New Year - new challenges!

Hi all

This year finds us .... well almost snowed in actually!
We've been sledging, built snowmen and snow pets, fed the birds and warmed up with hot chocolate and freshly baked cinnamon whirls (my newest passion is baking!). I will have to do some serious training this year to get rid of the unfortunate by-product of baking.

Anyway, I need to dig the car out as my fencing work has increased - Im now working in schools!!! - thats if the snow thaws anytime soon!!

Even after........

I would just like to say a continued BIG thankyou as people are still sponsoring me even after the event.
I think we managed to raise about £25k this year which is awesome when you consider the recession, less people taking part and its near to Christmas so a great big

THANKYOU!

Im going to start training for next year next week!!!!! ................. maybe.

It was FAB!

Ive done it - Yeah
It was an awesome weekend. Highlights for me include the kyaking (ha ha Im still circling even now) and the fact that up until Sunday morning I was IN THE LEAD!!!
and then it went horribley wrong ;-)

Joking apart it was great fun, possibley even better than last year and, Im sure not as good as next year!

Thats right folks I will be doing it again next year. It official Im addicted.

I have to put in a request for NO KYAKING though on the grounds of mental health issues!

I will put photos up when I get the chance to get them off my phone. Lake district was beautiful, even in the rain (it only rained over night and Sunday morning), the deer were really cute and everyone was lovely as usual.

Big thankyou to the winning team though for being real gentlemen. Expect to see them next year and buy them a drink.
Oh yeah and the fireman for saving me from being left in a big hole!

And................

the winnner of the Months free membership for 2 is..............

ALEX GOODLOCK.

Well done!

and everyone else who sponsored me can have a day pass to

The Chase Hotel Gym in Cheltenham.

(got to take it before the end of Nov.)

Off to get some caffeine, paracetamol and a massage! ..................

Last post (Ta Da)

This will be my last post before the event and all I have to say is .......

HAVE YOU SEEN THE WEATHER REPORT FOR LAKE WINDERMERE!!!!!!!!

If that is not worth a few pounds on its own I dont know what is.

"heavy rain", "poor visibility" sounds like a great weekend

I can guarantee being a little muddy I think.

ANYWAY, moving on,


It should be a laugh and on the upside I do actually feel a lot better - still feeling sick and not eating a huge amount but got some strength back and may try a bike ride tomorrow



I have to go now and pack my scuba gear in the car...................I'll let you know how it goes when Ive dried out on Monday!!

starting to see a pattern

I am definitely seeing a pattern. Last year I had flu/heavy cold the week before the event and now this year (courtesy of infant school!!) vomitting bug. I can hear you all going "yuk". I wont add to that Im sure you can imagine the carnage in a house with four sufferers (3 under the age of 10!)
All I can say is a HUGE THANK YOU for mum. She deserves the medal of honour for her many acts of conspicuous bravery whilst in the line of fire!
I hope to be fine for the weekend (cant open a jar of jam at the moment but hey) Getting better though as Ive made it to my email and managed to blog................................off to bed now!

Bring it on!!!

Im in a strange situation - on the one hand Im all excited about the event and on the other - I just cant get focussed on the training this week.

I am trying to summon up the enthusiasm and drive to actually go to the gym (but Im blogging instead - need I say more!)

Anyway a BIG ENORMOUS thankyou to all my sponsors Im now at a staggering £860 - I would love to make it £900 by Wednesday (ever the optimist) I shall carry on begging.........

Stepping it up

Ive been for a run yesterday (proper outdoor running!) and then this evening Ive been back in the gym after a break of about a week. Im a bit achey, but thought its about time I pushed it a bit - after all there are only 11 days to go!!!!!!



Im getting all excited about it now - still a little dissappointed that Im not going to get the sponsorship I managed last year (but I guess a global recession is as good an excuse as any!).



Its weird this year, as Im obviously more distant from the CLIC Sargent side of things than I was last year. For our family, life is moving along, I wont say "normal" because we wont have that again, but relatively and in a really positive way its "ordinary" at the moment. Im not so "raw" about everything and Grace has moved on in a way I never could have imagined (and sometimes still cant!)

Certain things still "trip me up" and having done last years challenge I have no doubt that half-way through it will probabley get me again - but I may be a little more ready for it this time.......



Today I heard someone talking about breast cancer and she was really angry and resentful about the disease and I really "got that" today. Ive never felt that way up until now - I suppose it takes up too much energy and I havent had that luxury until now, but at the moment I do HATE leukaemia with a passion - just for what its meant for us, how it mucks stuff up.........



but I guess as someone really clever once said,

"life is what happens while you're busy making plans!"

As long as that hatred gets channelled into things - work, training, just 5 minutes, then I'll live with that - Im certainly not going to let it ruin the rest of our lives.

Well, there are the musings of a mad woman - I put it down to post-birthday blues, pre-race nerves and too much caffeine!

Fancied a change

Ive just changed the countdown clock - in case you're sitting there thinking "shes changed something and I cant work out what it is!"

Ive also booked my accomodation for the event. I love it when the event pack comes through its like Christmas morning and exam day all rolled into one!

Im as excited as last year, with a little less fear as Im now a seasoned adventure racer (This is my 2nd one after all!!!!!).

After looking at the YMCA site though ................. all that climbing............... and all that water! Aaghh. Oh well

Just in case you wondered......

Just in case you were worried that Im not training I have been fencing and cycling mostly lately!!

I hope to get back into the gym next week once Ive finished a load of work I have to do. (Should have done it by now actually but hey)

Its my *****th birthday tomorrow and I might take the evening off (or I might wake up with the birthday blues and spend ALL DAY training who knows!) Im fencing tomorrow night with a bunch of Boys Brigade so whatever happens I'll be shattered by the end of the day ........... and a bit older!)

The one good thing at the moment is the weather!

Shopping again!

I have to say a BIG thank-you to Pete, the manager of Up & Running in cheltenham. He helped me out with my running shoes today (nice to know retail can help where Manufacturers cant!)

I now have absolutely NO reason not to do well as I have super-duper shoes to make me run fast!!!

I also bought a few extra warm clothes as I remember being a little chilly last year (ok so it was 2am and outside in a marquee but it was definitely chilly!) oh yeah, and a pair of sunnies (in case its as sunny as last year!). These should stay on this time - hopefully.

Oops I forgot ........

...... Ive got to £700!

Outing on the bike

Ive just taken my new bike for a spin this afternoon, and to quote "The Incredibles" - "it was awesome!"
Ive never been a great fan of cycling - you may have picked up on that vibe?! but this bike is comfy, the gears change really easily, the position is good and I actually feel quite safe on it.

Who knows I might even ride it again before the challenge ....... or even after !!!!

A morning to myself ........ and the running machine!

I dropped ALL the kids off today and went to the gym ........ in the morning ............... no need for complicated babysitting .......... no need for exhaustive "what if " scenarios.
It was GREAT
................... house is quiet though now Im back. :-(

Aaah Well

Ive been to the gym a few times since Saturday and training is going good. I have decided to take my fencing coaches exams as well as the challenge so EVEN MORE to get fit for!
Unfortunately none of the big sports companies have been able to help out this year with kit or anything else so I need to rethink the sponsorship......................

Shopping trip!

Ive been out this morning and bought a new bike helmet.
I have to day a BIG "thanks" to Matt at Leisure Lakes- The Bike Store in Cheltenham who managed to serve me (under the extreme conditions of 3 bored kids, Saturday morning and a PDQ machine that didnt want to play!).
The discount is much appreciated and I will do my best to get a better place than last years 3rd.

Cracked it!

I ran last night and managed to really get my speed up. I can cover much more distance now. Along with some muscle aching free wieghts exercises and ............ wait for it........... sit ups! I had a great work out.

I find it incredible that Im nearly back to my "pre-babies" workout for cardio - just a pity the body isnt!!! Ha HA



I also took delivery of my new bicycle yeseterday. Very exciting and I have to say that I like this one much more than last years!
Its a Barracuda Phoenix bought from ebay company MTF Enterprises. They also have their own
website for some great deals on new bikes! http://www.e-bikesdirect.co.uk/

Thanks guys!

FREE STUFF

Ive had a really productive morning today and have some great news for the sponsoship.



Not only have the Reflections gym in The Chase Hotel Cheltenham come up trumps and let me train for FREE they have also supplied a very cool prize for me to raffle.

1 months FREE membership for 2 to the gym in Cheltenham (worth £102. Must be taken before 31st December 2009)

AND

25 Day Passes to give away

This is available to anyone who sponsors me at least £5.

You will be entered into the raffle along with all other sponsors

and it will be drawn on the day after the challenge.

(Members of my family can't enter -sorry guys!)

At last- its going!

Well, after a weekend away surrounded by ultra fit people (Portsmouth - you cant get fitter than a marine) I went to the gym last night. Its amazing how much training you do carrying a rucksack around with 3 kids' "important stuff" in! Add a very wet and tired 3 year old in your arms and I had my own BFT.
The gym last night was a doddle compared to the weekend - no nice sea views though.
Im getting quicker with my running. Just out of interest I checked the army times for their BFT when we got back and Im inside them - Good huh?!
I also have a bicycle coming this week so thats really exciting. I will be out for a ride on that soon.
And even better than all this I finally got my sponsorship moving again too. Im now at £675 thanks to some very generous family and friends. BIG THANKYOU guys.
School tomorrow so .......................................... try and manage without me for a few days!

Off I went.....

I went to the gym today totally re-inspired (if thats a word?!) after a visit to RAF Lyneham yesterday. I spent the whole day with families whose children are still going through treatment or who have been through treatment like us and we had a fantastic day. All the personnel we met were soo friendly, kind and helpful it was really great to know they wanted to help.
It just reminded me how important raising the money is and how important "ordinary" days out are to families who are anything but ordinary.
I will make sure that I do my VERY best on the weekend and try again to get some more sponsorship.
Being round ultra fit RAF blokes obviously played its part in the inspiration stakes as well!!!!!

Long day

Ive just come back from the gym - its been a long day today. I was up early with my youngest (we saw the sunrise!) and now its dark. Met someone at the gym tonight who remembered Grace from when she was ill with leukaemia (which was weird!)
I wasnt expecting it and also with the exception of family I think most other people we see these days didnt know her when she was ill.
I feel like Ive been knocked off balance a bit. Ho Hum