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Sweet Louise

  • CROSSING THE LINE WITH 8 MINUTES TO SPARE - 16Hours 36Minutes

      17 December 2013

    I've been saying for some time now that as long as I stayed fit during the event I though I'd do it, but it was going to be really close on making the time limit. In the end I managed it 8 minutes inside of the deadline. It was a terrific day albeit a little hotter than I would have liked. It was however ideal for everybody else and the park was full of happy cricketers enjoying the summer sun. I tried to keep hydrated during the day and reckon I drank between 25 & 30 litres throughout the walk. Eating was difficult as from about half way I just didn't think I could digest anything. I had lots of people on hand though who looked after me and made sure I wasn't about to 'keel' over. I can't thank everybody who helped out enough. The Cake stand was fantastic, the Barbecue ran all day, the support during the whole event was unbelievable and I had no idea that from about half way I'd be clapped on completing virtually every lap. We've hit our target easily in the end and there's no doubt in my mind that it's down to the help and support of friends, family & colleagues all of who were simply brilliant. Well done to Sweet Louise for their efforts and we'll keep the site open over the New Year period for any remaining donations to come in. On behalf of Lyz and I and of course all the people who will benefit from the proceeds, thank you all so much.

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  • Time to stand up and be counted

      12 December 2013

    That's it now. A couple of gentle strolls this week just to remind my legs that they have work to do on Saturday. Basically though I should be ready to ""walk the walk"", having ""talked it up"" for the last 4 months. I certainly don't feel ready, I think I need another 3 months worth of training ( he said, knowing that I'm as ready as I'll ever be) .... The forecast looks good for Saturday albeit a little hotter than I would've liked at a probable 25 degrees. Oh well, at least it won't be raining hard all day.... maybe the odd shower would be nice though. I know that lots of other people have put an awful lot of effort into Saturday as well ... to get the infrastructure right for all the other fundraising activities that are going on. So here's to a really good day and lets hope that we manage to hit our magic $10K target and make it all worth it.

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  • Downsizing with 2 weeks to go ...

      3 December 2013

    According to all the experts I'm now within the time period where I don't want to be overly strenuous and take anything out of my legs for the 14th. If I've done all the training correctly I should now have the ability to do the distance (yeah right!) and all I have to do over the next 12 days is a few short walks to keep my legs occupied. Therefore this Sunday I did 2 quick laps and 2 gentle laps, so all in all a not overly taxing 30km. I'll not do anything over about 15km now before the event....... It's amazing what you learn doing new things. 3 months ago if you'd asked me if I could walk 50km without training I'd have said ""yes, easy, it's only walking"" ... now I know that isn't necessarily the case for your average 52 year old. I'm glad I've done all the work and put myself in the best position I can for getting across the line. In hindsight though I probably should've said ""Walk in the Light ... the 50 mile challenge"" ... that (80km) would have been a bit more realistic in the timeframe I've given myself. Anyway it is what it is, and just to remind myself why it's all happening, here's a photo of Lyz from the weekend showing what 2 weeks off of Chemo can do for you. Up on her favourite horse and looking good.

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  • Lesson No.1 ... ""Don't get over-confident""

      29 November 2013

    Last Sunday was the important 'dress rehearsal' for the big day. Here's a shot of me going over the line checking my times... For so long now I've been saying that it'll be easier at Victoria Park. It's a nice flat easy walk, I can stop whenever I like for drinks and food as I pass my office every 9 minutes or so (that said I can't stop for very long of course) ... so the pressure was kind of on really, because if it hadn't been easier than where I've been training then I really had very little chance of completing the race. I'm pleased to report that it was easier... there's no doubt that walking on the flat is easier than up and down hills. I completed 60km and there was definitely some still left in the tank. It felt like a ""good day"" though and I have to keep my fingers crossed that I can have one of these on the 14th. I'll be resting, eating properly and hoping that the moon's aligned correctly to ensure that I wake up that morning in the best shape I can be. It's getting really close now and I'm becoming a little nervous ... I just hope I manage to put up a good show ... Oh! and by the way if it can not rain on the day too please...

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  • Uh Oh ... problems this week.

      20 November 2013

    I think the combination of rapid dieting and heavy training finally took it's toll this weekend. I was due for another 53km at Orewa, which would be my last big one there (I'm back at Victoria Park next week for the trial run of the actual day) but I got to about 45km and started to feel decidedly unwell. Following this I've had all sorts of advice this week ranging from very useful information on dietary adjustments and mixing my Carbs, Proteins and ""good"" fat intake to the not so useful information like "" Toughen up you muppet"". I'm thinking maybe a little of both might be needed on the day. At least I didn't collapse all over the road and make a mess. Lyz has heard this week that she has finished her current treatment. She's been on for 26 weeks now and she deserves a break poor thing. Good news is that it seems to have done it's job and now we hope that 3 weekly Herceptin can hold it there indefinitely. That's the plan anyway.

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  • 9 HOURS in a CHELSEA SHIRT

      14 November 2013

    Yea, I did it.... Snowy asked me months ago to wear a Chelsea shirt whilst I'm doing a big Sunday walk. So here's the photographic evidence to prove it. It was not too bad a walk either. I did another 54km and with a rest I would have gone on. I'm relying on the fact that the Orewa course is a little hilly and this definitely makes things harder. So my thinking is that if I can do another 3 weeks of 50's and 60's, when I eventually get to the 'flat' Vic. Park course it should be a little easier, and with my stamina building ... who knows!! . ...That's the theory anyway. People have started to mention diet, liquid intake, physio and complicated things like Lactic Acid and muscle fatigue. I think I need to speak to a specialist, because all I know is that after about 30km it hurts and if somebody could tell me something or do something which meant that it didn't hurt until 50km then I'm all ears.... This week almost certainly sees the end of Lyz's current treatment, the bodies starting to tell her that enough is enough I think. From here it'll be Herceptin for a while by itself hopefully and she can look to recover for a period.

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  • This week I got wet

      8 November 2013

    I'd only mentioned to a friend of mine the other day that I'd been so lucky with my ""Big Walk"" on Sunday's because it'd stayed mostly dry. Unfortunately this week I got soaked. Never mind, I suppose once you're wet, you're wet. It does however cause one or two more ""irritations"" than when it stays dry. The plan this week was to attempt 60k around Victoria Park ... however the Auckland Marathon was on and I didn't have access to the Vic.. So I stayed at my normal training area in Orewa and tried out for 53km because it's a lot more 'hilly'. I did it, which is good, but I had sore everything until about Wednesday. I'm hoping that because Vic. Park is so flat that it'll be so much easier. I need to try another 53km this week and again next week (Still can't get into Vic. Park as the ""Taste Auckland"" event is on) and then I'll try a BIG trial run on the actual course which will be 3 weeks out from the event day.............. Lyz is on Chemo cycle 8 week 2 today and she's done so well to get this far. The tingles and numbness have almost won though and we hope for one more session before she gets a break for Xmas.

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  • BIG day on Sunday ...

      31 October 2013

    I've now finished the equivalent of 9 consecutive marathons every Sunday since late September. This week is a step up and I'm scheduled to walk 60km (about 1? marathons). I'll need to start early as this is going to take around 9? hours. It'll be my first real test and a good indicator of how I'm going to go on the actual day. It's a balance now between pace and stamina. I can't go off too quickly or I start to 'tie up' after about 7 hours and it becomes very tough. Conversely I can't go too slowly as this simply won't give me the time to complete the 100km in under 16hours on the day. Problems, problems, problems .... I apologise to my favourite English sponsor ... the Chelsea shirt is on order but seems to be taking a little longer than it should. Rest assured, the minute it turns up I'll be out there with it on, reminding all people my age of the classic Chelsea team of the 70's .... Osgood, Bonetti, Harris, Cooke, Houseman, Webb, Hutchison ... ah yes I remember them well.

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  • Oh! .... How very British !!

      15 October 2013

    Time to start dressing up whilst I'm training to beg for more donations I think. Last week I was speaking to a Kiwi friend regarding this event and his reply to me was ""Man, that's such a British thing to do"". I think he was referring to walking, midday sun and mad dogs (for those of you who know your Noel Coward) or at least he thought that a local wouldn't do such a daft thing.... maybe he's right. Anyways it gave me an idea for this week's training. So, on with the British Lions Rugby Jersey, the English flag and the bowler hat (which did blow off a few times until it got put back in the car). I got a few funny looks ... no, actually everybody looked at me like I was an idiot but it did start a few conversations and may spark a couple of random donations. Watch this space Snowy as the Chelsea shirt is next. For some reason this weeks walk was really tough so I'm hoping for an easier ride next week because if I can't do 45km in 7 hours I'm going to struggle to do the full distance on time on the day............ ""Chin up mate"" it'll be alright on the night I guess.

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  • 45km in just under 7 hours

      9 October 2013

    On this basis it'll be touch and go on the day. Firstly, I'll have to still be on my feet and still moving to have a chance, secondly I'll need to keep going at this pace with a total of about an hours break throughout the whole day in order to try and get home before it gets dark. I've got nine weeks to continue to build the stamina and I'm going to need every one of them I think. A month ago I was struggling to do the 38km walks ... now I've done a 45km and feeling roughly the same when I'd finished, so it's beginning to work. I seem to remember when all this started that I thought it would be pointless setting myself a target of 50km to walk in a day because it would be so easy and anybody could do it even without training. How wrong was I .............. Anyways I set myself a challenge, talked the talked and now I've got to do the walk. I've put a photo of part of my regular training area in Orewa ... some of it is really scenic. Good news at the Hospital as well this week. The main man said we're doing very well, which sounds good to me.

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  • We're in the Rodney Times

      2 October 2013

    We've nearly gone viral .. well, we've got on page 7 of the local paper anyway. Many thanks to the Rodney Times who've done a terrific story all about the fundraiser, a little about Lyz and a good story on Sweet Louise. Hopefully this will lift the profile a bit more and let everybody in Rodney at least know what's happening on the 14th Dec. I've finished with the 'mimsy' 38k's now and it's onto 45k's every Sunday. I'm not doing so many miles during the week now as the feet just weren't up to it ... I'm hoping this doesn't affect my stamina preparation in the long run. I guess it's all about balance and management of resources (that's corporate speak for what I call my legs and feet). I've put a new photo on today to give you an idea of what I visualise every time I start a big walk ... not that I'm being negative of course... I've been asked again to 'don' some dodgy attire whilst I'm out there training ... watch this space Snowy, I'll try for something spectacular !!

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  • ""Get on Facebook"", they said

      24 September 2013

    Everybody keeps telling me that I need to 'up my marketing' and get the word out there a bit more. So I've reinvented my Facebook page and I'm trying to find some friends (that sounds really sad) so that the word can be passed on. I'm so keen to get as many people involved as I can, and to get the Sweet Louise story out there as well. I did another 38K on Sunday. I'd like to say it's getting easier, but I'm not so sure. Fingers crossed it's building up the stamina though. We've had a good week at the hospital .... Lyz and I had an appointment with the specialist on Wednesday and she confirmed that the little nasties are in fact being reduced. Go girl !!

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  • Apparently I walk really badly !

      17 September 2013

    Who knew? ............ Each time I get back from a long walk (now doing 38km each Sunday) I'm disappointed that my feet are bruised and I have painful stress areas across the top and sides. I know that my 'gait' is not good as I've torn all the ligaments and broken bones in my right ankle and shin over the years. So apparently it's because I walk really badly.... oh well, I guess I'll just have to make do. I think it might be too late to learn a new way of doing it. Lyz reckons roller skates would be the answer which seems like a good idea but probably not in the spirit of a 100km WALK. We're hoping for some good news this week. We have an appt. with the specialist and we have fingers crossed she's going to confirm that the bad stuff is being 'melted' from the inside (yes, apparently that's the term) anyways confirmation of such would be very nice thank you.

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  • Everybody overtakes me

      11 September 2013

    So, Sunday 8th September was my first 38km walk. (5 times around the estuary in Orewa which is just over 7.5km per lap) I have to say it was harder than I thought; in theory I should still be bouncing with energy after that distance because on the day I'll have to do that nearly twice more. I guess that's why they call it training. The trouble is, for a competitive person like myself, it's quite demoralising as everybody overtakes me. There I was on my third lap and this old chap with Dunlop Green Flash tennis shoes (remember those) who looked old enough to have played against Fred Perry came past me at a jaunty pace with a quick, ""nice morning"". Anyways, we had some good news this week. Lyz had a scan which revealed that her current treatment appears to be doing it's job, so carrying on with that will be a little easier for her now, knowing that it's working.

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  • Let's here it for the UK contingent

      3 September 2013

    Thanks to the family and some really close friends, the UK is proving to be the backbone of the fundraising effort so far. Thanks to everybody over there and please keep spreading the word. Mileage goes up this week so I'll be doing just over 90k's a week now for September. It's a part of the process that I hadn't really thought about in that the training and conditioning is almost a separate challenge in itself. I've received a couple of promises of extra donations if I can undertake certain activities or wear particular outfits whilst I'm out there walking. Not sure walking 45k in a chicken suit was part of the plan though, and I'm really not that sure I could wear a Chelsea shirt. Plans for the 'Big Day' are taking shape. The 14th December is confirmed and a few of the day's events are booked in. Just need to speak to Jim (weatherman) and lock in a nice warm dry day.

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  • Working out if it's possible

      27 August 2013

    So I've put a training schedule into place. At the moment I'm walking about 80km a week. This consists of short 8km walks as quick as I can go, together with a mid-week 15km. Then on Sunday I do the big weekly walk which at the moment is 30km but will increase over the coming weeks up to a maximum of 75km. I'm trying to increase my stamina and also learn some idea of the type of pace I'll need to walk on the actual day in order to finish in time. My two biggest concerns at the moment are blisters on my feet which I'm treating and managing better and better each week and boredom whilst I'm out there walking because it takes so long to get where I'm going.... never mind though, it's all kinda fun. I've put some more photo's on the front page of me walking the long and winding road and one of Lyz who is my support crew (remember her, she's the reason I'm doing all this) when I'm on my Sunday trek ... she follows me around on her bike.

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  • Going live

      21 August 2013

    Well, the page is live and we've had a number of donations already. I've been training now for a month and it's good to see some early return for effort even if it is only training. It's a long way to go before the big day and there's a lot to organise, but the word is out there now and we just have to spread it far and wide. Sweet Louise are being great and offering incredible support. I can't think of a more worthy cause under the current circumstances

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    • 21/08/2013 by New

      Well, the page is live and we've had a number of donations already. I've been training now for a month and it's good to see some early return for effort even if it is only training. It's a long way to go before the big day and there's a lot to organise, but the word is out there now and we just have to spread it far and wide. Sweet Louise are being great and offering incredible support. I can't think of a more worthy cause under the current circumstances