IRONMAN

Does what it says on the tin.

I set myself the challenge of doing an Ironman before I was thirty when I started triathlon 2 years ago well with Everest and me being crazy I signed up to do it next June.

2.5 mile swim, 112 mile bike and then the marathon in the South of France in Summer heat.

No Worries??

Training like a mad man starting in the new year, no parties, no booze, no distraction just training to become Michael Phelps, Lance Armstrong and Heille Gebreselassie rolled into one. No under 12 hours and i'll be very happy.

2009 is a big year already...............

3 Peaks aftermath.

Hi there,

What can I say, it wasn't meant to be. The conditions were impossible and we were told by firemen, local mountain walkers, family and everyone else that attempting 3 peaks in October was seriously tough . Our scouser driver repeatedly told us how many groups had tried and failed and that we were nuts
Well on arrival at Glasgow it was chilly and blustery and even at the foot of 1344m Ben nevis it was not apparent that the weather was going to get so treacherous. The team was positive and well prepared and we were in good spirits for the first hour and a half. It was pitch black but once on the main pathway we were moving steadily. The wind was picking up and the rain was constant and flowing off the mountains through the path.
After traversing the first part of our climb the wind picked up dramatically and was swirling around us. The wind was penetrating everyone's clothing with the wind increasing to 70-90mph and the wind chill factor was meaning every slight stop was making us cold. We pushed on for a further 45minutes but when we got to 900 metres the ground opened up and the wind was blowing us around like kites. We had 90 minutes plus to climb to the summit at best but the reality was that someone could easily be blown off the side of the path or loose there footing in the conditions and we had no chance of looking after them with everyone getting cold. So with everyone in agreement i said we needed to go bach down. I think any other decsion would have been irresponsible and it was not taken lightly. As we turned wind was into us like no-one had ever felt and it took so much energy and time to walk a short distance I was immeadiately sure it was the right decsion to turn back. At one stage we all locked arms to stop us all being blown around and Tooves ( our smallest member)could barely stand up. We were all worried and just wanted to get out of the wind asap. Coming down was seriously dangerous and the wind and rain was cutting us in two. It took us 90minutes plus to come down but with only a few slips and no injuries, I was relieved. All our gear was soaked through and we were cold to the bone.
When we had changed and warmed up we got reports Scafell and Snowdon were even worse conditions. We drove to Manchester and decided, to try any more walking was dangerous, foolhardy and not what we wanted to do the challenge for in the first place.
Unfortunately the challenge was over but we live to fight again and in fact the walking and mountains we not our victor it was the conditions. A huge thank you to the guys on the expedition for being so strong of mind and calm in the face of treacherous and barren conditions. We have gelled as a team in the face of adversity and do not take lightly to failure. We will be back.
See below for conditions and just add 800metres, a 5ft wide path and pitch darkness to understand the predicament.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4aB50qNoz0

3 Peaks Inspiration

Men of Tenzing against the sky,
Three peaks is here the time is nigh.
Into the breech they say, the unknown, my British wilderness,
For Everest 'a test' an opportunity to invest.

Where we go one, we go all. A team together as one,
step by step until our success has come.
A sherpa he was who never gave up,
His name in our hearts, Tenzing Norgay what up.

Onwards and upwards with wings on our heels,
Wotsits and wham bars the General eats his meals.
But on any given Sunday, but the 25th for we special few,I
nches and teamwork won't separate me from you.

Twenty four hours the world turns a day, climbing three mountains the October way.
Hillary running around school halls in time to the bleep, and surely getting; much more sleep.
I call us together new friends and old, for an intriguing story to unfold.
Drop you co*ks and grab you socks, welcome gents to the school of big rocks.

Hills, hills, hills (not u Hog, the smaller versions of mountains)

Hi folks,

Basically before I did a Ten Tors 45mile expedition at school we did a week of hill sprints the week before. Although i was a whippet 17 year old I definately noticed how much it benefitted my training. So here is a video example for you to absorb or take the piss out of.
I'm very lucky this hill is 300 metres from my hacienda but for you lot in the smoke you could run up the downwards escalator 6 times at nearest tube station? or simply use a park or treadmill, failing that run up a hill. Either way its a good form of training nearer the event. I'm doing it as we have 3 Peaks next weekend. Cheeers on, G.

Rage, Bulls and News.

Hi there.

Basically I have rage at not only missing the launch party for Everest but being made to work through the Vertigo talk in Oxford tonight. Rubbish week but hey the Bull incident made up for it.
So the morning after the Launch party I rose at 11am after and late shift ready to hit my cross country 6/7mile run hard to put a little something back for the team a personal bit of pride I thought. The weather was great and hot; the ground muddy, damp but fun and adds to the downhill slippy bits through the woods when it feels like Apocalypto?! So 20 minutes in I was running down a narrow hillside and a large bulloch with mahoosive horns came trotting into my view looking mean. It took one look at me running towards him and beelined for my soft bits. I had come through a kissing gate 60 metres back and had one option and a 60 metre head start. Basically I craped myself and moved faster than I ever have in my life backtowards safety. I half jumped and half hurdled the gate to safety and put my heart back into my chest. Unbelievable affect on my training as I sat looking backwards as I swear I could have been in the backs in rugby had I had some REAL incentive. I think the bull had given up quickly after I had craped myself but unknown to me. I shouted at him and went the long way round and missed a fastest time but felt very pumped. Good session thought i'd share it??

I have to pass on that i've had a decent response from South Today and Thames Valley news about the cause and following my progress. Great publicity and with my Sports Relief page now set up the pennies should come flying in, I hope.

Cheers for reading.

G

VC, End of season and the winter months.

Well the big news is I have been made the Vice Captain of team Tenzing by the committee of the Everest Test, I will be there to support Haydn as the Main man. This was out of the blue for me and an utterly awesome surprise. I am well and truly inspired by the whole expedition; and how some many people have played their part and continue to help the cause. We are going from strength to strength and by adding the team captains and vices this can only help Wes and Kirt.

To be honest I am not even in the top half best cricketers in our squad and as I live outside the smoke and have very little corporate activity through work(Police) I didn't think I had much of a chance of being a leader on the expedition. But the more I'm involved and throwing my skills into the collective ring the more I realise the mammoth undertaking this trip has become and that everyones input is required. My knowledge of fitness, training, walking and the people involved togther with my teamworking are why i'm there and will now be put to the test and i want to step up my efforts.

We had a fantastic game in Sheen Park to celebrate the two teams coming togther on the field and Hillary were given a thorough drubbing by ourselves. With my Uni mate Jules being made Vice for the oppo and having him caught and bowled was a special moment!!!!! But bewteen now and when we play the game at Gorak Shep we our one expedition and I hope all 30 players make it up for the game and look forward to getting to know the Hillary lads and trektators a whole lot better.

So, the end of season is here and the winter months of training are not far away it will be getting harder but i'm confident everyone is aware of how hard our task is and that the majority are working hard to get themselves ready. Well we'll find out 3 weeks yesterday when on top of Ben Nevis at 6 in the morning.

Cheers to Wes and Kirt for the chance to be Tenzing Vice Captain. Bye for now.