Hi,

I wanted to keep my race schedule for 2013/2014 close to my chest until the final race had been secured but the Cat’s out of the bag. So here are the forthcoming races for the next 12 months:

I will be competing in the following events:

February 2013: the Malta Half Marathon

The Beyond the Ultimate Grand Slam (4 in one year)

May 2013: 230 km jungle ultra-marathon in Peru

August 2013: 220 km Mountain ultra marathon in Colorado, USA

November 2013: 250 km desert ultra-marathon, Namibia, Africa

February 2014 230 km Arctic ultra-marathon

In addition in June 2013 I will be running the 118km North Face® Lavaredo Ultra Trail, Italy

January 2014: Dubai Marathon. I will pass the 10MillionMetres mark on this race *

*I am still waiting to hear back on one race not mentioned in the above lists but that’s the bulk of it right there. The homeward straight!!!

PLEASE NOTE: SPONSORSHIP REMAINS OPEN

Keep moving

Hi all,

It has been awhile since I last wrote my blog and I’d like to apologise for its absence.  I guess being distracted by my baby boy has taken up a lot of my time as well as training for the Trans-USA.  Excuses aside, I’d like to talk about awareness and how you can help. But first I need to bring you up to date (well almost as there was so much going on since last time I blogged that some of it will have to wait until next time).

The year started with a part working ankle.  With the incredible help of ActiveVIII I’ve managed to ameliorate the majority of the damage to the ankle and, in fact, get to a point where I can run on it comfortably.  The acid test was the Standard Chartered Dubai 10k.  The guys from deVere generously flew me out to test the ankle and maybe secure some favourable press (which, thanks to Alan and the team, I did).  I arrived late at night, shattered, and needing bed and sleep.  In the morning I made it to the Media Centre at the Dubai Pavilion and was made to feel at home.  They gave me a media pass (which made me feel like one of the gang) and fed me too!  It was good to see some familiar faces and nice that I was recognised from my marathon exploits previously in 2011.   The run, in my Saucony Triumph’s, was better than I had expected and the ankle held up. I completed the course in 53 min but that included walking for a bit due to dystonia and stretching quite a lot.  This result rocks!  A truly a great milestone for me as I couldn’t walk on the leg last November.  The result, also, makes me more confident of my abilities with my ankle and helps me look forward to the Trans-USA; an event that I truly believe will, not only, raise donations for both the Cure Parkinson’s Trust and also the Michael J Fox Foundation via TeamFox (please see my TeamFox page) but also raise awareness.

Raising awareness is at the forefront of what 10MillionMetres is about and media coverage in respect of what I am trying to achieve has been pretty good since the beginning of the year.  BBC Oxford has bent over backwards for me and I am truly grateful for the coverage that they have given.  In addition, BBC Radio Berkshire, Glide FM, Jack FM, Al Jazeera Sport TV, Physique TV, Physique magazine, the Scotsman, the Daily Express, BBC (filming), SGB magazine… The only way that we are going to make change happen for Parkinson’s patients, worldwide, is by raising awareness which in turn will hopefully raise donations so that we can find a cure for this horrific and debilitating disease.

So please tell your friends, work colleagues, business acquaintances, in fact, tell everybody you meet because I can’t do this alone. I need your help.   We all need to work together and if we work together we can realise something truly great.  Maybe realise a cure!

With raising awareness being fundamental, Joe and his intrepid team from the BBC arrived on a Sunday morning in January to film me for a potential program on superhuman people. Apparently, I’m one!!! That’s quite a compliment for a guy who’s a bit shaky, LOL.  They had me running all over the place; across town, up and down a hill for what seemed like ages, rowing and then pushing my legs to the limit on the Cybex machine at ActivVIII (who went out of their way to open their premises and get things ready for the shoot – thanks guys!).  We then went to Nexus gym and I was again put through my paces.  All in all, I had a serious workout and then there was the interview.  I have to say Joe is a really good interviewer and I think I came across okay.  So will the programme see light of day? I don’t know but I have my fingers crossed.

Lastly, the Trans-USA has received several boosts. The first was from Volkswagen. This fantastic and forward thinking company has stepped up to the mark and donated two Touareg 4×4′s and have also offered (which I have accepted) to cover the fuel for the vehicles, which will allow me to get the support crew from A to B on the challenge.  I can’t thank them enough and highly recommend that you check out my sponsor page and follow the link when you click on the Volkswagen logo.  Secondly, the lovely people at Invesco Perpetual have just donated £2000 to the Cure Parkinson’s Trust!  I cannot believe how fabulous they are and generous too!  Thank you Invesco Perpetual!!  The third boost was receiving news that Mr Larry Watson (lifeguard, former coastguard, wilderness medic, expedition leader and ultra-endurance enthusiast) will be joining me as part of my crew for the Trans-USA challenge.  This alone has given me such a massive injection of confidence in having him on board.   I’m really excited to be working with this guy and he’s going to be kayaking across Lake Erie with me as well as swimming to the Statue of Liberty too!

30 mile run today and getting better every minute!! I think that, notwithstanding the stress of getting the Trans-USA sorted (and there’s still a lot to do) the words “positivity” and “optimistic” sum me up at the moment.  I hope that’s the same for you.  If it’s not, I am sure that things will eventually work out.  They have a habit of doing so…strange but true.

Keep moving!!!

Alex

Hi all,

This is my penultimate blog of the year. Apologies for the lateness but I have a valid reason.

On the 15th of December 2011, my third son, Zacharie was born.  Weighing in at a healthy 9lbs (or just over 4 kg) he is the most fantastic addition to my family and right before Christmas too!  Aurélie and baby are doing exceptionally well.  He’s quite a character and certainly isn’t shy about coming forward and expressing his own opinion; including his disappointment at both myself and Aurélie sleeping at night!!  So, we have both been battling fatigue through lack of sleep whilst being busier than we would ever have imagined at Christmas time.

The last week and four days have been occupied by the Trans-USA challenge.  Thanks must go to Mimi Anderson, ActiveVII, Steve from GoBeyond and also James from Media First, for their assistance so far.  Thanks also to, Russ Cox and James Golding for their support and input.  I’m excited by the prospect of Russ Cox and James Golding undertaking some of the route with me.

Midway through the planning, thinking, and trying desperately to get some sleep, I was invited onto the Malcolm Boyden show and BBC Radio Oxford.  Oxford not being far from me was, I thought, a reasonably safe bet to arrive at 10 AM.  Little did I realise that the pre-Christmas shopping mania had overtaken the United Kingdom and everyone who drives will understand my use of the term “gridlock”.   I was driving and waiting and driving and waiting and more waiting for what seemed like ages.  My eyes constantly returned to the clock in the car, which did nothing to dispel my sense of urgency and my fears that I wouldn’t reach the BBC studios in time.  Thankfully I did.  In fact, right on time!

The producer, Harry, met me at the door and immediately ushered me into the live studio.  Handshakes and a quick cup of tea placed on the desk in front of me and Malcolm launched into the interview.  Honestly?  I think I did okay.  I was dreadfully tired from little to no sleep the previous few days.  Notwithstanding, they certainly seemed happy with the interview and it was good to see Malcolm, Harry and the guys again.  They have been exceptionally supportive of the 10MillionMetres campaign and I owe a lot of thanks to them for that.  Mention was made of an update interview regarding the forthcoming Thames Trot 50 mile race from Oxford to Henley-on-Thames in February 2012.   For which runners and brave interested parties can get a free entry via the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.  Please go to the Cure Parkinson’s Trust website at www.cureparkinsons.org.uk for more information and also do let them know if you want the donations to count towards the 10MillionMetres, £1 million fund.

Later that same day I was being interviewed by Colleen on Generate Radio (http://www.generateradio.com/).  Great music and good chat was the order of the show and I had a laugh.  Thanks Colleen and Generate Radio.  In fact, special mention must be made of Colleen as she got married today (24th December 2011)!!  Congratulations and best wishes for the future to you both!

Training has been put on the back-burner for the moment as I still have this nagging cough which won’t go away.  Mimi Anderson has commanded me to rest until the New Year and who am I to argue with such an esteemed athlete.  Seriously, Mimi is correct.  If I don’t look after myself I’ll be unable to summon the best performance I can possibly achieve when undertaking the challenges that 2012 will bring.

On Wednesday I was invited to the Grosvenor House Hotel in London for the deVere Group annual awards ceremony.  This was a black tie do and a spectacular evening was hosted by deVere to thank the very dedicated employees that make my core Sponsor the most successful financial consultancy in the world.  Being a third party (so to speak) it was interesting to observe and meet the people who have supported and aided my 10MillionMetre Campaign in 2011.  The event was a success and to describe the awards as impressive would be an understatement.  I would have liked to have shown some photos but for now your imagination will have to do; as I have no pictures to show.  Save to say, champagne reception followed by fantastic food, dancers, music, awards, Steve Redgrave, Jessie J and a set by Calvin Harris in the adjoining deVere lounge left me stunned.  I feel very honoured to have been there and thankful to all the people I met and their kind words of support.  Hats off to Beverley who organised the whole event!  Thank you deVere for letting me be a part of your evening.

I have so much to do for 2012.  Epic adventures to raise awareness of Parkinson’s don’t just happen by themselves and I’ll probably need three of me to get the jobs done, but I’ll do it!!!

However, that’s not important right now.  Right now is the night before Christmas.  The first Christmas for my little boy and I am going to spend it with him.  So I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a happy, safe and wonderful Christmas!

For those don’t celebrate it, have a safe and a top weekend to you and your families and I will update everyone with the end of year kit review next week.

Until then, have fun and keep moving!!

Hi all,

Firstly, I’d like to say that, as at the present time of writing, my third son (baby-to-be) is has yet to be born.  It seems like we are having to wait forever and Aurélie is certainly feeling it.   The boy is certainly active! However, I’m sure that the lad will arrive very soon. I will keep you updated.

As the weeks pass the ankle gets better, except for the odd occasion when I completely overdo it.  One such occasion was last week’s attempt to run.  I really should take the advice I’m given and listen to my body more.  In response to this, I have increased the amount of stabilisation work that I am undertaking on the ankle and have upped the turbo training.  Yes, I know that some of you prefer outdoor training and, to be honest, I do too.  However, the ankle really does not like the cold at the moment; swelling up and becoming an inconvenient aching anchor, which does nothing but prevent forward momentum towards full recovery.  So, for the meantime it’s less impact and more training. I know that the foregoing sounds dramatic, the reality is that the ankle is truly getting better but every day having to rein in the urge to run before I should, becomes harder and harder.

Everyone over the last week has been discussing the announcement for the torchbearers for the 2012 Olympic Games.  I was exceedingly excited as I had been nominated seven times for the honour of running with the Olympic torch.  However, it was not to be.  Unfortunately, I was not chosen as a torchbearer and, although I’m disappointed, I’m not down hearted as the competition for the places was incredibly tough.   The selection committees must have had an awfully difficult time in choosing the torchbearers and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been part of that selection process.  In fact, I am over the moon for those that succeeded in becoming torchbearers for the Olympic Games and wish them all the very best.  Personally, it’s a bit of a relief.  With what I had planned for the forthcoming year and the imminent arrival of baby-to-be, I’m sure you’d agree that I’ll have my hands full.

It’s that time of year again when an athlete looks to his sponsors for their continued support for the following year.  This week, both Garmin and Buff have stepped up and confirmed their continuing support with kit for 2012, for which I am extremely grateful.  Thanks guys!

Preparations are still in swing for the Trans-USA Challenge, and there is still a long way to go.  Some calls during the ongoing preparations have made me smile and others leave you impressed and wondering why other organisations arn’t as slick.  One in particular was the incredible help and assistance by the New York City Mayors Office, whose customer service team did not bat an eyelid when I explained what I hope to achieve on the Trans-USA Challenge and what I need to realise this.  As explanations go, mine is a big one but with a suitably calm, extremely polite and capable demeanour the customer service team took my ambitious requests in their stride even throwing in a suitable “Cool” for reassurance that they’d understood.  Within less than 2 minutes I had the details that I needed without the usual intake of breath and a question of “really?”.  Hugely refreshing!  Thank you New York City Mayors Office.

Last news is the announcement that my eldest son got the highest mark in his school for mathematics. A 97% score means that my lad came top of his year and his class!  I’m such a proud dad!

Right, all work and no play makes me a dull boy. It’s time to get training and finalising the races for 2012.

Keep moving!

Hi all,

This last week has been quiet.  Training has been progressing, notwithstanding the debilitating effects of my flu jab at the beginning of the week.  However, aside from planning the trans-USA challenge I have been learning about patience.  I’m sure that those who know me would describe me as impulsive, stubborn, and occasionally single-minded.  However, I believe that recent events have highlighted that I can be, at times, more patient than I thought possible.

This line of thought started, I believe, on my arrival home from the Otter Trail Race earlier this last October.  I knew that it may take some time, with my injury, to get back to full fitness and ability.  This has not meant that I would forsake every effort to get back to racing as quickly as possible, but it’s more an awakening to the fact that it would take effort across a longer period of time and that there would be no quick bounce back.  Considering this I’ve realised that the same thing occurred to me back in 2005 and I recall that I exuded patience…albeit on a slight learning curve.

Once a year there is a race called the Hairy Legs Challenge.  This race takes place in the gorgeous countryside around Goring on Thames, in Oxfordshire, UK.  The area is outstandingly beautiful and has more Trail than you can shake a stick at.  The race is a duathlon, comprising a 5k run with a 20k bike ride with a 5k run at the end.  No great shakes you might think.  However, it’s the terrain the makes the challenge a challenge.

I would like to say at this point that I have the dubious honour of being the guy who changed the bike route.  It was 2005 and I was a week away from running the Three Peaks Challenge when I took part in the Hairy Legs as a pre-Three Peaks warmer.  The 5K run went well and transition onto the bike was smooth; with a quick exit towards the Ridgeway.  What was not so smooth was my descent down the Ridgeway, the then challenging bike route.  The Ridgeway is a prehistoric road stretching over 85 miles from Ivanhoe Beacon and ending near Avebury in Wiltshire (which I ran back in 2009). The track is rough and in places rutted; sometimes extremely so.  What I failed to appreciate on my rapid descent, at over 40 miles an hour, was the small but not insignificant sign on the left, which clearly stated the words “bear left”.  Well, the red mist was down that day and I was determined to finish strong.  So, shortly after passing the small but not insignificant sign I hit the drainage pipes graciously put there to preserve the road from the deluge of water it receives when it rains.  I made it over the first two pipes but the third stopped my bike short. I was thrown from the bike and somersaulted as I covered the twenty metres before landing; narrowly missing breaking my neck but triumphantly separating my shoulder, breaking my collarbone along with most of my rib cage and puncturing both my lungs.  They airlifted me…as they said I would die if taken by road.

After returning from hospital, there were weeks of frustration and inactivity.  Boredom got to me and I even tried to do press-ups within a month and a half but my shoulder was just too crunchy.  Finally, after many failed attempts to do crunchy press-ups, I learned to be patient and that great achievements (like getting well) take small steps.  Returning to the present, my injury in the Otter Trail Race has again made me realise that patience is needed and that, although I am back running very short distances, with diligence and a little time I will be able to cover the distances that I’m used to.

So why can I not apply the same patience to the imminent arrival of my third son?  This week has seen both myself and Aurélie at the hospital with all the right indications that my boy is ready to be born. However, the midwives have alternative views and sent us home.  I have patience. It truly is a virtue, but one I am finding hard to find…. Endeavour to persevere is what I keep telling myself.   Endeavour to persevere.

Keep moving!

Hi all,

This will be the first blog since registering with Blogs for Kindle.  So, a swift hello and thank you for subscribing to this blog if you’re reading it on a Kindle!  It’s a bit of an experiment for me and one which was suggested by Russ Cox.  It was one of those amazing conversations while discussing daft races that accidentally produce great ideas.

On the home front becoming a dad (again) is big on the agenda. The baby has not yet been born at the time of writing.  Aurélie is massively pregnant and baby to be is ready to go as he’s ever going to be!  It’s a waiting game and I’m impatient to see my new little boy.  In any event, I’ll keep you posted.

Events this week have been wide ranging.  The news that the forthcoming GoTrail magazine will be a double issue and contain the 10MillionMetres article on the Otter Trail is really exciting.  I can’t wait to see the magazine, the photos and the new film from Motion Pixel.  I think you’ll like it too. I am told that it will be out sometime later today, so check out www.gotrail.co.za when you can.

I have also been busy with another film; namely, highlights from my speech at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford (UK) on 9 November 2011.  You can find it on the video-wall of my website at www.alexflynn.co.uk/the-video-wall I’d love some feedback. So don’t be shy. Please get in touch via the contacts page of my website.

Talking of getting in touch, the BBC has come knocking.  Well, nothing definite yet but there could be a possibility of being involved in a new program.   No promises. However, it is exciting to be approached.  I’ll keep you updated.  I met with the person involved (I think it a bit premature to print names) and had a long discussion over coffee which, I think, was productive. I then had to go and meet with a recruiter, as I was made redundant last week.  So of course, the guy from the BBC came too.  Slightly unique and I’m sure it left an impression on the recruiter, lol.

Later that same evening, I attended a soirée for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.  The evening is the Cure Parkinson’s Trust’s annual thank you to all their fundraisers, and the room was packed.  I’m really grateful for the fantastic words from the Cure Parkinson’s Trust thanking me for my fundraising, which I would like to point out, could not have been possible without the fantastic donations of everyone who has given to this worthy charity; including Mimi Anderson, Danny Lavender and of course, not forgetting my core sponsor the deVere group.  A good night and a lot of interest was generated in the 10MillionMetres campaign.

Most importantly, training has stepped up a notch or two and I am really feeling the benefit.  What with the effort of tackling the CYBEX machine (giving me the grimace in the photo, left) , swimming and cycling, the ankle is coming on. So much so that the wonderful Gerry, from ActiveVIII, has said that I can start running again from the end of next week.  Big smiles…now comes the slow climb to full fitness.

I’ve been here before and I know I can do it.  What’s more with the plans I have for 2012, I have plenty to work hard for!

Keep moving!

Hi all,

I will preface this blog with the understanding that the full story, all the details, the pain, worry, excitement, the good, bad and everything will be published in the forthcoming GoTrail Magazine. It will be a big read…and I’ll let you know when my African Experience can be read.

So, while resting my up and being brief (to avoid James from GoTrail telling me off) ….

In short, I went to South Africa with the amazing and talented Mr Johnny Ultra; to whom I owe a huge debt of thanks.  The country, the people, the hospitality, and the welcome we received were amazing. We ran in Durban, visited and also ran at the unique and iconic Hole-in-the-Wall, stayed at the beautiful Nature’s Valley and stared in wonder at the spectacular and effervescent Cape Town.  We met truly astounding athletes who are clearly passionate about trail running, and together pitted ourselves against the Otter Trail…the “Holy Grail” of trail…and if you’ve been following my 10MillionMetres Facebook page you’ll know that I rolled the ankle and…the rest will be revealed all too soon.

In the meantime, I want to say thank you to and for the following:

• The wonderfully kind James and Suzanna Hallett for the amazing adventure that has still yet to be finished and all the great coverage that GoTrail has given to 10MillionMetres to date;
• John and Mark Collins, the whole of Magnetic South and the support team including all the amazing volunteers (especially Steven and Melody) for their help, support and for putting on the Otter Trail Race!! See you next year chaps J
• Motion Pixel – movies, movies, movies!!!
• Salomon South Africa – thank you guys for the kit and the warm welcome!!!!!
• VW Commercial Vehicles SA – thank you, thank you, thank you for supplying the amazing Amarok Double Cab!!!  I highly recommend the vehicle.  It did the job, took the kit (and then some) across all kinds of terrain and was comfortable too!  Andile – you did us proud!
• Orca, CompresSport, X-Bionic, Buff (always wear one) PowerBar Nutrition and Polaroid Sunglasses – thank you!

Lastly, and most importantly, thanks must go to my core sponsor the deVere Group, for their continuing support and belief in my 10MillionMetres campaign and for making change happen!

Keep moving!

I have two London to Rome Trans Europe race shirts (as worn on the route – but now washed – they are clean) for the two highest donations received by 5pm GMT Sunday September 11, 2011

I am really attached to theses shirts but it goes to a worthy cause so I’ll get over it.  All donations will go to the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.   Donate now to have a chance of winning on the justgiving donate now buttons on this site.

Good luck!

Hi

I’m just back from a ride on my new bike. Yes, I have finally gotten hold of my new TT bike for triathlons! It is beautiful! I have to say huge thank you to Athletes Services of Henley-on-Thames who assembled the bike (with a bit of amateur help from me) and provided fantastic encouragement when, quite honestly, I was a bit nervous about getting on a time Trial bike. I know that seems ridiculous, but I’m used to drop bars on road bikes so extending oneself down onto the bars like a pro cyclist felt alien. However, I think I’m getting the hang of it. In fact, I know I am and the miles are just flying by!

It is been an incredible seven days. Beginning the week with the news that my doctor suspects I have a stress fracture of my right tibia was not good. I’m still waiting for the MRI scan date but I’m confident that I will be in full form for the Challenge Henley Triathlon in September. So, getting the bike sorted was an imperative. I have to say thanks to Tim from CompresSport who kindly let me use his road bike in the interim. It’s amazing that when you need help you can always count on your friends! So the beginning of the week was bike building mixed with a heavy dose of swimming; coached by Russ Cox.

Midweek became completely surreal. As I mentioned last blog, I received a letter inviting me for an audience with the Pope; courtesy of the efforts of my friend Roberto. Thanks mate! So, on Tuesday morning I flew out to Rome with my brother Jon. This was a good opportunity to catch up with my brother whom I don’t see enough of, and we had a good laugh. Getting to Rome was easy. Taking the taxis was like playing Russian roulette! Both of us agreed that taxi drivers in Rome would either make the best Formula One drivers in the world or the best getaway drivers! I have to say they demonstrated amazing skill, insane courage, and remarkable multitasking whilst being incredibly scary and fun at the same time.

The trip was to see the Pope. Now I don’t mind what people think, whether it’s not their religion, or that they’re not religious at all. For me, to be in the presence (by invitation) of one of the most powerful people on the planet, having your name read out and then being blessed by the head of the Roman Catholic Church is quite something. I’d like to think that this is an incredible validation of my efforts to raise funding for and awareness of Parkinson’s for the 10MillionMetre campaign. Either way, it was huge encouragement and one which I am truly grateful for.

So the return from Rome was back to work, training and my wedding anniversary weekend. The weekend was great save for a couple of occasions when I did jazz hands at the waiters in the restaurant of the hotel that Aurélie and I were staying in. I don’t think they noticed but even if they did they didn’t say anything. I just sat there with my hand grasping my thigh and hoping that the tremors would pass and not ruin the occasion. It does frustrate me but I’m learning to control the stress that comes with tremor and Parkinson’s symptoms. You see, stress makes your symptoms worse when you have PD. The problem is that when you become stressed your PD gets worse and so you become more stressed and so the PD gets worse again, and the problem becomes one great big cycle. I’m getting better at breaking the cycle. It won’t cure my PD but socially it’s better, for now.

That’s it for now. Just remember to keep a positive mental attitude. As positive mental attitude equals positive performance and positive performance makes change happen!

Make change happen to yourself and others today. Keep moving!!

Hi

A couple of weeks have passed and a lot has happened. I’ve been on the radio. BBC Radio Oxford (the Malcolm Boyden show) invited me along for an interview.  It was interesting finally meeting Malcolm, as he had initially interviewed me over the phone whilst I was in Dubai running the marathon.  He’s a good interviewer and both him and Harry (the producer of the show) made me feel at ease.  Thanks guys.  I look forward to catching up after 11 August.

Why 11 August?   That’s a good question and one which deserves a good answer.  It seems, that while I was running across Europe , my good friend Roberto was busy making plans.  Roberto wrote to the Vatican.  Yes, the Vatican in Rome. Now why would Roberto do that?   Well I was running to Rome and I did mention in passing that it would be the icing on the cake to meet the Pope.   Although I knew that that was highly unlikely and that it really wasn’t worth worrying about. Roberto on the other hand thought this was a fantastic idea and promptly set about putting matters in place.  Would you believe it?   Roberto wrote to the Vatican and the Vatican replied offering an invitation to meet the Pope!  Wow!!  Now I don’t know whether this is a one-to-one, with a couple of people, or 1000 people.  What I do know is I’m very privileged and honoured to have such an invitation. So next week I get to meet the Pope! I really did not expect this. I’ll keep you updated.

Drama is always good on television.  But drama in one’s life is often unwanted.  I have had drama occur to me in the form of my doctor suggesting that I may have a stress fracture of my right tibia!  The reason that this came about was that since the trans-Europe challenge my right leg hasn’t completely gone down (from being grossly inflamed). I had thought that the tendinitis hadn’t quite resolved itself and the leg being still swollen was beginning to bother me.  So I rocked up to the medical surgery and explained what I had done.  The doctor raised her eyebrows.  I then proceeded to explain about the leg and that there was a sore point halfway up my shin.  I offhandedly asked whether or not she thought that my tendinitis was still continuing and, if so,whether or not there was anything she could do about it.  After examining my leg and pressing the sore point on my shin several times (and I admit that it hurt) she’d said that she thought that I had developed a stress fracture somewhere around the early stages of the trans-Europe.  I was extremely surprised.  Well, wouldn’t you be?  If this was true this would mean that somewhere around day three of the trans-Europe I must’ve been running on a damaged leg and if this is correct, then I ran the best part of 500 miles to Paris on that leg!!!  That’s hard!!  In fact, that’s bloody tough!  Okay, I’m jumping ahead a bit.  This is quite serious and I need to make sure I know exactly what I’m dealing with so that I can train correctly (or not train – if that is the case) and hopefully keep the Challenge Henley and Otter Trail chances alive.  Therefore, this morning I’m off to have an x-ray.  I know that there are some of you who would say that you can’t always see a stress fracture from an x-ray.  Yeah,  that’s correct and if so, they going to give me an MRI.  Either way, I’ll let you know.  I guess running is out of the question at the moment but riding my bike and swimming are totally on!!

Lastly, if you happen to pick up the latest edition of Reader’s Digest, I’m in it at pages 72 to 76.  It can be picked up at all good newsagents in the UK and I am told that it’s going worldwide (except for the US).  Speaking of the USA, plans are being made for next year and crossing the whole of the USA. More information to come as it develops!

So as you can see, it’s never a dull moment!  Have a great day.  Choose to make change happen and keep moving!