A Huge Thank You To....

Well, this time tomorrow I would have finished part one of the biathlon.  It's been an interesting week...a trying week shall we say.  Anyway, I thought I'd take this opportunity to say thank you to those people who have helped me over the past few months.  In no particular order:

• Emma Pollard
• Sara Fisher
• Antonia Pellegrino and the folks at Be-Fit
• Paul, Debbie and Claudine at Cancer Research UK
• The West Ham Supporters especially the folks on KUMB.com
• The Newcastle United Supporters who have been brilliant in their support for me and basically stuck 2 fingers up at the small minded folks who said nobody in the North East would be interested in the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK
• Gordon Woodhead for his invaluable cycling advice
• And everyone who has sponsored me so far and given me encouragement when I've been at my lowest points

And finally a special mention for my dad.  Those who know me well will know that he hasn't been in the best health over the past couple of years.  But the old fool has insisted on being my support driver on Monday and Tuesday and making sure I'm ok while out on the bike.  This will be his first visit back to his homeland of East London for over 20 years.  I think he's looking forward to it.  (Please be careful with my car dad!)

Anyway, there's no turning back now.  I'm scared to be honest.  It's going to hurt but I'm bloody well determined to do this and raise money in memory of such a great man.

VIVA BOBBY MOORE!!!!

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....

Hitting the Press

With just over 2 weeks to go I've spent the past few evenings frantically contacting as many media/press types as possible to try and get publicity for the biathlon.  And it hasn't been all my own doing.  3 people in particular have been amazing,


My two good friends Emma Pollard and Sara Fisher have helped me prepare the press release and point me in the right directions to try and get press coverage.  I owe you two big style.


And then there's Jeremy Nicholas.  A chance comment by a fellow West Ham supporter prompted me to contact Jeremy who to his credit responded almost immediately.  I told my wife and she said "Who's Jeremy Nicholas?"  I laughed and said the immortal words "This is a staff announcement, Mr Moon has left the stadium".  She then realised who I was talking about  For those who don't know, Jeremy is the match-day announcer at The Boleyn Ground and every so often there is the announcement that Mr Moon has left the stadium 


Jeremy has kindly plugged my story on his blog http://mrmoonhasleftthestadium.blogspot.com/ and pointed me in the right direction with West Ham.


So, the press release has gone out and straight away The News Guardian in Whitley Bay have picked up the story and will be sending a photographer to do some shots and the Newham Recorder in East London has done the same. Result!!


Also, through the power of Twitter, I've been getting other pointers as to where to send the story.  So I'm now feeling very happy with things.


I've had a few more sponsorship/donations come in so I'm edging nearer and nearer the £1000 mark.  


I would also like to thank both the Newcastle United fans and the West Ham fans who have shown their support recently.  It means a hell of a lot and gives me a massive bit of encouragement as I get through the last couple of weeks of training.  I honestly couldn't do it without you.

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.