Sorry for the lack of updates recently. It's not been the best of years so far! Was pulled from the Grand Union Canal Race after 87 miles and 26 hours running due to my body shutting down, then retired from the UTMB after 97km and 25 hours running due to severe blisters (and passing out!) Then had some health issues which resulted in having to have lots of tests done on my heart. Thankfully this was all clear and recent training has been strong. Running Beachy Head Marathon on 22.10.11. and another big feature race next year, more to come on this. Hopefully I can now get back on track and have a more successful 2012!
All systems go for the Grand Union Canal Race. I'm as ready as I can be for 145 miles of non-stop running from the heart of Birmingham to the heart of London, no sleeping, no resting, just running, day and night, sun and rain. It's going to be a tough one but I like a challenge!
April 2011
OK, change of plans! I have been offered a very last minute place in this years Grand Union Canal Run, 145 miles from Birmingham to London in one hit (more details on the 'Races' page) Due to the foot injury still rumbling around, I decided to pull out of Brighton Marathon to go in to this one in the best possible shape. Training is now going well, foot seems to be getting stronger, so roll on May 28th when the madness begins!
March '11
Sorry for the lack of updates, been a busy few months at the shop! Training is now well underway for Brighton Marathon, April 10th, i'm quite a way behind schedule so beating last year's time may be a big ask but we'll see!
We were again unsuccessful in the ballot for UTMB (August) but have transferred to TDS instead, 109km, 31 hour time limit, starting in Italy finishing in France with 7100 metres overall ascent - better get some hill training in soon!
October '10
Jungle marathon completed successfully, coming home in 28th position overall, way beyond any expectations I had for a race which I was only partly expecting to complete. There is a brief report on the Race Reports page with more to follow.
To get home and see the sponsorship creep over the £3000 mark was a great feeling and made all the blisters seem worthwhile!
Thank you so much for the continuing support.
October '10 ONLY 1 DAY TO GO UNTIL I LEAVE FOR THE JUNGLE!
Please click link below for a taster of the race!
Jungle Marathon Video Training is now going very well and very specific to the race and terrain I'm about to face, training in the pool with my full kit on, running through ponds and rivers on the forest, long Sauna's etc etc.
Final kit preperations, food etc is all nearing completion too so hopefully it should all be coming together!!
June '10 The South Downs Challenge went well apart from a slight knee problem. I was pleased to be one of only 14 runners to complete the full 110 mile course though.
June '10 Although preperations have been far from ideal, I'm still going to try to complete 'The South Downs Challenge' Another VO2 event, this one covers the whole of the South Downs way over 3 days (35 ish miles a day) Accomodation is in tents at a base camp near Pulborough so at least it's fairly local!
May '10 Brighton Marathon completed within my target time of 4 hours, finishing in 3hrs 47 mins which I was happy with for my first road race.
April '10 Jurassic Coast Challenge (80 miles)completed successfully and pretty much injury free! Report to follow soon.
March '10 Deposit fully paid up and place confirmed for this years Jungle Marathon. 220km through the Amazon rainforest in Brazil this October. There will be much more info to come on this one, in fact I think it even warrants it's own page to describe all the things that are waiting to bite, cut, sting and eat me!! This will be by far the toughest race to date. http://www.junglemarathon.com
March '10 2 weeks to go until the next race! The 'Jurassic Coast Challenge' - 80 miles along the South West coast path. Lot's and lot's of hills apparently, nice! Race starts on the 26th March.
Feb '10 Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in the ballot for a place in this years' Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. We do get a priority place for next year though and I'm sure I'll find a substitute race to replace it this year!
To make me feel better I have just booked a place in this years' Jurassic Coast Challenge. 80 miles over three days along the Coast path from Lyme Regis to Poole in Dorset. The race starts March 26th. Having only just started training due to the ankle damage from the Atlantic Coast Challenge, I have now got to get some serious training in to get ready!
December '09 Possibly against my better judgement I am about to pay my deposit to secure a place in the 2010 Jungle Marathon - 200km through the Amazon rainforest in Brazil where nearly everything that lives wants to kill you, in 40 degree heat and 90% humidity, this may not have been one of my most inspired race choices! More to follow....
December '09 My ankle finally feels like it is almost normal again! Did a quick mile or so this week just to give it a test and it felt fine so will be back into full training again after Christmas!
October '09 Atlantic Coast Challenge completed successfully (sort of!) For race report Click Here!
September'09 Palau is to impose an indefinite moratorium on shark fishing in their archipelago waters. This is hopefully the shape of things to come. Please see the Shark and Coral Conservation Trust website for the full article.
'Running 1250 miles to raise funds for shark and coral conservation'
STOP SHARK FINNING!
PLEASE HELP PUT A STOP TO THIS CRUEL, BARBARIC AND SHAMEFUL PRACTICE
Many species of shark are on the brink of extinction with numbers reduced by up to 90% over the last 50 years, this extinction will be completely man-made and we are still slaughtering OVER 100,000 SHARKS EVERY SINGLE DAY!
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION BELOW TO CALL FOR A UK WIDE BAN ON POSSESION AND SALE OF SHARK FIN. IF 100,000 SIGNATURES ARE COLLECTED BY MAY 2012 THEN IT IS ELIGIBLE FOR DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS - IT TAKES LESS THAN 1 MINUTE TO COMPLETE! SIGN HERE!
