March 2015

March: Running, Stein's, bucket shaking and cycling

Well this month certainly started with a bang! I completed my first challenge, running Bath Half Marathon in just over 2 hours. See my previous blog post for more information (see link on right).

Then a week later I held my first major fundraising event of the year at Rick Stein Porthleven and raised a massive £2,200. Again, see my previous blog post for more information (see link on right).

I had approached the West Briton newspaper about the event and they ran a story about it the following week. Fantastic!

On Saturday 14 March I did my first bike ride out with my mate Gary who is an experienced road biker. 

We cycled 10 miles to Marazion where we stopped to admire the view while sipping hot chocolate, before heading back through the villages. I rather like this cycling malarkey!

Sunday 15 March was the deadline for the balance of my Hadrian's Wall trek, so now I'm all paid up and looking forward to the challenge. We've actually recruited another trekker for our trip, my friend Jackie from Norwich. I used to work with Jackie many moons ago and after reading my 'Porthleven to Peru!' blog from last year (link on the right of this page), she decided that she'd also like to get out and do a challenge. It'll be great to spend a big chunk of time with her and Anne-Marie.

On Monday 16 March I put my thermals on again and stood in the foyer of Morrisons in Penzance. I met some lovely people including a lady called Sue (pictured) who thought I looked cold so she bought me a hot chocolate! What a lovely kind lady she is. I collected a total of £147.14.

Matt, Me, Holly, Pete & Oliver

On Saturday 21 March I loaded my bike onto the back of the car and headed to Fraddon where I met up with 4 of the London to Paris gang. We cycled a leisurely 15 miles and had a good natter. It was great to see Holly again. I think she is the only other person from our Peru trip doing the CAAT cycling challenge. Hopefully we'll be able to do another practice ride together soon.

The next day I got to meet some of the China gang for an 11 mile walk on Bodmin Moor.

The gang for the day, including 6 four-leggeds!

 The weather couldn't have been better. 

View from the top of Brown Willy Tor

Post-lunch photo call at the top with Sarah (my trip roomie!) 

Sarah's dog, Lucy, just couldn't resist the mud!

We finished the day with a carvery at The Old Inn at St Breward.

It was great to see Sarah and Di from my Peru trip again and to get out in my walking boots. My boots feel like two old friends! It was a good opportunity to start to get to know some of my new trekking buddies. There is a real range of ages and backgrounds which should create a good mix for the trip. It was a glorious day so there was a bit of sun- and wind-burn!

On 25 March I met another of my cycling gang, Anthony. He lives just round the corner from me so we went on a local ride. We just did 11 miles because it was dark, raining, windy and cold. I guess it's character building!

Not strictly challenge training but I'll include it anyway, on 28 March I went off to Dartmoor with my stepdaughter, Toni, for a day's bombing around Dartmoor on horse-back. My trusty steed was a huge 17.2hh thoroughbred cross appaloosa called Henry. He was fab! With us was a Horse Whisperer type chap called Dan (www.equinegentling.com) who was our guide, and two ladies, Claire from Dubai and Linda who lives locally. Both had been to these stables many times before because of the quality horses and riding. We rode for 17 miles around the moors, stopping only for a pub lunch. It was great!

Miles trekked in March: 11 miles

Miles run in March: 32 miles

Miles cycled in March: 88 miles

Current fundraising total: £3,173 (69% of my total)