I’ll just focus on this keyboard a little better before I launch you into the world of lycra and sweat. (Ok, so I’m still a little fatigued).
Firstly may I thank each of you who has been so generous in supporting my "Charity Week". It has been a great success and on behalf of The Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign I applaud you.
Whose idea was it to do both the London 10k and the London to Southend Cycle Ride in the same week? I’m not too sure what the Southend Hospital Doctors would say, having advised me to become a couch potato because of my thyroid problems, but you have to give life a little push every now and then to explore the envelope. No worries, I’m still here. Mental note: Must take in the photos and medals to frighten the nice Doctor when I see him in September). I think that is the difference between the Oncology staff at the Royal Marsden and other medical practitioners, Professor Gore at the Marsden may raise both an eyebrow and a smile before quietly endorsing a dumb idea if he sees you are determined to achieve it, with the caveat of course that if I break myself I may have to come off his drugs. Just an insignificant piece of small print then! Fitness and otherwise good health will inevitably give a better platform for him to work from, at least that is what I believe.
So let’s give you the run down (no pun intended) of what has been happening in sunny Essex and London these last few days.
Sunday 12 July 2009
Daniel, my eldest at 16, and I catch a silly O hour train to Charring Cross station to compete in the British London 10k Run. I’ve equipped Dan with a smart tag to record his time and get him photographed loads. Once again we cheated the system and find ourselves just a few from the front of the 26,000 runners. This time Dan is just to go and achieve his best, which he does admirably. Myself? I started well, too well. I find myself running down Piccadilly from the start at Hyde Park Corner being a sociable fraud. Let me explain. Everyone sets off like scalded cats for the first mile or so and I’m no exception. With a fake spring in my stride, stomach sucked in and shoulders back I did my very best to look like this was a Sunday morning stroll. On my right is the queue of 25,000 others patiently waiting for the start line. I don’t know who started it but a hand went up to “high five” me and I thought “cool” why not? Then another, and another until there were a sea of palms reaching out. It was as close to being famous as I have ever been (sad oh). This ridiculous spectacle finally stopped when I turned the corner into Pall Mall and finally let myself slouch and scuff my way onwards as usual. I have to say it was harder this year than last. I had not been able to train as hard because of the damage I could do to my feet and I was 13 pounds heavier because of all those doughnuts (don’t I wish). I kept up with most, was faster than some, but got passed by many, who I naturally cursed for their talent. I cheated and stopped for a couple of minutes to take a photo of Dan as he passed me with the lead pack going the other way down the Embankment. That was a great excuse for a breather (poor old sod). Yes, I took my camera around the course for you all to have a laugh. Anyhow, I made it to the finish with all my faculties, no need for the medics, although the section on the reverse of my shirt competitor number did list just a few ailments to consider in the event that I had! Phase one complete.
I’ve got the T shirt and the medal!
See the photos of the Run:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Copleyphotos/BritishLondon10kRun2009#
Sunday 19 July 2009
Once again Dan and I were up at 5am to meet with a friend, Martin to catch a train to Stratford in London. This time it was to be the London to Southend Bike Ride. 59 miles of nice flat Essex countryside…NOT!!! Who the heck described Essex as a flat county?
We started in Town and wound our way up through Chigwell into North Essex and admittedly some beautiful scenic countryside. The atmosphere was great, people get to talk more when they are cycling and the occasional exclamation from me needing a new bum always went down well. The hills though, who the hell knew there were so many hills in Essex? Not funny…but very satisfying getting up them, until that is I stood up on the pedals at around the 40 miles point to make the last part of a climb and bang! …both quadriceps (muscles between the top of the leg and knee) seized in a joint cramp. I just shouted sorry to those behind me as I jumped off the saddle and stood statue like in the middle of the road astride the bike. I couldn’t even move a leg over the frame to dismount. So here I am beating my thighs to get the blood flowing and feeling highly embarrassed that I caused others to stop half way up a hill. Fortunately I was able to get movement back after only a minute or two and jumped back onto the pedals to complete the incline satisfied that I had not walked any of the course. I had already been conscious of keeping my fluid levels up but now I was drinking Daniels as well, what a great Dad! My hat goes off to both Dan and Martin for not powering their way to the finish in as best time as they could get, they let me catch up. In fact, I would see them having a quick breather by the side of the road and pass them. To that end I worked out that at some point I didn’t get off my saddle for over 3 hours. New bum please! The photos don't however do justice to the energy sapping headwind and rain showers. At times my head goes down and thoughts of exposure are not of the photographic kind. So, after 5 or so hours in the saddle we finally arrive home, with friends and family surprising us noisily at the finish line it made a great day even better.
Now I have two medals and two T shirts, Oh, and £1000 in sponsorship from you fine people to go toward Cancer research and treatment. Worth every second of our effort.
See the photos of the Ride:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Copleyphotos/LondonSouthendBikeRide2009#
Now I’m going on holiday to prove I can still chill, as if I were at work! Did I say that aloud?
Richard
Firstly may I thank each of you who has been so generous in supporting my "Charity Week". It has been a great success and on behalf of The Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign I applaud you.
Whose idea was it to do both the London 10k and the London to Southend Cycle Ride in the same week? I’m not too sure what the Southend Hospital Doctors would say, having advised me to become a couch potato because of my thyroid problems, but you have to give life a little push every now and then to explore the envelope. No worries, I’m still here. Mental note: Must take in the photos and medals to frighten the nice Doctor when I see him in September). I think that is the difference between the Oncology staff at the Royal Marsden and other medical practitioners, Professor Gore at the Marsden may raise both an eyebrow and a smile before quietly endorsing a dumb idea if he sees you are determined to achieve it, with the caveat of course that if I break myself I may have to come off his drugs. Just an insignificant piece of small print then! Fitness and otherwise good health will inevitably give a better platform for him to work from, at least that is what I believe.
So let’s give you the run down (no pun intended) of what has been happening in sunny Essex and London these last few days.
Sunday 12 July 2009
Daniel, my eldest at 16, and I catch a silly O hour train to Charring Cross station to compete in the British London 10k Run. I’ve equipped Dan with a smart tag to record his time and get him photographed loads. Once again we cheated the system and find ourselves just a few from the front of the 26,000 runners. This time Dan is just to go and achieve his best, which he does admirably. Myself? I started well, too well. I find myself running down Piccadilly from the start at Hyde Park Corner being a sociable fraud. Let me explain. Everyone sets off like scalded cats for the first mile or so and I’m no exception. With a fake spring in my stride, stomach sucked in and shoulders back I did my very best to look like this was a Sunday morning stroll. On my right is the queue of 25,000 others patiently waiting for the start line. I don’t know who started it but a hand went up to “high five” me and I thought “cool” why not? Then another, and another until there were a sea of palms reaching out. It was as close to being famous as I have ever been (sad oh). This ridiculous spectacle finally stopped when I turned the corner into Pall Mall and finally let myself slouch and scuff my way onwards as usual. I have to say it was harder this year than last. I had not been able to train as hard because of the damage I could do to my feet and I was 13 pounds heavier because of all those doughnuts (don’t I wish). I kept up with most, was faster than some, but got passed by many, who I naturally cursed for their talent. I cheated and stopped for a couple of minutes to take a photo of Dan as he passed me with the lead pack going the other way down the Embankment. That was a great excuse for a breather (poor old sod). Yes, I took my camera around the course for you all to have a laugh. Anyhow, I made it to the finish with all my faculties, no need for the medics, although the section on the reverse of my shirt competitor number did list just a few ailments to consider in the event that I had! Phase one complete.
I’ve got the T shirt and the medal!
See the photos of the Run:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Copleyphotos/BritishLondon10kRun2009#
Sunday 19 July 2009
Once again Dan and I were up at 5am to meet with a friend, Martin to catch a train to Stratford in London. This time it was to be the London to Southend Bike Ride. 59 miles of nice flat Essex countryside…NOT!!! Who the heck described Essex as a flat county?
We started in Town and wound our way up through Chigwell into North Essex and admittedly some beautiful scenic countryside. The atmosphere was great, people get to talk more when they are cycling and the occasional exclamation from me needing a new bum always went down well. The hills though, who the hell knew there were so many hills in Essex? Not funny…but very satisfying getting up them, until that is I stood up on the pedals at around the 40 miles point to make the last part of a climb and bang! …both quadriceps (muscles between the top of the leg and knee) seized in a joint cramp. I just shouted sorry to those behind me as I jumped off the saddle and stood statue like in the middle of the road astride the bike. I couldn’t even move a leg over the frame to dismount. So here I am beating my thighs to get the blood flowing and feeling highly embarrassed that I caused others to stop half way up a hill. Fortunately I was able to get movement back after only a minute or two and jumped back onto the pedals to complete the incline satisfied that I had not walked any of the course. I had already been conscious of keeping my fluid levels up but now I was drinking Daniels as well, what a great Dad! My hat goes off to both Dan and Martin for not powering their way to the finish in as best time as they could get, they let me catch up. In fact, I would see them having a quick breather by the side of the road and pass them. To that end I worked out that at some point I didn’t get off my saddle for over 3 hours. New bum please! The photos don't however do justice to the energy sapping headwind and rain showers. At times my head goes down and thoughts of exposure are not of the photographic kind. So, after 5 or so hours in the saddle we finally arrive home, with friends and family surprising us noisily at the finish line it made a great day even better.
Now I have two medals and two T shirts, Oh, and £1000 in sponsorship from you fine people to go toward Cancer research and treatment. Worth every second of our effort.
See the photos of the Ride:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Copleyphotos/LondonSouthendBikeRide2009#
Now I’m going on holiday to prove I can still chill, as if I were at work! Did I say that aloud?
Richard
N.B. Anyone wanting to support me can go to www.justgiving.com/richardcopley
