Lands End 2 John O'Groats and John O'Groats 2 Lands End: December 2012

What's it all about?

At the end of September 2012 I completed a cycle from Portsmouth 2 Penzance a total of 273 miles! raising money for Children In Need is the Plan. This was also be a personal challenge for me as I haven't been cycling in over 25 years and that was only for fun nothing serious. On top of that have a prolapsed disc, was 46 years old and at the start of 2012 a bit over weight, well lot over weight really, since then I've lost nearly 3 stone! So I opted to do the big one, John O'Groats 2 Lands End on May 6th 2013. The End 2 End or P2P (point to point, as it's sometimes called ) around 1000 miles! This time I had company, Colin, a friend from work, who has said he is as mad as I am and would like to come! This blog contains that story....This event is in memory of the sad passing of my mum on 17th of April this year having lost her fight with terminal Bowel Cancer.

I guess you'd call it the sequel, I have decided it would be just rude not to go back the other way!!! so May 2015, with a new friend, Pete and with Dave driving a support vehicle ( luxury) we plan the classic Lands End to John O'Groats, also known as LEJOG. Mad ? yes I think we must be.

Ok, so things haven't gone so well since I finished the Portsmouth - Lands End ride. Nobody had prepared me for the LOW. If you ever undertake an epic event (however epic that maybe for you) BE prepared for the low, that would be my best advice. You get so focused on getting ready, organising everything, the hype before you go, setting off, the efforts involved in the challenges of each day. Then you complete the thing. The pride, relief and joy of it lasts very fleetingly really.... then there is nothing.... a big hole, filled with normal life. Nothing wrong with normal life mind you, it just doesn't do enough to fill the hole that's been left behind. Even though I knew I had to keep on training because of the JOGLE I was planning for. For weeks there was just the numbness and no that wasn't in my bottom! All I'm saying is be prepared, prepare your family to, as they will be wondering why you're not full of beans having completed it ( whatever 'it' was for you ) . Then there was the bad news about mum's terminal cancer, the weather preventing me getting out much, if at all...........

So you say what ya going to do about it? Well I'll tell you what I'm going to do, I'm gunna get off my backside dust off the old Trek 7 speed lead filled bike (well feels lead filled) and get out there and make a fresh start. Can't use the road bike in all this weather at the moment or it'll be wrecked before May. So just over 4 months to get my act together, so as not to let any of you down. Means even more to complete this one now.
Plan to get a full weekly training program in place with Colin first week in January, some spin classes in there i'm sure. We'll let you know what we're up to then. Team photo with our Bowel Cancer tops ( kindly donated ) to follow shortly

As for now? Onwards........ and happy Christmas to you all

Lands End 2 John O'Groats and John O'Groats 2 Lands End

What's it all about?

Me, Colin, Pete and Dave ( Team Jogle4bc )

NOT a good start to the fresh start!

A fresh start

A Change of focus