Skydive

Well I was supposed to complete my skydive yesterday evening, but the rain put paid to that, so bright and early this morning, I was up at the aero club getting my last minute brief before I did the jump. The weather was spot on, the sky was blue, the wind was in the right direction. It was on! Mally was the instructor who would be strapped to my back and basically offering me a lift down. It took 20 minutes to get to the Drop Zone, then we had a 7 minute hold due to "traffic". I never knew the skies above Guernsey were so busy.
All the way up the banter between the skydivers was following, as I just sat there looking at some amazing views of Guernsey. I was strapped in to Mally, then the door opened and we shuffled forward. My legs well and truly tucked under the plane, quick wave at the cameraman and we were out. AWESOME! Although the freefall only lasted about 20 - 30 seconds it was amazing. Hopefully we got some good footage for the video, and I even manged to get a 40 hand signal in. Whilst in freefall the noise was immense, but the sensation was breathtaking. Suddenly I saw the cameraman "drop" suddenly and it all went quiet. We were under the canopy. The first thing you notice is the silence, it is so peaceful under a 'chute and I had plenty of time to look around at my beautiful Island home, which lets face it, in the sun with clear blue skies is hard to beat.
It took about 6 minutes to fall to the landing area, during which time I took a turn at steering and we managed a few 360 degree turns. The that it was it, on the deck getting unstrapped. Would I recommend it? Yes 100% no question. If you get the chance... DO IT!!

4 x round the Island

On Sunday I set off at 0600 from Grandes Rocques and headed clockwise round the coast. Just over 8 hours later I left Grandes Rocques and headed clock wise to the pub!
As I cycled upto Grandes Rocques I wondered who was going to be there to cycle wit me. As I got closer I saw the tell tale twinkle of a bike light, YES!! I had company, it was Rob from work a keen cyclist and cancer survivor and the official "sat nav" thing bloke. (Click here for stats)
The first lap was probably the most enjoyable, beautiful sunrise as we got into town, and all round the Island I think we saw 3 cars in total.
On the 2nd lap it seemed like very other cyclist on the Island was going the opposite way to us, and we did see a few people more than once! The wind was hitting us side on pretty much from the Imp, to Grandes Rocques but when you turned the corner just after Port Soif the wind was head on, this must have been the worst part of the whole lap. After turning left by the Mallard, it was nice cycling until you hit the Imperial again. At the end of the 2nd lap we nipped back to mine for a water bottle refill, and some much needed food. We only stopped for about 10 minutes but the rest was well worth it.
Lap 3 has sort of disappeared into a blur, as it was no different to the first 2 apart from at the end we both commented that it was starting to hurt now! Then there we were onto the last lap.
This was probably the most eventful lap, as Rob and I lost each other, Rob went for a pit stop at Bordeaux, I carried on thinking he would catch me up quite quickly. After a while I thought it was strange Rob hadn't come by. Got into town, still no Rob, then my phone rang. "Oh Rob's not sure where I am" I thought, no it was Martin wondering where I was and how I was doing. I arranged to meet Martin for the last leg, but still no Rob. "OK I thought I'll get to the top of Val de Terres and then give him a ring" As I was walking up my phone rang again, this time it was Rob, I explained where I would wait for him and on I went. When Rob caught up with me, it turned out he didn't think I could have been that far ahead after Bordeaux so had turned back to try and find me!! Cheeky get :-)
As we headed North from the Imperial, Martin came round the corner, bless him he had bought water, jelly babies and other goodies with him, and he cycled the last leg with us. We passed Grandes Rocques and headed straight to the Hoummet Tavern. We got into the car park, stepped off our bikes and both just looked at each other, we'd done it!! Martin then did the honours and got the beer.
Thanks Rob for supporting me that day, and cheers Martin for the last 20 minutes and the next 3 pints.
After the beer I had to head up to the Aero Club for my safety briefing for the skydive I was hoping to do Tuesday night. Unfortunately........no wait that can wait for the next post.

Remember folks this is all for charity so if you could spare a couple of quid please go to www.justgiving.com/dean-cooper/ and help to make a difference. Thanks for stopping by.

Sunday 5th September

I'm off on a little bike ride on Sunday, 4 times round Guernsey + a little bit more = 100miles. Aiming for to complete it in around 8 hours. Starting from Grandes Rocques (bus stop) at 0600, heading clockwise round. Aim to be at the bridge for 0630, town 0645 then 2 hour laps. Finish at the Hoummet Tavern.

If you're on the Island and on your bike, feel free to tag along, or give me a shout as you pass.

Update to follow

BBC Radio Guernsey

After the article was published in the local paper, I got a phone call "challenging" me to appear on local radio, BBC Radio Guernsey. Although I was only on for about 20 minutes, it was enjoyable and with a bit of luck more people heard about the 40 / 40 Challenge. It was part of a bigger show called "Interesting places, interesting people" so not quite sure why I was invited on :-)
A general conversation about where the idea came from, and how it all started and how I used Facebook, and this blog to spread the word and get the challenges together. There was mention of catching up with me again later on in the year and a request was put out for any other challenges which listeners could have. I managed to catch one phone call where someone challenged me to appear as a speaker for the WI. I'm up for that !! I've already emailed the local section, so lets see what happens with that one. And another challenge was to challenge the Island to do a challenge. So maybe the mass swim on New Year's Eve to close the challenge may go ahead. Anyway that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by

On the radio

After the article was printed in the press I got a phone call from the BBC. They want to do an interview with me. So on Friday 3rd September between 10am - 11am I will be on BBC Radio Guernsey. Tune in folks :-)

Guernsey Press

Well hopefully you've read the Guernsey Press and that's why you're here. THANK YOU.

Looking forward to see what the Press readers challenge me to do.

Enjoy the blog and thanks for stopping by

August. What a month!!

August is over and the summer is coming to an end, but the challenges keep coming and going. 8 Challenges have been completed this month, which is almost as many as I did in the previous 7 months! So quick run down on the stats; 17 challenges completed, 4 in progress, 7 with arranged dates and I'm still 2 challenges short. Pressure sis on, but I'm sure I'll complete the 40 /40.

So where do I start? I suppose the Havelet Traverse is the best place, as this challenge was completed on 1st August. This is the only challenge that I knew I would not be able to complete, as it is a brutal traverse from Castle Cornet climbing along the wall down to the slipway at Havelet, and takes an average of 2 hours. My climbing arms are just not up to it. Which it is the only challenge which is labeled as "Attempt..." However I did manage to raise £45 as I had bets with a couple of people at £1 per metre. My first attempt was a respectable 20 - 25 metres, but I tried it again a week later and managed about 80 metres, unfortunatley I did not have time to carry on as I had managed to double book myself onto the Herm Fun Run.

In between my attempts at Havelet I felt good enough to attempt another climbing challenge, which was to "climb an E1 before the end of summer" I decided to do "Smear Test" at Pembroke. Next time you're down there walk around past the beach cafe, upto the car park next to the loophole tower. Then look over to Fort Pembroke, you should see the near vertical wall? That's the climb! As it is so blank, unfortunately you have to climb it without ropes, but lots of mats to slide down onto! Visit the Guernsey Mountaineering Club website for more details.

Anyway back to the Herm fun run, or the "Herm Run" as I noticed it was called this year, trust me to enter the year they took fun out of the title. My goal..... not finish last. And I didn't :-)
Start at the Harbour, down to Rousse, turn left up the steps onto the cliff path, down to Shell Beach, across the common, past the Mermaid (c'mon I had to run PAST the Mermaid) down to the harbour. My time was 33 minutes. My time in the pub afterwards was probably 99 minutes.

Next up was my scarecrow, Dave, ready for the Torteval Scarecrow weekend. The original plan was to have a hitch-hiking scarecrow and put it on the grass at Grandes Rocques and see how far up to Torteval it would go. Unfortunately as I was moving it, his arm fell off, and one of his feet. As the challenge was to "Build a scarecrow" I planted him in my back garden and the person who set the challenge came round and agreed I had past it. So another one down.

Back in January I emailed Oddsocks, and explained what I was planning for this year, and asked if there was any way I could get a part in A Midsummer Night's Dream when they came to Castle Cornet. I got an immediate reply saying yes, not a problem. I kept in touch with them throughout the year, and when I went to see the play introduced myself to Andy. What a nice bloke. We sorted out where I would be sitting and when the time came for a volunteer I was picked out of the auidence. At first I was a little disappointed as I was only up for a couple of minutes and it seemed like an anti-climax to the challenge. However was I in for a surprise. Just after the interval I was called upon again for my starring role. Now I'm not sure if you know the play but there is a scene 2 of the characters kiss through a crack in the wall. Guess who played the wall, and my 2 fingers were the crack. I had a "wall costume", and was left on my own in the middle of the stage area for what seemed like ages. Then the kiss. Both of the actors were basically licking my fingers, I know it sounds gross but it was hilarious, and when Andy looked me straight in the eye and said "How's that for a challenge?" I pretty much cracked up. Thanks guys.

Whislt all of this was going on I was cycling to work for 40 days, nothing really much to say about this except there is something quite liberating about cycling to work. Weird really.

Last week another 2 challenges hit the dust in pretty dramatic style. The first was "Exhibit vegetables at the North Show", the original plan was to grow chillies, but wth the house move unfortunately they died on me. Fortunately I had a backup plan. Radishes! And what wonderfull radishes they were, it seems a shame that I got beat by a bale of hay! All joking aside well done to everyone who entered and won at the North Show. I'll have you next year, possibly.

And onto the last challenge of August, and the reason why (hopefully) a lot more people are reading this. The Man Powered Flight @ the Harbour Carnival. What can I say, I came, I jumped, I got wet. I had a great night and the prize money was a great boost to Cancer Research. I do plan, but I always so that, to update the blog more frequently but with so many challenges happenign in August I really didn't have the time. Please come back and follow me in the last 4 months of 2010 as I attempt the 40 / 40 Challenge. Who knows maybe we can have a big beach party on New Year's eve and a mass swim to close the challenge. Hey maybe we could even get the press down. I wonder if I could get 40 people to join me on New Year's eve for the last of my challenges. There's an idea, or maybe even a challenge. :-) Thanks for stopping by.

Catch up

Since my last post a lot has happened. I've moved house, been on holiday, caught impetigo and completed some more challenges.

Rock to Rocque - A charity bike ride around the island, a very pleasant day out. Although in itself not that challenging I decided I would spice it up by trying to cycle up the Val de Terre (one of Guernsey's longest and steepest hills). As the hill was closed to traffic, and even if it wasn't 300+ cyclists would have made it practically impossible for cars to do anything, it was an ideal opportunity without worrying about the traffic behind. It took me just over 4 minutes to cycle up and about 10 minutes to recover from it. So although the challenge was the "Rock to Rocque" for me it was getting up Val de Terre. It started ok but then when I changed gear I had a slight problem, I couldn't get it into the low gears, so instead of doing it in the lower set, I had to push in the mid-set. Not pleasant but hey it was done.

Itex Walk - 40 mile walk around the coast of Guernsey. I did this last year and swore I would never do it again, but when you're looking for challenges then this is a Guernsey classic. As I have contact on the organising committee I was able to start the walk 30 minutes before everyone else, which meant we should be able to clear the first 16 miles on the cliffs without getting caught in the crowds. I was walking with 2 friends from the climbing club, who's partners had to drop out of the walk, so the 3 of us set off at just after 0400. When we got round to Vazon the bubblegum rally was just setting off so we had some weird looking cars (and people) pass us as we walked down to Cobo. All 3 of us managed to complete the walk in just under 13 hours, which is almost 3 hours faster than I did it last year. So after walking 40 miles in under 13 hours, what do you do? You go to a wedding of course! Within 2 hours of finishing the Itex Walk I was at a wedding wondering if I should mingle or just sit near the bar.

8 days later I was in Bala in North Wales at the National White Water Centre and getting ready for my white water rafting challenge. Whilst we were getting changed and briefed it started to rain, which is not bad when your going rafting. Overall the day was pretty good and I loved the rafting, unfortunately it ended on a sad note as I had my rash vest and swim shorts nicked whilst I was getting changed afterwards.

2 days after that the sun was out the sky was blue, so lets climb Snowdon! It was the first time I had been up Snowdon on the Llanberis path, and after about 1hr and without much difficulty got to the 1/2 way cafe. I was surprised that it had only taken an hour to get 1/2 way, and thought the path was extremely easy to walk up. However past the cafe is where the climb really begins. The gradient increased significantly and when we walked through the tunnel and effectively crossed to the other side of Snowdon the wind started to pick up (we had been sheltered up until this point) and the gradient went up another notch. But in just under 2 hr 30 mins from the bottom we were stood on top of Snowdon. After sitting up top for a while, we made our way down to finish just under 5 hours after we had started. So we headed off to the pub for a beer or 2 then over to Pete's for some much needed food.

Since coming back from holiday I've started my "cycle to work for 40 days" challenge and started getting lessons from Kel @ Island Adventures for my "Roll a kayak in the sea" challenge. There is also some video evidence of my rolling attempts, which when I nail it will also be posted.

Next scheduled challenge is the "Herm Fun Run" and my stage debut in "A Midsummer Nights Dream" should be happening on the 20th August. I'll will have completed my cycle to work challenge, and to hopefully get my kayak roll done before the end of August so within the next 4 weeks another 4 challenges should be done.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to get completely up to date. I will try and keep up with the blog as I continue the 2010 40/40 Challenge.


**rant warning**
I must be honest and say I was a little surprised at what has been done to the summit of Snowdon, as I can clearly remember the last bit being a bit of a scramble, but now for some reason they have "landscaped" it and put in steps, please come on folks, steps at the summit of a mountain :-( Also the new "visitor attraction" at the top, someone dropped the ball with this, as although the views are spectacular on a clear day I couldn't help noticing that here was nowhere to shelter if the centre was closed, as it is in the Winter. Surely it isn't beyond the wit of man to spend another couple of grand to add a shelter?
**rant over**

One more down

So, finally moved house, big thanks to all who helped. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The only downside is, the weather has been so good the past 2 weeks on the rock that we've still got boxes to unpack and rooms to sort out, but hey sometimes it's just to nice to stay in and do the mundane things associated with day to day life :-) Alothough I do need to get the greenhouse sorted or my vegetables won't be ready for the "North Show".

As the title suggests I managed to sneak another challenge in, it was one of my climbing challenges "Lead a climb outside". Basically last Tuesday I set out with the intention of either completing an HVS clean or leading a climb. As these things tend to happen, the situation presented itself to do the lead so I went for it. Nothing spectacular, nothing special just a nice Mod, which to be honest I could have probably solo'd, but the monkey's off my back and I did it.

Off on my hols in a couple of weeks to Llanberis, which is a climbers playground, and hopefully I should be able to get some climbing sorted. If not I will complete at least one more challenge as I am going White Water rafting whilst I'm away. When I get back the "Cycle to work for 40 days" challenge starts.

Total for Cancer Research currently stands at £215 so still a way to go. Oh well, on with the 40 / 40 challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.

What's going on?

Well it's been a while since I did an update to the 40 / 40 challenge blog so I thought I'd better update you with what's happening. After the triathlon I decided to take a break from training so not really been doing much, just chillin' and enjoying my time. We're moving house this week so a lot of time packing up and getting ready for the move.

Then over the next few weeks the challenges start coming hard and fast. Another challenge has presented itself with the "Rock to Rocque" bike challenge on 30th May followed by the Itex walk on 5th June, then whitewater rafting on 13th June. The "Three Peaks" challenge has been changed to "Climb Snowdon" as I have been unable to organise it, probably becuase I'm crap at organising!! And this will happen sometime during the week 14th June.

When I come back from my holiday I will then start with the "Cycle to work for 40 days challenge" - So over the next month I should complete 4 more challenges and started on another. Challenges currently in progress are "Drink 40 different beers" & "Knit a jumper", and training for "Climb an E1"; "Lead an outdoor Climb" & the "Havelet Wall Traverse" is in progress.

Amount raised for Cancer Research now sits at £215, which is good. Next post when I've moved house. Cheers and thanks for stopping by

Triathlon

Another challenge down. The one that started it all off. Official time of 1 hr 18 mins 45 secs. The day didn't start well as I had a poor night's sleep and was up @ 0400. But no excuses, the objective was to compete and I did, because I turned up & I finished. Swim leg was poor, but time shows I was about my target time of 15 mins. But I felt it was poor just had one of those days. After the swim I just wanted to finish the thing! Spent far to long in the tranisition and could easily have knocked 5 mins off my time but hey I did what I did. Bike leg wasn't to bad but the head wind on the way back was a tad rough, but it was the same for everyone. Run was OK until it started to rain, but that stopped after about 5 minutes. All in all I had a good time and achieved what I set out to do, finish a triathlon. So happy days and another challenge done. Next big one? Itex Walk on 5th June (40 mile walk around the coast of Guernsey), looking forward to it :-) Thanks for stopping by

Happy Easter

So Easter is here, the weather is getting warmer, the nights aree getting longer so more time for training :-) Knee is a whole lot better and managed 20 mins running out on the road yesterday morning. Tri is now only 25 days away so training is starting to get quite hard but looking forward to attempting the Tri. Climbing is going great and thinking about starting a seperate blog, after an amazing adventure last weekend.

Not much else to say, thanks for stopping by.

New Challenges

A couple of new challenges have been suggested and added to the list.
1) Catch, prepare & BBQ a 5lb Sea Bass.
2) Climb an E1 before the end of the season.
If you want to see more information on climbing grades goto http://www.ukclimbing.com/databases/crags/comptable.html.

My first outdoor climb was HS, so need to up by 3 grades.

Donations for Cancer Research have reach £215, thanks to everyone who has donated.

Triathlon is 4 weeks tomorrow

Update

I know I haven't updated for a while, but believe me life is going a little crazy at the moment. So where to start, well a couple of weeks ago I had to start looking for a new house as the landlord decided they were coming back from Oz sooner than they had planned. So frantic times as we looked for a new place. Viewed, offered and accepted on a house within 4 days, I think even on the rock that must be some sort of record!

Another great session with Ann over at Bowditch Fit and a nice routine leading up to the Tri, before I take a nice 2 weeks off and do nothing but swim, cycle, kayak, weights, cliff walks and climbing (I hate running).

Tri training is going well, with a slight setback, but onto that in a while. I managed to get the times from last years tri and was pleasantly surprised as my "target" times I had set myself would see me finish a respectful mid pack, just the boost I needed. Then the setback :-(, managed to jar my knee whilst out running and I am currently wearing a knee brace and walking with the aid of a stick. Nothing serious just playing it uber safe. Went to the Doctor, and manged to get a physio appointment at the same time. Basically 48 - 72 hours of "nothing to strenuous" until the inflammation goes down. So for the next 2 days I'm limited to swimming (not a bad thing), but no cycling, climbing, running, kayaking or cliff walking.

However after the setback I had another boost, when someone who, to be 100% honest, is a complete stranger to me, heard about what I was doing and donated £40 to the challenge coffers right out of the blue. THANK YOU

Probably a couple more updates prior to the tri (25/04) but until then, thanks for stopping by.

With sadness and regret

Well after downloading the suggested training plan from the Guernsey Tri club, I've spent a lot of time thinking about where I am, and what I need to do, and I've had to make a very hard and difficult choice, it is therefore with much sadness and regret that I must apologise to everyone who is supporting the 40 / 40 challenge and inform you that I have made the difficult decision to abandon the suggested plan and do it my own way! Oh come on, you honestly didn't think I'd dump this? This is the one which spawned the 40 / 40 and this (and the castle swim) are probably the only one's I'm taking seriously everything else is fun. I am following the plan to a degree but modified in such a way so that I can train for the Triathlon, continue the strength work, carry on climbing and fit in Kayak pool training as well. Shall we just say the next 8 weeks are going to be "tri"-ing (did you see what I did there, did you, did you?).

Quick update

Although the Mud run left me with a stinking cold, the good news is........the total for Cancer Research currently sits at £155. Thanks to everyone who has donated.

I also downloaded the "suggested" training schedule for the Triathlon for the Guernsey Tri Club and putting it bluntly I'm screwed!! Oh well the challenge must go on.

Mud 'n' Fun Run

Well yesterday (13th) was the day of the Mud 'n' Fun run. So off I trotted at 1330 upto the start, not knowing what to expect. When I got there I was amazed, so many people had turned up to run (the highest number I saw was 523), many in fancy dress, there were at least 2 "wedding" parties there, complete with wedding dress and suits. Anyway, whilst waiting for the start it started to snow, but only for a few moments but enough to start thinking why am I doing this? :-)
1400 the hooter was set off and away we went. 1st obstacle nothing special, just a jump down and over a small stream. Looking back it was quite funny as nearly everyone was trying not to get wet! Over the stream across the field then bang.. a nice 2 minute stroll through another stream, not to bad the water was only ankle deep! Across a road, through a few more fields (each getting progressively deeper with mud), then the next thing I can remember is the "reed beds", started off OK the water / mud / cow field run off was about mid calf-on me, until we hit the bend. Bearing in mind I'm 6'4" the water / mud / cow field run off was just below my waist and we had this for about 5 minutes! After that things just got worse! More fields, hill climbs, mud, water it was relentless just has you got warm again after leaving one stream or pond, you hit another. Cargo nets over to Ivy Castle, mud tunnels to crawl through, then the "deep" one. The water over to the wall of Ivy Castle, remember I'm 6'4" tall the water was freezing cold and well over my waist, I did see some people who could hardly stand up in it! Out of the water and scramble up the side of the castle, then onto the "swamp trek" again knee deep water / mud, but having to climb over tree stumps, duck under branches, round bends, the floor was uneven and a couple of deep holes to catch you out.
After the "swamp trek" across open fields again, then I heard the sweetest thing I'd heard for the past hour, "You're heading back now, only anothe mile left" but that last mile included another couple of streams to wade through and then back onto the rugby club fields. Under the cargo net, then a mud crawl. As I was under the fence on the mud crawl I heard someone say "You need to connect the red one to make it live", I laughed thinking there were just messing around, until I saw the batteries and realised it WAS an electric fence!! Once through the mud crawl, across the tyre run, then into the last 2 water hazards, a couple of skips!! But a great place for a "Kodak" moment. All in all I had a great time and did enjoy myself. Would I do it again? Hell yes, bring on 2011!!

Update

As you will have noticed not much in the way of updates recently, this is primarily due to the fact that there is nothing to report! I really don't think you would be interested to in reading about my training, every day. However next Saturday (13th) is the "Mud n fun" run. So expect some pics soon.

Also a couple more challenges have been added to the list. Still short but still pleanty of time left.

Thanks for stopping by.

£100 raised

Quick update just to let everyone know we have reached £100 for Cancer Research today. Thank you.

A better week

Well after the trials and tribulations of last week, this week was much better, upto a point! Managed to do a full workout on Monday, then went to the Gym Tuesday lunchtime to do some cardio work, went climbing Tuesday night and the "twinge" in my arm came back, rested on Wednesday, went to the gym again Thursday to spend some time on the X-Trainer, Treadmill, & excercise bike, then went climbing on Thursday night. The "twinge" turned into a full on "OMG, that F***ing hurts", after about an hour on the wall. It was so bad, I had to wait 20 mins before I could drive home, as I couldn't grip anything! Came back then spent 2 hours with a "heat thing" , you know one of those cherry stone things which you put in the microwave to heat up, and my arm felt OK. Unfortunately that little incident put paid to my planned workout on Friday night, but at least I managed the Gym again Friday lunchtime. Saturday was a chillin' day just went for a walk along the beach, then on Sunday I did my first attempt at the "West Coast 25", this is a 25 mile cycle, and manged a time of 1hour 36 mins, which I was quite happy with. Got back then went for a walk down to Jerbourg then round the cliffs for 20 minutes. Then back to the Rocky for a quick pint (or 2)
So lets see what next week brings and hope my arm sorts itself out.

Where do I start?

Well after the inital euphoria of the 40/40 Challenge, the last week has been a bit of a drag, not becuase I'm not pumped about it or that I'm losing heart because I'm not. It's just been one of those weeks where nothing seems to have gone right. after my training session on Monday and climbing on Tuesday I felt a "twinge" in my arm so decided not to risk it until it had sorted itself out so have been unable to do any major training, just a few push ups, crunches and leg work until it had settled. The weather on the Island has been pretty poor all week, with icy roads and constant warnings about not driving unless absolutely necessary, so have been unable to get to the gym for cardio work, and then today it looked bright enough so decided to go for a bike ride. All was fine until I turned round and started to come back, straight into the wind. Not pleasent cycling into a headwind which was freezing, and rain bouncing off your cheeks, so as I went past my house decided to call it a day. So after this weeks total disaster let's hope I can up my game next week. Only 5 weeks for the "Mud-n-Fun" run so need to work it out.

What next? World Domination. LOL

Well it seems that the 40 / 40 Challenge goes global, someone who stumbled across my Facebook page, decided that they were going to do their own challenge, so here's to Diane and wishing her every success in her 45 / 45 challenge. Good luck Diane, and enjoy it. Read her list here

My specially designed 40 / 40 Challenge Mug arrived at work today, and within 5 minutes someone asked me if I was selling them. And hey I thought why not. So if I can get a minimum order for 10 mugs then I can sell them at £10 each and donate the profits (£28) to Cancer Reseach, so far I've got 2 sales. so please let me know if you want one. I will get a photo up here tomorrow'ish. I know £10 is a lot for a mug, but hey it's for charity!

(sorry folks but this offer is only open to people on the Island so that I can pass them on face-to-face, and not have to worry about postage etc)

Got my first link!

Big thanks to Ann Bowditch at Bowditch Fitness & Nutrition. She's helping me out with my training programme to ensure I succeed in the physical challenges. And I get a mention in her blog and she's added a link to here. THANKS ANN! Not sure if it is a mid-life crisis though :-)

Just got back from my first climbing session of 2010, have been off the walls toooooooo long. Totally pumped after the first 3 climbs (this is normally a warm up!) so spent most of the next hour just peeling off. Oh well gave me a chance to try out the new gear I recently purchased. Over to the gym tomorrow to continue with the strength work and the first cardio session during lunch.

Thanks for stopping by and please remember you can donate to Cancer Research UK here

The Training continues

Had a training session tonight, straight after work, with an emphasis on strength work. Expecting a program for cardio as well to follow soon. Also undecided if I should enter the Duathlon series as training for the Triathlon. This getting fit lark is a tad strenious :-) Next *confirmed* event is the Mud N Fun run on Feb 13th

First training cycle ride

After picking up some new thermals, and a helmet yesterday I did my first training cycle ride around the island (approx 25 miles) in 2010. New PB of 1hour 41mins & 30 seconds. Trying to break 1hr 30 before I go for twice round. Challenge is 4 time round in one day

Go Ormering

2nd one down. Headed into town to get some cycle gear so that I can start my training program for the more physical events, then started searching for some wellies as it was such a beautiful day on the Island today. At about 12:30 headed out to L'ree Bay to go Ormering. As we drove to L'ree the bays were literally swarming with people all doing the same as we had planned. Stopped at L'ree and headed out. Very quickly found our first Ormer, and originally the intention was to find one, remove bring it home and cook it etc, when it came down to it, I just could not take it home, so a a photo later, and the luckiest ormer at L'ree was returned from whence it came. Carried on for about another 1hr, and came across another couple. We also saw different types of crabs.
When we had finished we went back onto the beach and a flask of soup & coffee were consumed. The off to the pub as I started my "Drink 40 different beers" challenge.

Swim in the sea on New Year's day

Well, thats it the 40/40 challenge is underway with the first challenge completed.
The day started with a hail shower just before 10am, with me due to go in at 10:30 I was a little apprenshive but determined to complete it. Tide was quite low so a fairly long walk out to the sea, then a quick run, dive and a little swim across the bay means I have completed the 1st challenge of the year.

Wind: 26mph
Temperature:
Sea 11°c Air 5°c


1 down, 39 to go!!