Back on track...

We have a HUGE week this one coming up as we head for our charity fundraising evening on the 26th July, in Dawlish. I hope the weather plays nice!!?

I managed to train lightly this weekend. On the bike and some hill sprint, so feeling less locked in the house and feeling more with it now.

Just think less than 28 days and we are on the first hill...
It's very real now.
-darren

Still counting down...

Having Colitis [IBD], I can't actually tell if I'm nervous about the event or having a bad day?

The days are frighteningly dropping off my little desktop calendar. When Friday lands, it'll just be one month and we are off! More kits is arriving daily, roof racks - check, roof box - check, water [thanks GanicWater our sponsor] - check, the list goes on. When you see all the stuff we have to take, I think a bus might have been a better shout? I think we have some kit whittling down to do...

Bryn and caught up briefly yesterday, quick chat about planning and the last two weeks. We both think we peaked training wise too soon, by about 6 to 8 weeks, so the next 3 weeks will be about getting back on track and quickly.

If you are reading this and care about the charities we are working hard for please, donate, it does not have to be much. We've had many people donate just a £1 or £100 via paypal - it all counts towards or total, thank you.
-darren

Stumble It!

Countdown...

I looked up from my desk at work today, only for a moment, and my eye caught the little flip over calender I have on the window ledge. In four weeks we'll be rushing around sorting out all the final items, packing our kit within a few days of leaving for the challenge.

It's both exciting and thought provoking to have seen the 12 months from little light bulb moment to full on legging it up mountains shoot passed.

One month and three days to go.

-darren
Stumble It!

Alright out there

Firstly to thoseout there who where following us on a weekly basis. I do apologise for the drop off in posts over the last 6 weeks.

It has been an odd time for both of us it's Darrens second summer in his new job and my first summer in my new job. Honestly I dont hink either of us realised how busy life was going to get. During the winter it was great everyone else was sleepy and we where out bounding around the hills and mountains feeling fantastic. Then summer arrived and the world has exploded.

We're still ontrack I've been out fundraising 4 times in as many weeks so the donations are still rolling in. Thank you to every single person it still amazes me how much people give.

Training is still happening as Darren has menioned we have had to change our training location to enable him to do his thing. But we're still managing 11 minute miles constant up hill and down dale regardless of the inclines.

I'll make sure I keep you all up to date with whats happening over the next few weeks as well.

Take it easy..

Bryn

Don't worry...

I have received a few emails from concerned supporters, as this blog been quiet for a couple of weeks. Let me update you:

Bryn has been working very hard at fundraising [as always] and taking up the sharp end of the organisation for our fundraising day [FETE?] at the end of July.

Yes sadly however I have taken a turn for the worst in the last four weeks and have been very ill. It's generally odd I admit it, as most of the time I quite good at just saying "I'm fine". Training has got tough, really tough. With some new stronger meds and a slight up turn in how I'm feeling, we push on!

Luckily getting back in to training has been easier as I have 10 months of core fitness to fall back on. The two stone plus I've lost, the 25 mile runs and hikes on Dartmoor, the 30 mile cycles and short training sessions. Having an IBS that's leaning towards Colitis and Crohn's is proving my biggest challenge, NOT the change of lifestyle, the training days, the long hours at work...they have not been the problem, the diseases has. It's very frustrating when you get yourself in a good shape for such a compact endurance event like ours, only to spend most of your time trying to find a loo!

One of our charities is NACC - National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease - I might be feeling the burn right now, but there are others with IBS that can't do anywhere near a 10th of what I still can do. It's a tough, misunderstood and often frustrating disease, that is unfortunately seeing a surge in reported cases in the last few years. Personally I know at some point it's going to get worse, I'm going to have to make changes in my life again and the possibility of an operation is a question out their looming large. It's not all doom and gloom, I have my goals, limits and expectations and intend to use my energy wisely.

SO for now, don't worry we are still here, still busting [our now slimmer] butts and keeping our eyes on the challenge, all the best.

-darren
Stumble It!

Loosing Ireland

We have had to make the tough choice of dropping the Irish leg of our Challenge. The cost of the flights and land based travel with a tight schedule to boot was proving to be a step too far, we had after all insisted our focus stays fixed on collecting funding for our charities not wasting our efforts and funds.

We have opted to increase the hight, length and endurance of our event with two more peaks in either Scotland or Wales, that we will announce shortly.

Both Bryn & myself felt we could raise more funds and reduce the financial burden on ourselves.
-darren