Sunday 25th July - 34Mile Ride by paul0010 at Garmin Connect - Details

Attached finishes off a great week of riding coming back from a bad infection.

209.66 Miles
10 Hours 20 mins on the bike
6,105 Calories burnt
Max Speed - 50.4mph - Staxton Hill!
Average Speed - 16.95mph over the 4 rides

Objectives for this week are....

250 Miles
14 Hours on the bike
7,500 Calories
Max Speed - 52mph!
Average Speed - 17mph

and, continue with the fundraising work done so far (and the great work Nikki and my Mum have done)

£490 just under half way

Sunday 25th July - 34Mile Ride by paul0010 at Garmin Connect - Details

Saturday 24th July - 111Mile Ride by paul0010 at Garmin Connect - Details

Just returned from the longest ride I have done for a while (in fact I think I have ever done).

With six weeks to go I have had a really strong week on the bike and in total since last Saturday have completed 270 miles with the bike one today been 111miles.

I have been really consistent duruing the week and have been doing some intense hill work and high speed 40mile routes.

Todays 111 mile was really satisfying and again another learning curve.

I was loaded to with as much fuel as possible, 3 Mule Bars, wine gums, banana, nut bars and plenty of electrolyte fluids.

My concern is that towards the end of the ride I had a slight twinge in my left knee which sometimes I could ride off and other times it was slightly uncomfortable and I could feel myself putting more pressure on my right leg. I will give it an extra week of training and if it gets any worse I will get some physio on it.

Plan for the morning is to get out early doors and do a 40mile ride to round off a solid weekend on biking, 150miles....

Oh yeah, 50mph down Staxton Hill without pedaling has to be the highlight, check out the stats..........


Saturday 24th July - 111Mile Ride by paul0010 at Garmin Connect - Details

Bike Ride Tuesday 24th July Garmin Connect -

Ride details for some hill training undertaken on the 24th July

Untitled by paul0010 at Garmin Connect - Details

Ride Thursday 26th July Garmin Connect Details

Just testing the new purchase of the GPS computer from the ride out with Ben on Thursday 26th July.

Untitled by paul0010 at Garmin Connect - Details

Cant wait to download load tomorrows ride, 120miler planned..........

Highs and Lows ......

I first of all want to say a massive thank you to everyone's well wishes and sponsorship for the up and coming ride. Its been incredible and has given me a real sense of support and motivation for what lays ahead.

I wite this blog with the title of Highs and Lows. The last two weeks has seen me suffer from a nasty viral infection that left me with ulcerated blisters in my mouth leaving me to only have liquids and struggle to even swallow. The last week I really was in agony and had to go to hosiptal to increase the medication in order to clear it. The medication has nearly run its course and already I feel back to my normal self. In the run up to catching this I had a really strong week on the bike, several 35milers during the week and one big 95mile ride to Bridlington and back. Work had ben extremelly busy and I am thinking I might have been burning the candle too much at both ends.......

Nevertheless, this has to go as a positve. Why? It has to be a learning curve for whats to come. I cant carry on as I have been giving 110% to work, family and trying to do this on the bike and training. You cant do everything can you and it has stretched me too far this time.............

Having this viral infection has allowed me re assess and re focus on whats important over the short time and what I need to do to achieve this goal of riding the JOGLE in 2010.

JOGLE 2010 now has to become my priority and I have to put this first. Im not moving out and going into a retreat for the next 7 weeks in prep for the ride but I have to do is get my head in focus to understand the folowing...........

• Use my time management more efficiently.

I need to have a cut off piont with work otherwise I will and do at times work from 7am till 9pm. Its the nature of the job, having my pc and there always been things to do can lead to working not effeciently and "wasting time on the pc". I dont have that luxury over the next 7 weeks if I want to complete this challenge. I need to work smarter and stick to it.

Target - Start work @ 8am and finish @ 5pm. No work on an evening fullstop.

Spend that quailty time with the kids till they go down to sleep then out on the bike.

This will prove challenging as I have been promoted at work to another Sales Manager role. I have slight knowledge of the chanel and role so hopefully work load shouldnt increase too much.

• Consistency

Critical is consistency on the bike and ensuring I never leave it any longer than 2 days for been out on the bike. I need as much time on the saddle as possible to get used to the longer rides.

Target - x3 35 mile rides during the week with one big ride at the weekend - 90+

In additon to this I will be looking at taking a half day holiday in the coming weeks on a Friday. I will get out for 8 hours and aim to do 120miles. The Saturday and Sunday I will aim to do the same so I get 3 back to back long rides (37.5% of what I will do on the JOGLE). I think this will give me a real indication of how the training is going and my level of fitness in the run up to the event.

I plan to do this in 3 weeks time (Friday 13th August).

• Diet
  

For me this area is critcal. I need to support the training I am doing and the calories I am burning but also I need to build my strength and stamina back to where it was and to another few levels. I have devised a diet plan which is so far going well and involves alot planning and preparing. I need to buy some more suplements for the before, during and after rides to ensure I ride to the best of my ability but recover as quickly as possibly ready for the next session.

I want to end this short blog with how I started it and thats by thanking everyon who has sent text messages of support, made donations on the justgiving site and given their words of encouragement on there. This is isnt a challenge I am taking likely and if I am totally honest I am in the very back of my mind wondering how I am going to it! Its an ambition of mine and I know I will do it, I have a plan to work towards to get me in the best shape possible, I am going to restructure the way I work and use this time to make it more beneficial for me and one of the key reasons is the Parkinsons Charity research which I am committed to doing everything possible to achieve the £1k goal........

Date for your diaries - Saturday 18th Sept 2010 - May Towers - Party & Auction to drive that fundraising....

Finally, I have put below the list of sponsors from the justgiving site. Only a couple of weeks old and already a healthy £390. Thanks again everyone, this really feels like something special and something I know I will look back on in years to come and think, "What was I thinking!"

Sunday 18th July......

Target: £1,000.00

Raised so far: £390.00

Hi Paul, what a great thing you are doing, good luck from the Tarrier's, we know you can do it. xx Donation by Pam Tarrier on 17/07/10
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

my friend did the lejog earlier this year but over 16 days- she was knackered!good luck and hope you enjoy, Donation by sally holmes on 17/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

A real challenge to take on, we wish you every success and you have the full support of the WELTONS Donation by Michael Welton on 17/07/10
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Hi Paul, all the best for the ride. We'll be supporting you all the way. Good luck. Nat and Dash x Donation by Darshan Inman on 16/07/10
£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Good luck mate! Sounds like it will be a great challenge! Keep the Vaseline handy! Gareth Donation by Gareth Ropke on 15/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

GO DADDY! We know you can do it because your the best daddy in the world. We love you so much xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Donation by Nyah & Ciara - Daddys Girls May on 15/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck darling I am so proud of you and know how much this means. Ride baby ride!!!!!xxxx Donation by Nikki May on 15/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Go Paul! Go Paul! You can do it....Be thinking about you on the 5th September. Good luck. XXXX Donation by Val Jeffery on 13/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Grandad's are so precious Paul - so it's such a good cause. Rooting and hooting for yer! Good luck mate. Top supportive wife Nikki! Donation by David Jeffery on 13/07/10
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

All the best Paul, a good cause and will be thinking of you. Take Care x Donation by Jane McCarthy on 13/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

We've come along way since jogging around Kirkella with a rugby ball and ankle weights!. Enjoy the experience buddy. With you every step of the way. Donation by Ben Thurlow on 12/07/10
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Paul mate. Hope you get as much as you can and sort of enjoy the whole thing!!! Donation by James Chapman on 12/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Paul, I am sure you will do great! Donation by Sarah Curtis on 09/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck mate. As the current North region 200 metre time trial champion you should complete this in no time. Donation by Lee Evans on 08/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Enjoy this is a once in a lifetime challenge and not an easy one ! Donation by Leigh Hems on 08/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hi Paul, Great Idea for training! Cycle to North East each day to do accomps, will help with the CRS agenda and get you fit & ready. Good Luck, Paul. Donation by Paul Jacobs on 07/07/10
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck Bro, don't get too saddle soar! xx Donation by Sarah May on 07/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

All the best Paul and good luck. Donation by David Harker on 06/07/10
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

All the very Best Paul Grandma & Grandad XX Donation by Chris May on 06/07/10
£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid Donate now

Lots to update..........

1/ All signed up for the JOGLE 2010 is awesome. Out of any challenges I have done I think this is going to be the biggest. 1,000miles over 8 days completing 120miles a day. Seriously tough challenge but a realistic one and with the charity for Parkinson's research makes this an extra motivation for my Granddad. Training for the ride is going ok. Id like toget out more but work is manic and Im not feeling 10% at the moment, probably because work is so manic. Ben was up at the weekend so I set the alarm for 4:30am and we set off from Elloughton to Bridlington and back covering 90miles in 5 hours. We both felt really good after the ride and it gave us alot of confidence completing nearly a tonne.

Training really needs to pick up now with more consistent riding during the week nights with one big ride on a weekend. Im suffering at the moment with a bit of a sore throat and feeling hot and cold which isnt making me want to get out on the bike. As soon as I feel I am out the other side of feeling like this then I will be out on the bike.

While I am like this and Im hoping it will only last another day or so I am going to aim to nail down a training plan for the remainder of the time before the challenge. This will enable me to work towards sustainably getting fitter day by day. I want to be able to complete this challenge in one piece and as comfortably as possible, not just scrapping through as then there becomes a point of potentially not completing. I dont want to look back on the training and think, I wish I had done....... there are no excuses, its down to me.

Im just watching the Tou of France and its the 3rd stage along the cobbles section. Its awesome! There have been so many accidents since the start of the tour that it really has thrown things open.

http://www.justgiving.com/PaulMay1

I have set up the "just giving" in order to achieve the £1k target for Parkinsons.

The 1000 mile cycle from John O' Groats to Land's End (JOGLE)....... the classic cycling trip.....this time with a difference!
On september 5th 2010, I will be joining 99 other riders on an extraordinary and unique team ride to cycle the length of Britain in just 8 days. This will mean each of the 100 strong team riders averaging 120miles per day in the saddle!
Our collective aim is to each raise a minimum of £1000 pounds towards groundbreaking research into Parksinson's disease. 100 riders = £100,000. At the start of the year my Granddad was diagnosed with the start of Parkinsons so this is a challenege in not only completing the JOGLE 2010 but raising the money to see this goes into supporting the disease.
Of course this would not be possible without the imagination and ongoing hard work of James Bowthorpe, our team leader and a true cycling hero having recently smashed the guiness world record by circumnavigating the globe on a bike in just 176 days in aid of Parkinson's disease research!
This challenge would not be able to happen without the Love and Support from my wife Nikki (Letting me go for 8 days!) who is putting up with me talking bikes, training, diet and living with me eating, breathing and looking forward to this JOGLE 2010.
Wish me luck....I'm gonna need it
Best wishes and thanks again for your support
Paul

Night away in Leeds

Aside from cycling, me and Nikki had a great night away in Leeds staying at the Mal. The girls stayed at my Mum and Dads and it was great just to walk around Leeds, drink coffee and catch up as daft as that sounds. Life is so hectic sometimes that you can forgt each other but having the night away is the opportunity to spend that quality time together and as usual get so excited in the run up to it but after a couple of hours miss the girls like mad!

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...............