Weekend

So much for training this weekend.

As mentioned I was knocking down a concrete shed, this turned out to be a much bigger project than I imagined. The building was solid, the rough made out of 1.5" plyboard , then bitumen on top, I couldn't get at it, to take apart. The only option I had was to cut it, but the thought of standing on it, while I cut it into several pieces didn't appeal. So I ended up knocking out the concrete walls, hard going with a heavy roof sat on top of them, and supporting the roof until I could let it, fall to the ground in a safe manner.

All day Saturday to take apart, then all day Sunday to clear away the concrete blocks, now in many pieces, and start to dig the area for the new building. So 2 full days, a huge amount of exertion , and I guess I have a similar level of work to get ready for the new one.

So sorry to say no walking......

This weekend I am attending a meeting in London, where we will hear more about the trip and meet our fellow trekkers, so quite looking forward to that, and once I hear how well trained they all are, I will no doubt go into hiding.

I did suggest to Rob that perhaps 10 days walking around London may be a better venue, but then I fear instead of raising 3,500 for charity, we would spend that instead.

I was in London Monday, so sorry for no blog, but did manage to get to the gym last night after I landed. I was surprised how busy it was, I guess more people prefer to train in an evening. That said, there did appear to be a lot of "posers" in there - who seemed to be spending more time making sure their spandex looked good, chatting to others, than actually doing any exercise :-)

Friday's

The last day of the working week for many of us, though I appreciate these days, there are many of you out there, who actually have the weekend as part of your working week.

However I have to say I was exhausted this morning, so much so that after 15 minutes on the treadmill I had to stop for a few seconds as I had a stitch! - Only did another 5 minutes after that, just to hit the 2.5 mile limit. I can't believe that a lack of sleep can cause that, so possibly the hangover from my holiday coming back at me.........

This weekend requires a lot of effort in the garden, a shed/ concrete building to demolish then a huge amount of digging of foundations in preparation for a new building arriving in two weeks time.

I also need to squeeze in, England footy, grand prix and some walking. Actually the plan is to go walking Sunday morning, so let's hope that comes to fruition.

Next week I am travelling quite a bit, so training is not going to be at normal times, but after this week, I definitely need to continue or I will go further backwards.

Next weekend is also the Scope Killi Challenge meeting in London, where I should get the opportunity to learn more about the actual trip itself, times of travel, days on the trek, and also meet my fellow trekkers, so should be good, though I fear all will be much better prepared and trained than I am.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Nervous 5 minutes

For those of you who sat in front of your tv's yesterday afternoon, I am sure there was loud cheering and excitement as Defoe put the ball into the back of the net, but then how many of you were sat on the edge of your seating, hiding behind your hands during the last 5 minutes as we desperately tried to hold out..........

Well my prediction was wrong, thankfully in this case, I just hope my prediction for Killi is somewhat better placed. Those last 5 minutes of the game could be said to be like the trip up Killimanjaro.

The final ascent day sets of in the early hours of the morning, sometime around midnight, and heads to Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point we should be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise. For some it appears that you have completed the goal and made it, however this is not quite the case, to get to the real Peak of Killi, requires another 2 hour ascent.

So a bit like the last 5 minutes of the England game, can you hold out for the last 2 hour ascent to ensure you make it, or do you buckle under the pressure and fatigue and return home empty handed.

Well I guess if the England back four are available in October, they could at least help carry me up the last 2 hour section.........

So while I contemplate the last 2 hours, the rest of you can contemplate Germany on Sunday :-(

Hope

So a short update today, as I am sure you are all too busy preparing your beer, snacks and shading for the TV, ready for the kick off at 3pm. Note some of us will be working ! To be honest the thought of sitting in Rosa's bar in the Algarve, with a large pint of cold beer does appeal, but then what happens if it all goes wrong , hope turns to despair.

So my prediction 0 - 0 England go home undefeated, but early.

I am sure my hope of reaching the summit of Killimanjaro is better placed.

COME ON ENGLAND prove me wrong.... please........

Cost Saving - Maybe Not

Currently I only have one working watch, which was a 40th birthday present and being a Raymond Veil, is not something I thought would be suitable for wearing while I hiked up Killimanjaro. So thinking all I need is a cheap watch that is waterproof, I will get one from ebay - I am bound to find a bargain!

Oh dear, my cheap watch is definitely cheap, at £1.49 plus postage. I wasn't expecting much, but the one I have received, is Chinese in origin, the instructions are for a completely different watch, and thus far I haven't even managed to set the time correctly on it. Let alone the fact that it looks hideous.

Ok the picture on the left is not the one I received, but there again, neither is the picture on ebay!

So any attempts at cost saving didn't go to plan, no doubt I need to go to Argos and find a simple cheap rubber strapped watch, which could be a good lesson to learn for the rest of my kit. If it can be bought cheaply, it probably is cheap!

So perhaps from now on I will stay away from ebay...........well at least as fars as buying my kit is concerned :-)

Mosquito's

So I have returned from sunny Portugal, to find the UK just as sunny, if not quite as warm, however Sunday was warm enough to top my tan up.

So if I think about my holiday to try and draw some benefits for the challenge, I think it is probably loud buzzing things at night that come to mind. This was my third visit to the Algarve and each time I have come back with large bite marks from mosquito's. Usually it was just the bedroom where I had been bitten, so a plug in repellent use to do the trick, this year I seem to manage to get bit just about anytime. Ouch......, well actually not ouch, more itch, itch, itch........

An "older" tourist in the Algrave was explaining about the benefits of his electrical repellent, that emitted some sonic noise to keep them away. It turns out the females are the ones that bite, and this sonic repellent, emits the noise of a male mosquito which apparently females avoid like the plague!!!!!!!!

So considering the mosquito's will be at least twice as large on this challenge, at least on the initial two days, after that it gets too cold for them, I am thinking either I need to learn how to sound like a male mosquito, or splash out some cash on a sonic one......I was thinking ebay, but worrying this may end up attracting them instead............

So no walking to talk of, demolished one of the sheds on Sunday, then got distracted by our neighbours inviting us for a bbq, where I had to go, as this is one the rare occasions where Rob suddenly remembers he can cook, but shuffling a few sausage around on the grill...... actually Rob well done, it tasted great, perhaps if they run out of cooks up Killi you can take over !!!!!!!!!!

Back at the gym this morning, although 3 miles was far enough on the treadmill today......

More Algarve

Tuesday am, weather is great. As advised yesterday I did crisp some skin! I think umbrella shade could be required today. Actually it is only one small area so I now look like a young kid who's mum has prepared him for the sun, with bright blue factor 10,000 sun block on.


Last night we walked to a local fish restaurant, that turned out to be closed on Monday, so had to walk further to another. Ok not exactly trekking but a couple of miles to stretch the legs.

Another run this morning, but I was up a bit later today, so it was noticeably warmer. I actually met another fellow jogger going the opposite direction thankfully, or I may have realised how slow I was going. The Portuguese workers look at me a bit strange, why is he running in this hot weather! Mike still has not been out to measure the distance, I bet when he does, I find it is only 2 miles!!

So today is more sun and relaxation plus watching Portugal in the world cup. I haven't given the challenge much thought this week, but I am sure the heat will be preparing me for at least the first two days of it, similar heat levels.

Algarve

So this week I am out in Portugal for a week of relaxation. This obviously is helping me to relax, but at the same time means I am eating and drinking too much.


The weather is a bit strange, Sunday until 2pm is was blue sky, full sun, so took the opportunity to start crisping my skin. After 2 it turned really cloudy so we took to the hire car for a couple of hours. This morning beautiful again.

Now I didn't bring my hiking boots, but did bring my running kit, so this morning I went out at 7.30 for a run. At this stage I don't know how far and I am not sure how long, but I reckon over 30 minutes. Mike P is going to measure the distance later in the week.

Ok I am off to turn my skin more pink!

Early am Video Conf

A late update to the blog today.

I update first thing in the morning, arrive to work around 8am to 8.15 then spend 10 minutes updating, however occassionally I have early start with video conference to Japan, this then breaks my routine, result no blog - or late blog

So quick update, gym session went well, 3.5 miles 30 minutes no sweat .... ah well actually lots and lots of sweat but I am still here.

Also we had refurbished gym kit today, all the weight machines had new shining pads and seats.

So I am now rushing to next meeting, more updates while in Portugal - hopefully......

Horse & Cart

So after a poor gym session yesterday, by lunch time I had the Scope police on my case. Actually that is a little unfair, Emma from Scope who is co-ordinating the event rang to check of my progress.

I am sure Emma is very concerned about my preparations, if I am doing enough training, if I have the right equipment, but naturally as a professional fund raiser, she was slightly more interested in my own fund raising attempts.

Any donation , sponsorship where you provide the money now, goes into a specific account at Scope against my record. As such they can keep track of how well you are progressing. Since Scope need to maximise the money they raise from these events, they set a target of £3,500 for every entrant, and you have to sign up to raising these funds as a minimum. So Emma was quite aware of how much I had also raised/received and was trying to inspire me to more fund raising activities.

I did say that I had been trying to balance fundraising with training, to which she said while training is important, there is no point in training if you haven't raised the funds, where as I said surely if I haven't trained, then no matter how many fund I have raised, I won't be able to complete the challenge, thus raise nothing - ah the old cart and horse syndrome.

Anyway after a pleasant chat about, the reason why I am doing this, how the weather in London was not great, I thought I had successfully convinced her everything was fine. It was at that point I mentioned that I did believe there were people out there who were just waiting to put their hand in there pockets and sponsor this great event,  she challenged me to reach out to those people and get them to donate now.

So please, please, please - to avoid any further Emma episodes, sounds like haemorrhoids therefore painful, if you have not as yet pledged your money please do so at:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/IanMetcalfe

Late nights and early mornings

So much for my expectations of being up for the gym today. Actually my flight from Paris landed earlier than scheduled, but then huge queues at passport control, and the closure of the M56 link motorway meant it was late when i got home.

Here is an annoying point, why did we spend all that money on specially chipped passports, then find that the E-Passport machine, that allow you to get into the country without having to queue with everyone else are always broken / closed. 6 lovely machines, all sat there, no doubt at huge expense, and not working !

Anyway 6 am start this morning felt ok, but once on the treadmill I just didn't have the energy. I lasted 25 minutes so 3 miles, but was sweating, sorry perspiring so much I had to give up. I then felt quite sick doing my weights, so as opposed to another cardio burst I just cooled down on the cross trainer for 15 minutes.

I am blaming the food in Paris. Supposedly the country of great food, well visit Charles De Gaulle airport, Terminal 2E - what absolute rubbish, I would have preferred American fast food than the stuff they were serving. There was supposedly a "Wok" option - yeh right, a girl who weighed, yes really weighed rice into a paper box, then put one level spoonful of some chicken mixture on top, stuck it in the microwave.......err this is French cooking !

Anyway I will put down my lack of energy from lack of proper food (hope I perform better on Friday)

So only three days to go until the holiday in Portugal - really looking forward to it, just need to find room for my running shoes and kit !

Bonjour

So good morning from Paris, where the weather is great, warm temperatures and some sun, not like Manchester where I understand the normal rain is falling.

So what can I learn from the past day for my trip, I am not so sure. Firstly it was only a short plane trip, around 1 hour 20 minutes, and surprisingly comfortable, although a little turbulent. However I wasn't wearing my walking boots, which I have been advised to do. Secondly I was travelling light, so hand luggage only, and thus had no problem with lost bags. Again something of a concern, arriving ready for the trip with none of the gear I purchased to keep me warm and dry. Supposedly not a problem, as long as you have your boots ! I guess at least my gear won't get dirty or smelly if it is still in my luggage on a plane somewhere. ( I wonder if I could get a refund...)

Anyway no chance for training, did sample two glasses of French wine, but since I am driving home from the airport, I will not be partaking of it tonight, so not much damage done to the alcohol regime.

Wednesday morning will be back to the gym, let's see if I can get to 3.5 miles again......

Good weekend ?

So this weekend, there was no excuses, after a severe hair cut, ready for the holiday next week, I managed to get in two 9 miles walks, yes even on Sunday in the rain. This was in addition to a bit of gardening.

Attached is the outcome of the gardening work; the bench is one of three that my dad restored last year, he is becoming an expert at bench restoration, the fire grate is an old one we found in the house, when we moved in, so a bit of hammerite and it looks like new, and a few stones left over from the wall building.

As for the walk, I went round Coomb ridge twice, so 9 miles on both days, and not real after effects. Which is good, other than I was pretty tired Sunday night, so I think I need to find some more challenging routes. The weather was great on the Saturday, although a bit misty as you can see, Sunday wind and rain, so didn't bother with picures.

This week has started well, a good session in the gym , I got up to 3.5 miles running, although that was somewhat harder that I am making out. I am off to Paris this week, so not quite as easy to get in much training, but should manage Wednesday and Friday morning gym sessions.

So forgive me if I am a short on updates again this week, but will do my best.

p.s. Whilst money raising is going well, more contributions are certainly welcome so don't forget the linke to the virgin site, or drop me an email if you want to pledge some money.

Excuses

It was a long bank holiday, I had no internet connection, my fingers were swolen so I couldn't type......Yes excuses , excuses, excuses.

I thought I had gotten away from those, i.e. no excuse not to exercise, not to get out and walk, yet the weekend, together with some social commitments, and then a European business trip to Copenhagen and Zurich, meant no exercise :-(, this then makes me feel guilty about blogging....

Anyway back at the gym this morning, managed the 3 miles again - so now need to push up next week. As for the walking, will definitely make time for one this weekend, then need to consider some bigger challenges.

There is now a facebook site for the Killi trip, and as a result I have several connections from peopel on the trip with us, and they are all talking about their training - long hikes up hills etc - so I am definitely feeling a bit under prepared.

So just normal walking this weekend - then will think about some challenge after the holidays - yes I go to Portugal in a week - so that will also cause blog black spot - stay with me - I promise to make it more interesting the nearer we get :-)