20th March – More Training!!

Well today was a different training day. I’ve spent a few sessions on hills, today I thought I would do some flat training, in comparison! I went from my house, to Brighton Pier and back, which totaled 23.39 miles. Loved it, could have carried on longer and further! This gave me hope, as not all of the Paris ride will be uphill, and I got and maintained some decent speed today. As usual, route can be seen here.

If you keep reading this, then you must be interested in what I am doing. Whoever you are, whatever you do in life, please please donate on my just giving page. All proceeds go to Chestnut Tree House, a wonderful charity here in Sussex.

 

Hope you enjoy my little blogs on my training, keep tuning in as during 10th-14th April I will be blogging each night on my way down to Paris! 

Au Revoir!

18th March – Hill Training

Well today was another productive day, even if it didn’t feel like it!

Firstly I went out and brought all the cycling clothing I need for the journey. After trying on different styles, different combinations, finally found a short and t shirt set which not only looked ok, but more importantly, felt comfortable. Muddy Fox Pure was the range I chose, and as bizarre as it sounds, sports direct had a decent choice and good value. Top marks for them.

So today’s training was again, hills. I know this is my weakness, I know I am struggling. So what better way to overcome this by doing it again and again and again. I took a similar route to last time, but in reverse. I went from Sompting up over the downs to Stenying, died, then carried west out of Stenying to the A24 roundabout at Washington. Then a cycle down the A24 to Worthing and back home. This was a total of 16.62 miles, and the route can be seen here.

I wore the cycling clothes to get a feel for them, however because it was cold I wore a pair of jogging bottoms over the shorts. The shorts have some padding on them, in the much needed areas for padding, and I am sure they will be a life saver come the second and third day!! I really did not enjoy the hills, but I had a huge lunch a few hours previous, which now in hindsight, is a bad bad move!! But a lesson learnt!

 

As usual, please visit my just giving page here, and donate whatever you can for Chestnut Tree House. I’ve been to the house, seen what they do, and the deserve 100x more money than I could ever raise. They have a website here, and its well worth seeing what they do, and how anyone can help fund raise for them.

 

Thats enough from me, enjoy the rest of Monday, and I’ll blog again after my next painful session!

Dave

Training Update – March!!

Well a lot has happened since I last blogged. I’ve now turned 30, had an amazing week of family and friends. But before this, I had sinusitis and a cold, which really damaged the training!

 

14th March I did a seafront cycle consisting of 17 miles. The hardest part of this was the temperature, -2 and a sea breeze. Was very cold! But good fun! Route can be seen here

Today, I decided to attempt some hills! OMG! I went from Stenying to Sompting, and the hills were silly. Luckily for me, the hill was the same height as what I have to do, but it was over 2x as steep. This caused some pain, serious pain, but I know if I train hard on this hill, the real thing will be easier! Again you can see the route here. Note the green line is elavation, just look at the bugger at 11/12 miles!!! LOOK!!! 🙂

 

As always, I am doing this for charity. Chestnut Tree House is the only childrens hospice in Sussex. The job they do is mind blowing, and it amazes me how the do it. I could not do what they do, I would break down, but I can raise money! 

 

My just giving page is here, please please please donate. £1 is not a lot these days, but to this charity, its a massive amount and every £1 helps. Please donate. This training is breaking my legs, its my way of raising money, please play your part 🙂

OK thats its for me, been a while but I’ve been busy being ill and getting old 🙂 Training is in full swing again, more hills, more climbs, more distance!

Dave signing off, enjoy your weekends!

Training update!!

Hi,
Been a great few days training. Sunday didn’t go as planned. When I was out at 6am, it was -4 degrees, so cycling was hard work. After 5 miles the cold was burning my throat, so I had to turn around and get home. I was a little gutted, but I did some hill work and also trained in the cold, all helpful stuff!

Yesterday was a great cycle. Did a one hour 13 mile trek around worthing. Did some slight hill work along with long straights. Felt good, could have carried on for miles more!!

So in summary, after my injury, I’ve bounced back, and hitting the road and clocking up the miles!!

Goodbye world, until next time
Dave

Todays outdoor cycle!

World!

          So today was a change, I normally sit on the indoor bike whilst the wife puts the child to bed. I thought I would go out on the road, get a feel for the air in my lungs and see how Im doing in real conditions.

 

Pretty damn good was the answer. Okay I wasn’t out for a long period or went very far (just shy of ten miles) but I did it very easily with little effort, and in a faster time than I have done in the past.

Click here for my route\speed\altitude tracked out on a map. See my progress for real 🙂

 

Sunday sees me getting up at 6am on my day off, so I can do a 23 mile cycle to really test myself.

 

Remeber everyone why I am doing this, to raise money for charity. Clicky clicky if you feel the urge to donate. I am cycling London to Paris to raise money for life limiting \ end of life children in Sussex. Thank you.

 

Stay safe everyone, chat again Sunday!

Dave

Yesterday

World!
Yesterday saw me return to the exercise bike since getting my injury, I didn’t do too much, just minutes of a gentle cycle on an easy-ish setting. No niggling pain afterwards, so this evening I will go for a full on spinning workout.

This time in 2 months, I will be half way through my journey to Paris. I cannot stress how much I am looking forward to this challenge, and the journey it entails. Please sponsor me, as you will help the lives of children who deserve so much.

Thank you, catch you next time!!

Dave

Recovery

Hello World,

                     Since Sunday, I literally have done nothing in effort to rest and recover. I am hoping this Sunday coming I can get back on the bike, only lightly, so I can continue my training \ fitness plan. Its at these times when I have to remember what I am doing this for, charity.

The childrens hospice I raise money for is a fantastic place. These kids haven’t had the best of lives, often they dont make it out of the hospice. I could not do the work the nurses and volunteers do, I would be an emotional wreck. What I can do though is fund raise for them. Every pound anyone raised for them really does work. I aim to raise as much as possible for them.

 

So if my pain in training, or later on my blogs through France make you think what I have done is worth a donation, then please visit my just giving page http://www.justgiving.com/DaveChapman2013 Thank you.

 

Well I shall let you all get back to your lives. Thanks for reading this little blog. Its not a lot in the scheme of things, but its great to see that you are interested in my fund raising efforts!

 

Take care all!!