What's it all about?

I set this blog up in 2010 so people could follow my progress as I prepared for my second challenge in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK; a three day biathlon which saw me run the Great North Run and the next day by a two day cycle to London from Newcastle.

I've made it my life's work to raise awareness of bowel cancer, the disease which robbed us of the greatest footballer to grace a football pitch and a disease I was tested for when I was 22 following a health scare.


This blog follows my training for the event, my thoughts and more importantly will allow you to follow my progress on the event.


With my new challenge I am hoping to raise £10,000 for the charity



Friday 12 March 2010

...from the flame

I'll admit it. I've spent the past couple of weeks wallowing in a rut. Ankle playing up, weather outside stinks, the doubters knocking my confidence and a lingering cold (actually, it was worse than that. It was manflu).

But then things happen. You see things that inspire you. Take for example Christine Bleakley from BBC's The One Show. For the past week or so we've been watching as she attempts to water-ski across the English Channel. She can barely swim!!! She hasn't got the strength to do it yet she's sticking in there.

Then there's Eddie Izzard. My favourite comedian. Running 43 marathons in 51 days! What's that all about?? Watching Eddie Izzard:Marathon Man on BBC 3 and how he struggled self-doubt, injury and poor weather got me thinking about the rut I was in.

But then you have Phil Packer. You might not recognise his name but you'll certainly know about his story. Major Phil Packer sustained spinal chord injuries while serving in Iraq in 2008 and was told he would never walk again. Last year he walked the London Marathon. The I saw him on breakfast TV last week talking about his latest challenge...the 3 Peaks Challenge (Climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 3 days). Most people struggle to climb just one of them. If ever I needed inspiration and a HUGE kick up the backside to get myself out of the rut, this was it. My problems are trivial. This guy has had to learn to walk again! Quite simply he's super human.

So this is where I am.

I've been slogging it out at the gym all week working on strength and stamina. I'm not going to lie to you, I've been waking up in complete agony some mornings this week. The jogging has resumed as well. The treadmill has taken a pounding this week. Hard, high paced sessions.

I was out running this morning. The hardest 3 miles of running I've done so far...windy, raining and cold. But it felt good once I finished. A real mental boost. And then there's the weather forecast. It looks like Spring is on it's way. Lighter evenings, warmer weather and a few free weekends coming up means the bike can finally get a regular run out.

And through it all, I keep repeating a quote from Lance Armstrong: "Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever"

Until next time...
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