Dawlish

Here's me, getting ready in the car park in Dawlish! That's Harry's bike there, he got a lift with me from Totnes, he only did it cos I spoke to him in the gym about it! And yes, I am wearing my swimming goggles, I thought it was funny!

I got up at 5.30am, I also woke up at 3.30 am and 4.30am, sleeping, as you can imagine was a hard task for me last night. I had all those worry dreams too, the ones where you are late, or the bike had gone and I had no wetsuit! It doesn't help the positivity a dream like that.

For the last 2 months + as you know I have been preparing for this moment. This was the reason I learnt to swim, to properly challenge myself and take me out of my comfort zone. I felt sick, my stomach was doing somersaults, but I managed some breakfast and there was no vomit! Which is nice!

So, this is us getting a little talking to about the route etc, yep, stomach doing some pretty cool acrobatics about that time, but I have to be thankful for immodium instants, they worked a treat! And I get to save on toilet paper for the next few days until the figs kick in! (too much information)

I have been trying to find words to describe how I felt this morning at this point, fear I guess is a keen one, I had little Jo Gendall come along from Totnes as support and to be honest her cheery little supportive, 'I know you can do it' smile was what got me down to the beach and into the sea. As a part time Instructor of Jo's I know I had to keep her respect for me, I had to be really good!

The pack descended to the beach, a beautiful mass of rubber, lycra and neoprene, it was like an epic perve convention and I felt at home!
At this point I noted that we didn't have to dive in to anything, just get in the sea, walk out and then swim to the starting markers.
I floated about there ok, knowing damn well I couldn't put my feet down, I'll be honest, I'm feeling a tad panicky just writing this, going over the morning.

I had never been his far out to sea, without a boat underneath me and I was petrified. Then bang, we were off! When I say that, I mean 199 impressive swimmers took off at an epic pace doing front crawl, whilst I splashed around in a panic looking like a dying seal. I was officially scared!
I made it out towards the first marker but I had a sudden panic attack, proper shakes, nausea, ridiculous thoughts came over me, I wanted to get out of the sea and stop right there, I had tried right?
I waved over one of the guys on a kayak and he asked if I wanted the safety boat, I said yes and over they came.
They pulled me out of the water and had a little chat with me, they were good looking, charming witty guys and me, being fickle started to feel better within a couple of minutes. They had names like, Dirk and Fish Finger or something probably a little cooler than that. Anyway, still shaking I had calmed down a little.
They told me that I had about 500m to go and that if I wanted to carry on, the lovely Louis on the kayak would stay next to me.
They also said, that if I stopped there and then, I would have no bragging rights in the pub later! That was enough for me, I had to do this, I said I would so I had to get back in the water.
Still trembling, Louis helped me out of the boat and off I went.
The straight to the next marker was long, but the tide was with me and washed me a long a little, but from the last marker to the finish was awful. I felt like I was going no where, I had to hang on to Louis' kayak a couple of times and another guy kayak guy came and marked me on the other side.
They were brilliant, cheering me on, then the rescue boat came up with Fishcake and Burt on board, all smiles and cheekiness, they told me I was there very favourite person that day, so now I looked like a blushing half dead seal and only 20 metres to go. That was hard, finally made it to standing and hobbled up the steps to where Jo and another friend John were cheering me on!

I was pretty knackered and emotional at this point, Jo ran down with me to the transition area where I stripped off my wetsuit, fell over in front of one of my new Kickboxers and her family who were watching and put on my cycle helmet the wrong way! It stayed on the wrong way too as I didn't want to waste anymore time.

There were just 4 people left in the sea when I got out, I had to make up some time and my borrowed bike from Lesley was the key!
I was off, comfortable flat fast riding and I had studied the route too! I past 3 girls, 2 men, another man, another couple of girls, I was flying, comfortable to be on dry land and I had the biggest smile on my face as the swim was over and I had done it. The rest was easy!

I enjoyed every second of the ride, it was awesome and the scenery around the coast there brought back memories of me training for the 103, I was near comfort zone again. I have to admit now, I need to get a road bike as I am loving it!

Back I went, overtook another man at the end and into transition again.

Bike up, running shoes on, quick slurp of powerade and I was away!

The route for the run started with the hill that leads out of Dawlish Warren, had to be some hills though after the speedy flat cycle. I love hills thankfully and took every one of them in my stride. I was slightly fatigued and didn't do my best running, but a hilly 5.7k in 30 minutes is not too bad I guess?
I passed another few people that I had seen swim off at the start and smiled to myself, oh, and the photographers, and the passing strangers who wished us luck as we ran. I was in the best mood and no one was going to stop me being happy!

Along the sea front and the finish was in site, I had guessed that there would be a little bit of 'round the paths' and there was the finish, off I went for an epic sprint finish, looking up at my time 1 hour 52 minutes. Happy days!

Harry was already in looking like he'd been there for ages, but he is super hardcore! Then Jo and John were there to congratulate me! I hugged them both, in my sweaty salty suit and picked Jo up off the floor!

Never have I felt such relief to get something under my belt and get on with my life!

Thanks for reading, I know I was a bit of a pansy in the sea, but I got on with it eventually and properly faced one of my fears that I have had since about age 7.

Will I do one again? Who knows! Now here is the reason why I wanted to challenge myself so  much!
The Veterans Charity - and you can donate by texting FUNK50£3 and send to 70070 and make my effort all the more worthwhile. Thanks guys.

Next.......................

Final preparations

Hi all again!

It's now Saturday evening, around 18.15 and I have just got off the phone from my Mum. Those of you who know my Mum know that she is amazing! She has supported me through some crazy times and challenges and is always there for me, even if it's just at the end of the phone.
She just fills me with encouragement and never doubts my ability to accomplish my dreams.

The road bike is tucked up in the van all ready to go and I have a very very long list of things that I need to prepare and lay out before tomorrow. I have this OCD thing before an event I need to know I have everything laid out and ready to pack or I wont sleep! I may not sleep well anyway as I am an absolute bundle of nerves! I've been stressed all afternoon, grumpy with the dogs, grumpy with myself!

Luckily I live alone!

I'm going to have a baked potato, chicken and broccoli, was going to have fish and chips but saving the pennies! Then I shall have a massive glass of red wine and go to bed with Miss Marple!

This challenge means so much to me. I reckon it's the first time I have actually been properly challenged, I've run all my life, so even my first ever marathon was something in my comfort zone, of course I never realised that at the time, but now I know it!

This time tomorrow it will be all over, and I shall sigh the biggest sigh of my life, and have a little nap!

I'm looking forward to getting back out onto the coastpath and running epic loads of miles and getting back on my mountain bike and riding just for fun!

You never know, I may even go for a little swim this week for pure pleasure!

You know I'm gonna blog it, so keep watching, and be warned, it may involve extreme details about vomit! haha ;)

See you soon

:)

absolutely scared shitless!!

Hiya! *waves*

Been a while, well, I've been busy, back to classes, back to reality!

I have also been very busy and lots to be excited about with Fighting Fit Devon. I shall post more about this another time, today's little posting is about my triathlon training.

You see, I've posted my swimming fears, but they are nothing now really, I'm learning to deal with them. I am, however thinking that the whole thing is a bloody stupid idea.

Ben, who originally challenged me, as he was going to do it too has pulled out due to reasons of being busy :( I am being busy but hey, let's say no more!

I have always said that exercise is free, and to an extent it is, but there will always be need for some kind of kit/clothing etc.. this all costs extreme amounts of money that I do not have.

Although I think sometimes people can be dependant on 'good, expensive' gear and if stripped down to basics like I am, I'm not sure how well they would do. That whole phrase about a bad workman always blames his tools is correct to an extent, but today, out riding my £50 mountain bike with borrowed road tyres my legs beat the bike. They were whizzing round like a cartoon characters, at some point I thought the pedals and wheels would come off and I'd be left with just the handlebars!

So here are the facts for kit for Triathlon

Sea Swim

Need - Tri wetsuit
Have - Bodyboarding winter wetsuit, bulky full suit no good for swimming

Cycle

Need - Road Bike, good road bike, tri-suit, cycle shoe thingys
Have - £50 mountain bike with borrowed road tyres and not enough gears, ebay tri-suit (although was gonna go for running leggins and an epic winged sanitary towel for seat comfort!)trainers that I will be running in

Run

Need - Decent trainers, trisuit
Have - Decent trainers, average tri-suit, good legs! Oh, and a good left hook!

Today I went out training, 24k on the bike, I could have gone faster had I a better bike, I got frustrated! I also saw a bike group out and I had to hide my head in shame as what I ride is now nothing but an embarrassment!
I did, however do the same loop as them in reverse and was about level with them in distance which pleased me a lot.

I also did a cheeky 5k run after, my legs were like lead! Until, I saw a girl, quite tall and leggy running down Longmarsh, she turned ahead of the very end and passed me. I went right to the end and decided to take her on! My legs suddenly worked! Off I went, flew past her and back on route. Got my best 5k time for quite a while, not bad from straight off the bike.

No swimming today but I did go on Wednesday and got some great tips from a new friend, Briony an epic swimmer and triathlete. How much it will help me in 2 weeks time I guess is up to me.

I can say this though, hand on heart, that this is the most scary thing I have entertained in my whole life, thinking of getting into that sea scares me like nothing else!

2 weeks to go!

If you are reading this and feeling sorry for me, or nervous, or anything please know that I am doing this for charity, The Veterans Charity and you can donate to this cause by texting FUNK50£3 to 70070
This is the main reason I am doing this. A week after The Forces March 2012 I went back to Maiden Bradley and met up with Rob and Danny at Summerfest. Along with the drinking and Danny taking the piss out of me, oh, and the Barn Dancing, we had a chat about why I wasn't raising money anymore. I thought it is because I am always doing running challenges, everyone knows I run, so maybe that's why they do not donate anymore.
We thought of a challenge that was actually a challenge, I couldn't swim, so when Ben came up with the tri I thought, yep, that's it!

So, maybe another update, have my lovely Mum visiting next weekend and also have the ladies Dornafield 10k! Thought I'd get into race mode!

See you all soon!
FUNK50£3 to 70070
www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/funkanova

Rob's epic!

Hiya peeps!

Only me, I know, it's been ages but to be fair, nothing has really happened that's exciting to tell you about!

However, the moment I have been waiting months for finally arrived - Rob Starbuck runs the Forces March route solo, 132 miles continuous! Mad mad man! I can, however understand it.

I volunteered as support driver for Rob back in May at The Forces March, we make such a good team, I understand Rob's stubbornness and occasionally he listens to me!

Janine and Graham from the March also helped out as Janine was worried about me driving so many hours on my own, and to be fair I am very glad of that decision!

Rob arrived Tuesday afternoon in Devon, I abandoned him to go and teach and left him to it.

We chilled out that evening, carbed up, danced and listened to some great music and finally got some sleep.

I abandoned him again to go and take out 2 clients before we set off.

Packed up, van dog-ready and all set to drive to Ilfracombe.

I am honest, you all know that so I am not going to deny the fact that I drove accidentally to Western Super Mare or however you spell it! We were chatting and listening to some Funky music and I thought it was further up. Finally we managed to turn around at a sign for Bristol!
There was some epic cloud there though, which we wouldn't have seen if I hadn't have gone wrong!
Oh how we laughed!!! ;)

We got to Ilfracombe, parked up and went for a seaside stroll with the dogs!

Rob took the puppy, how much attention did he get?! haha

We walked up a massive hill and took in the view, had an epic hot chocolate drink and then fish and chips!

Killed some time, odd stuff going on in the car park by the swimming pool, think it's a local dogging spot! Prepared the van signage, Rob got changed and then midnight! We were off!

Those of you who know my driving will know my 2 speeds, fast and stop! So driving at a steady 5mph was extra hard work for me. It was raining, dark and cold, but my only concern was to make sure my funky team mate was safe and all was good for him to do this challenge.
I think having a support driver who has actually done a night time ultra, who knows what you go through, physically and emotionally helps!

The first marathon seemed to go on forever, but actually Rob did a super speedy 5 hours! We got to Simonsbath and the landscape becomes so boring, there is no variation, those last 5 miles are tedious, really brain taxing!
We hit Exford, I had a wee behind the van and off we went again, soon to be met by Graham who took over from me.

I shot off to Crowcombe to the Steam Railway and waited!

The Station staff turned up at about 8.30-9am, I got a cuppa straight away, offers of cake and the most friendly welcome you could ever wish for. I love that place, not only because of the steam trains, but because of how genuinely lovely they all are.
They let me be Station staff for a bit and I got to see 3 Steam trains come in!

Finally Rob and Graham arrived, I ran a little of the way down the road with my team buddy and friend, and we prepared for the next section, the hardest in my opinion, starting with Crowcombe hill!

The weather had turned slightly, no more rain, but it was starting to get hot, which also caused me concern, but we had enough water on board so all was well.

I remember running this section, it's not great, it appears to just go on forever.
We finally made it to Bridgwater, made a plan to meet up at a particular road, and I waited, and waited, and panicked, and called Graham and Janine and got myself into a right state!
After doing 3 circuits of Bridgwater following where I had left him, running up and down several roads in my flip flops I decided to continue on to where he should be going, and low and behold, there he was trotting along as though nothing had happened!
He got a massive hug, I sighed with relief, we waved at Graham as he passed the other way on a search mission and off we went on what I think is the most dangerous stretch of road I have ever come across! I feared for Rob's life I'll be honest.

I went far ahead, flashed my lights like a nutter and stuck my arm out the window, waving up and down to slow them down, massive insight into drivers!
The men I waved down to slow thanked me for warning them of whatever it was and slowed down, the idiotic women, approx age 20-40 most of them on the phone, ignored my flashing and waving, gave me an evil and speeded up! No wonder women drivers get a bad name, I actually couldn't believe it!
Since this Rob and I have discussed missing this section of next years Forces March, I nearly got hit by a car there this year, I think a re-route is in order before there is a fatality!

We finally got to Somerton and had hugs with Janine and Graham, then I left Ron in their capable hands and I shot off to Maiden Bradley (via McDonalds) where I found the pub shut and the village shut up for the night!
I walked the dogs around the field where we camped (and I streaked) and sat in the van waiting!

I must have dozed for a while, soon to be woken by a frantic Duck who had lost Rob and Graham. Easily done, I lost Rob that same day, but Rob had Graham with him.

I decided to go and look for them as I couldn't sleep so us chicks set off back along the original route into the darkness.
We must have missed them at some point and eventually met up with them back at Maiden Bradley where there was a little re-fuelling, napping and preparing for the last section!

I think I was over-tired, slightly insane and wired all at the same time by this point, but off we went along the last of the Wiltshire roads.
Rob had a mission at Larkhill to sit on the bench he sat on last time, where they first noticed his damaged calf muscle. Rob is stubborn, I like that, I understand that, but not to the detriment of your body!
Anyway, sleepy Rob, sleepy drivers got to Larkhill, re-fuelled again and Rob set off for the very last section!

Funny though, it seemed shorter than when I ran it in May, and soon we were cheering Rob in at Bulford.

I don't think I can express in words just how proud of Rob I am, he is one of the best friends I have ever had, is always there for me, understands me and I know we are going to be friends forever!
Experiences like this make the best friendships, Janine and Graham, honest, brilliant, kind, and you know they will always be there for you.

I thank Danny and Veterans Charity for giving me The Forces March experience and with it, some of the best friends in the world!

I'm still tired now, I'll catch up though, ready for the next Team Adventure - The Dawlish Triathlon!