In just 30 days time I will be at the starting line for my first ever proper adventure race. I have to say that I am really looking forward to taking this challenge on and it certainly raises the bar that little bit higher as to date my most difficult physical challenges have been finishing 2 marathons in the past couple of years. Don't get me wrong, a marathon is a very difficult challenge, but something tells me that Gael Force North in Donegal on 29th June will supersede all my previous challenges.
The race itself is set in the most fantastic setting in rural Ireland. BunBeag nestled in the top left hand corner of the country in the beautiful county of Donegal is home to the event, which can be seen here www.gaelforceevents.com The challenge comprises a 40km cycle, a 25km run and a 2km kayak. I bought my first ever bike in January and to my surprise I have been enjoying getting out on it with all my gear on and its definitely not as sore on the body as running. I have been running now for nearly three years and although it never gets easier, I have come to enjoy it more as the health benefits of it are fantastic. I kayaked about 20 years ago and due to the fact its only 2km I am not too worried about that section of the course as my gym work and weights training should see me through this absolutely fine.
This August I will be 7 years into my Multiple Sclerosis journey - the time is moving fast alright but I can tell you had you have said to me on that beach in Mauritius when I was struck down by a mystery illness that I would be doing all this stuff 7 years later - well, I would have thought you were crazy!!! My MS journey is certainly inspiring me to keep fighting, keep doing what others say you cant, keep raising the bar and hopefully keep giving others some hope that you can actually fight back against the MS and lead a fantastic and challenging life. GaelForce North will be another fantastic day for me and I hope to complete the course in decent time and in one piece. If I do this I will be one happy man. Bring it on!!!
#AttitudeIsEverything
Friday 31 May 2013
Saturday 4 May 2013
Raising the Bar 2013 - MS Awareness Week
Today I cycled my longest distance ever, all of 35.5 miles. It was enjoyable for most of the way apart from the hills which are pretty tough going at times (gradient pending). Santa brought me a bike for Christmas this year as part of my goals for 2013 was to compete in a Triathlon. Over the past few months I have been trying to get out on it once a week and its definitely a very enjoyable experience and breaks up my training from the running and gym work.
The first third of 2013 is over already and we are into month five - where has the time went? I am doing my first event of 2013 in 2 weeks time, kicking things off with the half marathon in Newry. I am looking forward to it and hopefully I can get round injury free.
In 9 weeks time I take on one of my biggest physical challenges to date in the shape of GaelForce North in Donegal. This is a 67km adventure race comprising 40km cycle, 25km run and 2km kayak. Over the past few weeks I have been increasing my training program to be ready, so I am really looking forward to the challenge which is going to be tough!
Just before GaelForce I am squeezing in another half marathon, this time in Larne, which is a reschedule due to the bad weather in February. I have ran Larne a couple of times now and its definitely one of the more challenging half marathons in the country, so I will need my A game to get round.
So I have plenty on in the next number of weeks and to cap things all off, in 4th August 2013 I will be competing in my first Triathlon. This is going to be a hugely exciting experience for me and is taking place in Belfast. I will be competing in the Sprint race which is a 750metre swim, 19.5km bike and a 5 km run. I am not looking forward to the swim as I am a weak enough swimmer and haven't swam more than 650metres in a swimming pool to date. I would need to up my game here as the swim is in the river Lagan and for me its a pretty daunting experience. One of my biggest fears is swimming into a old washing machine or some other unknown object living in that part of the river:)
The other thing that you probably know at this stage is that I have a neurological condition called Multiple Sclerosis. Yeah that's right MS !!!
"The greatest thing in life is doing the things that people say you cannot do"
I sort of live my life around this motto, and I think if most people did, they would live a much more enjoyable life. You see people with MS are not supposed to be running marathons, half marathons or doing Triathlons - because your just not right??? ................ whatever - I was very bad with MS for 3 years but over the last 4 years I have been working like a tiger to beat this bloody thing and make sure my body is getting stronger every single day. That's what I do and if it means getting up at 5.30am every morning to go out and train to keep my body strong and fit then that's what I will do.
World MS Day is coming up next Saturday 11th May, and I have been asked to be keynote speaker for MS Ireland in Dublin and its going to be a huge honour for me to speak and share my journey with fellow MS Champions. I am really looking forward to the day and my message will be one of hope and empowerment which I hope goes down well with the group.
Life is great at the minute and come the end of the Summer of 2013 I will have well and truly raised the bar in terms of what I achieve and I hope that even one other person takes a little bit of hope from my journey and believe that they too can start the fight back against the MS and take back their life.
#Attitude Is Everything
The first third of 2013 is over already and we are into month five - where has the time went? I am doing my first event of 2013 in 2 weeks time, kicking things off with the half marathon in Newry. I am looking forward to it and hopefully I can get round injury free.
In 9 weeks time I take on one of my biggest physical challenges to date in the shape of GaelForce North in Donegal. This is a 67km adventure race comprising 40km cycle, 25km run and 2km kayak. Over the past few weeks I have been increasing my training program to be ready, so I am really looking forward to the challenge which is going to be tough!
Just before GaelForce I am squeezing in another half marathon, this time in Larne, which is a reschedule due to the bad weather in February. I have ran Larne a couple of times now and its definitely one of the more challenging half marathons in the country, so I will need my A game to get round.
So I have plenty on in the next number of weeks and to cap things all off, in 4th August 2013 I will be competing in my first Triathlon. This is going to be a hugely exciting experience for me and is taking place in Belfast. I will be competing in the Sprint race which is a 750metre swim, 19.5km bike and a 5 km run. I am not looking forward to the swim as I am a weak enough swimmer and haven't swam more than 650metres in a swimming pool to date. I would need to up my game here as the swim is in the river Lagan and for me its a pretty daunting experience. One of my biggest fears is swimming into a old washing machine or some other unknown object living in that part of the river:)
The other thing that you probably know at this stage is that I have a neurological condition called Multiple Sclerosis. Yeah that's right MS !!!
"The greatest thing in life is doing the things that people say you cannot do"
I sort of live my life around this motto, and I think if most people did, they would live a much more enjoyable life. You see people with MS are not supposed to be running marathons, half marathons or doing Triathlons - because your just not right??? ................ whatever - I was very bad with MS for 3 years but over the last 4 years I have been working like a tiger to beat this bloody thing and make sure my body is getting stronger every single day. That's what I do and if it means getting up at 5.30am every morning to go out and train to keep my body strong and fit then that's what I will do.
World MS Day is coming up next Saturday 11th May, and I have been asked to be keynote speaker for MS Ireland in Dublin and its going to be a huge honour for me to speak and share my journey with fellow MS Champions. I am really looking forward to the day and my message will be one of hope and empowerment which I hope goes down well with the group.
Life is great at the minute and come the end of the Summer of 2013 I will have well and truly raised the bar in terms of what I achieve and I hope that even one other person takes a little bit of hope from my journey and believe that they too can start the fight back against the MS and take back their life.
#Attitude Is Everything
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