TRAINING DIARY

Wednesday, 21 April 2010

So I needed something else to do to raise money for Action for Children, I sat late at night racking my brains on a challenge that would not cost me the earth as I was out of work. Then it came to me, I'll use a bike, Hookway to Hookway!!! BRING IT ON!

Hookway is a little village (well its more of a street) in Devon, I set up the laptop and started to plan a route. May I add that I am still planning the route!!! I want to do around 60 miles a day and keep off of main A roads, this is becoming very hard but I will crack it soon. I have spent days using google maps and road atlases, I even have an 8ft map stuck to the wall in my dads spare room. (the wife never took too kindly to it going in our bedroom.) With the planning and training this is starting to take over all of my spare time. It has at times become a little daunting but with the support of my friends, family and you lot, I know I'll get there.

I have borrowed a bike off of a friend of a friend (a guy who looks the spitting image of Dara O'Brian, all be it a taller version). The bike has been nicknamed "The BEAST!!!" Its a Raleigh Phoenix, no carbon frame or wheels here, it does have straps on the peddles that are supposed to make me go faster but all they have done so far is make me swerve into on coming traffic while trying to put my feet into them. The BEAST had a buckled back wheel, the gears were loose and the brake cables were pulled but after some TLC she was pounding the roads!



Training started on the 13th of April, with a round trip from Moorends, through Rawcliffe Bridge and back through Thorne. A steady 15 miles that left me walking like John Wayne for a couple of days. I now have built it up 30 miles and my backside is toughening up. I refuse to add photos of my in ill fitting shorts and a hat as I am not built for Lycra or helmets, at all!!! I have chicken legs that are hairy enough to insulate an Eskimos sleeping bag and ears like taxi doors.

Sunday, 2 May 2010

Cars, Crashes, Hospitals and a Puncture

Well Training WAS going great, my time on the bike had increased, my pace was getting better, I had my first puncture, first grazed knee due to getting my foot stuck in the peddle strap things, started a body conditioning class and I was feeling great.

I had my first ride out with a member of Doncaster Wheelers Cycle Club, (big thanks to Neil Taylor) I know I slowed his training down but he never made me feel inferior once (well apart from the fact that he can pull off Lycra with his tree trunk legs, while I looked like a sparrow crossed with a bow legged donkey.) He passed on some great advice, like don't wear under crackers and get a new bike. Joking aside, he passed on some great training info and I look forward to another ride soon.

I say soon, but as those of you that follow me on Twitter and Facebook may already know, I have had a little set back...

Last Thursday I was out on a 40 mile ride when at 18 miles in I met a woman who stopped me in my tracks...



errr no, afraid not! She was in a Golf. And as she pulled out on me at King Edward Rd, Thorne, unable to brake in time, I smashed into the side of her car. After a pirouette and a swan dive (artistic impression applied to save some dignity) I landed on the tarmac. The "BEAST!!!" was in a sorry state, The front wheel and folks were bent into the frame resulting in the cross bar being bent about 25 degrees. R.I.P The "BEAST"...


As for me, being made of steel... (The bike that is, not me!) it took most of the damage. Leaving me shuck up and in a bit of pain. I was in shock but felt OK, I swapped details with apologetic woman who knocked me off and was given a lift home by a passer by who just so happened to have recognised me in Lycra.

It was not until later that night when the adrenaline ran out that I felt the full effect of the accident on my body. OUCH!!!


23:00 I did the thing that all grown men do when in trouble.... Yep, I phoned my dad!!!

23:00 we arrived at A&E, my back, hip, neck, arm, thumb, knee, chest were in bits.

02:00 After a small wait on the comfiest seats around courtesy of Doncaster Royal Infirmary I was called to triage.


After being placed in a neck brace then strapped to a benched with a view from hell, I was wheeled around DRI being x-rayed, poked and prodded before final having to bend over and take a painkiller injection in the backside!!!

04:10 I was allowed home, muscle damage, badly bruised and still in pain but I was pleased that I had been given the all clear for broken bones and I was ready for my pit. Arriving home I was greeted by the dog who just huffed at me for turning on the light but at least I got some acknowledgement from the wife as she rolled over to ask "you OK" and "what time is it?" Then rolled over muttering "uggg, Ive work in a couple of hrs".

Joking aside, Id like to thank everyone who has ran around after me since. Thanks for all the get well messages and offers of support, I am feeling better every day. You'll all be pleased to know that this has only put be back, and not stopped me. So you will all still get the chance to see my hairy chicken legs in Lycra soon (a must have picture to scare anyone into working out).

I now sit in doors on this May bank holiday, unable to train and even unable to drink!!! I sit here hoping I can finish the course of tablets before next weekend when I turn 30. Well it would be rude not to have a drink on such a milestone birthday... ;o)

A big THANK YOU to @KellyeyAppleby (via Twitter) for your generous donation through our justgiving site. www.justgiving.com/Martin-Hookway


So that's enough waffle from me, I'm going to wrap this up and watch some pointless bank holiday TV. Just let me leave you with a few words from my new sponsor:

WWW.ADULT STABILIZERS.COM

Thank you

Martin
aka "L" plates

 

Thursday, 20 May 2010

MID LIFE CRISIS?

Well I must admit, I feel a little down today. For those of you that have not been following me from the start in 2009, TeamBOB was set up to raise money for Action for Children by driving in a rally to Barcelona in a clapped out banger, and the departure date should have been today. :o(

I don't think this would have bothered me as much if I was still able to train for this bike ride. I had planned to be out on the bike all day, BUT, one big problem being the insurance still has not paid out. Fingers crossed this will be resolved very soon as the time is ticking and before I know it, it will be August and I'll be hitting that long road with very little training. I have already had to cancel the Barca Challenge so I will not cancel this!

Well, moan aside... I'd like to wish all the lads and lasses doing the rally "All the Best". I hope you raise as much cash for your chosen charities as you wanted and ENJOY!!! Fingers crossed all your cars make it.

---

A Big Thank you to friends and family who attended my Birthday bash earlier in the month. Turning 30 was a hard slog mentally, I never thought it would bother me one bit and still don't know why it did, but it did. You guys helped with the pain, but where were you all the next morning for the clean up..?

I sat on my sofa the next day reminiscing over the past when it hit me... Turning 30, "officially" lets you have a mid life crisis! RESULT!!! Sports car? Bike licence? Working out the meaning of life? Learn to fly a hot air balloon? (OK maybe the last one is aimed at 40+ years and the meaning of life one just sounds like hard work). The world is my oyster... The it really hit me, (lol) I was already in my mid life crisis and had been for a while! 

Feeling down for no apparent reason? CHECK

Checking my bald spot with a ruler? CHECK

Buy a sports car? Skip that one,

Learning to ride a bike...  errr CHECK!!!!!!!!

Well here I am, mid life crisis and all... I am just about pain free now after the crash, I finished my pain killers in time to party in style (well if you call ending the night looking like E.T "in style") and I started my training on a low level by helping out at the local kids keep fit class at Thorne Sports Center. Fingers crossed I can get back on the road very soon. Thank you all for your support, every message and comments through this blog, text, twitter and facebook mean a lot to me. They make it all worth while so please continue to comment and don't forget you can donate to help Action for Children by sponsoring me at my justgiving site.

I'll leave you with the words that the doctor said to me that will live with me for the rest of my life:


In a foreign accent: "Tis a good job you had the Helmet on Mr Hoookerway, Day save lives. i'does not matter how silly ya look wid one on, day SAVE LIVES!!!" as he looks at my ears...

Special Thanks to Trent @ TM DESIGN for the best best get well present EVER:

Made me laugh so much it hurt.

A Big Thank you goes out to nikki barnett (via facebook) for your donation. This puts us up to the £100 mark. Only another £100 to go before I have to post the embarrassing pics of me in Lycra. 

Tuesday, 8 June 2010

Training Starts again!

I have started training again!!! The insurance sent me a shinny cheque and I went shopping on line. I had no idea on what was what, bikes have got silly since I had a Raleigh racer to do my paper round on. Carbon and alloy have replaced lead and steel, and seats have got very small... So, I got some help from a friend and before long I had chosen a new bike. I added it to the shopping basket but waited until the next morning for making the purchase to make sure the cheque had cleared.

And... Just my luck... The next day the Bike had only gone up by £100!!! OVERNIGHT!!!

Gutted as I was, I was told that the bike was still very good for the price so I did go ahead with the order. After a long bank holiday weekend I received a rather large box in the post.

It was just like Christmas. The bike was soon set up and ready for the first sesh! I went out by my self for the first run but found myself turning home after a pathetic 17 miles... No @KelleyAppleby, Kirsty Lowe, Trent Milner, Brian Scott via Twitter and Facebook and  it was not anything to do with the sadistic seat that came fitted to the bike, (although it did chafe a bit):

It was my nerves... I was a mess. My first run was going to be the small run that I used to ride prior to the accident, but the more I thought about going down the main road the more worked up I got with myself. In the end I came home early cutting out the ride through Thorne. I'd let it beat me. To cut a long story short that involves me feeling sorry for my self, Angry, fed up, mad, I ended going back out on the bike that night. Big Thanks to Neil Taylor (via facebook) for getting me back out on the road. Although we did not ride through the center of Thorne we clocked up a steady 27miles down some mixed roads and lanes. I felt great, 34 miles in one day... That's me half way to my daily mileage.

I only have 2 months left to train so fingers crossed everything goes to plan. Body Conditioning at Thorne Sports Centre is working a treat, only been a couple of times but its great. A lot of rolling around on the floor doing unconventional exercises (well they are to me) but DAM they hurt!!!! A class that does exactly what it says on the tin!!! 9am Saturday morning have never been the same since! Soooo much fun! So I have my exercise head on, just short of 2 months left to train my body to tip top condition and its time for the bloody world cup to kick off, normally the time of year where keeping fit takes a back seat and nights are filled with drinking copious amounts of alcohol #gutted. Well it looks like I have to train especially hard... 3 lions added to the training playlist, COME ONNNN ENGLAND!!!!!

Before I go, just to let all of you that have asked how you can sponsor me on line by clicking the justgiving link on the right of this post or by clicking here. Please dig deep peeps, its all for a good cause.

Thank you

Martin

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

Hookway to Hookway

17 sleeps and counting... Now the nerves are starting! I have not been able to train for 2 weeks now due to a pain in my neck when I cycle. I have visited my GP who told me this pain is normal after a crash and to cycle until it hurt but not to "over do it." His facial expression was a picture when I told him my plans and asked him if that was "over doing it!" I have an appointment with a chiropractor on Friday but this will not stop me, it may only slow me down. I have a week off of work (yes I got the Job(s)) so my 4 day ride may turn into a 7 day ride.

My trip will start on the 31st July 2010, on a Saturday. At the Hedgerow Children Centre in Moorends. Action for Children are having an open day at the Centre on that day in conjunction with my cycle, the doors will open at 10:00 am and I will be setting off at 12:00 pm. There will be a BBQ, refreshments, tombola, raffle fun and games so please bring the family and show your support.

The Hedgerow Childrens Centre

161 Marshland Rd, 

Doncaster 

DN84SB‎ - 01405 818 158‎

Cyclists Wanted

I am opening the first leg of my ride to you. As some of you are keen cyclists, I invite you to cycle the first 30 miles with me to Clumber Park. If you do not feel up to the full morning ride then feel free to just to ride the first couple of miles. The first 3 miles are along cycle paths and down quiet back lanes, it will not be until Scunthorpe rd where the roads start to get busy and I would only advise confident cyclists to continue. Up to this point I will ride at a steady pace before heading through Sandtoft, Bawtry then onto Clumber Park. Feel free to contact me (teambob@hotmail.co.uk) if you have any questions, and check out my full planned rout, including the 1st day on my THE ROUTE tab, other than that I look forward to seeing you all with your Mountain bikes, Road bikes, Shoppers, Trikes. on the 31st July.

BIG THANK YOU's again to everyone that have donated via my justgiving page, for those of yous that have not yet donated but want to then you can via THIS link, or by clicking the justgiving icon on the right of this page. For those of you that do not like transferring money over the Internet (and think that fire is sent from the devil) you can sponsor me at the Hedgerow Children's Centre in Moorends, just ask the kind receptionist and she will help you. ;o)

Hookway to Hookway looms closer

As I write this I only have 12 sleeps left until I set off. I think i have everything sorted and in place ready for the big day. The support vehicle (AKA, THE BUS) passed its M.O.T with flying colours thanks to Dave and my Dad has agreed to give up his weeks holiday from work to drive down to Hookway with me, and so has my brother (Adam from the original TEAM B.O.B rally fundraising) although he has refused to ride with me he will come in useful as my camera man and overall slave.  So its officially HOOKWAYS to Hookway now....

As you will have gathered from my twitter and facebook ramblings I went to a chiropractors earlier in the week to get a professional  opinion on the pains I was getting while training after the crash.  To my joy, after a quick examination I was faced with a list of abnormal ailments. My collarbone needed realigning, my left hip and right shoulder was out, and my neck was lets say in a bit of a mess.  After some bone cracking, death grips and body slams I was as good as.... well, lets just say I am now less likely to have the urge to climb a bell tower crying Esmeralda.

I have 2 more appointments this week and she wants to get me to see a couple of chiropractors down the country while I'm on my ride. But the good news is I can still do the ride although it may not be done in as faster time as I had initially hoped for. Training started AGAIN! on Friday night and it felt good, a little sore from the treatment but nothing too bad. Saturday I had a day off for a photo shoot for my press release, as it was too short of a notice to get a photographer in I employed the wife to take some pics. And for an ex-photographers wife she did great job:

I just have to sit back now and wait for my media relation bloke to work his magic and get my ugly mug in the papers.

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

TO WAX OT NOT TO WAX???

THAT, is the question! I have been dared by the non cyclists and bullied by the cyclists to have my woolly legs shaved for the trip (just like a "real" cyclist lol).

I have very hairy legs and am quite fond of them so don't want to just whip them off without a good reason. So to give you all a fighting chance, I will give my word that on the 31st of July (My leaving BBQ), I will have my legs publicly waxed at the centre.... IF.... My justgiving total reaches £300 prior to me setting off at 12:00pm.

As I write this the total is at £150, I will also count the cash donations on the day. So to donate you can use the justgiving site , drop into the Hedgerow Children's Centre in Moorends and donate via the sponsor form at reception or just bring your loose change and drop it in our collection buckets on the day. There is also a raffle so I guess that will have to go onto the total too...

This is no longer sounding like an impossible task... mmmm.

Friday, 30 July 2010

1 MORE SLEEP...

So tomorrow I set off on the ride to Devon, its an 11 o'clock start at the Hedgerow Centre in Moorends with me getting my legs waxed (as promised) at 11:30, I leave at 12:00 and with 3 other local riders (that have confirmed) we will set off to Clumber Park.

I have been asked all week how I am feeling about the challenge but to tell you the truth I have not had the time to sit and think about it... until now!

It's been a long week to say the least, it started with a training ride with the Doncaster Wheelers on Saturday, BIG THANKS go out to the lads for letting me tag along on their 80+ mile round trip to Pocklington.

A really enjoyable day that just clarified to me that this cycling lark ain't just a flash in the pan, I'll be continuing this for some time now. Thank you all for a great day. It was a pleasure to ride with a great set of Lads & Lady, and I never got left behind once....

The rest of the week has comprised of photo shoots, boring paperwork and finalising plans although I had time to attend the local Rotary Club and act as their guest speaker, those of you that know me and have had the miss pleasure of hearing me make a speak will know... well, I'm crap!

I went there with great intention on what my speech would contain and it even had an order, sadly all that planning may as well been on a speech on agriculture as my mind went black when I heard "Lady and Gentleman, I give you..." Yeah you get the idea.  "errrrrr", "hmmmm, hmmmm". Thankfully I was not booed off of the stage, they even went as far as, wait for it, Thanking me...

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to everyone of them for their hospitality on the night and there kind donation's. I have also been invited to attend their "Musical Picnic" which coincides with the end of my cycle challenge on Saturday the 7th August. The picnic is held annually to help raise money for local charities and causes, this will be a great honour to attend, I just hope my body will hold out for the whole trip and I can make it home in time. Again, Thank you for your hospitality, and keep up the great fundraising work. Your help goes a long way in the community.

Well its 11:30 and I need to be up bright and early to sort some last bits out, I have been eating like a pig for the last couple of weeks building up those carbs so as you can guess I'm finding it hard to sleep, late night eating mixed with a pinch or worry and a whole load of adrenalin does not make a good sleep pattern. So with that I bid you goodnight, I hope to see you all tomorrow at the sending off bash but if you are unable to attend then I'll be here every night telling you all how sore my backside is etc. etc...