2008 event confirmed - AT LAST!

After much negotiation and deliberating, I've finally managed to put together a team to tackle what I think is a very difficult and challenging event.  

The original plan was to run 84 miles in 3 days over the Hadrian's Wall path.  The logistics of organising this run / cycle ride have proved very difficult and I don't think we yet have the experience in the team to tackle such an event over 3 days.  That's not to say it won't be done in the future!

This year, June 29th will see a mixed team run and cycle the PENNINE CHALLENGE route undertaken by 15 Northern Rock staff last year.  All funds raised will be in aid of The Children's Foundation.

This gruelling 22 mile run claimed the running career's of 2 participants last year.  It can't be overstated, just how difficult this course is!   It has been carefully selected for difficulty and should, once again, prove quite a test. It's certainly worthy of sponsorship!

Starting at Castleside in County Durham, the first 10 miles are on the C2C route, ending with a difficult 17% downhill drop into Stanhope. This alone should be enough to sap the energy of any decent runner. However, the nightmare is just about to start! Once the ford in Stanhope has been navigated (let's hope the tide is out!), it's a sheer 17% climb for 1 mile. This will leave the runner gasping for air and heart rates in even the fittest runner's anaerobic zone. The gradient lessens slightly (not by much!) for the next 2 miles and eventually a nice 1 mile downhill stretch is reached.

Once into the valley, the morale of the runner should be pushed to the limits as a 3 mile climb up to 1650 ft will now be clearly visible. 

This climb, at any time is difficult, however it should prove quite a test considering it runs from mile 13 - 16 on the route. Imagine doing a hilly Great North Run, then having to run 3 miles up hill to 1650 ft. I'm sure you get the idea!

Once the summit has been reached the runner will think it's Christmas when they see that the next 2.5 miles are all downhill. The valley at the end of this descent is the start of the final climb on the run. Compared to the other climbs, it's fairly easy. It's just as well as this will take the runner to an impressive mile 21 on the route and the upper outskirts of Middleton in Teesdale. The final glorious mile down into Middleton in Teesdale should be straightforward. Hopefully, the runners will have enough energy left for a decent finish and will not look too ill in front of the tourists.

So, there are 2 things you should know about the Pennine Challenge. 1 - It's in the Pennines and 2 - it almost certainly is a challenge!

Rab hoping to join 2011 support team.

Despite the USA 2011 run being 3 years away, Rab C (aka Owen McMahon) is looking into the logistics of being part of the support team again. 

Flight prices, school holidays, the best states for cider and "shopping" are just some of the factors he is taking into account in the hope that he can once again be part of the motley crew that is my support team.

Regular readers will remember this photo of Rab from last year's big run.  It was taken on the outskirts of Bristol while he was looking for a 21st wedding anniversary present for his missus, while waiting for me to finish a leg of the run.   Some boy!  

Seriously though, it'll be great to add another experienced head to the support team, alongside Burnley Keith.  Watch this space for further developments.

The gloves are on!

In order to keep things interesting I'm always on the lookout to vary my training.  I've tried spinning classes recently with great success and enjoyment.  Today I tried Boxercise!  

Two of the lads at work, Paul (aka Bowmonkey) and Simon roped me into the lunch time session.  An enjoyable 45 minute workout was had by all.  Although I have to say that it was very strenous indeed.  I used muscles that were last used fighting the bullies in the school playground way back in the 1980s! Ok then the 1970's!!   I could hardly move my upper body this afternoon.  Typing this blog is a bit of an effort!  

We didn't rest after Boxing as, afterwards, Simon was seen doing a few chin ups.  Bowmonkey and myself did a few weights.  All we needed was Rocky's trainer Mickey shouting "Yer a dirty good for nuthin bum!" and we would have re-created Rocky's 1 - 3!!!!  Don't expect any shots at the title this century though!

Burnley Keith rides again!

The 3100 mile run across the USA is a long way off but that hasn't stopped Burnley Keith (pictured) from pledging 2 weeks of support.  That leaves about 96 days of support to fill!  

Unlike the John O'Groats to Lands End run, the next event will require mobile accommodation.  It would be really difficult and very expensive to try and book hotels etc in the USA for such a considerable distance.   I'm going to have to acquire a motor home of some description.  On the cheap of course!  

Out with the old!

It's time to gear up for the next big challenge and the new banner and text around the blog will hopefully start things off on the right foot.  

Watch this space for further modifications and more regular updates.

Training going very much to plan!

Well it's been almost 2 months after the Christmas break and I can safely say that my training in 2008 is going to plan.  It's all about time on my feet at the moment in an attempt to get as many miles in as family/work life allows.

I was quite pleased with a 7 minute 50 second mile last week.  This happened on the last mile of my favourite Town Moor run.  

As per usual the staff at Northern Rock have been full of encouragement and support.  There is hardly a mile where I'm found running on my own.  Even when I'm lagging behind the lads tend to slow down for me or double back.  This can't be doing their training any good!  Thanks then go to Carl Hudson, John Brettell, Jonathan Jobe, Pete Maddison and Carlton Fletcher.  I'll get quicker lads I promise!  

Also worth a mention is the one and only Jimmy Bell (pictured at last year's Great North Run as a spectator).  This lad has put up one hell of a fight against cancer and made his competitive comeback last week in a cross country race.  Jimmy continues to be an inspiration to everybody, myself included.  He is so modest and neglected to mention this week that his comeback made it into the Evening Chronicle.  Welcome back Jim!

Rab C to be Keegan's 1st signing?

Support driver Rab C (aka Owen McMahon) recently spent some time playing in goal at Kevin Keegan's Soccer Circus.  That's him at the back of the picture with the Santa suit and great big comedy goalkeeper gloves.   

In between bottles of Whiskey, Rab told me this evening that he was waiting for King Kev's call and hoped to be on the playing staff very soon!

Back in training!

Happy New Year everybody!  After 4 weeks off, this week saw me starting my 2008 programme of training.  If it goes anything like last year I'll be very happy.  January and February will be used to get up to speed again.  Thereafter, as well as regular lunchtime runs, I'll be throwing myself at the mercy of the Pennines and when it is light enough, I'll run home a few times a week from work.  It's very much a case of doing more of the same but doing it quicker and try to make things a bit tougher for myself.  

Off the track, I'm continuing to plan for USA 2011.  The logistics are mind boggling!  Hopefully, things will start to fall into place in the next 2 years. 

Back to this year though!  I've managed to recruit 20 Roman Soldiers for a run/cycle/horse ride across the Hadrian's Wall Path.  Watch this space for further updates!  Hopefully, Jack (pictured) will be able to join us at some point on the route.  He got his first bike for Christmas and has spent some time over the last few weekends cycling on the Derwent Walk Path.  It's a good start!

The final total for 2007.

I'm very pleased and proud to report that all funds have been collected and handed over to St Benedict's Hospice. The final total for the run from John O'Groats to Lands End is:

Add on top of this the amounts from Northern Rock staff for the Cairngorm Challenge (13/07/2007) and the Pennine Challenge (22/07/2007) and the total handed over to St Benedict's Hospice this year is £34,108.

There are so many people to thank, but I'd like to single out the following for special praise:

Katy and Jack Allison, Niall and Biffa at nufc.com, The Northern Rock Foundation,

Anne Oliver, Steven "The mackem challenger" Moore,

"Burnley" Keith Riley aka "Jeeves", Owen "Rab C" McMahon,

John Brettell, Jimmy Bell, Ian "The Coach" Glasgow, Mike Lewis,

Aunty Joyce*, Aunty Ada*, Aunty Carol* and their family, Harry and Val Lewis

The Pennine Challenge Team, Newcastle United Football Club, The BBC Tyne website

....finally thanks to all of my sponsors, old and new. It's you lot that keep me motivated and it's your money that goes to such a worthwhile cause.

*not my real aunties, but the best there is!

I'm not one to rest on my laurels so next year promises to be a very busy year! I'm planning on finishing the book during the first half of next year and a very very exciting and unique event is in the planning stages for June 2007. Watch this space! All funds raised next year will go to The Children's Foundation. I've also started to assess the feasibility of running across the USA in 2011. My geography of that huge country is getting better every week as a result!

Finally, I'll draw the blog to a close for this most amazing year by wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. And speaking of Christmas, I do hope that Father Christmas brings me a new pair of trainers!

Pride at stake!

During the big run this Summer I raced 26.2 miles against a mackem challenger (Steven Moore) through the Cairngorms. I gave my all that day to ensure the right result and as I've mentioned many times before I ran out the winner leaving the poor mackem with his first derby day defeat of the season. Steven will be at the match, in the West stand. Steven - if you're reading this, I'll make sure to "wave" in your direction.

Let's hope that the lads follow this up tomorrow at the dark place and bring back 3 points to Tyneside! It should be the usual tense occasion. In particular, I'll be watching out for flying bricks coming in the direction of the buses. One put out a pane of glass in the bus I was in, the season that Nikos Dabizas scored the winner (Feb 2002). It's just good banter!

I was asked by the BBC to write a short piece on the derby day occasion. You can read my thoughts by clicking here. I'll be writing a follow up piece next week so watch out for that!