17 years on!

I've spent most of the day wondering where the past 17 years have gone. I remember the evening of 24th February 1993 clearly. I hadn't long got back from school, was sat on the coffee table. Mum was sitting on the sofa (it was a horrible green and pink flowery one). Neighbour's had just finished and then the 6 o'Clock News started

"Tonights headlines.....England's World Cup winning captain, Bobby Moore, has died..."

Mum put her hand over her mouth and started crying. I was 15 but knew enough about the importance of Bobby Moore, not just to my club, West Ham, but also to the national football team. Everything just stopped. We never moved until the news finished. Dad stood motionless, not saying a word. The way they were it was almost like we had lost a relative.

17 years on most people have forgotten about what today is about. The authorities never gave Bobby the recognition he deserved. The West Ham and Fulham fans still remember on the 24th Feb each year. It's important for us to remember The Greatest. The man was a gentleman and in today's football world of sleaze and money, a lot of footballers would do well to follow his example of how he led his life on and off the pitch.

And this is why I am doing this event. It's going to hurt. It's going to be tough. But it's the least I can do in the memory of such a great person. Since his death The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK has been working tirelessly to fight bowel cancer and the only way they can continue this fight is through people like myself trying to go the extra mile and raising money on their behalf.

I'm starting to get donations and messages of support and I've still got just over 6 months to go. It's blown me away to be honest. Let me make this clear...this is not a West Ham thing as some people have suggested. Far from it. Bobby Moore is more than just West Ham. He represented football and everything that was and is good about it.

Viva Bobby Moore!

Let the fundraising begin!

So after twisting my ankle on Saturday morning, I'm still unable to do any jogging. So frustrating. Add to that the continued cold and snowy weather and the chances to get the bike out on the road are still limited.

Thank God for the turbo trainer. I hooked the bike up to it yesterday afternoon,put one of the stages of the Tour of Qatar on the TV that I had Sky +'d and cycled for an hour. It is the most mind-numbingly boring things to do, worse than running on a treadmill, but I find it a lot easier to do it when watching the cycling on TV.

Having worked out my route for the ride and working out that day 1 will cover up to 175miles and day 2 130miles, I have had a slight seed of doubt as to whether I am biting off more than I can chew.

BUT, this is what a challenge is all about. If it was easy there would be no point in doing it.

I've now set up the fundraising page at JustGiving which can be found at www.justgiving.com/bobbymoorebiathlon. I've also placed a widget on the blog front page too. For those who are on Facebook, I've set up a page on there too. Just search for Jamie's Bobby Moore Biathlon and you should find it.

I would be grateful if you could share the blog, fundraising page and Facebook page with as many people as you know.

No training today because of work but I'll be back in the gym tomorrow.

Until next time....

The First Setback

OK, so I had 2 days rest instead of 1. There is such a thing as over-training. In all seriousness I just didn't feel right yesterday. Might have been a bit of fatigue.

On the plus side though, I received confirmation from The Great North Run that Cancer Research UK have entered me into the run. So, it's all confirmed now. This is definitely happening. With that in mind (and the latest weather forecasts suggesting another arctic blast) I decided to head to my local sports shop and pick up some winter running gear. Just as well really considering the snow flurries I watched last night.

But that wasn't going to deter me. I woke up nice and early this morning, saw a dusting of snow outside and decided that it would be OK to try a new jogging route I'd planned which would take me along the North Shields Fish Quay, up past the Priory to Tynemouth Longsands and back home to the Royal Quays.

All was going well until I got to about half a mile. Crossing a side road, my right foot slipped on some ice. I managed to keep on my feet but in doing so turned my right ankle over. My first reaction was to look around to see if anyone had watched my performance. Luckily, no and luckily my ankle felt OK.....until I started running again.

My normal approach to these things is to try and run it off but after a few hundred yards I decided to turn back and lightly jog back home.

So, the first setback. To say I'm frustrated is an understatement. At least it shouldn't prevent me from putting the bike on the turbo trainer. Some time in the gym should also keep the training on schedule. I'll take a look at the ankle on Monday and see how it feels. Fingers crossed that a few days off the running and it should be good as new.

Now where's that ice-pack??

Another cold start

My wife, Jo, nudged me this morning. "Are you dropping my car off for it's MOT for me? You could use it as a training run!" I took that to mean, "I'm on holiday and I'd like to stay under the warm duvet".

So, 8am, at the garage on The Cobalt in North Shields, standing in the reception area of the garage with the staff staring at me like I had a screw loose. You see, like yesterday, it was -2 but crucially foggy too. It was absolutely freezing and I was wearing shorts!

Keys handed over and off I go...like bambi!! Torvil and Dean would have felt at home on the pavements. I suppose it worked to my advantage as it kept my pace lower than normal but still it wasn't the most comfortable run ever. It was a useful exercise to see how I coped after 3 days of training and running 24 hours after the first training session on the bike.

The answer? I felt ok. A bit stiff to begin with but by the time I was arriving home 4 miles later, I felt good. I'm going to have a rest day tomorrow and then look to put some gym time in on friday.

I've decided on the route for the bike ride now. Day 1 will see me cycle from St James' Park to Sleaford in Lincolnshire and then Sleaford to The Boleyn Ground on Day 2. I'll get the maps posted up at the weekend.

Once I've received the fundraising pack from The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, I'll post up a link to the fund raising page

Until next time...

Anyone for potholes??

The cycling training started today. Taking advantage of the car going into the garage I put the bike into the back, dropped the car off in Cramlington and set off. The thermometer on the car read -2 degrees. There had also been a weather warning about icy roads. But the ice was the least of my problems.

My route: From Cramlington, i headed out to Blagdon, Ponteland and out to Dissington Hall before turning back and heading back to North Shields. The air was freezing cold but at least it was sunny and once out of the town and onto the open road the cold was soon forgotten. I'd not been out on the road since October so this was heaven.

However, I had not taken into account the state of the roads around South Northumberland and North Tyneside. Last summer they were bad...now after the snows....unbelievable!! I had to keep an eye out for not only patches of ice but huge craters. Add to that the morning traffic and I was left with very little room for error. I swear these roads are worse than the worst roads in Outer Mongolia!

I was also reminded of the impatience of some drivers...pulling out at junctions right in front of me, overtaking and not leaving any room but worse were those with a mobile phone clamped to their faces and not taking a blind bit of notice about me or anyone else for that matter.

Aside from these irritations out in the country it was a superb ride. No really tricky climbs but plenty of chances of hammering it on the long straights.

So, ride number 1 = 37miles. Which is probably just about right for the first ride of the year. I'll gradually increase the mileage and hope to be hitting the 100 mile mark by June. To be honest, the ride down to London isn't going to have many big climbs so today's ride was probably a good representation of what I'll face.

I have a training ride planned for a couple of weeks time from home in North Shields up to Carter Bar on the Border which finished with a devilish climb. Can't wait!

Over the coming few weeks I hope I'll add a few photos, post up the planned route for the bike ride part of the challenge and also (and most importantly) the fund raising page.

Until next time....

The slog begins!

I've been doing light training for a couple of months now but after getting my place in the Great North Run, the training proper can begin.

Today I got out and went for my first proper jog of the year. 5 miles covered and I felt comfortable....more comfortable than I have done for a long time.

I used to do a lot of roadrunning but had to give it up a few years back because of persistant knee injuries. However, back in the autumn I decided to get back out and see how it felt. Not too bad...the only problem was that I was a bit heavier than when I was last out on the road. And then came the snow and ice from mid December which, just as I was getting back into it, prevented me from getting out for a few weeks.

That began 5 weeks of hard slog at the gym to try and shift the weight. Running on a treadmill is a killer so it was a relief to get out today. Over 1 Stone lighter and I felt so much better. The last time I ran the course I ran today (back in November) I struggled. It hurt. My breathing was all out. It wasnt pleasant. However, today it just felt right.

Don't get me wrong, I've got a long way to go but getting today's run finished (and comfortably) was the mental boost I needed. With half term next week and some time off work, I'm planning a bit more gym time but crucially I'm getting the bike out for the first time since October. Again, I've been stuck indoors on the turbo trainer which is mind numbingly boring. I've got a short 40 mile route planned for Tuesday which should get me back into it nicely and then I'll be increasing the milage gradually and also combining it with the running.

I've been told I'm being too ambitious and that I won't be able to do this. Being told I can't do it only spurs me on more.

Until next time...

And so it begins...

This has been something that has been playing on my mind for a while now.....I need a challenge. Some of you may remember back in the spring of 2007 I cycled to all 20 Premiership Football Grounds in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done especially as my training was hampered by illness to myself and close family members. I swore blind I would never do anything like that again.....

But even on the drive back home from London I was thinking "You know, I would like to do something like this again". And so, back in 2009 while out cycling I cycled past some joggers and that where the idea hit me. Enter the Great North Run, complete the half marathon on the Sunday and then on the Monday and Tuesday cycle from Newcastle United's St James' Park to West Ham United's Boleyn Ground.

I ran the idea past a few friends...they all looked at me like I had 3 heads. Funnily enough it was the same look they gave me back in 2006 when I decided to do the last event. So that was decided then.

Next was the charity. There were so many to choose from but my heart told me to do it for The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK again. It's a chairty close to my heart both in terms of my love for football and for personal reasons. With this year being a world cup year, we are going through the usual build up and dreaming back to the iconic image of Bobby being hoisted up on the shoulders of his team mates on that wet day in July 1966. Despite that though Bobby was never honoured in the way he should have been so this is my way of honouring the Greatest.

If I can match the £3000 I raised in 2007 I will be delighted. I'd like to raise more than that but £3000 is what I'm aiming for.

So from now until September 2010 you can follow my preparations here, my thoughts on how things are going and progress being made to reach my target. If you want to help out at all whether it be in terms of spreading the word or donating football memorabilia for auction, please do not hesitate to drop me a line.

Viva Bobby Moore!