The mid point, less than 4 months to go now right - Thanks a lot for all of the messages of continued support and comments on March’s painful blog, they are all very encouraging – please keep the blog feedback messages flowing – they are a great personal help – and remind me that I belong to a great team.
So as promised, April was about sunshine. Following the tough run in March, the family, I and some old friends took a well deserved break in the sunny Caribbean island of Antigua… more on this later.
Fundraising:
I continue to be amazed and thankful as I see continued selfless contribution of your personal earnings to support VSO. At the end of April £8,805 had been donated which around 75% of my planned target of £12,000 (excluding my personal donation of £3,000).
I now have 98 of you which I will carry in name with me in around 4 month’s time up to almost 20,000ft.
I had lots of nice comments from last month notes on sponsor newborn messages. So continuing this new feature, April 09 proved to another fertile culmination with new son Archie for my work colleague Nick and Anna – congrats!
Training:
So following my 8.2 mile run, it took almost 10 days before I was able to train again. The only way I got back to training was when we got to Antigua and I used the holiday - a lovely 29C to recuperate and simulate hot weather training like it will be in the first few day of so on Kili.
Okay, Okay, I can anticipate the cynics here saying ‘oh yeah, Caribbean sunshine, sand and sea… how does training come into that!’. Well believe it or not, trying to walk on sandy beach is good for ankles and calves.
If this was not enough exertion, Julian, Sunil and I got up at 7am after a ‘good evening out’ and climbed the highest mountain on Antigua, ‘Boggy Peak’ a 400m in about 45-50mins - yep we got microwaved by the mast actually.
This is my first mountain (alright hill than) but the sense of achievement was massive given some sections were almost a 1 in 2 climb It was even more scary coming down though we had the chance to see Grapefruit and Star fruit trees as well as some 3 inch wasps keeping us focused on the rapid descent.
Since I have been back more basic walking with now a 15m in 3h 33m as the new record (this is twice what I did 2 months ago!)
I also had my first Personal Training session with Amanda York, known as Gymanda. So having been a bit wary about this, I can solidly say, the first session I had with Amanda was fantastic. She accompanied me as she got me to jog, run, sprint, stretch, press up/down to a level that I would never even dreamt of. Super prepared Amanda has already started to analyse the climb requirements, diet, yoga etc. She got me to do some stretch she called the ‘pigeon’ – yeah work that one out!
Amanda gave me some insights on what she will have me do over the next 3 months (good timing too as being honest, I need some professional help and pushing now). Some of you know I ran a little selection process to find the right PT, I am extremely happy with the holistic mind, body diet focus that Amanda brings, check out her site on http://www.gymanda.com/. She has kindly offered me some special discounts for a few of my sponsors – drop me a line if you are interested.
Kit:
No Kit at all this month, did not even get a chance to go shopping. That said I did wear some of the stuff I have bought though (that is good going for me!). Arjinder continues to remind me that I have almost never worn the MBTs I so proudly bought some 8 months ago!
Mind:
A slightly different flavour during April – doing something new and different was April’s focus – you could say mental nourishment was what I needed…
I have been told that the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls limb movement, responds better when you do something new by sending increased oxygen flow round the brain and body. So we decided to put this theory to the test after another ‘good night out’ in Antigua. So picture this, you are having a stroll through St John’s (the capital) and a friendly local comes up and asks you if you would like some Aloe Vera? Okay well, we have all heard of this in our shampoos and creams and stuff, but freshly extracted from a green plant in front of your eyes? If that’s not new enough, the interesting local told us that rather than just rubbing this stuff over yourself, you would be 100% better off by drinking it. So that is what brave Chazzy and I did, and I tell you it is weird consistency (like fibrous solid jelly) but if you can actually get it down like us – It really did wonders for our insides… check out the vid.
So for all you office workers out there, it’s a great tonic, best take it from plant to intestine within 2 hours – no chemicals or processing, just a knife, a plant, any old bottle, a glass and gulp – you are full of beanz not to mention lots of oxygen pumping round your neo-cortex too!
April Highlights:
So the end of April and early May bought us a bit of a recovery in the Markets but also the Swine flu panic. On balance a much better outlook – but hopes were dashed again listening to the budget eh? That said, confidence is key and displayed with humility is the way I always advocate it
So to April’s quote, ‘be serious with people but don’t take life too seriously, you will never get out of it alive!’
Enjoy the sunshine (for you in Britain) – I bought it back from Antigua, and roll on May
Since I have been back more basic walking with now a 15m in 3h 33m as the new record (this is twice what I did 2 months ago!)
I also had my first Personal Training session with Amanda York, known as Gymanda. So having been a bit wary about this, I can solidly say, the first session I had with Amanda was fantastic. She accompanied me as she got me to jog, run, sprint, stretch, press up/down to a level that I would never even dreamt of. Super prepared Amanda has already started to analyse the climb requirements, diet, yoga etc. She got me to do some stretch she called the ‘pigeon’ – yeah work that one out!
Amanda gave me some insights on what she will have me do over the next 3 months (good timing too as being honest, I need some professional help and pushing now). Some of you know I ran a little selection process to find the right PT, I am extremely happy with the holistic mind, body diet focus that Amanda brings, check out her site on http://www.gymanda.com/. She has kindly offered me some special discounts for a few of my sponsors – drop me a line if you are interested.
Kit:
No Kit at all this month, did not even get a chance to go shopping. That said I did wear some of the stuff I have bought though (that is good going for me!). Arjinder continues to remind me that I have almost never worn the MBTs I so proudly bought some 8 months ago!
Mind:
A slightly different flavour during April – doing something new and different was April’s focus – you could say mental nourishment was what I needed…
I have been told that the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls limb movement, responds better when you do something new by sending increased oxygen flow round the brain and body. So we decided to put this theory to the test after another ‘good night out’ in Antigua. So picture this, you are having a stroll through St John’s (the capital) and a friendly local comes up and asks you if you would like some Aloe Vera? Okay well, we have all heard of this in our shampoos and creams and stuff, but freshly extracted from a green plant in front of your eyes? If that’s not new enough, the interesting local told us that rather than just rubbing this stuff over yourself, you would be 100% better off by drinking it. So that is what brave Chazzy and I did, and I tell you it is weird consistency (like fibrous solid jelly) but if you can actually get it down like us – It really did wonders for our insides… check out the vid.
So for all you office workers out there, it’s a great tonic, best take it from plant to intestine within 2 hours – no chemicals or processing, just a knife, a plant, any old bottle, a glass and gulp – you are full of beanz not to mention lots of oxygen pumping round your neo-cortex too!
April Highlights:
So the end of April and early May bought us a bit of a recovery in the Markets but also the Swine flu panic. On balance a much better outlook – but hopes were dashed again listening to the budget eh? That said, confidence is key and displayed with humility is the way I always advocate it
So to April’s quote, ‘be serious with people but don’t take life too seriously, you will never get out of it alive!’
Enjoy the sunshine (for you in Britain) – I bought it back from Antigua, and roll on May
