The Man From Snowy Yorkshire

 

                      Beyond Blue                                                                         Mind UK

As promised a weekly update of my training over the week...

Monday – Rest

Tuesday – Gym and track running with Craven Energy...

Well the snow scuttled my carefully set out plans for the track this week...

Anyway as gym work was also on the plan tonight I decided to make the most of the picturesque snowy scenery... I got my trail shoes and head torch on and jogged at a lovely easy pace to the gym taking a long detour through the Skipton Woods... It was great, jogging along in the snow with only the head torch showing the way... Actually very very nice for a change... As for the gym... I did my workout at my typical flat out pace.. Always keen to escape it I think... Jogged home... Not a bad night...

Wednesday - Cycle and Swim

Meant to get up early for a 30km cycle... Decided not to as there was snowy patches on the road and I'd surely crash... Anyway it a was swimming in the evening and I got through my regime nicely... Part of the regime I have is to swim with your fists... Now this is hard work... Apparently by swimming this way your arms get to “feel” the water and make your stroke more efficient... Anyway the regime said 2 x 250m fists only... This I did okay but I was glad to get though it and not be put up for assault for accidentally belting someone... Total distance 1.5km

Thursday – Gym and running with Keighley AC

Couldn't be bothered doing the whole gym workout tonight... Slack I must say... Just did my legs which is the main priority so I guess target achieved...

Running was fabulous... It was pretty straight forward... Start in Keighley... 2.5 km up a hill and down about 1.5km to Steeton... A jog around Airedale Hospital and back the way we came... Total... About 10km... Nice crisp cold evening for a run especially up high... Very enjoyable...

Friday – Cycle and swim

Did the cold bight hard or what today... I was dead keen to cycle but the weather was forecast to be -7 early on and I declared myself a whimp and awaited the evening swim... Unfortunately due to the heavy snow the pool was closed... A rest day was declared at 8pm... Boy did I hate this... My carefully planned week was beginning to fall apart... I wonder what Saturday would bring...

Saturday – Gym and Run

I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone today... Get to the gym... Run about 5km on the treadmill and do my workout... Anyway after 1.5km on the treadmill I got off... Running this way indoors is totally unnatural... In fact I hate it... A bad choice I must say... Decided to have a leisurely workout which was nice and sociable... But the week had a day to go... The snow was meant to go by the morning... Yeah!!!!!

Sunday – Cycle and Swim

Fantastic the snow was gone... Washed away by the overnight rain... So I got “kitted up” and cycled to Kettlewell and back... Return distance 50km... Only negative a passing motorist found a nice large puddle to soak me with... Must say it didn't hamper a good cycle... Swim afterwards was pretty standard without anything of note happening... Total distance: 1.5km...

So the week finished off pretty good... Thanks to Sunday... Looking forward to this weeks training...

Catchya soon... 13 weeks till the first event (Mallorca Olympic Triathlon)...

What else do you do in life?

                                          Beyond Blue                                  Mind UK

 G'day and eh up to all who are reading this!

This is the big launch for 'Vic's 5 for 50'.  I thought at my age I'd make good use of  my body and do something positive to celebrate the approach of my 50th birthday.  As many of you who know me, I've been very sporty for most of my life and love a challenge.  I've decided to take up 5 challenges over 5 weeks to achieve personal goals and also to raise some funds for some very good charities and to celebrate the fact that I'm still alive and kicking.

This all started on the very first day of my holiday back in Australia in August 2012.  Myself and my two sons spent the first day in Melbourne and were fortunate enough to have tickets to see the Aussie Rules football match of Geelong vs Hawthorne at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Grounds).  At the time I was aware that Beyond Blue had a cup for that particular match between these teams.  As we walked from Federation Square towards the MCG with perfect timing the kookuburras laughed.  Ahhhhh and I'm home.

Surrounding the MCG all these people were in blue wigs.  Lo and behold it dawned on me it was the people - there were wristbands and an information tent.  Geelong went on to win the match in a spectacular way.  A goal after the siren.  We were lucky enough to meet many of the players and coaches after the match - a perfect start to a holiday in Australia for me!

When I arrived back in Britain and reflected on our Australian trip, my thoughts turned to turning 50 and Beyond Blue and Mind - the UK charity sprang to mind and I thought 'What the hell - I'll raise some funds and awareness for them'.

I'll regularly post blogs here so you can keep updated on my training and amusing anecdotes from my progress.  I'd really appreciate it if you can sponsor me and help me raise my targets - and also share this with friends and family.  These charities both do incredible work in my temporary home of the UK and my home land of Australia.

I'll also add a sporting clip/information that I've either seen or remember well from over the years.  The very first one is what's inspired me for is here:

Do It Again Tom!!

Go Cats!!!!!!!