Introducing....

I thought it was about time I introduce the bike, my trusty sidekick which I will be intimately spending 2 days with.  I've estimated that I will probably be in the saddle around 10-12 hours on the Monday (Newcastle to Lincoln) and 8-10 hours on the Tuesday (Lincoln to London).  Luckily I've invested in some decent cycling shorts.  


I've done nearly 1000 miles on the bike in the past 9 months in preparation and thanks to the guys at Start Cycles in North Shields, the bike has been stripped, cleaned and serviced ready for the off.


I've got one more long training planned which will be down in the Chilterns next weekend and then it's light cycling just to keep the joints fluid.

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....

Nearly there

First of all, apologies.  I know I should have kept the blog up to date but things have got very busy around here.  Where to start??

Well, for the past couple of months now the gym work has intensified.  6.30am gym sessions 4 to 5 times a week to work on my strength and stamina.  I've said it before and I'll say it again....I HATE WEIGHTS!!!!  This has been the most difficult part of the training.  But I've noticed a massive difference especially when out on the bike.  I've dropped a few pounds which has helped both on the bike and out running.  

Out on the bike, the miles are stacking up.  Lots of short high tempo rides with one or two longer rides in between.  Looking at the routes for the 2 days of cycling in September, there isn't much in the way of hill work but I've been keen to get some hill training done, so I've made sure some of my training rides have included riding through the likes of Newburn, Throckley and Heddon on the Wall.  Not terribly steep climbs but long climbs.  My main concern is day 1 of cycling will include a steady climb up past Durham right at the start of the day.  Don't want to burn myself out at the start.

The bike is going in for a service next week to make sure it's ready for the 2 days.  

As for the running, well, I'm back out on the road.  Running definitely isn't my strongest discipline these days.  When I was younger I could run for miles.  But now what with years of football injuries behind me, I find it a little more difficult.  I'm out doing regular 3 to 4 mile runs and will start increasing that over the next few weeks.  

I've also had to fight the urge to go for a fast time in the Great North Run.  If I didn't have 2 days of cycling to follow, then yes, I'd go for a faster time.  It's a matter of just getting round the course with as little fuss as possible without causing any damage or injury.

There have been a few hiccups along the way.  A few injuries, the most serious being a back injury done while getting the kids in the car for school back in June which put me out of action for 2 weeks.  There's been a few aches and pains with my ankles.  But apart from that relatively injury free.

A week in Cyprus didn't help either.  I tried to get out for a run on my first day there but after 2 miles it looked like someone had thrown a gallon of water over me.  When I got back on the bike on my return I struggled to do 20 miles! 

But all in all, I'm getting there.  I'm getting a bit irritable now.  I'm getting bored of the training and just want to get out there and do it now.

I'm nearly up to the £600 mark with sponsorships.  If truth be told, I'm a bit disappointed.  I was hoping to be past £1000 by now.  But hopefully, the press release I'm going to start sending out will encourage more people to donate. I am so thankful to those who have already done so.

That's about everything for now.  I'll be updating now on a weekly basis and hopefully will have some photos to add as well.

Until next time, be careful out there....

Adam Stansfield 1978-2010

I sat at my PC this morning preparing to give an update, mindful that I've in truth been a bit slack with keeping the blog up to date. So much has happened since my last update. I began jotting a few things down and happened to glance up at the sports news.


Transfer stories, results, managerial merry-go-rounds and whether England's prima donnas will get a good reception or not against Hungary tonight are insignificant when you hear that 31 year old Adam Stansfield of Exeter City died last night after losing his battle against bowel cancer.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/exeter_city/8902976.stm


So I'm going to postpone my latest update on training and progress for 24 hours if you don't mind.


RIP Adam.

Back in the saddle

It's been a couple of weeks since I last updated the blog and there's certainly a lot to update you with. Training in general is coming along nicely. I'm feeling fitter and fresher each week now and have really started to enjoy it.

So where to start?

Lets start with going for a Body Balance Assessment at Be-Fit in Newcastle. I've known Antonia Pellegrino and her brother Michael for a few years now and have seen some of the work they have done with pro-sportsmen and women. So when Antonia suggested going along for an assessment and putting together a training plan I jumped at the chance.

First thing I was told was to stop running. I don't need to be putting the miles in at this early stage but instead concentrate on strength and cycling.

Next I was told that my right foot was out of line and needed manipulating. This would help prevent all sorts of issues. So for the next 20 minutes or so I was bent, pulled, stretched and prodded (with a chopstick!). The end result? A straight foot and no ankle pain. It did feel a bit odd walking around at first...and I also felt taller. After that we went to the gym to pull together a fitness programme concentrating on my back, legs and shoulders (basically, the parts of me that are going to get a hammering on the bike).

So after an hour there I felt a million dollars! Seriously, you should checked them out. They work miracles there .

Despite being told to stop the running for a while I couldn't resist a sneaky jog to see how my new trainers and newly aligned foot felt. I'll be honest, it felt weird. But at the same time I felt good and there was no ankle pain!

Most importantly though over the past few weeks is the increase in bike training. The weather has improved so I've gradually started to get the bike off the turbo trainer and out onto the road. I did a few shorter rides in the evenings after work (including a climb up Dunston Bank in Gateshead) to get the feel for the road again. I was quickly reminded about how poor the roads are at the moment, dodging potholes while contending with a few impatient drivers. Then there was the spilt diesel on a roundabout which I was turning right on in Wallsend. The adrenalin was pumping as the front wheel started to slide out from under me. Luckily, I stayed on and there were no cars.

However, yesterday (Sunday) was my first ride of any meaning of the year. 7am, looking out the window, blue skies, no breeze and sunshine. Perfect!
Wrong. Within 30 minutes I realised it was a lot nippier than first imagined. I had my fingerless mits on so was feeling the cold a bit but in general it was all fine. Heading from North Shields I made my way along the banks of the Tyne, along the Quayside and then made my way up the bank through Scotswood, Newburn and Throckley, eventually reaching the top of the climb at Heddon on the Wall. Once I was at Stamfordham I turned and made my way back to North Shields via Ponteland, Wide Open and Backworth.

Now, remember I said no breeze? Wrong! There was a slight breeze coming in off the coast which I had to cycle into from Ponteland for the next 20 miles until I got home...and it was cold and energy sapping. That being said, I pushed on and made it back in one piece with no major dramas.

This morning, my legs feel great. So it's back to the gym tonight for another strength session.

On the donation side of things. I'm getting a lot of encouraging messages of support and have now just about reached the £300 mark....10% of my target. I would dearly love to smash that the £3000 target well before I start in September so please, share the blog with as many people as you know and visit the fundraising page and donate . It's for a great cause.

Until next time..

...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...

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...