What adventures I’ve been up to and about to embark upon:
Hairy Legs Duathalon 2005 – good race and a good effort by me at showing how much damage can be done to the human body. After coming off the bike at 40mph going downhill, I broke most of my ribcage, separated the shoulder and punctured both lungs….. I got a ride in a helicoper (which was cool) and told that they changed the bike route for all future races due to my crash.
Reading Half Marathon 2006
London Marathon 2006 – newly healing broken foot, a sprained ankle, and a just over 4 hour finish time. Sprint finish too. Great fun!
Dublin Marathon 2008 – mad start and really cold!
August 2009 – Ridgeway 85 (http://www.tra-uk.org/downloads/ridgeway_challenge_2009_flyer.pdf) The whole of the Ridgeway (a prehistoric trade route) of 85 miles from Ivenhoe beacon through to Avebury. I completed the run in 26 hours and 18 minutes (including a one hour stop for food on Goring). A great run and a fantastic course. Highly recommended.
October 2009 – Henley half Marathon
January 2010 – Country to Capital (http://gobeyondultra.co.uk/events/ultra_country_capital) An excellent 45 mile run from Wendover to London.; the route winds its way through Chesham to Uxbridge and along the Grand Union Canal to Little Venice. Interesting terrain that encompasses muddy byways (often full of cold water) and undulating ground into the heart of London.
April 2010 – Marathon des Sables (156 miles/250 km across the Sahara) I am the first Parkinson’s sufferer to complete the race!! A race where temperatures averaged well over 140 degrees F!!
May 2010 – Grand Union Canal Race, a 145 mile single stage route from Birmingham to London. Last minute entry, no sleep before, and no real training! Made it 119 miles before deciding that it would be best not to risk injury in continuing further! I really rate this race and hope to run it properly next year! Thanks to Rich for setting the pace and Andy in running with me the last 20 miles!!!
Aug 2010 – London Triathlon – with a healthy fear of water, due to almost drowning at the age of five, thiswas not the best foundation for a race that commences with a 1500 metre open water swim. Eight weeks of swim coaching with Clive at the Tri20 Centre, Reading, UK changed my fear into a confidence that I could do it and face my demons! I conquered my fear and completed the swim in 38 minutes but messed up the bike. Having received the wrong directions from the Marshall, I did not complete the requisite distance on the bike course. I finished the run but refused the medal on the basis that I need to achieve what I set out to do!! Great event. I highly recommend it…a amazing feeling being there and, yes, I will be back next year to put matters straight!!!
September 2010
Europe135 (Germany) www.europe135.eu ran 131 miles of a 135 miles race in 52 hours across the Bavarian Alps. I was prevented from climbing the mountain. For more information on my experience of this race, please see the next edition of Running Fitness. All I can say is that it was very tough and an extremely risky race (Risk of death/personal injury etc).
London Ultra Duathlon – the weekend after the 135!!! Unfortunately, I had to miss the race due to injury.
7Oaks Triathlon – Missed due to injury.
Events and adventures that are coming up or planned…
2011
Jan 21st – Dubai Marathon
April 2011 – Currently searching for 100 mile single stage race
June / July 2011:
I am currently planning a 1400 mile run across Europe on a route never run before. The idea is to complete the route in twenty eight days but as I say….planning only at the moment!!
September 2011
Challenge Henley – Ironman distance triathlon (3.8km swim, 180km bike and a marathon distance run).
2012 – 3000+ mile Trans USA (Planning)?
2013 –
Arch to Arc (Run from London to south coast, swim channel [22 miles], cycle to Paris (Planning)?
Badwater (USA)
6633 – 350 mile footrace across the Arctic
I am open to any ideas for new, interesting and challenging events…please see my contact page for details of how to get in touch. Thanks.
