Practice makes perfect

Well it's been a while since my last blog update but I'm pleased to say that all is good and I'm in pretty good shape as I head into challenge number 10 on Saturday (26 October) in the shape of the snowdonia marathon.

What I realised this week is that it is now exactly a year since I started training for the first challenge, I have now covered over 2,650 miles which has taken 323 hours to complete. 

At this rate and with only 3 events to go I think it is possible to exceed 3,000 miles and I can still walk, well just about!

My training has started to focus on my last challenge and with the help of a rowing machine I have at home I'm gradually increasing my mileage as I build up to the 42mile row!

More on that in the coming weeks but my attention for now is on the latest challenge and despite people thinking that it's only a marathon and I've ran further a numerous occasions this year none of these runs included the hills/mountains that I will be taking on around Snowdon.

The 2 main climbs are 1,100ft after about 2/3 miles and 1,200ft after around 23 miles and along with the beautiful scenery and the weather forecast of wind and rain it makes this no ordinary marathon!

The event is going to be televised so if you get a chance tune in to S4C on Sunday 27 October at 8pm an look out for this guy!

Living in Essex and in particular Southend it's a little bit limited on the number of hills to practice on so this has been my hill training.

With around 112 steps I hope doing laps of this will get me through the beastie climbs I'm going to face!

I've received great support again over the last few weeks which has included a follow up article in the Southend Echo 

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10714347.Andy_s_amazing_charity_challenge_is_almost_over/

Thanks again to the team for their continued support in promoting the challenge.

The sponsorship has gone a bit slower than I'd like at this point and I am behind where I'd like to be at this point but I'm confident that I will get close to the £5k target.

As always to donate please go to https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/averagejoe 

Your donations will go to a directly to Springboard Opportunity Group and will help support the excellent work that they do for children with disabilities.

Well it's time to pack ahead of my 6 hour journey tomorrow where an overnight stay in the Snowdon Ranger youth hostel awaits for me!

Number 9 and feeling fine!

Well it has been a crazy month as I have completed 3 challenges in 4 weeks but thankfully the body and more importantly my toes have stood up to the test.

Yesterday (Sunday 15 September) I completed Challenge 9 - the London Duathlon!

This was probably the only event where I knew what to expect as I took part in the event last year. The only difference this time were the weather conditions.

Last year it was probably one of the hottest days of the year with temperatures around 30c, yesterday, although it was a beautiful morning, temperatures struggled to get in to double figures and then there was the strong wind which happened to be mainly going in to you regardless where you were on the course.

Despite that I managed to beat my time from last year by just over a minute which doesn't sound  much but given the fact that Mo Farah and Jonny Brownlee were both beaten yesterday by a second a minute is quite a lot in these events.

Although I wasn't due to start until 10:30, I set off from home about 6am, so another early start while the rest of the house slept.

I got to Richmond just before 8 and had a 25 minute walk through Richmond park to the events village.

The advantage of getting there early meant I could get my bike racked up and I could visit the toilets at least half a dozen times before the start.

As the clock ticked down towards 10:30 the number of people congregating by the start pens grew, they let us through about 15 minutes before the start and I was lucky enough to be in the first 25 to go.

I say lucky, it was not that lucky when you realise that the people passing you in the first few miles were actually in the groups that started after you!

Anyway I set off in to the head wind which was pretty grim. The route was pretty simple a 10km loop (red line) of the park followed by 4x11km loops(blue line) on the bike than a cheeky little 5km loop(green line) to finish.

After about 5km on the first running loop I finally had the wind behind me which certainly helped to recoup some of the time I lost running into the wind.

I reached the first transition and felt ok, I had a quick change into my helmet, cycle shoes and ate some jelly beans, then it was out to cycle 44km.

Now doing the event last year has some advantages but I was also able to remember the steep climb that I had to do not once but 4 times!

You would of thought that taking on the Welsh hills and the Pennines would have helped me but no I still struggled up the hill! 

Fortunately the last section of the cycle route was both downhill and with the wind behind us, which meant you had just enough time to recover before taking on the hill and wind again!

I finished the cycle section about a minute slower than last year but the difference this time was that my legs felt ok and not like they were going to cramp up.

So I racked my bike, changed back into my trainers, took on more fluid and jelly beans and I set off for the last leg and the cheeky 5km.

I had the usual jelly leg feeling associated with changing from cycling to running but this cleared just in time to take on a hill less than 1km in to the run.

Unlike last year I actually got stronger as the run went on and I was able to kick on up to the finish line.

The 5km run was actually just over 3 minutes quicker than my time last year and only 4 minutes slower than my PB for the distance.

It's amazing the difference a year makes as although I was only a minute quicker, I was able to walk away straight after I finished back to my kit, where last year I felt like collapsing in a heap!

So that is it I am now a Duathlete!

Richmond park is a beautiful setting for an event like this and it's great to see loads of deer roaming freely as you run or cycle by.

There were a few lucky escapes with some rogue deer running across the road, however fortunately there was no sign of Fenton! (Check out YouTube Jesus Christ in Richmond Park: Original upload - Brilliant)!

With the bike now being tucked up for the winter there is now only 3 events between me and completing the whole challenge!

Snowdonia Marathon, Winter 100 run and 42miles on a rowing machine!

Bring it on!

 

How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!

With less than a week before I take on Challenge 9 - London Duathlon, I thought I'd look back over some of the great coverage that I have had about the whole challenge and help raise awareness of the great work that Springboard Opportunity group do.

I realised when I was going through them that I hadn't shared the interview/article that was done by Technogym several weeks ago. The guys have been great supporting me throughout the year and I hope you like the article - Technogym

On the theme of everyday people doing amazing things I was sent an email recently with a film from the Ironman UK. This was a team of everyday people being given the opportunity to be supported like a pro athlete thanks to Sportpursuit. 

Take a look at the film, it certainly gets me in the mood for an Ironman! Team Sportpursuit

From everyday people to world class athletes, I was also lucky enough to be back at the Olympic park over the weekend for the National Paralympic Day which was a great event. 

I took James along and as well as watching Team GB in Boccia and Table Tennis, James met a number of the heroes from last years Paralympics including Hannah Cockroft and Ben Quilter.

For me seeing James face when he had a medal round his neck was amazing and I personally believe that meeting athletes at events like this and talking to them about their experiences is a massive part of inspiring a generation.

As well as meeting the athletes he was also able to try out some of the sports including Boccia and wheelchair basketball.

It was great to see him trying a number of different sports that he wouldn't usually get to play and was a great rest day for me ahead of Sunday!

Number 8 and feeling great!!

As we enter into September it's great to be able to say I have now successfully completed 8 out of the 12 challenges.

The latest of the challenges was completed yesterday and I must say I really did feel good, a bit concerned that I had gone off too quick but fortunately that wasn't the case as I completed the 100 mile course in 5hrs 52mins (moving time) 6hrs 24mins (including stops).

This meant an average speed of around 16.8 miles per hour which considering that's through peddle power for 100miles is pretty pleasing!

Although the route wasn't as hilly as previous challenges there were constant up and downs and a nasty head wind especially during the section between 50-78miles!

So after a 5am alarm call which gave me enough time to get some breakfast down and the bike loaded on to the car I set off for the start.

It was pretty grim at that time of the morning as it was still dark a sign of the changing seasons.

I got to the start at about 6:40 so I had enough time to register and do my final preparations before starting at around 7:20.

Although I started at a steady pace I soon got with a group of riders and the pace started to pick up which still felt comfortable.

We got to the first checkpoint (24miles) in around 1hr 23mins but as with events like this when you stop and you're not with friends you tend to lose the people you were cycling with.

This was the case for me so I set off again on my own but it wasn't long before meeting up with a guy called Peter.

We got chatting and he told me about doing to Ride London event back in August where he finished the 100 miles in under 6 hours and he wanted to do the same for this one especially at it was hillier than that course.

At this point I didn't want to tell him that it took me over 8 hours to do the Castle 100 in May!

So I stayed with Peter and we kept a really good pace, I was starting to have real concerns that I was going to blow at some point but we reach the halfway point in just over 3hrs.

This was the lunch stop and Peter didn't want to stop for long but I needed to get some more substantial food on board.

To be fair we didn't stay too long and he stayed too which was good.

So feeling refuelled we set off again and this was when we hit the headwind. This was definitely the hardest section of the whole ride.

It was during this section that Peter left me as I once again found a couple of hills that meant my pace dropped to a crawl..damn you hills!

However once over the hills I was able to get back to my previous pace and to both mine and Peters surprise I was able to catch up with him.

The final checkpoint (78 miles) came around surprisingly quick but also at the right time as it gave me the final opportunity to refuel with jelly babies and chocolate bars which was just the boost I needed for the final 22 miles.

So we set off for the last leg however a couple of miles in to the last section Peter started to cramp up and needed me to nurse him in. This meant staying in front of him so he could draft off me, previously we had been taking it in turns but now he wasn't able to take his turn. 

So for the last 15miles I lead him back, fortunately he had recovered enough to do the last couple of miles as I was now feeling the burn!

The end finally came into sight and boom we were done!

It was a great ride and I want to thank Peter for getting me around especially that middle section.

This is Peter the machine!!

The unexpected early finish also meant that I got extra time with the family too when I got home.

James had decided that for my reward I could have a fry up for my dinner, there's no mistaking that he is my son!!

So as I said at the start only 4 challenges remain in the Average Joe Challenge in aid of Springboard Opportunity Group.

Here are the remaining challenges -

15 September - London Duathlon

26 October - Snowdonia Marathon

30 November - Winter 100 (100 mile run)

14 December - Row the channel and back on a rowing machine in Borough Parade Shopping Centre in Chippenham.

I now have 2 weeks to get ready for the London Duathlon which means my focus will be back on running as I think cycling over 240 miles in the last 2 weeks I might have done enough training on the bike now!!

Challenge 8 final preparations

Well it's safe to say that my preparations for challenge 8 (tomorrow) are somewhat different to those of 2 weeks ago.

For starters sleeping in my own bed instead of on an air bed with a slow puncture is a big plus. Not having a tent flapping around my head is also a blessing.

So I'm lying in bed writing this feeling reasonably relaxed with run fatboy run on in the background for any last minute motivational tips!

The other difference today was that I didn't need to travel to the start the day before as I will be driving there in the morning albeit 5:30 in the morning. 

But it meant that I was able to spend some time with the family for a change and I also got to watch the moment that James (my 5yr old) rode his bike without stabilisers for the first time!

It was a very proud moment seeing him achieve this and you never know he may even join me in several years time on one of my crazy challenges, he may even take on the Average Joe Challenge of 12 in 12 months?

As for tomorrow I'm looking forward to taking on the 100miles around the Essex countryside!

Goodnight all!

The one that got away...

So I didn't do a challenge for 2 months and then all of a sudden two come in a matter of weeks.

The challenge on Sunday, challenge number 8 for those who are counting, is the additional one I've included due to the toe-gate!

This is the last of the bike ride challenges and its safe to say I will be glad to see the back of them. Although I thought it would be a welcome break from all the running it turns out that it hasn't been and although they have been amazing to do and complete I much prefer the running.

The only problem now is that I have to work hard to get myself back to the level I was before with my fitness. I took park in the local Parkrun on Saturday and was 5 minutes slower than my previous time for a 5k run.

The scary thing was that I couldn't run any faster than what I did so some serious miles need to be done before I take on the snowdonia marathon and the winter 100!

Before than I need to complete the Essex 100, which given the mountains I've had to endure over the last few challenges you'd think it should be pretty flat, give the fact that Essex isn't know for its hills, but you'd be mistaken!

Unfortunately I have no wingman for this challenge and like the Castle 100 in May I will be tackling this on my own, despite the other 600plus riders I will be riding solo.

As a gentle reminder this year long challenge is in aid of Springboard Opportunity Group as I aim to raise £5,000 to support the fantastic work that they do for children with disabilities. So if you can support no matter how large or small please visit my donation page https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/averagejoe. 

Seven Heaven

Well I'm pleased to announce that the Average Joe challenge is back up and running again after a two month gap and what a way to start again taking on the Coast to Coast challenge in one day!

Many people have enjoyed cycling the 140 mile route from the Lake District, across the Pennines and ending up in Tynemouth or Sunderland. But they usual do this over 3 or 4 days not try to tackle the beast in one day.

However after 14 hours and 12 minutes I finally crossed the finish line which means I've now completed 7 of the 12 challenges!

 

I should have known it was going to be a lot longer than I'd expected as the journey up to Whitehaven took over 7 hours thanks to joys of the M6 and the V festival and this set the tone for the weekend! 

But we arrived at the campsite just after 7pm which was only a few minutes walk from the beach and was very picturesque however meant the site was very windy.

I then shared a alleged 2 man tent with Chink (Andy Keeley pictured above) whilst the support team of my sister and Chinks wife Stacey slept in the camper van.

Due to an air bed that deflated quicker than an Arsenal fan on the opening day of the football season and what seemed like gale force winds at the camp site, neither chink or I really got any sleep, I swear at one point the tent was about to take off! 

Anyway the alarm went off at 5am and after getting the tent taken down (wind assisted) and eating some breakfast, we set off to Whitehaven harbour and the start.

At about 7am we set off from Whitehaven we were in high spirits given the lack of sleep however this lasted around 5 minutes when we realised we had got lost and had to pointed in the right direction by a kind local!!

When we finally found the right route it was not really what we expected with the first 5 miles being through housing estates going down alleyways, this meant we weren't really able to get up to speed. It was also around this time that the fine rain (you know the stuff that soaks you right through) started.

Having missed the support crew at our first agreed meeting point we carried on through to the end of the first stage at Keswick 31 miles in.

Here we refuelled and had our own pit stop before heading on off to Langwathby another 28 miles in to the route. 

It was here that the nerves were starting to kick in as we both knew that stage 3 was the toughest stage, it was here where all the major climbs were as we passed through the Pennines.

As we gradually started to climb the second highest climb on the route approximately 1998ft the wind and the rain intensified. Not only this but the mist started to roll in which given the fact that neither of us had lights on made it all the more grim!

We finally reach the summit of Hartside before a very long but quick descent. We met up with the support team shorty afterwards and it was at this point chink was starting to have some doubts about continuing.

But after a short break and some words of encouragement we both set off again. 

Less than a mile on and I think chink had some serious doubts as we started to climb up a very short but steep hill. We were not even halfway up when I heard chink make a very strange noise followed by the sound of metal on tarmac! That's right he had fallen off! This is the joy of riding a bike where you are clipped into the pedal as he had forgot to clip out!

We met the support team around 5 miles further on which was just before the highest climb of the route. Unfortunately after 75 miles, the combination of the hills and the weather had worn chink down and he decided to skip the rest of the hill section, get a change of clothes and get warm.

So I continued on my own towards Black Hill which stood over 2000ft. Despite this being higher than anything on the dragon ride (challenge 6) it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and as I reached the summit there was a break in the weather for the first time and a beautiful rainbow could be seen.

I think it was the satisfaction of reaching the highest point and the rainbow which lead to me sing somewhere over the rainbow at the top of my voice all the way down the other side!

After out manoeuvring some sheep on the road I finally completed the 3rd stage to Allenheads. Chink was now warm and fuelled again and agreed to rejoin me after the final climb another 12 miles away.

 

It wasn't too long before I reached Parkhead and I was rejoined by my wingman. I must say that I don't blame him for not joining me until then as the final climb was a right beast and although not the highest approximately 1600ft it was very steep over a 2 mile period!

So back together and after negotiating some signs that had been tampered with we reached the end of stage 4 atRowland Gills. At this point the adrenaline was starting to kick in as we only had 19 miles left to do and according to the map it was all flat!

We became so cocky we told the support team we didn't need them and to head off the the finish, at this point we had been going for around 12 hours!

Well the route was flat but along tracks/trails which had gates or meant we had to cross a road. This, like the start, meant we weren't able to really get a move on. What did get a move on though was the rain as we were treated to the heaviest downpours of the day.

We finally reached the river Tyne and were becoming very pleased with ourselves until we started to question where we were on the map.

We finally did the unmanly thing and asked someone if we were on the right path only to find out that we had actually gone round in a circle and were in fact almost back to the start of the final stage!

Now on the right path we tried to make up time but again the route was very stop start, however the mileage started to drop and with only 4 miles left we were thinking of the finish.....that was until I got a puncture!

137miles of hard slog ruined by a broken bottle on the streets of Newcastle!

But it was ok I had spare inner tubes and a portable pump...only my portable pump didn't work! I was getting angry and frustrated at this point and after getting some air in to the tyre we set off again with me trying to nurse it home.

This lasted about a mile as my tyre came off the wheel and the inner tube got wrapped around my brake causing it to split. Now close to tears and wanting to throw my bike into the Tyne my wingman stepped up and sacrificed himself well his bike anyway and told me to take his bike and finish!

And that was what I did, so with no map, no phone and the light now faded I cycled standing up (as the seat was far too low) towards the finish.

After getting a little bit lost I finally found the blue C2C signs that had got us from the west coast to the east coast and in the distance I saw 3 flashing lights.

One of the lights was a lighthouse in the harbour but the other 2 were the phones of the support crew at the finish line!

And at 9:12pm on Saturday 17 August, after 140 miles and 14 hours 12 mins after leaving Whitehaven I had finally reached Tynemouth, albeit on my own and on chinks bike!

Also at the finish were Claire, John and Joseph Lodge our friends and host for the night who had been waiting patiently for a couple of hours.

After dragging my very wet and muddy self back to the camper van and loading the bike we then set off to pick up a now stranded and cold chink.

With chink collected we set of for Whitley Bay and a fine feast of chilli, beer and Match of the Day!

Although it wasn't long before the efforts of the day finally kicked in!

The following morning after a good nights sleep and a big breakfast of sausage and bacon cobs it was time to clean/repair the bikes before loading them up for the journey home.

However with the sun now finally shining it meant we had one last thing to do before setting off and that was to go back to the finish together!

So only 5 challenges now remain and the next one is in two weeks time on 1 September the Essex 100.

All of this effort is to raise money for SpringboardOpportunity Group and to promote the great work they do.

To donate please visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/averagejoe

Finally thank you to chink, Janet, Stacey, Claire, John and Joseph for the support during this challenge as I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!