Yesterday was a really great day…
Started early with a swim with Russ Cox. Russ is a talented triathlete and coach who recently completed in the Kona World Ironman Championships. As per usual, Russ was exceedingly patient with the fact that I still have my fear of water. However, over the last month of Russ coaching me, my swimming has improved. The legs are no longer flinging wide and sideways, upsetting my balance in the water and dragging me backwards instead of forwards. I never realised there was so much to know about swimming and body position!! Why being flatter the water is better than my habitual swimming like a brick and realising the necessity of swim drills, which that have seemingly passed me by. These having been pointed out to me in particular clarity, I’m grateful for his attention to detail! Cheers mate!!
In addition to the swimming I was visited yesterday by the two Phils www.Pjpvideo.com ( soon to be rebranded) is a vehicle for both Phil and Phil to exercise their creative skills as photographer and filmmaker, respectively. Both of them rocked up with a major amount of kit. The explanation to which is that you never know what you will need. It was a bit of a bizarre experience watching box after box and bag after bag of materials and equipment being shoved through the door of my small house. It was decided that the kitchen was the most apposite place to shoot me for a promo film that may hopefully realise sponsorship towards my 10MillionMetre challenge. The plan is that they will film the entirety of the challenge which I hope will have me running across the world via the UK, Dubai, across Europe, and traversing the USA. It should be quite some event and I’m excited that they’re both on board. The end of the shoot was spent by the Thames. I ran up and down the tow path and was even filmed in slow motion (not me the camera) while passing by bemused people out walking their dogs. The hounds were ignoring the runner with the funny leg and more interested in scaring the birds off the river path. It was cold but extremely fun. I am told that the draft edit will be ready by Thursday next week. Keep your attention here and I’ll update you as soon as.
Notwithstanding the continual advancement of my Parkinson’s, I have been lucky enough to be asked to participate in a Europe-wide selection process to select 20 people across Europe to have stem cell therapy in a new clinical trial. I have to state that this therapy is not a given and I may be one of those who don’t get the chance, but to have the opportunity is a real boost!!! In fact the first meeting where I was asked loads and loads of questions was conducted by two very beautiful and charming women. Tricky to answer some questions I can tell you. Nonetheless, answer I did and hopefully (ignoring the embarrassment factor on my part – yeah, really!!) I believe that I did well as I have been asked back. The selection process will continue through 2011 and I will post me progress here… I am a bit nervous to be truly honest. Keep your fingers crossed.
Life with a new job is settling into the familiar routine of trying to find the appropriate time and space to fit in family, the work, and also training. With that I’m heading out the door, first to buy a Christmas tree and second to get myself down the gym. I think today is a rowing day with a run afterwards. A run in the cold air to clear my head and get my thoughts together for the Dubai marathon which looms ahead in January 2011.Anyone else running Dubai? Let me know…
Keep moving and have a great weekend.