Macc's fish swallowing champion

What an interesting week. I squeezed in a couple of rides on Monday and Tuesday last week and then went to Sweden on a business trip so training was out of the question for a couple of days. I managed to become the company rally champion on my trip at a special evening function in Karlstad! As it was only the remote control car and playstation version I guess it's not quite Colin McRae's standard.

On my return home I had to spend Friday night in Copenhagen. I met up with the Macclesfield Rugby club Vets team who were out there playing a tournament in Malmo. I met them for a bite to eat and a quiet beer as you can see from the picture! This is one of them in his Danish beard and hat choking on a fish. You can just see the tail sticking from his mouth! We then made some new friends - a group of Danish doctors and nurses who were out in town for the night and who liked a drink to say the least. I was desperately trying to stay sober so I didn't miss my flight and they were keen to see if they could get me drunk. A big hello to Erling from Copenhagen! I hope your hangovers weren't too bad.

I have to say that they were extremely friendly and really looked after me so a big thanks to them for making a potentially dull night in a hotel into a fun filled night on the town!

I didn't manage to train on Saturday but made up for the lack of effort in the week with a 58 miler on Sunday with Chester Road Club. Thoroughly enjoyable but by Sunday night I was shattered!

I doubt this week will be quite as exciting. Planning to do a time trial on Thursday night. Not really the right prep for long rides but I fancy testing myself throughout the year to see how much improvement I can make.

Thanks Sale FC

First chance to update the blog for a while. Work has been very busy. This week is much the same with a trip to Sweden for a few days. It's tough trying to squeeze in the training hours.

Well after a bit of a stutter on the fundraising side Sale Rugby (the amateur boys) have made a fantastic donation to my efforts. Here's their site http://www.salefc.com A big thanks for such a generous donation. They also have some amazing facilities down there and it's always a pleasure going there. I'm hoping a few other clubs will come up with the goods too once I get letters out to them.

Thanks also to DonnaC for making a donation.

On another note, I made contact with Chester Road club and plan to become a member and join them for rides on a Sunday morning. 50 miles on a Sunday will mean definitely no drinking at the weekend from now on. Oh well, I don't suppose it will do me any harm!

I will try and get some new pics up soon.

The ups and downs.......

Well last week wasn't so good for training. On Thursday I managed to do the 50k route again in a much quicker time but we went away to Cornwall for a few days so training was severely interrupted. Great trip though. Heligan and Eden were fab days out. Just missed all the Easter holiday hordes too. We stayed in Mevagissey which is a lovely little place. Today I managed to sneak in a 46k hilly route. Wow was it hilly. The first section climbed from Taunton (Somerset) up a place called Blagdon Hill. It was low gear stuff for about 25 minutes at the start and was a sequence of climbs and descents into Devon. Great, but there were a few leg pounding moments. I'll post the route when I get a chance to.
Sponsorship is getting tough. I have a very very big offer but can't put details here yet. That will take me most of the way to my minimum. I need to get more active on the sponsorship side. Sale Sharks have promised to put something in their prog for the next game. Fingers crossed.

I have also a new piccie for advertising. I am dressed in my lycra leggings. I have a bright yellow top on. I look like a big fat yellow chicken with those drumstick legs! Nice

50 k route nailed!

Friday night was a fairly heavy night at the Rugby Club sportsman's dinner. The speaker was Graham Rowntree and he was excellent and we all had a good night. Managed to get £30 out people at the bar, not too shabby. The boozing meant no training on Saturday so my weekend ride was this morning. 50km through the Cheshire countryside. Very nice it was too and I didn't feel I was struggling anywhere. However now I have been home for a few hours I am totally spent. My legs are tired as hell and I am shattered. Early night for me I think! The route is attached.

Time on bike so far

1150 mins

First long(ish) ride

So, Saturday morning I crawled out of my pit at 630am and was out on the bike by 710am! It was seriously windy, so windy in fact that one long downhill section nr Willington became a virtual climb as I battled into the headwind. Still considering I didn't know the route and had to keep checking my map I managed the 24 miles in 1hr40. I felt I was taking it pretty easy so I'll see how much I can get that down by. I eenjoyed it more than I expected and going out at that time meant the day was left free for other things and more importantly there was no traffic around!
I managed to get a load of flyers out at the Rugby Club but with no result so far in terms of extra sponsorship. They were too busy griping about England's poor showing (apart, of course, from our Welsh contingent).
Had to dig the allotment today, Amanda has wrecked her back. Garlic planted, spud bed prepared. How old do I sound now? It's all to do with reducing our carbon footprint and becoming a bit greener and nothing to do with becoming old before our time, honest!

Generous bunch

Thanks to all you generous people who are donating. I didn't realise I knew so many generous people!

Spread the word and get your friends to sponsor too!

Thanks again everyone, I am blown away by the response so far. www.justgiving.com/eggchaser

This weeks training....

Ok so a "retox" weekend celebrating Peter's 40th in the Lake District doesn't sound much like a good training week but in fact I am still ahead of my training schedule. Not by much but still ahead. Thanks Stan and Michelle for a top weekend. Mal's barrel of "Deva Station" did the majority of the damage to those struggling to stay upright. A marvellous brew! (Spitting Feathers)

This weekend I need to get in another 2 hr ride though as well as watch the rugby, dig the allotment and fly some birds of prey! Should be fun.

The swing crank was returned in double quick time and they have done a superb job again at Highpath. New bike is set up how I want it now and so there are no excuses to get the miles done.

Planning to get some diving in as the weather improves too. Recently picked up a dry suit and tank to complete my kit so those need testing!