5 at 50

OK folks I've made some decisions, its going to be 5 at 50. Five events, back to back once a month, starting in February 2011. Each event will mean something personal to me and in each event I am determined to give it everyting I've got. More details will follow shortly. TTFN Nick

Are you Serious?

Today I went cycling with my son, 20 miles through some of the finest countryside the UK has to offer. The sun shone, the wind was light and we flew whistfully down country lanes. Motorist slowed and gave us plenty of space when passing. And when we passed a fellow cyclist we greeted them with a cheery wave and a big smile, everything was good with the world. Then we came to a closed road, police tape, a"no entry" sign, the air ambulance took off in front of us, a cheery wave for Sam from the pilot. Then home for tea and biscuits and news on the radio that a body so badly burnt, it could not be recognised, had been discovered on the downs right where we were. Life in these moments cannot really be explained, how can it be so good for some and so bad for others, at the same time, in the same town and under the same sky. Random names, numbers and meanings, some live and some die but nobody knows why. Sure I'm looking for answers wouldn't you be?

You've got a friend

I think I have finally worked it out, when running I've got to make distance my friend. I have to take comfort in it's longevity, warm to the delights it offers up after a 25 mile apprenticeship. Only then can I truly move on, because I worked out another thing too, distance ultimately holds the key to my freedom, and by serving my time in miles and hours, I shall find my release. So I am signing up for some big cross country races, starting with the 3 Forts Marathon, a 30 mile extravaganza across the south downs and then a 56 mile run from London to Brighton. TTFN.

What goes on upstairs?

Let's cut to the chase here, in one way or another we've always been running. Sometimes it's away from our fears sometimes it's away from reality, but the truth is unless you're an angel, you are running away from something. So the choice is yours, you can run away by drinking, you run away by thinking, or you can run away by just sitting on the sofa looking at the box in the corner of the room, for me I am going to just run and hope I find something along the way.

Ahoy there Matey

Shiver me timbers if it ain't another Pearson Flyer. Ahoy there shipmates cast your eyes over this little beauty, a 30 foot vision under full canvas. Only goes to show if you call something a Pearson it's going to Fly. Stand Easy TTFN.

Wow what a story.

Crikey these two have got something to smile about, check out their story and then pull on the trainers, you know it makes sense. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/lifestyle/101523529.html

Just Do It

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, do yourself a favour and buy it.

You Gotta Have Faith

Truth to tell when times are tough, the journey seems long and the light at the end of every tunnell is an oncoming express train, I take stock and look inside. Somewhere in the cluttered garage I call my mind I find a toolkit marked faith, I open it and start to tinker. I am not talking "faith" in a truly religious sense, although I do drop in the odd request from time to time just in case, no I am talking about the faith that comes from within, the kind of faith that lets you transcend the present to scale the peaks of the future. Suddenly I am on top of a high mountain, finishing the final mile of a 50 mile run or cycling into Central Park after a 3500 mile journey. The great thing about this "Faith Trip" dudes apart from that fact that my hair is always thicker and my waistline 4 inches thinner, is I always finish, yep; I get the JOB done. So almost paradoxically for me the start of everything is seeing the finish. It might not be the same when you get there but I bet it looks pretty similar. So dream on, you're taking the first steps in the right direction. TTFN my Blogster Friends

20 at 20

Top ride today, didn't have much time so I did a quick twenty miler in just over an hour or so. Managed 20 mph plus on most of the flat stretches. My legs are definitely starting to feel stronger, but I am keen to loose weight and really start to ramp up my progress. There's a 100 miler coming up at the end of September which I want to do, I tip the scales at 14.5 stones now and I want to be less than 13 by then. Keeping a tab on twitter to show my weight loss progress.

You need good support Missus

When times are tough you need the right support crew and these guys do it for me; sure I know what you are thinking and yep these guys look a right motley crew. But to be honest they have all the bases covered for me, motivation, wellbeing, destiny, philosophy and most importantly love, these guys have definitely got the lot. So whenever I need a lift or some faith in what I am doing, these guys magically make it happen. Sure they don't come cheap but if you want the best, well....................

Falling in love again

Word up blogsters, sometimes the road to getting fit is a difficult one to travel. That's why you've got to pick the right partner and mine is the "Pearson Flyer", fitted with a "Campag" triple set for mountain munching magnifisense it's the perfect tonic to get me going. Seriously though if you are sat on the sofa and you need some answers, just look around, the people you are always envious of are the ones out there doing something.

Snoozer Conquers the Beacon

Well well well, Sammy Snoozer has done it, his first 30 mile ride and he reached the summit of Ditchling Beacon along the way. He was the youngest chap by far in a field of 200 plus riders all of whom made a fuss of him as he made his way round the 30 mile coarse. Hats off to the Evans crew for making it such a good day. Moral of the tale has got to be, if your training for something throw in a couple of events along the way, its a great way of meeting peeps and checking out your progress. I felt great, and definitely stronger than a few weeks ago. It did make me more determined to loose weight though. If I am going to go long, I need to be a lean mean fightin' machine.

The Pearson Flyer

Word up fellow blogsters, the thing about being too busy to train is a myth, truth to tell, there is always time, and to prove my point; here's the Pearson Flyer on Mill Hill at 6.00am this morning, half way through a 12 mile training session. Sure it's an early start but look at the view, worth every minute of lost sleep. TTFN

Don't be daft, Poodles don't talk.

There's a Man and a Dog, they both go to the same Hairdresser, they both wear the same sunglasses, but only one of them talks about motivation - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWQQybJKMIE&NR=1. He's right about one thing, you need to take the first step; it's corny but it's true every long journey starts with a single step. For me that step was a 20 miler yesterday and a bright and breezy 10 miler tonight. I don't know what it is for you, but I know one thing you got to make it happen.

Brighton Sportive Cycle

Sammy Snoozer and I have just signed up for the Brighton Sportive Cycle on Sunday 25th July, you can choose from a 12 mile, 30 mile, 60mile or 90 mile course. Check this link out if you are keen http://www.evanscycles.com/ride-it/brighton-24th-25th-july-2010, we are going to try out the 30 miler.

Mr Motivator Sammy the Snoozer

Yo folks, guess who I picked for my first training session back in the saddle, yep the little pocket rocket himself Sammy Snoozer AKA Sammy Samosa. We had 30mins before bedtime to fill so it was up and down as many hills as we could find. Moral of the tale, if you haven't got a snoozer find one, they are great for keeping you on your toes. By the way it doesn't matter how much time you have, just get out there and do something. As someone once said, "when all is said and done, less should be said and more should be done"

I need a challenge

For me the difference between doing something and doing nothing is simply, I NEED A CHALLENGE. Yep it really is that simply; I just need the grey matter to settle on something and bosh off I go. Sure progress is always slow to start but it soon gathers momentum and then before I know it I am getting fitter, losing weight and most important of all feeling Great. So here's my next challenge, during the summer of 2011 I'm going to cycle 3,000+ miles across the States in less than 3 weeks, and as a warm up in March 2011 I going to cycle from Brighton to Lake Coniston, a trip of 330 miles in 3 days and then run the Coniston 14 a half marathon. I am currently tipping the scales at about 90kg around 14lbs 4oz and I want to get under 13 stone too.

Motivation, Motivation and Motivation

Three words that can make such a big difference, so far I have run 4 half marathons, 3 marathons and cycled from Brighton 2 Barcelona since my 40'th, sure that sounds impressive but to be honest for most of the time I do diddly swat, sweet Fanny Adams, Captian Zilcho call it what you want but nothing is probably the appropriate word. Worst thing is, in a photofit even the sweetest old lady would call me "thick Set", so it's in my interest to do something and stay active. Why is getting motivated so difficult? My first task is to find out what floats your boat.