may have to employ managers at this rate!!

This morninga 5.30am....Tuesday, Christian and I went to have a go at some hills.....yes we found some cracking ones in the flats of Norfolk.....so not content with doing them once, we went back and did them again to get the heart rate pumping properly!! We did about 25 miles. Then home and change for the office. Felt good, and need some more of the hill training to help with the likes of cycling in the Scottish, English & Welsh mountain ranges! Them roads ain't goin to be flat! That I can guarantee.!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quiet time

So the last week has been quiet for training, which is not great. To date all I have done is play football on Monday night. Then with various business meetings and other commitments have been unable to train. Tanya works hard during the week with our young boys, so looking after them is a full time job, then twice a week she goes off in the evening when I get home and works locally. Plus then on saturdays she works at another job for several hours in the local village.

I am hoping to get out training/for a ride in the morning for a couple of hours, but Oliver, our 18 month old boy has been really ill and in hospital over night, last night. So we will see what sort of night he has before I promise to myself on the training schedule. I feel so unfit this week and like I have put on a stone in weight!!!

Oh well! Always next week to catch up!

In the last week

Since Sunday I have done a couple of 25 mile rides, a 5.5 mile run and played a couple of hours football.......so this week has been quite succesful.

On sunday I went with friends.....Christian and Stefan to Norwich on the bikes to watch the start of a Triathlon. They have now put their names down for a Sprint Triathlon in September. But I am going to save myself for a Duathlon in April 2010 at Diss. So little time to fit everything in! Then cycling back Stefan certainly pushed the pace.....I was knackered.....he seems to have an extra gear all the time! But it was good stuff and we had a craking pace on the way home.....16 mph average I believe.

Then football on Monday night, nice little warm up for an hour playing with George, then a full on hour with the boys in a seven a side ish game.

Up bright and early Tuesday morning for a 5.5 mile run, and Christian and I averaged 9 minute miles. Boy, did my legs feel it after the footbal the night before.

Today involved another early 5.15am start and 25 miles on the bike with Christian. Not a bad pace set .....15.5 mph average.....but not quite the 40 mph like in the Tour de France.....maybe one day.... on an extreme down hill...... with the wind behind...... and an engine on my bike!!!!!

I must get my bike serviced as the gears and brakes are in need of some repair.....it can't just be user error!

Next up is Saturday morning and hopefully another 25 - 30 miles .......

I really must sort some 'MS Society' orange coloured cycling gear soon!!! for myself and my nephew Tom, who will be doing the ride and hopefully, climbs with me. Won't you Tom!

A slow week

Well!! I had a weekend of building the patio....so that was two full days of hard graft last saturday and sunday, then monday had a 15 mile ride in the morning followed by a good run around at football Monday night......but then with work commitments I have only managed another ride this morning, which was 16 miles. The plan is to do a 2 hour ride on Sunday.....but I will try and cram in a run somewhere.

I had a look on the web last night to see a few people have done the challenge I plan on doing in 3 days, but most in 5! So i am going to get in contact with these people to find out about the planning etc, and any tips!!

Really do need to get a decent road bike for the challenge.

Friday to Tuesday >>>>>

Well, Friday 19th June I set of on a run down to Christian's house then from there we completed a 4.7 miles circuit. A quick transition onto the bikes and we did the 14 mile circuit from Loddon through to Broome, Thwaite and round back home. The running was quite hard going, especially when you realise you have picked up 'Joggers Nipple!'.....bloody painful. I must remember the vaseline.

Saturday was a children day and I took George to football training whilst Oliver and I spectated, then spent the rest of a lovely day with them.

On sunday I managed to get out late morning for what was going to be a 2 hour ride to Norwich then round back near Poringland and returning via the 'B' roads, but my plans were scuppered by a Puncture! just when I got to the village of Bramerton. I decided to take the easy option and call Tanya to bring the car and bike rack, saving me trying to change the tyre / inner tube at the side of the road. So I had only been out for 45 mins and that was that.

Monday....this was football night and we had 14 of the elderly turn up so it was a good even number and we had a great run around for an hour, burning a few calories! I had tried to repair my flat tyre but only resulted in breaking 2 levers!! then gave up on the idea of being able to go out Tuesday Morning for another run and bike ride due to bad bike mechanics on my part!! Luckily Christian popped down and managed to fix it for me whilst at football....what a star!

So Tuesday morning now and a 5.15am start. Today was a 15 mile ride first, followed by a 3.3 mile run. It did seem harder doing it this way round but the run was surprisingly quicker than the previous Friday. Thursday I think we will just do a longer bike ride, as we don't want to be doing too much of the running lark!!

One week later

Not much has happened really, but did a couple of 1 hour rides during the week after the 100 miles. And I have dug out all the turf from our garden so this was great exercise, burning plenty of calories!!

Then had my first game of football last night for a few weeks. I had been ensuring I stayed injury free up to doing the 100 miles. I also had physio last Friday to help a couple of old complaints, which I would like to think will disappear following a couple more sessions. I seemed to manage ok in the football anyway.

Friday I plan to do a couple of hours if possible, I may even bike to work and back. But I am going to plan a self route for a duathlon around the local area to help keep the training interesting.

Yipppeee .....100 miles later!!!

What a day!! First of all thanks to Christian for being great company and helping along the way on the ride.

We set out at 7.20am from the start in Norwich, and then had to stop 1 minute later due to a downpour!! so on with the water proof jacket then back into it. We seemed to have to stop at every traffic light in Norwich but we were soon out on the open road heading towards Reepham. We were enjoying the ride even in the rain, but about 10 miles from Sheringham (the halfway point) there seemed to be one hill after another with no respite! and I was grateful for a break. But we soon got cold having to have a compulsory 30 minute stop. We set off again, very wet and a little chilly so it was nice to get the blood pumping again. The next goal was the 75 mile marker, which seemed to take an age to get to, and the road seemed to be the main coastal road so there was a lot of traffic. This made it feel longer because we could not have a conversation and that had been helping us pass the time. Short pit stop at 75 miles and on the homeward stretch now, these miles seemed to go down quite quickly until the last 10, then they started with a poster at the side of the road as a countdown every mile.........we reached the finish 7 hours 26 mins and 6000 calories later! What a feeling to finish, but one thing sticks in my mind or possibly 2........the challenge I have set for next year is a massive one so the training is going to have to increase....and secondly I need a decent road bike!!! not a mountain bike! If I think of any more incidents, or excting parts from the 100 miles to put on the blog when I have more time then I will do so soon.

The Night Before

A week of little training, just 10 miles on monday, and 14 miles on Friday. Recovering from a bad chest and cold still, but looking schedule for Sunday......tomorrow, the big day. So Christian and I will see what it feels like to ride 100 miles in a day. Watch this space for the update after the event and maybe some pics!!

A poor week!!

So I went for a little leg stretcher on Tuesday, then my 'Man Cold' became worse, and to top it all on Wednesday night I had to pay a visit to my now regular haunt on the Norfolk and Norwich A & E Department, courtesy of chlorine granules in the eye!! It was not a pleasant experience and worrying at the time! But all on the mend now and full vision restored, so just need to get rid of the 'Man Cold' and hope that I will be fit for next week and '100 miles'.......I think the start of my cold hindered the 50+ miles training I did last weekend, and made me feel like crap....that is the excuse I am using anyway!! No excuses next week just pedal power!

Leg stretcher

Just over 12 miles this morning, to help stretch the legs after the 50 + miles from Sunday. I felt good, though the legs were a little heavy, but it did help to loosen them up. It was actually quite refreshing having a ride in the rain!! Honest!  

Not long now until the 100 mile!!!

A big one!!!

So a saturday night out with some friends, and one son who decided not to sleep, then up at 5.30am. Today was the day to see how 50 miles felt!!

I met Christian and Stefan at 6.15 and we set out for a ride on a beautiful morning. The sun was out and perfect weather conditions. I had plenty of energy food and drink, but the down side to not having a decent cycling top to carry things in meant I wore a thin base layer and my waterproof with the rear pocket, carrying energy bar and extra drink. After a few miles it became apparent that it was too hot for the waterproof but as it was carrying my extra drink i could only unzip it.

Stefan set a good pace, and I suddenly realised my fitness was not brilliant yet. He is like a "Fell Runner" as another friend once described him! I struggled to keep up with his cadence up hills, Christian seemed to manage ok. I hope that part of my excuses for not being able to keep up were... bad cough, a night out, and a waterproof jacket in heat! hopefully they work as a good excuse....well they do for me, Stefan and Christian may just say I was slow full stop.

I felt really fine for about 2 hours, so about 25 miles, but then I moved into new fitness territory and distance which was unknown to me. I think the initial pace made me suffer, but some of the scenerey is really beautiful and it takes your mind off the tiredness. Then for the last hour and a half I really needed to go for the old No.2, but thought it wise to hold on until I got home instead of using a convenient field!.....this just meant stomach cramps for the last hour, which was not a wise  move. Then I began to get cramp in my right leg / knee so I started to think...."am I going to make 100 miles in two weeks??

By the time I got home after 4 hours and 53 miles I was totally 'done', and glad to find the toilet!!I sat in the hot tub afterwards and hoped this would help me recover, but for most of the day I felt exhausted, and going for a walk with my family, then digging in the garden was such an effort. But the experience was an eye opener and made me understand in more reality what a challenge I have set myself for next year, never mind the Norwich 100 miles in 2 weeks. I understand now how serious I need to be in my training on the bike and putting the hours in on the saddle, also my diet, i.e. cutting out junk food and sweets, and my alcohol consumption.....these all need to be reviewed if I am going to make 500 miles in 5 days, not forgetting the 3 peaks!!!  

Friday Feeling

It was a beautiful morning and a 6am start, managed 20 miles this morning and a little gym work, but I have to say that the legs felt it, so hopefully I will be ok come sunday. I am planning a 50 mile ride with Christian. I have a route in my head but no doubt I will get lost through the back roads somewhere!! it is part of the fun!!

Return from Holiday

Well!!!Its been a while but now back from holiday and return to training tomorrow.....only 2 weeks to the Norwich 100 mile....oh poo!! wish I had not indulged with eating and drinking so much now!!! It is so hard to get back into it when you have done very little for so long.

Can't wait though!!

North Wales Training

Sunday 3rd May - In North Wales, at sunny Llandudno, except it is slightly on the windy side!! I got the bike out and went for a ride up some so called proper hills, which we don't have in Norfolk allegedly. Although I think by now I know better.
I went to Llandudno on the bike and down the promenade, then around the Great Orme, this was quite difficult considering I was going up hill and into a strong headwind. The best bit was going past the half way point and then Marine Drive where I was hitting 35mph + for about a mile!!! Great fun, worth the climb. Just glad I had disc brakes. I then carried on round to Deganwy and Llandudno Junction before deciding to give myself another big climb up a place called Bryn Pydew......this was a bit of a hill, believe me!! Finally a nice down hill bit to Glanwydden then finish back at my mum and dads, covering 15 miles....only! but a great number of climbs, which made life interesting.

Tuesday 5th May - This time, despite pre planning...... and actually planning on going to Betws-Y-Coed on a round trip, I actually ended up going to Rhyl on the coastal cycle path....partly due to real ale indulgence with my friend Wigz the previous night. But it was very refreshing with the sea breeze. Going to Rhyl was a piece of cake because the wind was behind me, but it was another story coming home....'headwind central'.....but managed 25 miles none the less, and it was fun. Just need to play catch up with Christian now and at some point soon get a 50 mile ride under my belt! I am planning on a walk up the mountains tomorrow with Wigz depending on the bloody weather, Then I'll try and get another ride before going back home to the flats of Norfolk.

Holiday training

Off on holiday to North Wales so I'll be taking the bike and doing some training in the 'hills'!!! that will be a shock to my system when use to the flats of Norfolk!

Not been out since the ride on Monday which is not good but hopefully make up for it over the next week with the fitness regime at my parents house and the very healthy diet of cooked breakfast with Black pudding every morning!! just what every budding 'Tour de France' entrant needs!!

Monday training

I know it is a day later, but went for a solo training ride on Monday morning at 5.45am and boy did I suffer, felt crap when I woke up and had to force myself out of bed!, then went out and the sun was rising beautifully only for a nice black rain cloud to follow me around for the whole ride. I could not get warm and my whole body felt like lead.....so I only managed 10 miles then did half hour of gym work. Off to sunny Wales thursday so I will take the bike up there to do some proper mountain training!!

 

Beautiful Day

Beautiful morning, and I was out at 5.30am doing 17.6 miles. It was a good ride, and I felt ok, wore the helmet as per norm, just in case I bumped into Jim again from football!

I tried a video part of the ride again on my phone and was sure I pressed 'record' this time, but NO!! and I did a running commentary for about half a mile and got home to find nothing recorded......so I am not using the mobile again and will use our camera next time!!!

Football Head ache

I am still on the mend from a bit of a blow in the Monday night Loddon football.......quite literally! Apparently I scored a great header (not my words! Honest), but I also felt my friend, Jim's attempted 'punch out'of the ball, whereby he used the side of my head instead.

It was not intentional, so Jim tells me!.......he just did not expect me to approach and attack the ball so quick and rise so high like a salmon!!! So a little trip to A & E on monday night thanks to the assistance of Simon. I was in a bit of pain, and felt really groggy, I don't think I'll ever make it as a boxer thats for sure. Oh well the goal was worth it......I think?! The hospital gave me a leaflet on 'Head Injuries' , a quick check and on our way home. I have contacted Jim to see how his hand is doing and he said it is fine and on the mend!

I am hoping to feel well enough for a training ride etc on Thursday morning with Christian, and then hope to have a long training ride on Saturday morning with Stefan and Christian.

Home-time trial

On the way back home was hard going, I was travelling into a head wind which made the 17+ miles home take nearly 1hr 25mins!!!! I took this picture and also thought I had recorded a mini video for your entertainment, but it turns out I had not pressed the record button!! Dippy!

Anyway a good 35 miles ride today.

Time Trial

'Cycle Time Trial' to work this morning, the distance is 17.2 miles and the normal time is roughly 1 hour 18 mins with an average speed of about 13 mph! but this morning I decided to see if I could do this quicker. And the answer is yes, in 1 hour 10 mins and the average speed a touch under 15mph.

This gives me a goal now to see if I can beat that time in another month or so!! You never know I may try to get it down to an hour!! hehehe! NOW then I'd be chuffed.

And Christian my good man......I actually only wore the cycling shorts this morning, without wearing football shorts over the top!!!!!!!!! On the way back home, I will attempt to record a part of the ride. Watch this space.

 

Yipppeeeee, early morning, wakey wakey rise and shine

Awake at 4.30am, up and getting ready at 5.20am, bit of brekky then on the bike to meet Christian for 6am start, we covered 16 miles and then I went into my garage for a bit of gym work.
We discussed getting us on video during a ride one morning so we will see what we can do.

Felt better today than I did on Monday thats for sure, so I am so pleased to be getting back into the rhythm.

Back to it!

Well I have had a rubbish week with 'Man Flu'! and been a brave soldier by being in work all week. Had a fairly chilled Easter Break, seeing friends and family.......but decided I wanted to get on the bike Easter Monday, bright and early Monday morning Christian met me for just over a 10 mile jaunt ............ boy! did I suffer, I still have the remnants of the cold and I have never known so much green matter to eject out of one persons nostril orifice!!! (NO Pics don't worry!!)
Despite the hardship of the ride, it was great to get back in the saddle, and I felt better for doing the ride after the event!

I ordered some mini business type cards with the brief contact details and the challenge written on the rear, so I can hand out to people, these were received over the weekend and they look great......also started emailing companies for some form of assistance in the challenge....nothing like planning ahead.
Bye for now.

Monday feeling

Back to work after a top weekend on Nick Barrett's Stag weekend, but I am now full of 'man' cold and I have also decided that I should really get the pain checked out you know where!!!!!!! down below.
So training is currently on hold, hopefully just a minor set back.

Bottled it! and news on the challenge next year

Ok......so I only managed to do 16 miles this morning, and half an hour of gym work !!, I have got an aching nad!! so give me a break.

This would be a good point to say that the challenge next year I hope to be accompanied by my brother - Raymond who is getting 'Fat for Fifty'......sorry 'Fit for Fifty'...in 50 years young in May......(they do say that fat men have good legs and leg muscles, but that must be to carry the body mass.....the legs in constant training....hehehe....sorry bro, only joking). But Raymond will hopefully be the support driver, checking up on me during the day. My nephew Tom is hoping to join me on the cycling part, and despite a fear of mountains I am hoping that he will try and accompany me up the Peaks, he'll be in safe hands with such a competent mountaineer such as myself!!! hehehe.....don't panic Tom, I'll take a compass and a 'Sea king' helicopter! But the competent mountaineer in the family, my other nephew Jim, I hope will be joining us. He can help us pick the right mountain, never mind route ........those who know me well, know about my exploits on mountains!! Jim is currently in China and has been for the past 9 mths ish with his wife Jo, who is studying Mandarin for her degree. So I am trying to plan the challenge/fundraising trip for 2010 when Jim has finished his finals at University in Manchester, and when my brother will be on holiday from teaching, and when Tom is not winning the Tour de France with his cycle racing!

I have had an interest from Stefan who I play football with, about joining me on the challenge.....so go on Stef, are you coming too??!!!

Here is a picture of the Russell crew.............................Yes we got Tom up at mountain in Snowdonia. And the paramedics were on standby for my brother at the top too!

PS.

Just had another £50 donated tonight via a 'Sponsor Form' handed round some of my friends at 'the Lodge'..........Great news!

how many miles????

Well, Tuesday morning, alarm goes just before 5.30am, then off on the bike and meet Christian.......(he is now joining me for the Norwich 100 mile Cycle Ride in June!! Good man!) We go for a 10 mile ish ride, as a warm up!! as yer do!.....then I pop home, clean my teeth, and off I go on the bike to work. I was not sure how far it was going to be, because the route I was taking was off the main roads....... mainly. 17.2 miles later I arrived at the office feeling pretty good and quite fresh considering. Although I then had 8 hours to recover and think about the ride home. Surprisingly I was quicker (only slightly) coming home ...... but I think it was the thought of having a well deserved beer! So a good day for training, with 45 miles covered. Here is a picture of me arriving home looking for that beer!

Same sort of mileage hopefully thursday.

Top of the morning

Great, back in the saddle and managed 18+ miles ..... I felt ok actually, but Christian and I did not really push the pedals too hard.

I have uploaded a picture of "the bike" I am using for the training , the Norwich 100 mile and the big challenge next year!! You never know your luck ......I may get a pic of me riding it!!

My 2 young boys have started training with me, picture evidence ..................

Getting back to it

Just a brief note......following a recovery from this crap stomach bug, I'll be up and out on the bike on Friday, so hopefully I'll blow the cobwebs away and get a few miles under my belt......hope to get some pics online soon.

Set back

Not a good few days!! the boys, Tanya and I, have been hit by a nasty stomach bug doing the rounds and so we have not had a pleasant weekend. In fact you could say we are glad the weekend was over. It is a great way of losing weight though!!
Now we are slowly recovering, I am missing the regular football this evening to give my aggravated groin a rest and then see how I am in couple of days to get back on the bike. With the clocks going forward at the weekend I hope to cycle to work at least a couple of times per week, with a round trip of 34 miles. That should help with the training.

The fundraising side of things is a little quiet but I did envisage this, because I have started the requests for money very early, but hey....its a big target and I am hoping to get press coverage nearer the time and also when the route and dates are specific this will help people focus on the end product. Thanks to those who have donated already and for their faith in me completing the challenge.

I'll try to put some pics on soon to brighten up the Blog.....or otherwise!!!

Friday 20th March

No training today...........our 15 mths old boy was ill with some sort of bug.....all night! Bless him.... and Tanya was constantly up and down changing towels....I won't go into too much more detail than that!!!! and I was trying to be supportive.....so with very few hours sleep and then looking after our 4 yr old when he rose from his pit, I just could not make it onto the bike at 6am! Lets hope we don't all catch it now! Back to it over the weekend hopefully.

Birthday training

An early morning Birthday ride for me this morning at 6am, only did 10.5 miles with my cycling buddy Christian...........it was a frsh cold morning but a great sunrise! Went well and it felt quite easy, but will push on hard and do a greater distance Friday morning to make up for the shorter ride. When I got back from the ride did some gym work for 15 mins....then ready for the office! I'm wondering what training I can do whilst away in Majorca in May, hope they have an excercise bike at the hotel!!!

Training so far

A brief history In short, I have been cycling between 8 and 20 miles every other day from the start of January and also play football every week. When possible I try to cram into the week a game of squash.
I suffered a groin strain in December but have not really rested it......in danger of feeling lazy again like I became last year!

To help keep me more motivated and set a goal, I have entered the Norwich 100 mile Cycle Ride on June 7th 2009. This will let me know how cycling 100 miles in a day feels......only need to do it 5 days straight next year!!! In addition I plan to enter the Norwich Half Marathon in October time of this year.

My training schedule I am trying to increase, and last saturday I managed to get a 24 mile ride in, with my friend Christian. It was a sobering thought and made me realise the training is necessary to be able to complete the challenge ahead. We then did a 14 mile ride yesterday morning which I followed with football last night.
I plan to have an early start in the morning in the saddle!

Update

So my plan is for 2010 (circa May, June time, date to be finalised towards end of 2009) is to do the 3 Peaks challenge but not in the 24 hours like most people do, but all under my own power. That is to trek up and down the UK's highest peak, 'Ben Nevis', then get on my bike and cycle to the Lake District, trek up and down the highest peak in England, 'Scafell', finally cycling to North Wales and trek up and down 'Snowdon', the highest peak in Wales. All this in 5 days!!! In aid of The Multiple Sclerosis Society is the UK's largest organisation dedicated to supporting the 85,000 people, their families and carers affected by MS.
This challenge has been prompted by events within my own family. In 2005 my sister-in-law was made aware of the chance of developing MS and so it is a charity very deserving and close to my heart. I have already commenced training at the start of January 2009 and I am determined to achieve my goal of finishing the challenge and reaching the Fundraising Target!
Follow my highs and lows of the training etc on this Blog and if you would like to make a donation direct to The Multiple Sclerosis Society, visit my website http://www.justgiving.com/neilrussell .......donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain & Northern Ireland gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Training for Fundraising challenge

Welcome to my Blog......I will be providing updates on training progress on this blog