Preparation is everything!
Update 16th October 2011: Huge thanks to everyone who supported me this year. Over £300 raised for Diabetes UK from personal donations, many, many thanks to everyone. The Great East Swim was shown on Channel 4 this morning – I saw what I look like in a wetsuit, it is not a good thing. As before I owe much of my training to Taketothestreets; the training plans are a great and the facilities at Framlingham College sports centre are wonderful too. Also to my friends who were prepared to come out on bike rides in cold weather or feed me cups of tea and coffee when I was soaking wet after rides and friends who are happy to link up and throw themselves into a freezing lake in the name of training. It all seems a long time ago now.
So what in 2012? The entries are now open for the Great East Swim and my original Olympic Pledge means I must do that one more time. Will I do another mile or be brave and go for the two-mile swim? I don’t think I’ll do the Dynamo next year so I’m looking out for anew cycle challenge – I’ve heard of a ride called Baguettes and Berets but don’t know any more about it…..time to investigate.
My challenges for this year are the Great East Swim a one mile open water swim and the Dunwich Dynamo an overnight 120 mile bike ride with a swim at the end! I will update this page as I hit key milestones.
My charity for this year is Diabetes UK having spent several years as a podiatrist I am only too aware of the problems that long term diabetes can cause to people. - Please dig deep and donate my fund-raising page is HERE
Update: 15th June 2011 – the swim was fabulous. Completed the mile in 46.28 – OK no records broke but it was a lovely swim, complete with calm conditions, crystal clear water sparkling with golden bubbles and D2 completed it too, even having to use the shortie wetsuit. If I can improve the same amount next year I might manage a sub 40 minutes which would be fabulous.
Huge thanks too to Lesley Dolphin who interviewed me on the Friday giving rise to more donations. I have nearly raised my target £300 just a few more pounds to go…. HERE
Now on with the cycling…. Dunwich /dynamo here I come.
Update: 6th March 2011 – This week I have completed my first 30 mile bike ride (no times given as it was a social with coffee and pub lunch breaks) and my 1000m test swim. So well on track with my training and feeling remarkably fit.
Update: 7th May 2011 – Training still going well, I have now done my first 40 mile continuous bike ride and regularly swim a mile in the pool. I have swum at Dunwich for the first time and next week should do my first lake swim.
February 21, 2011 at 7:04 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Diabetes UK, Rich James. Rich James said: RT @DiabetesUK: Wow! Thank you and good luck! RT @Farctum: I’m off again….http://bit.ly/h7dIcN – this time for Diabetes UK [...]
February 21, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Wow! The Dunwich Dynamo sounds fabulous. Hard work, but a great way of fundraising. Best of luck! Now hopping over to your page to donate.
February 21, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Thank you so much!