August 4th 2014 - 75 Days to go
4 weeks have now passed since my last blog, whats been happening? Has he given up? Where are are his weight and fitness updates? These are all questions nobody is asking.
Well on the weight front I am eating so much to keep my energy up that my weight has stabilised. I am now more concerned with getting miles and height into my legs. On the whole it hovers at around 35-37 pounds lost since I started.
Exercise on the other hand continues apace. After seeing off the horrendous blisters I took a few tentative steps back into the gym. Regular readers will recall how cheesed off I was at Britain's Next Top Model putting me to shame while at the same time managing to text while on the treadmill. I thought that was bad but a new phenomenon has raised it's head in the gym. Now it's well known that women are much better at multitasking then men, I mean I can't even think and walk at the same time let alone do anything else. So there I was minding my own business pushing myself a bit harder than usual on the cross-trainer, trying to make up for a few missed days. In the mirror I see a women walk in, dressed for work rather than a workout, walk to the cross trainer next to me and put her bag down. She took off her work clothes right there to reveal her workout gear underneath. Apart from the fact that she had done the full Supergirl reveal it was a blinding hot day and she had been wearing 2 sets of clothes. She dipped into her bag and pulled out her iPad before getting on to the cross-trainer and started off serenely on her way. After about five minutes, without stopping, I glanced across in the mirror and there she was with her iPad in one hand and and her iPhone in the other. As far as I could see she hadn't stopped so apart from the fact that she apparently pulled the iPhone out from who knows where I am thinking WTF? Are these women sent in deliberately to make me look weak? Is there someone out there plotting some debilitating fitness joke on me? If that wasn't bad enough I was back the next day and there she was again doing the same thing. I did the only thing any super fit guy would do in those circumstances and sidled off to the other side of the gym to do something else until she'd gone. After all you have to try and retain some dignity.
I now plan my weekends around the weather forecast trying to best guess where and when I can get in a long walk or a bike ride. I have temporarily condensed my working hours into 4 days so I can get a good full 2 days exercise in at the weekends. Sadly, I have committed to to go back to 5 days once this is done and I already know I am preferring the current arrangement. So off I go on a bike ride in the rain deciding to cycle to Wigan Pier and back, It was mostly along the canal towpath and therefore mostly flat but it was 65 miles there and back so worth the effort. Don't let anyone tell you to is an easy ride on a bike. Once you get past Lydiate there is plenty of canal but not a great deal of path. In the wind and rain I ended up a bit muddy. Well actually I was so filthy when I got home I went into the back garden stripped off and hosed myself down, in the rain. I was so caked in mud it looked like I was wearing leggings, my bright yellow hi-vis jacket had no vis left. I put the jacket through the wash five times, including 3 with stain removal and you can still see the mud stains. My teeth had mud stuck to them. Despite all this I really enjoyed the ride.
Fortunately we have had some really great weather which means that on the many bike rides and walks I am building up quite a tan for the first time in years. Unfortunately it is a perfect example of a tennis players tan. I have a perfect white t-shirt and very brown knees and excellent sock marks just above the ankle. I know I am making myself sound irresistible but you will just have to contain yourselves.
I had some disappointing news when my booking for the national 3 Peaks Challenge had to be cancelled as not enough people had booked. Undeterred, instead of trying to do the 3 peaks in two days I am now going to do 5 in one day in the Lake District. Booked paid for, just have to do it now.
I also had another mishap with my bike when the rear wheel collapsed, so for a second time in a matter of weeks I had to send it in for some TLC. I felt a part of me was missing when I didn't have it and have been contemplating buying a spare. The only reason I haven't is I wouldn't be able to resist buying one that was too expensive. There are are reasons why I am always strapped for ready cash.
Kilimanjaro is now very real. I have paid the full cost of the trip, I have sent off my application for my entry visa to Tanzania, Storm Jacket, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and thermal liner all purchased. I have a huge stock of Jelly Beans too as I was told they are a good quick energy boost. The temptation of having half a tonne of Jelly Beans in the house is proving almost impossible to resist, good job I am out training most of the time. I now know that there will be 8 intrepid trekkers, I have the names and contact details of 5 of them and the charities they are doing it for but as yet I have not been in tough with them so don;t know anything else. I know there is three men and three women and one of them is also from Liverpool.
The clock is ticking and it's moving very fast.
I have reached a point now where I have started to feel concerned about my motivation come November when Kili is done and dusted. No matter what happens on the trip, whether I make it to the top or not, I don't want to undo all the good work I have put in. But I know me, it will be winter, I will be back working 5 days a week, the excuses are already building up so I need to have something beyond to focus on, I just don't know what.
"So tell me what is your favourite new excuse?
Think you're shipwrecked in suburbia
But is there concrete in your shoes?
No!
Clearly I'm uncomfortable in this mold they call routine
Don't forget all dreams are portable
and on instincts you should lean
So if this city really makes you feel the way you swear it does
Show just a little more faith in the legs your standing on
Can't take for granted
The privilege you've been handed
You're hearts still beating, hearts still beating
Just keep it going. Never stop."
Please help keep me motivated by visiting Marks Just Giving Page
Well on the weight front I am eating so much to keep my energy up that my weight has stabilised. I am now more concerned with getting miles and height into my legs. On the whole it hovers at around 35-37 pounds lost since I started.
Exercise on the other hand continues apace. After seeing off the horrendous blisters I took a few tentative steps back into the gym. Regular readers will recall how cheesed off I was at Britain's Next Top Model putting me to shame while at the same time managing to text while on the treadmill. I thought that was bad but a new phenomenon has raised it's head in the gym. Now it's well known that women are much better at multitasking then men, I mean I can't even think and walk at the same time let alone do anything else. So there I was minding my own business pushing myself a bit harder than usual on the cross-trainer, trying to make up for a few missed days. In the mirror I see a women walk in, dressed for work rather than a workout, walk to the cross trainer next to me and put her bag down. She took off her work clothes right there to reveal her workout gear underneath. Apart from the fact that she had done the full Supergirl reveal it was a blinding hot day and she had been wearing 2 sets of clothes. She dipped into her bag and pulled out her iPad before getting on to the cross-trainer and started off serenely on her way. After about five minutes, without stopping, I glanced across in the mirror and there she was with her iPad in one hand and and her iPhone in the other. As far as I could see she hadn't stopped so apart from the fact that she apparently pulled the iPhone out from who knows where I am thinking WTF? Are these women sent in deliberately to make me look weak? Is there someone out there plotting some debilitating fitness joke on me? If that wasn't bad enough I was back the next day and there she was again doing the same thing. I did the only thing any super fit guy would do in those circumstances and sidled off to the other side of the gym to do something else until she'd gone. After all you have to try and retain some dignity.
I now plan my weekends around the weather forecast trying to best guess where and when I can get in a long walk or a bike ride. I have temporarily condensed my working hours into 4 days so I can get a good full 2 days exercise in at the weekends. Sadly, I have committed to to go back to 5 days once this is done and I already know I am preferring the current arrangement. So off I go on a bike ride in the rain deciding to cycle to Wigan Pier and back, It was mostly along the canal towpath and therefore mostly flat but it was 65 miles there and back so worth the effort. Don't let anyone tell you to is an easy ride on a bike. Once you get past Lydiate there is plenty of canal but not a great deal of path. In the wind and rain I ended up a bit muddy. Well actually I was so filthy when I got home I went into the back garden stripped off and hosed myself down, in the rain. I was so caked in mud it looked like I was wearing leggings, my bright yellow hi-vis jacket had no vis left. I put the jacket through the wash five times, including 3 with stain removal and you can still see the mud stains. My teeth had mud stuck to them. Despite all this I really enjoyed the ride.
Fortunately we have had some really great weather which means that on the many bike rides and walks I am building up quite a tan for the first time in years. Unfortunately it is a perfect example of a tennis players tan. I have a perfect white t-shirt and very brown knees and excellent sock marks just above the ankle. I know I am making myself sound irresistible but you will just have to contain yourselves.
I had some disappointing news when my booking for the national 3 Peaks Challenge had to be cancelled as not enough people had booked. Undeterred, instead of trying to do the 3 peaks in two days I am now going to do 5 in one day in the Lake District. Booked paid for, just have to do it now.
I also had another mishap with my bike when the rear wheel collapsed, so for a second time in a matter of weeks I had to send it in for some TLC. I felt a part of me was missing when I didn't have it and have been contemplating buying a spare. The only reason I haven't is I wouldn't be able to resist buying one that was too expensive. There are are reasons why I am always strapped for ready cash.
Kilimanjaro is now very real. I have paid the full cost of the trip, I have sent off my application for my entry visa to Tanzania, Storm Jacket, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and thermal liner all purchased. I have a huge stock of Jelly Beans too as I was told they are a good quick energy boost. The temptation of having half a tonne of Jelly Beans in the house is proving almost impossible to resist, good job I am out training most of the time. I now know that there will be 8 intrepid trekkers, I have the names and contact details of 5 of them and the charities they are doing it for but as yet I have not been in tough with them so don;t know anything else. I know there is three men and three women and one of them is also from Liverpool.
The clock is ticking and it's moving very fast.
I have reached a point now where I have started to feel concerned about my motivation come November when Kili is done and dusted. No matter what happens on the trip, whether I make it to the top or not, I don't want to undo all the good work I have put in. But I know me, it will be winter, I will be back working 5 days a week, the excuses are already building up so I need to have something beyond to focus on, I just don't know what.
"So tell me what is your favourite new excuse?
Think you're shipwrecked in suburbia
But is there concrete in your shoes?
No!
Clearly I'm uncomfortable in this mold they call routine
Don't forget all dreams are portable
and on instincts you should lean
So if this city really makes you feel the way you swear it does
Show just a little more faith in the legs your standing on
Can't take for granted
The privilege you've been handed
You're hearts still beating, hearts still beating
Just keep it going. Never stop."
Please help keep me motivated by visiting Marks Just Giving Page
or TEXT code MPTC50 £amount to 70070 e.g. MPTC £5
You can also follow me on Facebook
For more information about the Princes Trust visit the website at www.princes-trust.org.uk
Mark
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