BIG AL’S MIDLIFE CRISIS
THE IRON MAN CHALLENGE
220 REASONS TO SUPPORT
THE OLD BOY IN HIS QUEST TO AGE GRACEFULLY
OK at 55 I
now realize I am in full midlife crisis (midlife meaning I plan to stick it out
at least until 110)
When I turned
50 I did my first Marathon and at 53 I tried out a Triathlon but the Iron-man is
a whole new level for an old git already well past his sell by date.
The Iron-man challenge I have entered is THE OUTLAW EVENT in Nottingham on Sunday 27th
July 2014 and consists of an open water swim of 3.84k a rather hilly cycle of 180k
and ends with a full 42k marathon run.
220 k of agonizing endurance is one thing for a fit and multi competent 25 year old to
complete but for a 56 year old who is now only barely proficient at “gentle
jogging” (and drinking) this may well be one challenge TOO FAR !
Regardless
of these facts and pleads for common sense from my family – I will try and if I
fail to complete the challenge I will fail trying.
SO HERE IS
THE BIT THAT EFFECTS “YOU!!!”MY GOOD
FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND RANDOM STRANGERS WHO I CAN PERSUADE TO HELP AND MAKE THIS
DOUBLE CHALLENGE A HUGE SUCCESS (REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I ACTUALLY MAKE IT)
YOU ARE
INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN
220 ACTS OF KINDNESS
The idea is
that many people raise money for various charities and good causes at sporting
events etc which is fantastic but I am looking to put an alternative spin on
it, mostly because I find it quite hard to ask so many of my friends for cash
when I know how much support many of them already give to various charities
when approached.
In 2014
together I am looking with YOUR help to conduct an IRON-MAN CHARITY EVENT and
complete AT LEAST “220 SELFLESS ACTS OF KINDNESS” before
the end of the year.
At the end of
this blog we have listed some ideas to get you thinking (220 in fact ) but do
not be restricted be this – Do whatever you want to do as long as it is in the
spirit of the task – “an act of kindness”
I said I was
not keen on asking for money but that was a bit of a lie “WE LIKE MONEY “ we
have so many good ideas that do cost, but you can pick and choose.
For example we aim to buy 220 mosquito nets,
we also would love to feed 220 street people one meal, and vaccinate 220
children etc – so you can put a little towards any selection of these projects.
For those
who have more time and energy than cash we have lots and lots of ways you can
help or again we would love you just to do some good deed all on your own for something
that you care about – all I ask is that you tell us about it so we can record
our effort – it would also be great to here all your stories, – funny, sad, heart
warming, heart wrenching whatever! – Perhaps we can gather enough to write a
book and sell it with the proceeds going to one of our collective good causes
OK so you
get the idea –
Or just call
on (0044) 1564770986
I will update this blog as often as we have
news worth reporting
So back to
my first task THE IRON-MAN.
The swim
will undoubtedly be my toughest leg
I have all the “Aqua Dynamics” of an over sized house brick, with frantic splashing and absolutely no coordination between arms
and legs, it’s not going to be easy.
The next
hardest challenge will be getting out of the wet suit with my bad back and my
inability to stretch much further than my knees.
When I
finally do get on the bike life gets a bit easier (well at least for the first
hour)
It’s not
fast but at least I won’t drown if I slow down!
My only
question is - How come in this high tech world has know one invented a comfortable
bike seat (Mr Dyson – Step up!)
Now on paper
the run should be “a walk in the park” (metaphorically speaking) Yea, I wish -
but no - It’s a full marathon to round off the day.
So in all exhausting
but the training has begun!
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