1 day to go!

Well we’re off!

The van was packed this afternoon and we set off on the first leg of the drive up North.  Overnight tonight in Paisley and a gentle trot and cycle in the hotel gym tomorrow before driving up to John o Groats.

It seems strange that I’ll have driven 480 miles to get somewhere and will promptly turn round and run back twice as far!

Bloody idiot.

A million thanks to JCT600 and Volkswagen Commercials in Sheffield for the supply of the van.  I can’t tell you how much easier this has made our planning!

Check back on Saturday to see some before and after pics from the first leg (don’t show the “after” pictures to young kids)

Picking up the Transporter yesterday donated by JCT600 & VW Sheffield for the duration of the challenge. 

Nervous smiles before the start of the long journey up to John O'Groats 

Plenty of space in the back for all the essentials of the long journey. 

H4H

Read some stories from true heroes here: Hero Stories 

This is why we are supporting Help for Heroes through #JOGLE2014 

The countdown has begun with just 10 days to go! Help

The Fire Fighters Charity

Why we need to support our Fire fighters. Please Watch.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Callidusfundraising

Running home from work

A challenge in memory of Mo

If you’re lucky in life you get to meet someone like Mo Stevenson.

Mo was many things:

• Sportsman
• Socialite
• Bar Owner (ish)
• Local Personality
• Volunteer
• Daft Lad

But above all, he was one of the most down to earth, genuine people you could wish to meet, and I was proud to call him a friend.

There was no side to Mo.  He would greet you with the same warmth and enthusiasm whether he saw you every day or whether you hadn’t been in touch for months.  He made you feel as though he was genuinely pleased to see you every time you bumped into him.  This led to him being regarded with genuine affection by people too numerous to mention.  He will forever be a legend amongst the members of Scarborough RUFC, Staxton CC and amongst the many patrons of Klosters Bar – where his personality reflected on the happy and relaxed atmosphere.

Mo left a gap in many people’s lives when he sadly passed away, and this whole challenge is hopefully a way to show him how highly regarded he was.

RIP Mo.

Map

12 Days to Go

Its been a busy weekend of training. With only 12 days to go the challenge is getting scarily close. 

Saturday: A wake up run of 8.2 Miles. Blowing a bloody gale! Followed by 40 Miles on the bike in the afternoon.

Sunday: 13.3 Miles with Nikki and George (in the pram) - An extra work out to push him! 

19 days to go!

Madness

Many thanks to Leeds United, who have managed to take my mind off the physical pain I’m suffering from training by distracting me with the mental torture of being a lifelong LUFC fan.  You couldn’t make these last few weeks up – mad even by our standards.

Back in the real world, it’s bloody freezing running across Putney Bridge at 530 in the morning, but at least I have a smug grin on my face in the office when I’m sat down, showered, with a cup of coffee having done 10 miles before everyone else drags their backsides into work :-).

Turbo trainer is now set up on the balcony of the flat so I get a view of London as I pedal away to my heart’s content.

This week I’ll cover over 100 miles running and 230 miles on the bike, still only a third of the distance I’m going to cover in March but Im feeling very fit and Im sure the next few weeks will see me setting off in good nick.

All I need now is for my football team to get themselves sorted (some hope!)

Donations have gone over the £1000 mark now so it feels like we’re making some progress.  Thanks to all who have taken the time to donate so far. Keep them coming!

Training

Back in England

I'm back in the UK now, and my cold weather training has started!

Running in wet and windy Wimbledon this morning really reminded me of spending 3 hours in an Indian gym on a treadmill or bike (not).

Chucked in a sneaky 6.5 miler this morning and I'm about to knock another 11 miles out in the next hour; followed by a mind-numbing 2 hours (35miles) on the turbo trainer in the glamorous basement car park of my block.  

The next 5 weeks of my life are planned like a military operation, and the only thing I'm struggling to fit in is sleep, but sleep is over-rated.  I'm so looking forward to dodging the tramps and dodgy geezers on my 5:30 am runs into the office.  At least the runs back from work are dotted around with slightly more "conventional" people!

4 weeks of full on torture to come, but I've only got myself to blame!

I'll carry on updating my training progress on a daily basis so you can all snigger under your breath if you see me!

Thank you to Clem Constantine, Jon and Jodie for their very generous donations.