OK, so it's 23:11 and I'm sat here after a truly hectic day. Not just the usual family stuff but also trying to pack and get everything ready for tomorrow. I'm aiming to be gone from the house by 3am and if the AA route planner is correct it'll mean us landing in Shieldaig at 1pm, but I'm hoping we can make up some time and arrive a little earlier than that.
Up to this point I'd assumed it was just me in my little world who was aware of what I was doing. I mean I know I've spoken about it to folks and had some great banter as always from the lads and lasses on BCTTT but somehow I didn't believe people had taken notice, were really that interested or were bothered at all. Today though it seems that everyone have sent me positive good luck wishes, wished me well and asked me to keep them informed about how it goes and updated on the day if possible. It's sort of taken me by surprise to be completely honest and if I'm truthful I now feel a sense of expectation and added pressure to succeed which I've not felt until now? Not that it's a bad things, just...unexpected.
The great news is that the fundraising is still progressing onwards and upwards and up to now it's at £430! Much more than I'd expected and down to Scibbby from BCTTT who has brilliantly drummed up interest and even sold some of her own kit to put into the kitty! Secretly, I'm hoping to go past that £500 mark so fingers crossed!!
I'm just having a little cuppa now everyone's in bed. A bit of chill out time before I hit the sack. Come tomorrow I don't think I'll be resting until Sat evening. I think, I hope, I can do this. The swim may be a long a slow progress having not swam for such a long time (through injury and lazyness! not a good combo) but I can fuddle my way through and then providing everything stays injury free I can only hope I manage to run along those hills happy in the idea of doing something worthwhile for a very poorly girl and her amazing Dad. If the thought of helping their situation doesn't spur me on then my soul is damned and there's no hope for me!
I suspect my next blog entry will be sometime post race but in case I don't make it and my body is left rotting at the base of a Scottish Munro I would just like to say a heartfelt thanks and complete gratitude to all those who have found the time and inclination to sponsor me in this endeavour. It really is appreciated and I hope it brings a smile to Andrew and Bea's face knowing there's someone out there who things they're lives are worth helping.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Monday, 18 June 2012
The final countdown!
Well, times ticking along now....less than a week to go. I did a 12.5 mile run a few days ago and unfortunately my legs are paying for it. Nowt serious, a few tweeks in the ankles/achilles. So I'm gonna chill this week, maybe ride some short, slow rides jog a couple of 3 milers? Just to keep the legs moving but something that'll allow the legs to heal a bit?
I've had a few people ask me if I'm nervous and to be completely honest I'm not? not even slightly? Which is weird. I should be but I'm fairly relaxed about it. I think maybe because I've got so much else to concentrate on (getting a big family up to Scotland for one!) that I've not really thought about it. Or maybe, and I think this is more likely, I just have that mindset I had when I signed up in that it's not to be a flat out race but rather an awesome event which I want to savour? So long as I survive the swim then I should be in with a chance to finish on the high level route.
The past week has seen a massive surge in sponsorship as well, in that time it's gone from me having about £90 total up to me breaking the £300 mark!! This has lifted a huge weight of my shoulders as I was getting worried that it would all be for nothing. The week has also seen Beatrice being admitted to hospital. She's a poorly girl and had to go to ICU. Andrew, her Dad, was all set to leave for his own Ironman challenge in Germany the day she was taken in so needless to say he didn't go and his Ironman opportunity was let go of. Rightly so but I know Andrew will be gutted as surely as I know he'd have it no other way than to be at Bea's side when she needs him. That's what dad's do. That's the reason he took up the Ironman challenge. For Bea. That is why I wanted to raise as much as possible to help.
I've just finished my last night shift at work so I'm now officially on leave! The next few days will be mostly concerned with checking kit, getting it ready and generally making sure that everything we need is sorted. The fact the shower in the family bathroom has just packed up and needs a new one installing is just one of the many things that I'm sure are sent to try me!
So, head down. Organise, organise, organise and fingers crossed things will go well for this forthcoming once in a lifetime experience.
I've had a few people ask me if I'm nervous and to be completely honest I'm not? not even slightly? Which is weird. I should be but I'm fairly relaxed about it. I think maybe because I've got so much else to concentrate on (getting a big family up to Scotland for one!) that I've not really thought about it. Or maybe, and I think this is more likely, I just have that mindset I had when I signed up in that it's not to be a flat out race but rather an awesome event which I want to savour? So long as I survive the swim then I should be in with a chance to finish on the high level route.
The past week has seen a massive surge in sponsorship as well, in that time it's gone from me having about £90 total up to me breaking the £300 mark!! This has lifted a huge weight of my shoulders as I was getting worried that it would all be for nothing. The week has also seen Beatrice being admitted to hospital. She's a poorly girl and had to go to ICU. Andrew, her Dad, was all set to leave for his own Ironman challenge in Germany the day she was taken in so needless to say he didn't go and his Ironman opportunity was let go of. Rightly so but I know Andrew will be gutted as surely as I know he'd have it no other way than to be at Bea's side when she needs him. That's what dad's do. That's the reason he took up the Ironman challenge. For Bea. That is why I wanted to raise as much as possible to help.
I've just finished my last night shift at work so I'm now officially on leave! The next few days will be mostly concerned with checking kit, getting it ready and generally making sure that everything we need is sorted. The fact the shower in the family bathroom has just packed up and needs a new one installing is just one of the many things that I'm sure are sent to try me!
So, head down. Organise, organise, organise and fingers crossed things will go well for this forthcoming once in a lifetime experience.
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Long Rides and generous folk!
So, it's getting close. Very close in fact and I've been reminded regularly that, actually, I've never ridden over 100 miles on my bike before!
That was it. I decided that I'd do a couple of long rides and get a few good hours in the saddle. But...I've also done quite possibly a rather silly, if not slightly romantic, thing and decided that I'm not actually going to break the 100 mile ride barrier until Celtman itself! I know, I know! My thinking is this, Celtman is going to turn out to be one of the 'moments' in life that means so much. Anything I can do to enhance that experience is a worthwhile decision I reckon?
I'd eyed up a trip heading through Mansfield, Edwinstowe, Ollerton and then into Lincoln, returning along the A46 through Newark before heading back home through Mansfield again. It was just short of the 100 miles mark but it worked on my weakness. That weakness, I believe, is dealing with the monotony of long flat rides. Hills, I can do (sort of) but the challenge of constant pedalling at one pace for a long time is a definite difficulty. This ride dealt with all that, and some! Headwinds. Bugger.
The ride eventually came in at just under the 90 mile mark. Unfortunately, the gels I'd taken were out of date! A long way out of date, so the ride includes a long lunch stop at 'The Pride of Lincoln' pub...NOT recommended! Fish and chips but the fish was wet and watery all the way through..eurgh! I just had to get it down my throat otherwise I just wouldn't make it back in any fit state :o(
All in all, this was a good ride. Dealt with the psychological weaknesses I have and gave me a few more miles under my belt.
Everything seems to be going as well as can be expected, especially with the shoulder injury and the big chunk of training lost due to illness. The accommodation has been booked with Fri night being spent at Bracken B&B which has an advert on Steve Carter's great local site and can be found here.
Accommodation for the rest of the Week we've decided to have up there is going to be spent at the beautiful Minch View
The only downside is that Lulu, our lovely chilled out Beagle, can't come with us :o( The owner, Tracey, has been great already and we're not even there yet!! She's OK'd my support runner staying overnight with us, even though this means some sleeping on camp mats etc! She's also managed to arrange for me to get a massage post race by Sarah Almond! And if that's not all....she's just sponsored me!! I've not met her yet and already we love her.
That's meant that I've just broken through the £100 mark for my sponsorship (not my strong point, I hate asking for money!! lol!) I'm now up to around the £150 mark and I'm hoping I can actually get past the £200 mark....maybe? hopefully? If you fancy helping go to www.justgiving.com/celtman and donate what you can.
Thanks in advance!!
That was it. I decided that I'd do a couple of long rides and get a few good hours in the saddle. But...I've also done quite possibly a rather silly, if not slightly romantic, thing and decided that I'm not actually going to break the 100 mile ride barrier until Celtman itself! I know, I know! My thinking is this, Celtman is going to turn out to be one of the 'moments' in life that means so much. Anything I can do to enhance that experience is a worthwhile decision I reckon?
I'd eyed up a trip heading through Mansfield, Edwinstowe, Ollerton and then into Lincoln, returning along the A46 through Newark before heading back home through Mansfield again. It was just short of the 100 miles mark but it worked on my weakness. That weakness, I believe, is dealing with the monotony of long flat rides. Hills, I can do (sort of) but the challenge of constant pedalling at one pace for a long time is a definite difficulty. This ride dealt with all that, and some! Headwinds. Bugger.
The ride eventually came in at just under the 90 mile mark. Unfortunately, the gels I'd taken were out of date! A long way out of date, so the ride includes a long lunch stop at 'The Pride of Lincoln' pub...NOT recommended! Fish and chips but the fish was wet and watery all the way through..eurgh! I just had to get it down my throat otherwise I just wouldn't make it back in any fit state :o(
All in all, this was a good ride. Dealt with the psychological weaknesses I have and gave me a few more miles under my belt.
Everything seems to be going as well as can be expected, especially with the shoulder injury and the big chunk of training lost due to illness. The accommodation has been booked with Fri night being spent at Bracken B&B which has an advert on Steve Carter's great local site and can be found here.
Accommodation for the rest of the Week we've decided to have up there is going to be spent at the beautiful Minch View
The only downside is that Lulu, our lovely chilled out Beagle, can't come with us :o( The owner, Tracey, has been great already and we're not even there yet!! She's OK'd my support runner staying overnight with us, even though this means some sleeping on camp mats etc! She's also managed to arrange for me to get a massage post race by Sarah Almond! And if that's not all....she's just sponsored me!! I've not met her yet and already we love her.
That's meant that I've just broken through the £100 mark for my sponsorship (not my strong point, I hate asking for money!! lol!) I'm now up to around the £150 mark and I'm hoping I can actually get past the £200 mark....maybe? hopefully? If you fancy helping go to www.justgiving.com/celtman and donate what you can.
Thanks in advance!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)