Defining Moments.........

Wednesday 23rd June 2010 at 13:40pm my phone rings. I am sat in the garden working. I have this feeling that its Ben calling as I cant tell because my phone is upside down. I pick up the phone and see on the facia, BT. I leave it ringing for about 10 seconds wondering what he was going to say, whether he had news from the email he sent. I answered the call and said, "Have you got on news?" A reply on the other line said, "Are you ready for this!"

It was the reply I couldnt have expected in such a short space of time, "Ive had an email from him, we are onboard." I couldnt believe it. Since completing stage 5 of the Tour of Britain and even previously to that we have talked about completing the JOGLE. Having very busy careers and small families is a challenge in itself but we both have a passion for keeping fit and in particular cycling. Our aim has been to always set our sights high when aiming to do the JOGLE with the aim of completing in 8 to 10 days. Logistcally this can prove to be more difficult than actually doing the race, support cars, medical staff, where to stay, what to eat, when to eat, just a number of things to consider when taking on one of the biggest challenges you will ever do.

It all started with Ben seeing an advert in a cycling magazine that Anoushka had bought him (how she will live to regret that purchase!) so Ben sent the below email...........

Hi James,

The JOGLE 2010 sounds truely epic. I saw your advert in the cycling
magazine last night..

I write to you really in the hope that you still have places left
for the 100 rider JOGLE ??

Myself and my best buddy (Paul ) are both 30, hard working with young
families but remain keen and dedicated road cyclists . We were in fact
making plans for our own JOGLE in 9 days set for late september this
year.

Our motivation was really born out of our riding last year when we
completed a number of century rides including the Stage 5 Tour of
Britain stage in Stoke on Trent for the Prostate Cancer Charity

I work as a full time doctor and have just completed my training as a
General Practioner down in the West Midlands. I previously worked in a
Neurology unit and had quite a lot of experience with Parkinson's
disease during that job . I think it's a great cause and I'd be well
up for raising some serious cash for the charity. Paul is a highly
motivated regional Manager for Coca Cola Ltd in the North of England
lots of Powerade drinks to support our rides!!!!

Anyway, that's us. Please let me know if you are still looking for a
couple of guys to join the ride. We are would love to be part of it
and bring our own experience and skills along for the team.

Look forward to hearing from you
Regards
Ben

benthurlow@doctors.org.uk

18 hours later, Ben recieved this reply............

Hi Ben, Hi Paul.
Great to have you on board! Please find attached the info document as it stands - it really is being added to every day, but I can't keep up with it.
Congrats on completing your GP training - my dad is a semi-retired GP who will be joining us as medical officer... And Paul, that's awesome, powerade got me across a lot of the US last year. We are looking for a drinks sponsor (trying highland spring at the mo but would be well up for powerade!)...
Anyhow, have a good look at the attached and get back to me with your registration if you are still into it.
Best,
James

So from actually thinking, ill send an email and see what happens, 18 hours later and we are pretty much part of the epic JOGLE ride that will be in the Guiness Book of World Records.

Sp the planning starts here, less than 70 days to go and some serious training is going to have to take place in order to complete the 8 day challenge of 120 miles per day. A massive challenge but one that can and will be achieved through hard work, focus, grit, determination and the most importantly the will to want to do it.

What makes this even more important is that my Grandad got diagnosed at the start of the year with Parkinsons (early stages) but the main charity for the event is Parkinsons disease so this is extremelly close to my heart and something I will pursue in ensuring that £1000k fund is met through the sponsorship and achieving this challenge.

This event is still work in progress, as is the website, but below will give you a good insight into the journey thats about to take place.....

http://www.jogle2010.org/

Heres to the next 11 memorable weeks BT, and probably the 11 weeks after when we will be recovering...............

Quality time in the sun

After what felt like a lifetime of cold wintery weather, summer feels like it has finally arrived. Its become alot warmer, the nights are lighter and as a result we have been getting more enjoying the warner weather with the girls with walks along the canal and just playing out in the garden.

Its been a busy couple of weeks so i guess there is no change there. What has been different is that me and Nikki managed to get away for the night to the Mal in Leeds for some quality time together. I dropped the girls off at my mum and dads on the saturday morning then back to pick Nikki up where we then headed into Leeds. The weather was fantastic with not a cloud in the sky so we made the most of it by not doing much shopping but sitting outside our favourite restaurant in Chaoipraya eating Thai food and drinking bacardi and cokes. We then visited a new bar Nikki had been told about called the roof top bar. It was in the Granary Wharf part of Leeds and was located on the 14th floor. It had floor to ceiling glass windows and had a balcaony to sit out in the sun overlooking Leeds whilst drinking a chilled beer.

We dined on the evening in the Mal restaurant. Me and Nikki ordered the Sirlion Steak (House special) which was just to die for. I have never paid that much for a main meal and had had meat like it! It just melted in your mouth, just awesome!

Thanks to Grant (again) for spoiling us as usual by looking after us with a mega room and a bottle champagne as well. Top man, really appreciate it.

The weekend after saw us arrange a Thai night with friends. What a laugh we had. I suggested fancy dress so i came as a back packer (wow my back was aching by the end of the night!) Nikki as a Thai lady, Tiny came as a lady boy and played the part well and Max came as a Thai lady. Katrina and Andrew came as British tourists!

Nikki was an absolute star. Although a bit stressful in the run up to the guests arriving in trying to get everything ready the food tasted absolutely fantastic. She had spent time making it all fresh and from scratch and did a cracking job.

Training has been going ok. Not fantastic but not desperate. Ive been averaging around 2 session a week and trying to get out on my bike as much possible.

On Saturday once we had put the girls down for a nap I jumped on the bike in the garden and did 20 miles in the gorgeous sun on Bens bike trainer which is the first time I have used it this year.

Ben, If you need it back, just shout. While the girls are having nap i think i will try and use it more frequently now the better weather is here.

Well, alot ot look forward to over the coming weeks, a trip to the http://www.manchestervelodrome.com/index.htm with BT which should be interesting!

A long bank holiday weekend which will be great for hopefully clocking up some miles but also spending time with Nikki and the girls.

And finally, Nikki went down to the Birmingham NEC for the annual Holistic and Beauty conference. She came back so inspired and motivated and has invested in a new retail product range called www.sparitual.co.uk

I am currently in the process of updating the website to include the retail side of selling the new products which even i have to admit do look impress. Bring on the Spa, one day my sexy wife.......

Nyahs 3rd Birthday

This week has been an action packed week full of celebrations, starting off firstly celebrating Nyahs 3rd Birthday. Nyah had been spoilt once again for her special day by me and Nikki but also both sets of grandparents in a laptop, trampoline, wendy house and lots of other toys which would take me to long to go through.

We celebrated Nyahs birthday by having a party. My Mum and Dad came over early on the morning to see the girls and bring the presents over and spent the majority of the day at ours which was great. They helped get everything ready for the party with us along with keeping the girls entertained as they where both extremelly excited. Nyahs friends included Seth, Ellie, Molly and Sam, Connor, Evie, Charlie, Anna, and Lenny. Luckily the weather was great and everyone was able to play outside. Alan who lives around the corner who walks past our house everyday with his dog and brings him to the window for the girls to see had come round to do some video footage which was great. What we didnt expect was him to come round an hour after he had left to bring a copy of the dvd round. It was brilliant and will be a great memory for the girls in years to come.

Monday saw Ben, Anoushka and our gorgeous little god daughter come over for the day. Me and Ben in typical fashion just talked bikes and training all day and ended up going out on a ride for just over an hour clocking up 24 miles at a really good pace. We then headed to the local where we had the had probably the biggest carvery I have ever had. The plates where huge and as normal I filled my plate to the top. It was great to catch up with them and see how much Angelina has grown. I must say this everytime I write a blog after they have been but we just dont seem to see each other enough with work and one thing another. Heres to catching up more this year and putting something down on paper for this lands end to john o groats ride we keep talking about..........

In total this week I have clocked up 85 miles which I am really pleased with across three rides. One ride over to Hull (30miles), One ride with Ben (25 miles) then one early 7am start on Saturday morning (30 miles). As each ride has gone on I have felt stronger and stronger in my legs. CV really dont see to be a problem and the extra hours spent in the gym this year really seems to have paid off. My only concern is a slight twinge in my left knee which keeps re occuring. plan is to sit tight and see how it goes and if dosent go away then look at getting some physio on it.

Well a busy week ahead, 2 nights away, team training in Northampton, new starters, inductions, Meeting at Xscape and then a trip to Thirsk races on Friday to end the week.

Me and Nikki really cant wait till Saturday as my mum and dad are looking after the girls and we areheading over to Leeds for Saturday night to stay at the Mal. Wwe will probably both just sleep non stop as we are so ready for the break.

This update next week will have seen a big milestone achieved and should see me getting back to a bit more normality at work, if there ever was such a thing......................

'Citius, Altius, Fortius'

DARE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

You have the power to make your life better.

LIVESTRONG DARES help you take charge and make a commitment to improve your lifestyle. Take a dare or give a dare today...........

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This is what its all about isnt it? Making changes to your life from what your doing and have come accustomed to and making it better and more fulfilled? After all we are creatures of habbit and love routine but I guess thats the difficulty in been in that routine, coming out of it and doing something different for the better. Sometimes it might be a case of not wanting to change, other times it might be not knowing how to or not knowing of any other change from what we are doing.

Why am I talking about is on a Monday Bank Holiday Easter Weekend? Well its simple, I think I have dared to change so far in 2010 (sound cornie enough!). Here is how.........

1/ Reading - Over the years I have seen reading as a good way of chilling out. The only problem is I havent felt like Ive had that time to read and chill out. I can count on one hand how many books i have read in the last 5 years. I seem to loose interest very quickly and thats probably because I have been reading the wrong books or not had enough time to finish them. 2010 has been different. Race to North Pole has seen me hooked, motivated, inspired and not like me not wanting to put the book down. I can relate to the book, it focuses on the future constantly with setting goals and working towards a specific objective. The book is about doing something that only ahandful of people of done, some that cant be done by everyone and really pushes the boundaries of team work and mental toughness to the limits.

This is something I have changed and will keep the momentum with.

2/ It Biking weather - Over The bank holiday weekend I have clocked up 55 miles. Might not sound alot but with 2 days training at the gym in the same week this is a million miles further ahead from I was this time last year. No road bike and no miles done and couldnt really go out in the gym due to the freezing temperatures. Ben came over today and we went out for just over an hour and did 25 miles. It was great to get back on the road with him and have a good catch up and look at what chalenges we where going to do in 2010.

Coast to Coast non stop looks like the favourite so far. We both really want to do Lands End to J O G but its a time thing. Is that a barrier we put in the way? Having Kids? Not really excuses as these will face us for the rest of our life. Maybe this year is a year for building on last year and 2010 might be a bit to soon for the Thurlow & May Duo?

This is something I have got the momentum with now and will be focusing on keeping it up

3/Momentum at Gym - This year has been like no other gym wise. In the first quarter of 2009 I was plagued with sickness bugs and just couldnt seem to shake them off. Going into 2010 I was concious of this and have made a real effort at the gym training on average 3 times a week at my peak but still going on my busier weeks maybe once or twice. I feel more physically and mentally stronger than I have done in a long time. Instead of just training my upper body Im giving a real focus to my overall body in particular my core, legs and cardio. The gym has also really helped me out on the bike and I fee alot stronger in my legs.

I have done a significant amount more this year than last and its creating a great foundation for my training as a whole in 2010

4/ Work Life Balance - What I am most happiest about is the fact that I have had the busiest start to the year to my work with CCE since i joined but I have really tried to not work late in an evening, every evening which has historically been the case. I like to be on top of things and action things as soon as possible (which can sometimes be a contrast to outside of work which I am aware of!) I guess i am using more hours in the day that I didnt previously.

Finally, from a work quote, "Embrace and Drive Change." Change is a common happening in our world, sometimes it comes when we expect it, sometimes when we dont, we can be happy when it happens and not so happy as well. Ultimately change happens for a reason. If you stand still, you will get over taken or not move any further forward. Everyones different, but in the pursuit of having a life full of ambitions that are fulfilled is all about embracing that change in taking ownership of driving new challenges in your life.

What will you dare to change in your life today or this week?

Make it now for the better..........

Re: Not enough hours in the day

Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn't buy an extra hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure?

3 months since i last updated my blog and trying not to sound to cornie but I really have been trying to make the most of the hours I have available during a day / week so far this year and I feel emotionally and physically much stronger because of it.

I should first of all state that I am not happy in the fact that the last update was over 3months ago when I had built up some great momentum in doing my blog. My main objective ongoing is to write a "small update" at the end of every week to deliver a short update on happenings and events.

Nevertheless the main reason for no updates (if there is to be an excuse!) is that this year has been the businest start to a year I have had to far with CCE. We have a new GTM process and I know when I reflect on these first three months (and this year) in years to come I will look back with great memories of overcoming big challenges to deliver. Implementing and been part of 6 Assessment Centers in 2 weeks, Devising and running training days, Recruitment Day at Newcastle University, Formal one to ones with team about future jobs, 4 new starters and the end of the road for another.

All in all reflecting so far this has eaten into alot of my time on an evening in order to get where I / we are today.

On the flip of work at the start of the year I was concious of the minor health problems I had at the start of the previous year with cold, sickness and general unwell feeling which lasted well into the first quarter of the year. Just after new year I joined DW Sports and its one of the best things I have done far this year. Time has been really tight but i have been managing to visit the gym at least three time a week. I have been training at 6:30am in a morning and at 8pm at night to ensure I get the sessions in. I really feel like I have some momentum with the training now and feel the best I have done in a long time, coupled with that I havent repeated any of the sickness bugs I had last year which is great.

One of the best days this year saw the family celebrate my grandma and grandads 60th Wedding Anniversary. What a special day. My Grandma hasnt been in the best of health recent, infact far from it and with my Grandad getting diagnosed with the start of Parkinsons didnt really make things feel any better. The day was just great though, my Grandma and Grandad where on brilliant form and spending it my mum and dads who had put on another great day made it feel really special.

It must be some feeling, first of all been married for 60years and secondly seeing the 4th generation of the family been born into the world........ truly amazing.

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandad.XX

The Decade in Review....................2007

The year started off as a very busy one. We lived in a 3 bedroom house but with the new arrival coming very soon we decided to get the loft converted which was a great thing to do. It allowed us much more space than we could have ever imagined and essentially made it into a 4 bedroomed house which was spot on for having guests but also having my office up there with PC etc. The worked start with Keith in the early January and the turnaround was alot quicker than we thought in just 5 weeks, all completed.

Unfortunately that wasnt it for the decorating although i wish it had been after all the glossing!

We had to prepare the new arrivals room. We decided not to find out what sex so did the decorating in quite neutral colours. Daddy to be below with more paint on his arms than on the walls!

Mummy with only 8 weeks or so to go painting the new room.......

Wetting the babies head is a must and we decided to do it before little legs was born and on St Patricks Day. What a blast we had at the local drinking Guiness and seeing how many badges we could fit onto our bodies.......

Two days before little legs was born we went to Monk Fryston with my Grandma and Grandad to celebrate their 57th Wedding Anniversary. We had a bit of lunch and a lovely walk around the grounds as usual............

Then 2 days later.................

Nyah Nicola May

born on the 8th April 2007

The picture was taken seconds after Nyah was born. Nikki was fantastic, not just through the labour but all the way through her been pregnant. Nikkis labour lastest around 42hours with the contractions gradually getting worse and worse. Having seen Nikki go through that pain was pretty hard. My respect for women who have had kids is just endless.

August 2007 also saw my best buddy Ben get married with me been best man. They tied the knot down at Warrick and it was one of the hottest days of the day and certainly a day to remember.

IOM 2007, Our 5th year at the IOM TT.

The Decade in Review....................2006

This was a milestone of a year for Nikki. She had been in sales for Inital for a couple of years and previous to that had worked all over the country in particular London where she was a Visual Merchandising Manager. Nikki had been doing this for some time and wanted to refocus her time and energy into her real passion which was Holistic and Beauty Therapy. She took time out to work part time and went back to college to study to get her qualifications in order for her to start up her own business in which she has done.

Another reason for Nikki pursuing this line of career was due to the two mis carriages she had had. Not dwelling on it but these well serious reality checks in that the stero typical view of you fall pregnant and have the baby 9 months later couldnt be further from the truth, It can be alot more complicated than that.

This picture was taken just before Nikki went for her graduation. Nikki was also recognised as the student of the year which she was over the moon with and well deserved.

http://nikkimayholistic.co.uk/

Me and Nikki also visited the North West 200 road event in Northern Island. We got the plane over then camped near to the circuit. The visit wouldnt have been the same without a trip to my hero's local bar...............

We celebrated my Grandma and Grandads 54th Wedding Anniversary this year, awesome! We celebrated by going to Crofters as a family and having some good food and few drinks. They really are remarkable for their age and really are people to look up to.

2006 also saw me get promoted from a CDDR to AE Grocery covering Bradford. This was a really enjoyable time been an AE covering the big 4 in bradford and allowed exposure to some serious volume accounts.

This picture was taken in December 2006, 3.5 months before Nikki was due to give birth. At this stage and on reflection she was quite big with still alot growing ahead of her!!!

TT 2006

We went this year with Dave and Jimmy. Me and my dad on the bikes, Dave and Jimmy in the car carrying the beers.

Morecambe’s John McGuinness won his ninth TT, blitzing the six-lap Superbike TT, winning for the second year in succession.

Riding the 1000cc HM Plant Honda Fireblade, he broke his own outright lap record from a standing start, went even quicker on the second lap and carried on to register the fastest-ever six lap average speed, winning by 39 seconds. Ian Lougher (Stobart Honda) trailed Ian Hutchinson (McAdoo Kawasaki) to begin with, but gradually reeled in the 10 seconds starting interval and maintained second to the end.

Flying Kiwi Bruce Anstey narrowly fought off the close attention of Yorkshire’s Ian Hutchinson to win his second successive Superstock TT and make it five wins in five years. The pair were rarely more than seconds apart as the four-lap race was slugged out after an hour’s delay for mist. Welshman Jason Griffiths made it three different marques in the top three placings.

At an astounding record average speed of 122.264mph and a record lap at 123.975mph John McGuinness won the Supersport TT, with Superstock race winner, Bruce Anstey second, after Ian Hutchinson was disqualified for a machine infringement. Third place was awarded to Jason Griffiths.

John McGuinness again set a blistering pace in the Senior TT race taking the outright lap record to 129.451mph on the second lap of the ‘blue-riband’ TT, and take his number of wins to 11. Australian Cameron Donald finished in runner-up place, in his second year at the TT, with fellow Antipodean Kiwi Bruce Anstey third.

2007 was going to be a massive year, new baby, new job and i guess everything that comes with that, a total new way of life............