When I sat down with Kate and Matt from the university at my first sports psychology session I remember telling them ‘This has to be the last big event’. Most people who know me might remember 10 years ago when I was a 17st 7lb lump. I know I still haven’t got a perfect athlete’s body but I’m much fitter now, that’s thanks to my drive to push myself to the limit.
2007 saw the madness begin with a solo cycle ride from Dover to Lands End. Then in 2009 I cycled solo from Osborne school to every premiership football and rugby club in the country, including the two national stadiums in just 12 days (1108 miles). Then 2013 saw me take part in my first triathlon with Katie, travelling from Southampton to Dunstable (99 miles triathlon). After that event I was hooked on triathlons so in 2015 I took part in my first ever Ironman. During all of this I have taken part in marathons, 10km swims and ultra running events. That brings us to 2017 and this challenge.
This challenge has really pushed myself and the girls to the limit. We knew it would, but raising awareness for the HMSA and Pippa’s condition is worth all the effort.The level of commitment a challenge like this requires brings me back to my original comment of ‘This has to be the last big event’. As you can see my challenges have got bigger and bigger as the years have passed. So although this isn’t me hanging up my trainers, it is me stepping back a bit. As a family we don’t know what the future holds for us, so I want to spend more time with my girls and not be always training or at events.
I plan to carry on working with the HMSA to help raise awareness by doing marathons and maybe even one day another Ironman. I am not stopping, I’m just not doing anything of this size again. So with that in mind my long suffering friends and family will no longer be pestered to sponsor or donate to my latest challenge. I will keep an ongoing fundraising page, but I intend to spend more time trying to raise awareness of the work the HMSA do to help people like Pippa through sport.
So with this in mind please, please, please help me smash my target for this challenge. I really want to finish strong. I know it sounds cheesy but every little does help. Please dig deep and help me hit my £5000 target for an amazing charity, head to www.ironcause.co.uk/donate
