Day 2 Newcaslte to Lincoln

So, after the fun and games of the Great North Run came day 1 of the cycling between Newcastle and Lincoln. 

I'd had a fairly good night's sleep only waking when the rain started hammering down outside at about 1am.  Up at 5am I started ramming porridge and poached eggs down my throat, determined to make sure I had enough fuel onboard for the first 50-60miles or so. 

We got to St James' Park just after 7am.  I know dad was chirping away to me as we walked under the Milburn Stand to main reception but to be brutally honest, I'm not too sure what he was saying.  I was too busy walking through the route in my head, where food stops were and where the main challenges for the day would be.  After a quick pose for a photo (note the look of fear) I was ready to go.

I headed off through the quiet city centre and headed off to the Tyne Bridge.  The traffic was solid but I nipped in and out of the queues.  It felt odd crossing the river.  Only yesterday I was running across the bridge with 50000 other runners cheered on by hundreds of people.  Today, it was a completely different bridge. 

Once off the bridge, I headed towards the flyover which would take me onto Durham Road and through Gateshead....and thats where the first mishap took place.  Dropping down to the smaller gear the chain flipped off and sat limp...similar to what happened to Andy Schleck in this year Tour de France only in a more glamorous location.  I quickly got the chain back on with minimal fuss and as I pushed off I noticed blood dripping from my thumb.  Somehow (and I still don't know how I did it) I had sliced my thumbnail open.  With dad still way back in the centre of Newcastle stuck in traffic I had to just keep going. 

Once through Gateshead I was in my rhythm and felt fine.  But I was aware that the wind was whipping around from the West...basically right across me.  Not as bad as a full on head wind but it was still a struggle.  Dad eventually went past me in Birtley and I signalled that I need 1st Aid which was duelly given. 

And from there it was a relatively pleasant ride through to Thirsk.  The A167 from Chester le Street was a fairly straight forward road to negotiate with a few steep climbs and some lovely downhill stretches.  But it was on one of the climbs close to Spennymoor that I saw the most bizarre thing I have seen for a long time.  A man was walking towards me in full Ancient Greek warrior costume (yup including the "skirt").  I couldn't help but stare.  He just looked at me as said "Morning!".  It was like what he was wearing was completely normal.

Heading into North Yorkshire I arrived at Northallerton and then a bit further on, Thirsk.  So far, the ride was being broken up into nice little segments of cycling...but that was about to change.  from Thirsk I headed onto the A19 to York.  This was 22 miles of complete hell.  The road surface for the majority of the ride down to York was appaling.  The vibration through the bike was making me ache and with the wind swirling round, it was making for a very unpleasant ride.

                              

                                       

York was an absolutely joy once I got there.  Getting back into an urban setting where it was stop start stop was refreshing.  But I didn't have time to admite the architecture etc.  I was bang on schedule and wanted to push on.  Unfortunately, the road down to Selby was just a bad as the road to York, and the wind was getting stronger.  I knew that if I could get to Selby and then turn off towards Goole I would be fine as I would have a strong tailwind.

I had a food stop near Selby where dad was waiting for me.  I felt awful as he was getting stern 1 word answers from me but my mind was firmly fixed on what was coming up.  I had got to 90 miles and wanted to press on.  I could see the huge Drax power station and the quite obvious torrential rain that surrounded it...and I was heading that way.

On the road to Goole my expected tailwind never materialised.  The wind seemed to be gusting in from every direction!  The drivers were mentalists giving me no room.  The road surface was worse than anything I had experienced before.  Basically I was complaining about everything.  However, I had reached the 100mile mark...a huge milestone.  Dad had told me that he would wait for me south of Goole (all along the route, dad was driving ahead of me and waiting at spots by the road to make sure I was ok).  That seemed a long way away.  It wasn't but it felt it. 

On the way to Goole I got blown off the bike.  Nothing serious.  Just got a bit buffetted as a truck went past and ended up going into the verge...luckily there was no curb.  And then I thought I'd missed a turning and added several miles onto my journey which did all sorts of things to my head.  I was starting to think more and more negatively and couldn't snap myself out of it.

And then I get the phone call from dad. 

Dad: I'm lost

Me: But you've got all the maps...and the sat nav.

D: I know but I've taken a wrong turn and ended up somewhere in Goole and I don't know how to use your sat nav.

Me: What can you see?

D: I'm parked by the sports centre.

Me: Wait there.

So I turned off my route and headed into Goole, with no idea of where I was going.  I eventually found him and sorted the sat nav out.  I'm quite pleased that happened as it was a healthy distraction.

But what was becoming more and more apparent was the pain in my back, hips and bum!  The wind was getting stronger, the roads from Goole to Gainsborough and then to Lincoln was long drags with very little in the way of scenery.  Looking out west the countryside was featureless and flat.  Just farm land and nothing to act as a barrier from the wind. 

It was becoming painful and not enjoyable and as a result not very interesting.  The only saving grace was the road was virtually flat.  And then I saw it, Lincoln Cathedral, perched onto of a hill like a beacon saying "You've only got THIS far to go".  Lovely, but I had little left in the tank and couldn't pedal any fast than I could. 

So, here I am. Sat in my room at the hotel in Lincoln.  I've covered 159miles (a little less than anticipated thanks to dad working out a slightly shorter (and safer) route this morning.  I've soaked in an ice cold bath which has helped my legs.  I'm feeling tired and apprehensive tonight but looking forward to the ride down to London.  Dad has done a quick calculation and thinks it should be about 132miles.

I'm absolutely goosed so I'm going to call it a day and head for bed!!

Until next time..

Nerves setting in

So with a little under a week to go, the nerves are setting in.  The seeds of doubt are there...have I trained enough, have I bitten off more than I can chew??

I know this is going to hurt.  The longest stage of this years Tour de France was 5 miles less than what my first day of cycling will be.  Believe me, I've trained.  I've trained really hard.  But I'm worried I haven't done enough.

6am, 5 days a week since May I've been heading to the gym working on strength and stamina.  And from that side of things I have seen the benefits.  I am stronger, I am a hell of a lot fitter.  I am leaner.  My friends and family have all noticed the difference in my shape and appearance.  Which is good, but is it enough to get me down to Lincoln on the first day?

I've been doing a lot of cycling.  But have I done enough.  I'm finding 50-80 miles is easy enough now, but I've rarely gone above 100 miles.  My technique on the bike is a lot better.  I'm more flexible and can get right down on the bars.  I'm more efficient in my pedalling and use of gears so I'm using less energy.  So yes I suppose I am ready.

There is a bit of mind games I'm playing with myself.  Positive Mental Attitude.  I keep telling myself I can do this.  I've started talking to myself when I'm cycling.  I get some great looks from passers by.  I've taken a lot of inspiration after reading Lance Armstrong's "Every second counts".  He is famously quoted as saying "Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever".  However, in the book he talks about the phrase "No Chain", a phrase the US Postal Service Team used a lot in the Tour de France in 2003.  Basically, the idea is that with no chain, it's very easy to pedal.  So when the call went out to a team member "hows it going", the response was "No chain!" i.e. I'm finding this easy!  So when it gets tough, I keep telling myself "No Chain"...and do you know what, it works.  It actually makes me chuckle when I do it to which helps.

I had my final training ride at the weekend.  I took the bike down to my friends farm in Oxfordshire.  I had a lovely ride through the Chilton's.  Only 40ish miles but a lot of steep, long hills....which I will not have in either day of the cycling part of the biathlon.  By the time I had finished I wanted to do more.  It was windy, it was raining but I loved it.  So maybe I am ready.

However, the running is proving a problem.  My ankle still isn't right.  I've done a few 2-3 mile runs but the ankle just isn't right.  I can't put the pressure on I could before.  I definitely won't be going for a pacey time on Sunday in the Great North Run.  However, I was up to 8 miles before I damaged the ankle so I am sure I will be ok.

So, maybe I am ready....or ready as I ever will be.

In terms of publicity, its not been too bad.  Northumberland Gazette, News Guardian in North Tyneside and the Newham Recorder in London have picked up the story.  And my friends and family have been amazing. 

I'm still disappointed with the lack of response from both West Ham United and Newcastle United.  As I've said before, I don't want fan fairs etc, I just want access to the pitches to get a photo done and start and end the bike ride properly.  I definitely don't want to finish 2 days and 300 miles of cycling only to get to the front doors of Upton Park, not get any further and then go "Well, that's that then" and go home. 

I remember when I cycled the 20 premiership grounds in 2007 I had a similar lack of response from West Ham and I remember cycling down Green Street on my final day, overcome with the emotion of 2 weeks of cycling, unsure of what to expect at the ground.  Luckily, unbeknown to me, the Corporate Chef at Upton Park, Keith Ross, had been following my progress and welcomed me, showing me around and generally giving me an absolutely mind blowing finale.

I don't expect the same but I'm hoping and praying Bobby's up there watching and shining down on Upton Park on Tuesday 21st for me.

So that's where I am.  I'm itching to get started.  I just hope this wind dies down by next Monday.

Finally, I encourage everyone reading this to visit my fundraising page and sponsor me....I'm still a long way from my £3000 target.  www.justgiving.com/bobbymoorebiathlon

Until next time....

Minor setbacks and all that

It became apparent to me last week that I may have been overdoing things slightly.  While keeping focused on training and preparing it dawned on me as I lay on a sun lounger in Ibiza that I was physically shattered.  6.30am gym sessions 5 times a week with long training rides at the weekends, shorter sprints midweek and the occasional running session whilst fitting in my 9-5 job and family over the past 5 months was taking its toll. 


Some would argue that a week away so close to the biathlon isn't the most sensible thing to do but in hindsight I think it was the perfect thing to do.  My initial intention was to have a morning run each day through the resort.  This went to plan on the first day, however fate was to make it's move...and what a good move it was too.


Picture the scene...I'm sat on the terrace watching my kids join in with the party games on stage at the resort while reflecting on our first day in Ibiza.  I had already nabbed our favourite spot by the pool (at 4am!!!!!), I had done a 2.5mile run in searing heat, played football for an hour, done a bit of swimming and generally had fun with Jo and the kids.


Zorro, the resort entertainer started the main event for the night, You Bet.  I decided I wouldn't be one of the contestants but if there were any games I could get involved in, then sure, I'd be there.  And then it happened.  He bet one of the contestants that they could get 15 of the audience to make 15 paper airplanes which would fly beyond the 5 row of tables.  THIS ONE IS FOR ME!!!!


I was there like a shot...I wasn't exactly running...more a fast walk.  As I approached the stage a man walked in front of me, i shifted my weight to one side and then the numb, sickening pain went straight through me.  I had managed to turn my left ankle right over...it was all split second stuff.


I sat down for a few minutes (while making my paper airplane which for the record didn't go past the 1st row of tables) and then made my way back to our table.  The pain subsided and I carried on for the rest of the evening, sitting out any other invitations to get involved, before retiring to our room and bed.


At 4am I woke in agony.  So much so that I began to vomit.  I couldn't put any weight on my foot, I couldn't walk.  The pain was similar to when I broke my wrist a few years back.  Jo was anxious and wanted to call the 24hour rep line.  I decided (in typical bloke fashion) to take some pain killers, and try to sleep with my foot cushioned by a beach towel.  I honestly thought I had broken it.


The next morning I got up and was still having problems but I was able to walk although with limited movement.  By that point I knew I hadn't broken it but was advised to rest, get ice on it and elevate it.  And that's what I did.  For 3 days I did nothing but lay by the pool.  And do you know what, I'm glad I did.  I've got back refreshed, rested and ready to put the finally 3 weeks of training in.  I'm still not ready for any form of serious running but I know that come hell or high water I'll get around the 13.1miles of the Great North Run.  Fingers crossed though I'll be ready to resume running this weekend.


I would like to have been past the £1000 mark by now on then fundraising side of things but hey ho...I'll keep plugging the biathlon and fundraising page in the hope that the sponsorships keep coming in.


http://www,justgiving.com/bobbymoorebiathlon

Until next time....

2 steps forward...

So this is where we are:

The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK have sent out their running pack and fundraising support kit. The running vest looks great with MOORE and 6 emblazoned across the back.

I've been putting in more time down the gym doing strength work. I hate doing weights (especially when there are huge meat heads walking around). But I'm starting to see the benefits of including the weights in the training routine. My back and neck hurt less now when I'm on the bike and the arms don't ache so much either.

Cycling training is taking shape. Chances of getting out on the road have been limited but luckily I had a backlog of various Tours recorded on Sky+, so I spent most of last week on the turbo trainer while watching The Tour of Oman. Definitely looked a lot warmer out there.

After my ankle twist a week or so back I've been gingerly getting back out and increasing the miles again. Sunday saw me put in a solid run from home to Tynemouth and back (just short of 5 miles). The ankle still doesn't feel great but at least I can run again.

I've come down with a cold. No amount of vitamin C or telling the kids to cover their mouths when they cough was going to stop me getting it. I went out for a run last night and although I started off comfortably and at a good pace, by the time I got to the 1 mile mark my breathing was all out, my throat was dry and I was sweating buckets. Half a mile later I turned back and by the time I had reached home I felt like I had done a marathon. By 9pm I was out for the count.

So today, I have no voice and feel like my head is wrapped in cotton wool. Maybe it's my body trying to tell me that I need to slow it down a bit. I've gone into this like a man possessed and I have to keep reminding myself that I've still got just over 6 months to go. I'm going to have a few rest days, get rid of the cold and hope to get out on the bike again on Monday evening.

The big motivation is the sponsorship side of things. £102 raised so far (which all came in a space of a couple of days). This blew me away. Thanks to those who have sponsored so far.

Until next time...