Probably last entry

Sorry that last blog I had to send quick as the ferry was setting off and I was starting to feel queasy.

The tum has settled a bit now.

Have caught up on a loads of your comments and than you for them. Your positive thoughts while I was on the last mountain def helped. I simply had to have my head down, lean into the driving rain and counted sets of 50 steps. It's the only way I managed it. At the start of the walk after the additional 5km I had a bit of a weep feeling very down and was hard pressed no to just stop at the campsite. The thought of all of your sponsorship money and support are the only reason I managed the last one. By the time I got to the top most of the group were lurching around like zombies. A few photos, handshakes, and tears were taken and then we all turned around and just wanted to get back down and in dry clothes.

So that's it folks. It was on hell of a 55 hours roller coaster of not knowing what time of day or night it was and just moving forwards.

Never ever again...

Finished and on the way home

What a day yesterday was.

7 hours of hideous coach journey with no sleep again. Then when we arrived at the campsite the coaches couldn't do the last 5km so we had to walk that before doing the actual walk. I could have wept.

The hill was severe with low cloud high winds and driving rain again. I can safely say it was tough and a simple trudge one foot in front of the other. I just wanted it to be over and was pleased to get back down to the tents. We finished in 54 hours and 55 minutes. So we managed the 55 hours despite the extra 5km.

The evening meal was a hog roast which was much appreciated. Most of us were then crashed out by 8pm. In 55 hours I'd got 4 hours catnaps on the coaches donut was a challenge of sleep depravation as much as the walking.

Am now on the ferry back to Holyhead. Can't wait to get home but it be getting on for midnight with the 6.5 hour drive.

Thank you so much to all for your sponsorship and support I honesty wouldnt have finished it without all your comments.

Donnard done

It's just gone 12 midnight and we are off to the last peak in southern Ireland. Due to be a 7am set off.

Donnard was hideous but mainly cos of the weather. By halfway up it was gale force winds and driving rain. We were holding on to the lighter people.

So the coach is now steaming.

My feet are falling apart but I've decided to keep my inner socks on this time. I'm concerned if I pull them off that lots of foot will come off with them. So they'll have to stay on till the end.

So unbelievably just one more to do. The pace is once again going to have to be brutal to get in the 55 hours. This has been an amazing challenge and has done so in more ways than one but I'll be damn glad to see my little tent tomorrow afternoon and know its all over.

I may not get another blog done for a while as I don't know what the Internet ignal is like in S Ireland or what the roaming charges are. So bear with me.

Now time to once again try to get some sleep sat upright in a cramped coach seat. Oh just to be able to lay flat and stretch my legs out.

Love to you all

Come on Mr B nearly there.

Northern Ireland is here

Well here I am driving through NI. Next peak ascent starts at 7pm and have to be down by midnight then it's a seven hour drive the the last one. To achieve the 55 hours we've got to get to the top of the last one by 11am tomorrow

Ferry trip ok. Only an hour and despite a fair bit of rocking I managed to cram some pasta down and catch a 20 min power nap. Eyes are heavy but mind is willing. This next one is the easiest of the lot so should be fine though the pace is gonna be strict.

Now have 6 toes strapped up and one nail on the way out so the attrition rate is doable for the next two.

It's now time to dig deep concentrate on one step in front of the other and help each other.

Interestingly noone I've spoken to so far would ever attempt this again. Says it al I think. Over two thirds of the group are squadies of one form or another and everyone is finding it tough.

Right back to try to catch another 20 mins coach nap before game time.

Hugs to you all especially my star on a stormy night and my Fredster.

At the ferry

We are at the ferry at last. There are assorted toenails coming off. One guy just walked to the loo in socks and left a bloody footprint. The whole thing has been brutal.

Two more to go. The next at 7pm is the smallest so will hopefully fly by. Then the last one is a bit of a bitch apparently but then it'll be the last one.

Just praying that the see is calm. Am
Already feeling sick as a dog from fatigue and the coach. Last thing I need is to lose any food now. Am downing electrolyte drinks by the gallon. Problem is once again am feeling too sick to eat and yet need to. Perhaps I'll wait till after the ferry just in case.

We are all hot, tired, sweaty and in need of a shower. None of those till the end of tomorrow though. I'm sick of baby wipe baths lol.

This has certainly been a challenge so far and I won't be repeating it.

Will wait till on the ferry and I'll get more ibuprofen gel on my knees and pills down too.

Once we've done this next one then it's a loooooong 7 hour drive to the south peak. We're still on target for a 55 hour goal but it's going to be tight.

Keep sending positive vibes. Prob wont get another blog done till tomorrow morning now.

So chip chip everyone. I'm still here still smiling (just). These next two are def going to be a team effort.

Tough Nevis

Well that's the three peaks done and dusted. Just two more to go.

I am never ever ever ever doing Ben Nevis again. What a relentless lump of hell it was. It just kept going and going. With the lack of sleep adding to it.

Last night was hellish. None of us got
Much sleep as he aircon on the coach is broken an so it was like a sauna. Hideous. We are all trying to get some
Now on the way to the ferry.

Just stopped at a morrisons in the middle I nowhere for a pity shop. So they've been cleaned out of plasters and ibuprofen. I had to get some Savlon. You don't want to know.

So this is a quick One I'm afraid as I need more sleep if possible before the havoc at the ferry.

Thanks to all of you for your comments on here and FB. They definitely help.

Sunny at Chorley

Sun and blue skies as we drive passed Chorley on the M6. Look a bit black where we are heading. Fingers crossed an keep your sunshine dancin going.

Snowdon was an interesting experience as I've never done fell walking in the dark. My Freddie-winter-walking head torch worked really well. Good to know as most of Ben Nevis will be in the dark. It was a weird sight seeing a line of almost 100 torches snaking up a mountain.

Apologies of course for any spelling mistakes. A combination of bouncy coach and tired head is not a good mix. It'll probably get worse as the challenge goes on. Maybe of I can get somewhere quiet like on the ferry I can give Siri a go.

Sleep is eluding me as usual since the long legs are crammed in to a coach seat. Pain levels are manageable at the moment though the fatigue is setting in. Hopefully once we get to Seathwaite and gets started the adrenalin will kick in again. Determined not to take painkillers too early.

Blue sky now gone. Hey ho. Time to try the eyes closed thing again.

Chin chin everyone. Mines a Guinness if you are getting one in.

Snowdon done

That's Snowdon done and dusted. We hit the top at 5:10am having taken 2 hours 10 mins to make the ascent.

We are now in the on the way to the Lakes.

Out of the 97 starters we've already lost 5 people. Some were def not prepared.

Having said that the leaders are setting a hell of a pace so much so that on the way up I got a stitch. Not many could keep that pace up and it's going to be the same for Scafell Pike next. Thankfully the rain held off for this one but it's def raining at scafell.

The coach is ripe already and their promise of two seats each hasn't come true. It's tightly packed and smelly.

Have got a niggle in left shin that I need to keep my eye on and have taped up 2 toes for the next fell that are beginning to feel tender.

Main issue now is trying to eat enough as really don't feel like it but gotta get the fuel in. So I've stuffed down a few bits for now. I'm going to try to catch some zzzz once I've sent this and then eat some more before we arrive.

If they keep this pace up it's going to be really tough. Feel fine after Snowdon but four stil to go.

I left one of my five wrist bands on the top so only four left.

I think the next one is supposed to be the breaker especially with the rain. God knows what this coach will be like once we are all back on with wet gear. Good job this blog isn't scratch and sniff.

So snooze time now and then get ready for the next beasting.

See you on the other side.

Meal done

That's the meal done along with the safety briefing. Full roast in the middle of a field. Nothing like slumming it.

So now to bed. It's going to be a 1:30am alarm call. Eeek

Just also been told that the coaches being used dont have loos onboard so I'm having major panics about that.

Met an ex-para who also has ME so that's been good having a chat and symptom swap.

Night night all.

First camp

Just a quickie to say I'm at the first campsite and settling in. Need to scout around and find the loo. Essentials first of course!!!

Speak more soon.

Nearly time

Nearly time to set off from the hotel to the long stay car park.
It's belting it down out there, hopefully it's not a sign of things to come.

So I'm repacked. Everything is in ziplock bags and sorted in to various rucksack pockets.

I've been checking the 5 Peaks Facebook page and it looks like there will be at least one of the teams of four catching the same train as me. They've said to look out for four guys in flip flops standing in the wrong platform. Hahaha

So it'll be nice to meet some fellow challengers at last. I'll be easy to spot as I'm sure I'll be the only one with a proper shepherds crook rather than a fancy pantsy walking pole. It was a 21st birthday pressie made by my dad and I've never climb a mountain without it since.

Feeling nervous now due to the waiting. I just want to get on with it now but the train isn't until 12:39 so a while to wait yet. The main thing is not to miss it as its a 2 hour wait till the next. Will park up around 11:30 then short park and ride to station so plan is to be on the platform for 12 noon and then settle in on the track with my book. That way it can't go passed without me.

Will be happier once I'm there and registered and got my stuff in my allocated tent. That way I can repack everything with walking gear out and ready. Then I can get out and about and mingle. I know it's a shocker, me, mingling.

Holyhead

I've arrived at Holyhead. It's a good job I brought my bikini as its blue skies here with palm trees and azure sea. Oh sorry I'd gone to a happy place. It's thick black skies and rain. The travellodge it has to be said is an absolute tip. Hey ho it's a bed for the night.

Let's face it it's going to be the most comfy bed I get till Sunday night so I'd best make the most of it.

The drive up was uneventful and the Clive Cussler audio book helped the miles go by.

I've recce'd the long stay carpark ready for tomorrow so I know where I'm going.

I'm going to unpack and repack everything this evening to make sure all my bits and bobs are in the right places. Then it'll be an early night to try to recover from the drive.

Tomorrow is then a drive to the car park and a train to Betws y Coed. From there it's a short minibus ride to the starting campsite and registration. It'll be nice to get there and meet my fellow nutters. I'll then be blogging whenever I get a signal.

Still praying for less rain than we've had.

http://www.bmycharity.com/5PeaksChallenge

Last night

This is the last night before the beginning. I'm setting off tomorrow morning for the long trek to Holyhead. Everything is packed but the toothbrush.

Looking outside and it's raining again. Hey ho. Think it's going to be a wet one. Maybe time to try mountain walking in a wetsuit or even better a drysuit.

Will keep you posted.

Wow

Wow. I've just looked on my sponsorship page and two anonymous people have put on £30 and £470 respectively. Thank you whoever you are.

Only 3 days to go

Well there's only three days to go till the challenge. I'm pretty much packed and ready to roll. So I'll be setting off on Tuesday to drive to Holyhead. Then it's a train to the start on wednesday ready for the 2am start in Thursday morning.

I need all of you doing anti-rain dances as its looking grim. It's going to be tough enough without needing a wetsuit to walk in.

Just before I go it's my lovely wife's birthday. So a meal out is in the offing tomorrow.

Just a reminder

This is a quickie in case you needed a reminder and had some spare change.

 

http://www.bmycharity.com/5PeaksChallenge

 

Sunshine dancing

Only 14 days till the Challenge starts and the rain looks to continue for the near future, yikes! 

 

For all of you reading this, please get your dancing shoes on and start doing your sunshine dances.  Just imagine a rain dance and do the opposite!  Obviously I'm not after full on belting-down sunny heatwave, but no rain and lack of wind would be just the job.  Not too much to ask surely?

 

All the kit is coming together now.  I've just got to sit down and work out exactly what I need to take and which bag to put it in.  We are allowed three bags:

 

1) The first is our rucksack, max 35 litres in volume, which we'll be carrying with us holding the obligatory waterproofs, water, food, first aid stuff, mobile and other bits and bobs individuals feel the need to lug around.  I'll certainly have my camera.

 

2) The second back will be a small draw-string one that will be given to us at registration.  This is to hold a few other bits that we think we'll need on the challenge but won't want to carry with us.  For example my idea at the moment is to have some sandals in this one so I can put those on in between mountains to let the old feet air.  Thank goodness blogs don't do scratch and sniff.  This bag will then stay with the coaches and apparently will be how we sign in and out of the walking sections.  In other words if everyone is ready to roll on to the next mountain but there's a bag left out then either someone has gone AWOL on the fells or the wally has got on the coach without grabbing it.

 

3)  The last bag will hold clothes we arrive in and depart in at either end of the challenge.  So this will be taken from the first campsite to the last and we won't get access to it until the end.

 

So the key will be working out what I want in each bag.  As my lovely wife will testify I can guarantee at some point I'll wish I'd packed something that I didn't.  Hey ho, its list making time.

Final fundraiser done

Hi all. That's the last of the main fundraising events done. This morning was an early start to get to a boot fair and sell a car full of books and stuff. The grand total for the day is £120 so I'm very chuffed.

I'll be paying that in to the bank tomorrow so I can transfer it to my sponsorship page. A fellow challenger is struggling to raise the minimum money so the £120 is going halves. 50% in to mine and 50% to his. So other than some odd shrapnel and anything else coming in I'm not expecting I'll have reached £2500 in total. A massive thanks to everyone who's sponsored me its a huge effort and so much more than I was expecting.

I've recently bought all my plasters and pain killers and bits recommended to be carried so that's everything ready I think.

All it means now is to pack closer to the time and double check my travel.

If you've still got a few pennies spare then http://www.bmycharity.com/5peakschallenge

Keep watching the blog as I'll be updating it more as time gets closer.

Two and a half weeks to go

It's now only two and a half weeks to go till the challenge.

I got my welcome pack through the post yesterday which made it feel very official.

So I've got some shopping to do for some first aid stuff a d blister remedies. The train ticket from Holyhead to betwys y coed is paid for and the insurance ready.

All we need now is some better luck with the weather and not have it raining the whole time

So as time gets closer watch this space as my blogs will get more frequent.

Last slave day done

Well that was the last of my slave days done and dusted. It was lots of hedge trimming and pruning.

So that's it. Only 7 weeks till the event itself. The ready of the weekends need to be training and of course veggie growing.

I'll keep you posted on the training.

5Peaks itinerary. Eeeek!

Itinerary 04 - 08 July 2012
The Heroes 5 Peaks Challenge crosses 4 national borders and one sea as participants take on Snowdon in Wales,

Scafell Pike in England, Ben Nevis in Scotland, Sleive Donard in Northern Ireland and Carrantuohill in Eire.

Wednesday 04 July

14:00 Registration opens at the Snowdon camp, we encourage you to join by public transport; shuttle buses from Betws-y-Coed train station will be running from 1300 onwards

17-19:00 You will be treated to a Heroes dinner and safety briefing to prepare you for the challenge ahead, before an early night.

Thursday 05 July

02:00 The challenge begins! An early start will see you pack up camp and board transport as you head to your first peak.

03:30 Transfer shuttles start to Pen-y-Pass
04:00 Snowdon Climb, Wales ( 3 ,560ft or 1,085m )
08:30 Transfers to Scafell Pike Seathwaite Base Camp via coaches
13:30 Scafell Pike Climb, England (3,209ft or 978m )
19:00 Transfers to Ben Nevis Base Camp via coaches and the chance to get some sleep as you

prepare for the highest peak of this challenge.

Friday 06 July

02:00 Hot food, kit check and safety brief
02:30 Ben Nevis Climb, Scotland ( 4,409ft or 1,344m )
08:30 Transfer to Cairnryan to catch the Ferry
14:00 Arrive Cainryan to check in for our ferry crossing
15:00 Sail to Larne (Northern Ireland ), an hour rest to prepare for your first Irish Peak. 16:00 Dock at Larne
16:30 Transfer to Slieve Donnard Base Camp via coaches
18:30 Hot food break
19:00 Slieve Donnard Climb, Northern Ireland ( 2,789ft or 849m )

Saturday 07 July

00:30 Transfer to Carrantuohill Base Camp (the last mountain!! ) 07:30 Breakfast break
08:00 Carrantuohill Climb, Republic of Ireland (3,406ft or 1,038m ) 11:00 Summit Carrantuohill – Heroes 5 Peaks Done!

13:30 Arrive back into Carrantuohill car park 14:00 Arrive at the tented village ( w ith the bar! ) 19:00 You celebration Heroes Dinner is served 

Gentle reminder

Here's a gentle reminder of my fundraising page.

http://www.bmycharity.com/5PeaksChallenge

If you like my blog or simply want to support our military heroes please donate what you can. Even a simple pound will help. Remember to tick the gift aid box.

Tough Mudder done

That's Tough Mudder done and dusted or should I say done and squelched.

The course was long and hideous which made it superb. It started with a short pelt down a hill and strait in to chest deep water just to get you wet for the rest of the run. The water was a heck of a lot colder than I was expecting. Really took my breath away.

Next obstacle was another dip followed by an uphill crawl through Mudder under barbed wire. A short stagger up the hill and it was in to a large skip of ice cubes and water that I had to dive under. Belting headache and lack of functioning limbs for a while after that one. And that was mile one. Eeek.

There followed another 11 miles of 12 foot walls, water tunnels, log carries, burning bales, mud and more mud, cargo nets to climb over and under. Then the last mile held the hideous electric eel (yes as bad as it sounds) balance beam, monkey bars, 15 foot jump to water and the famous TM everest that involves running up a slippery half pipe. Then the last push to the finish through the electric wires.

It was an amazing day with stunning weather and everyone helping each other. The TM pledge is that it's a challenge not a race so times aren't important but helping each other rough the more is everything.

Horrendous race...I'll be back!

So the running kit needs to go away now. It's five weeks till the five peaks challenge so time to get the walking boots on, Freddie on his lead and get some walking mileage done.

Radio interview

Just had an interview over the phone for Chelmsford Radio. They wanted to ask about Tough Mudder and why I was doing it. Good fun. They do want me to go in to the studio after Tough to talk about how it went. No backing out in that case hahaha.

Fingers crossed the weather improves. Our house has been on the verge of being flooded this week so will be nice to not worry about that and have a decent weather for the race.

Hopefully the radio will publish my 5 Peaks sponsorship page on their website. May get something more from it.

So the next blog will be after this next weekend and I'll let you know how it went. After that it's time to train for the 5 Peaks Challenge.

Deep droughts

It's now only two weeks today till Tough Mudder. It's going to be a really tough race. Fingers crossed the weather improves.

On that note our river is very high and ready to flood. Just praying for the rain to stop. Even so it normally reaches its peak 12 hours after due to run-off. Keep everything crossed for us if you are reading this today.

Saturday coming sees me in my radio interview for Southend and Chelmsford Radio about Tough Mudder. Am hoping they'll let me mention my fundraising page.

Would be more excited about TM but the potential flooding keeps the head busy. Once I can relax I'll get on here and say a bit more about the race and how the radio interview goes.

One more slave day to go

This Saturday saw me doing my second to last slave day. It was different to the others I.e. not gardening. It was a day of garage clearing, tent drying, sandpit building and campervan washing. So there's one more gardening to day to go the weekend after Tough Mudder. Hopefully I'll be moving by then! Today was a good day at the gym trying to get myself more ready for Tough Mudder. It was a packed hour of 20 mins treadmill, 20 mins stepup machine and 20 mins rowing. Seriously shattered after all that. I've been reading the updates on the Tough Mudder website and I'm going to have to step up a gear to get ready. They reckon it'll be 3 hours to complete and some of the obstacles are looking terrifying. Ah well, bring it on.

Radio interview

As you may have read in previous blog entries, I'm running the Tough Mudder race in May, partly cos I'm nuts, and partly as training towards my 5 Peaks Challenge.

 

Many moons ago Tough Mudder emailed people asking if anyone was happy to get involved with marketing the race.  Seemed like a good idea at the time so I said I'd help out if they needed me.

 

I just heard today that they want me to do a radio interview on Chelmsford Radio at 4pm on the 5th of May as part of their Sports slot.  They want to know why I've chosen to run Tough Mudder.  I don't think Chelmsford Radio is exaclty on the Radio 1 listener numbers but still should be fun.  I'm going to take it as feedback that they think I have a face for radio!.  With any luck they'll let me mention my fundraising page too.  All I've got to do now is think about why I am running Tough Mudder.  Other than a general insanity plea I haven't come up with another explanation yet!

Veggies are in

It's been all go this Easter weekend. I did yet another slave day so that's another £50 for the pot. On top of that it's been lots of planting veg seeds. It's now piddling it down, which is a good thing. So over all there are two more slave days to come and then that,s it. Time to knuckle down and get the training done. I've been checking out the local map and working out some long walks around Chelmsford. I'm not exactly going to be able to practice on hills being in Essex, though some of those mole hills can get pretty tall. Coming up in May is the next big adventure race called Tough Mudder. Am getting nervous about it already and questioning my own sanity. Also for today feel free to sing me happy birthday. 21 yet again!

Good race

Gauntlet race results are in. Came 59th out of 316. Time 1:16:34. Woohooo. The mashed left knee and unusable left calf was almost worth it. Lol

It was a really hard race and a wake up call for getting ready for Tough Mudder in May.

I've got 3 more slave days to do one being this Saturday. So looking forward to that. After that I think I've done enough for now fundraising and need to knuckle down and train.

Saying that once it warms up a bit the. We'll be doing a boot fair to raise some cash too.

The Gauntlet

The 1st of April sees me running the Gauntlet which is a very muddy 12km race. An doing this as part of my training for Tough Mudder and so on the way to the Challenge.

Having said that if the hose pipe bans and drought are anything to go by who knows if there'll be any mud.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Busy times

It's been busy times for my slave days.

Saturday saw a day digging borders for Teresa Alvarez. It's drizzled most of the day but we still go the work done.

Today was clearing up from a previous slave day. So it was about 3 hours chainsawing firewood up and then another few hours stacking it all.

Tomorrow then is one in the village. Sounds like I'll be weeding and sorting out some edging.

Hopefully Wednesday will be a chance to rest as the ME is fighting hard.

I've decided not to accept any more slave days otherwise I'll run out of time to train. People on the challenge website are doing 15 mile walks and mountain practice so I've got some catching up to do. Problem is there aren't many hills in Essex. Ah well. Time to hit the stairs.

It's been too long

It's been too long since my last confession. Oops. Wrong blog. It's been too long since my last blog entry. It's been an ups and down time with several colds one after the other and lots of work on.

So as a catch up. Yesterday was my latest slave for a day. It involved a lot of bramble clearing so my fingers are like pin cushions today.

Having said that I've done a decent session at the gym with 30 sets of weights and the 50 mins on the treadmill. Now having a well earned coffee with the England France rugby match.

Got another slave day next weekend. I'll let you know how it goes. At least the nights are lighter so I should be aw to get out and do some decent training.

First target hit

Woohooo. My minimum target of £1300 is hit. Thank you to everyone who has supported me this far. Keep the money coming though. Everything extra is icing in the cake.

I've done two more slave days. They both went very well though I am paying for them ME wise. Been barely able to pick up a cup today. Will be glad when my beans are back.

I need to get out there and get training now. Will up date soon.

The quiz was a blast

The quiz last night was a blast. I was really nervous before hand but was ok once we got started. There were 13 teams fighting it out and lots of banter.

A huge thanks to Dave the landlord for hosting the quiz, to Anne for he support setting it up and for selling raffle Ickes on the night and of corse to my sparkly assistant/wife for the moral support/more raffle ticket selling/and genius maths adding up all the scores on the doors.

Overall we made £200 and the winning team The Beer Stains even gave their winning £20 back in to the pot.

So that takes my total to £1050. Really pleased.

Now that's done and the snow has gone too it's time to get out there and build up the training.

Two more slave for a day days this weekend. I'll let you know how thy go.

It's slave-tastic

It’s slave-tastic at the moment.  In other words the slave days are going well.  My last one was last Saturday where I did some tree work for Julie Raymen.  Thanks again to Julie for the support and the amazing chilli lunch.

 

This week is a busy one for fundraising.  On Thursday night is the big quiz at the Queens Head Pub on Lower Anchor Street in Chelmsford.  So far there are 14 teams already booked so we are looking at about 56 people so far.  The winning team will win £20 cash and the losing team some chocolates.  During the quiz there will be a £1 fine for any use of smart phones and web searching.

 

Along side the quiz will be a raffle with some great prizes including gym vouchers from Nuffield Health, a hairdressing voucher and some champagne.

 

After that I’ve got Friday to recover before doing another two slave days over the weekend.  Saturday is with Fiona Wilson and I’ll be helping clear and construct some raised beds for veggies.  On Sunday I’ll be back over with Susan Sawyer, this time in her back garden doing some crown reduction on a few large trees.

 

So it’s all going on.

 

Now the snow has gone along with my cough I also need to get out there and start the training.

 

Please keep that sponsorship coming. http://www.bmycharity.com/5PeaksChallenge

 

 

Neil

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Next slave for a day

It's my second slave for a day session on Saturday. Looking forward to it. There one tree to come down for sure. Not sure I the stump has to come out too. I so I hope the ground defrosts a smidge. It'll be a pick axe job if not.

Had two lovely walks with Freddie to do today in the snow. He loves it. Runs like the wind and rolls around in it. It's been a lovely day of work. Back in to nightmare of work tomorrow. So it'll be the usual 5am walk with Fred. It's already -4 eeeek.

Also it's a week on Thursday till the quiz. It should be a good night. Since its going to be a late night I've got the day after off work to recover otherwise my ME would give me hell. After that it'll be two slave days and then a weeks hols at home. Woohooo.

Mud and Madness

That's the first race of the year and what a laugh it was.

Parts of the course changed this morning due to inch thick ice. The rest was ok. So it was an up and down hill to begin with to help warm up; over some hurdles and tyres then on to a 750m canoe row through the ice.

Back on land was another mile of track and then on to an assault course followed by a horrendous boot camp. This was 20 barrel lifts with squats, 20 tyre lifts, 20 star jumps on tyres and 20 press ups. Absolutely shattering.

It was then out on more tracks and round a 4x4 track. This was hard and filled with thigh deep water and mud topped with inch thick ice. It was a real shin scraper. After that it was back round the lake a quick wade into the water and up on to a pontoon. Then it was the last stretch to the finish.

Due to the day being filled with heats I won't be the quickest person but I was the first person of the day across the finishing line. So for the moment I can pretend I've won. Haha.

I did this 7.5km race in 49:04 mins so vey pleased.

3 hours on and my feet are still cold!

Next formal race is Tough Mudder in May. In the mean time I new to get some decent training done for the 5 Peaks.

http://www.bmycharity.com/5PeaksChallenge

First race

It's the first race of the year tomorrow. So I'll be running 7.5km down at Ockenden at Stubbers Adventure Park. It's going to be full of hills, mud and lake/pond swims. Bearing in mind it's due to snow and the water is likely to be icey it's going to be an interesting run.

I'll let you know how I get on once I stop shaking.

Thanks to everyone who's sponsored me so far. I've just topped £600 and am really chuffed and a touch overwhelmed.

Marathon baking session

For the bake sale tomorrow I've just finished a marathon bake session. So that's cheese scones, shortbread biscuits and duck sinkers do e and ready. My wife also made gingerbread men and peanut butter cookies. With any luck it'll raise plenty of sponsorship tomorrow.

Bring on the weight gain.

http://www.bmycharity.com/5PeaksChallenge

First slave day done

That's my first slave day all done. A big thank you to Susan for the warm welcome. No sooner was I there that I got a lick in the face and an offer of a tummy tickle. It was great to meet Susan's dogs too. Hahaha.

It was a tough 4 hours of digging and weeding. Very rewarding to see all that fresh turned earth at the end though. The old back is protesting a smidge now.

Susan supplied me with lovely coffees, some home made soup for lunch and even sent me home with home made burgers and chips with salad and a cracking cheesecake for pud. I think I ought to move in.

So it's the first of many slave days trying to raise my £1300.

Tomorrow will be cleaning out the chickens and then the afternoon will be baking ready for a bake sale at work, again raising money for my Challenge.

http://www.bmycharity.com/5PeaksChallenge

The quiz and the slave

Hoorah my cold has almost gone. At the moment its just a lingering cough. So no more excuses. Its time to get back out training. Freddie the dog will be very pleased.

On the 16th of Feb I will be running a pub quiz at The Queens Head pub on Lower Anchor Street, Chelmsford. It's a get there for 6:30 for a 7pm start.

The quiz is to raise as much sponsorship for my 5 Peaks Challenge. If you are interested then please ring 01245 265181 to book a table.  It is £10 per team - maximum four people per team.  The winning team will get £20 back.  There will also be a small raffle running during the evening too.

Oh and my lovely wife will be my 'sparkly' assistant - so who can resist a treat like that?!!

I've just hit the £300 mark in sponsorship so thanks so much to everyone who's given so far.  Only £1000 to go, eeeek.  So go on you know you want to.  Keep on giving to help our heroes at www.bmycharity.com/5PeaksChallenge.

As a reminder to some.  During now and the end of June I am offering my back and hard work as a garden slave-for-a-day.  If you are interested and have a veg patch that needs digging, trees to prune or borders to weed then please contact me via here.  I am suggesting a donation of at least £50 and I'll work from around 10am till 4pm weather depending.  So come.  Hard work never hurt anyone but why take the risk.  Book the old Mr B now!

Great article

A great article in the Essex Chronicle this week. Myself and Freddie were on page 12 covering our challenge. Hopefully it's raised some awareness. Unfortunately it hasn't translated into any sponsorship. If each reader had given a £1 I'd have met my limit. Disappointing.

Anyway it's a beautiful day out there; perfect for training but I'm stuck in doors shivering and sweating with a cold. Not a happy bunny.

If anyone has any ideas for raising sponsorship or would like to help please let me know.

Essex Chronicle article

I've had a few texts so far to say there's an article about my challenge in today's Essex Chronicle. I haven't seen it yet and have no idea which photo they've gone for.

Fingers crossed that it'll get some more sponsorship for Help for Heroes.

My ME is very bad at the moment being in a lot of joint pain and high fatigue. However I'm still getting to the gym to do the step up machine so slowly slowly catch a monkey as they say.

Started the step up machine build up

Hi all. I've started the time on the step up machine in the gym to get these floppy old thighs built up.

Freddie and I also did a decent 6 mile run today which went well.

We are now up to £174 in sponsorship which is exciting. Still £1126 to go.