06 Sunday Apr 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
We are getting there, slowly edging towards our target and every penny really is helping. For those that were so generous last year, please do consider helping again this year. Those who gave from February’s pay packet – could you do the same again this month?
If you have the opportunity to run an event, Andy raised over £200 with Gift aid from a bake off at work. Its hard work fund raising and asking you all for a few or a lot of pennies. But we really do need your help.
22 Saturday Mar 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
On average with personal and corporate donations we are collecting 13% in Gift aid. That means that we need to get to £44,250 to be proving Headcase with £50k in funding.
Many wonderful donations have been one-offs so we are also hoping people will consider donating again, especially those that donated last year. We are making a big difference to this charity and its ability to fund this research needed.
Over 400 people are following this blog or the twitter feed each post generates. If everyone gave another £25 we’d blow our target in one go. But anything is gratefully received. so sitting on the sofa on a Saturday eve, thinking what yuo could do, before you decide, click along to the Just Giving site and just bug a few pints worth of cash on to counter.
16 Sunday Feb 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
A morning spent at Tri UK in Yeovil gives a real understanding of the infectious passion for the sport. rows upon rows of jaw dropping works of two wheel art and walls festooned with every gadget and item of apparel you could ever wish for, from bags to socks, GPS to allen keys, creams and nutrition bars, gloves and cleats. A cornucopia of cycling heaven.
The service is at a level many of retail outlet could only aspire to, and the facilities include a cafe, for whilst your bike is being serviced, an Endless pool to take a dip in and try out your new wetsuit, and an Asics running gait analysis.
Its easy to spend a lot but their advice is amazing at whatever level you are, first timer to pro, and price points for all. But with a great second hand department it is possible to get some pretty amazing quality items on a budget. They even have 10 different level packages, comprising bike, lid, Tri suit, Wet Suite, pedals, Goggles and cycle shoes
We got a current season Giant composite bike for less than half price, a slightly damaged wetsuit and some fit like a glove cycling shoes. Only knock on effect was the need to go out and test drive the purchases, so this afternoon’s gentle 7k cycle was a 25k trek (plus three grazed knees across two children) If you fancy a day out, you can spend much of it in this place.
visit them https://www.facebook.com/TriUK
They say Triathlon is the new mid-life crisis, its no longer fast cars and women or botox and Prada but now Carbon and Neoprene.
I might choose it over shoe shopping!
08 Saturday Feb 2014
Posted in Blog, Colin's Blog, Editor's Posts
We are off! The first donations for chapter 2 has arrived, thank you, and perhaps it is time to remind ourselves why. I thought or rewriting the story and then I just thought of Helens post days after her husband died and there is not better way to remind each of the team why they are training and every follower who reads this blog why… over to you Helen….
Well, my Colin has gained his wings. What a hard road that man travelled! It’s kinda funny because at the beginning I promised him that he would never ever die anywhere but home. I meant every word, but, as time passed, it soon became evident that despite all the skills I had acquired, I could not cope with his total needs and I will always carry an element of guilt.
From a strong independent man who had the full respect and trust of his family, he was stripped by this horrible disease of every element and aspect of his personality. A personality that was so strong that everybody in the family (even though they had all formed separate units) trusted him to make financial decisions and hold all their important documents. We had faith in his every word. From almost the beginning though, it became evident that the kids would have to control their own paperwork and finances as Colin was increasingly confused and forgetful. The kids had to handle the financial decisions themselves and it was a very sad day when it became obvious that this was the only course of action.
The months I have recently spent with Colin have been very hard at times but I have also had some very good times as, despite that bitch of a tumour “Camilla”, his sense of humour always seemed to shine through and this made everything much more bearable..
All treatment for Colin was stopped in February and Colin was fine for a while except for his immobility and increasing confusion. At the end of May Colin started to have horrendous hallucinations which went on for several days and I had to call upon both our boys to help calm him down and reassure him that what he was seeing was indeed was indeed not reality – just illusions. Colin was admitted then to the hospice for the second time so that they could help alleviate the visions and reduce his constant state of agitation.
I have never been so grateful for anything in my whole life as I was for the offer of help from Garden House Hospice in Letchworth. They controlled his medication (it took 8 or 9 days to get the combination right) and then his health began a sharp decline – Camilla the tumour was on the march. We all realised that now his time was short but I was able to be Colin’s wife again and not just a carer. We spent quality family time and often cried together but, we also laughed – boy did we all do that! We still continued to take the mick big time. Tommy played the answer phone message from Colin requesting Tom’s immediate presence and then apologising because he (Colin) couldn’t find his phone! He had not realised he was using it!!! We all know that if the situation was reversed, Colin’s banter would be relentless
Colin started to lose his ability to swallow as well as many other abilities. About 2 weeks ago the food that he was offered was refused and when he opened his mouth to eat he was unable to chew and swallow he became weaker and weaker until he eventually became unconscious on Sunday.
On Monday he was put on the Liverpool care pathway, the most heart wrenching time imaginable. He had no nourishment or fluids and eventually fell into an unresponsive state of unconsciousness.
We as a family stayed with him constantly, he was never once alone day or night, it really strengthened our family unit beyond all of our expectations. This mortal man, Colin Smith, could not have had a more genuine love and adulation from his children than if he had been a god. We all love the man that was, not the shell of a man that Colin had become and I think that is why this type of cancer is so very cruel. When the end came for us as a family it was a release from a life robbing illness that had taken every aspect of Colin’s personality and dignity. We love and miss him more than any words can convey. He was always larger than life and always reducing me to side splitting laughter in every situation.
07 Friday Feb 2014
Posted by Editor | Filed under David's Posts, Editor's Posts, Peter's Posts, Tony
04 Tuesday Feb 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
Browsing around other blogs itbis facinating to read other bloggers stories. This was a good piece worth reading. Step by Step.
03 Monday Feb 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
Raise over £300 in your sleep (well almost…..)
OK first off let’s look at fundraising that doesn’t cost you a single penny. It’s called EasyFundraising and here’s how it works.
* You shop online
* The Partner Retailler makes a donation when you buy
* It doesn’t cost you anything
Once you’ve registered with EasyFundraising make sure you use Find and Remind and every time you search for something to buy online EasyFundraising shows you which Retailers are partners and just how much of a donation they will make. You can shop with over 2,000 well known stores (including Amazon, John Lewis, Argos, M&S, Debenhams, Tesco Direct, Next, eBay, Boots and The Trainline) and each will donate up to 15% of what you spend. For example, John Lewis will donate 1%, Amazon 1.5%, The Body Shop 6%, some insurance retailers will even donate up to £30 simply for taking out a policy
02 Sunday Feb 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
Since the first Ironman race in 1978 the public has had its attention held watching lots of people, novices to full time professionals, push themselves in three disciplines over a variety of distances in an aim to gain personal fitness or competitive glory.
British Triathlon Memberships an increase of 130% in last 10 years and participation has grown 300% in the last 5 years.
So why is it popular? In fact it is the fastest growing sport in Britain. You can now go on Triathlon Holidays! So why are we looking to push the muscles rather than the just soak up the rays?
Because everyone is a winner, perhaps this has been misinterpreted by the Sports departments across UK schools awarding all competitors a winner’s sticker. In fact in Triathlon can be good in one of three disciplines or perhaps just pretty good in three but not exceptional in any one, allowing many more people to feel the sense of athletic achievement… honestly not through platitudes.
Because training is more interesting. The average person signing up to their local gym after the Christmas binge gets bored after the first few weeks. Having three activities as well as core strength activities holds that interest. Women don’t need to be threatened by muscle bulging weight training, and in fact a little padding for warmth in the cold water is a positive asset!
Because simply finishing an event is seen as an achievement, it’s a great opportunity to test your limits. Just crossing the finish line – no matter your place in the field – can be a hugely rewarding experience, and is what keeps thousands of middle (and back) of the pack racers coming back for more. I know I was hugely proud of completing my first, however bereft of elegance and style it was I did it and in under 2 hours, I was a winner!
Because they are doing three different sports, triathletes can avoid many of the injuries that single sports athletes – such as runners or swimmers – fall prey to. In addition, training for a triathlon is a great cardiovascular workout, and can help to build and maintain good muscle tone.
Research shows the sport tends to attract competitive alpha types – mostly men – who, with an average salary of £45,000 and an average age of 40, are willing and able to invest both time and money in their hobby.
The same survey found one in five triathletes in 2012 travelled overseas to compete, with almost three quarters saying they would consider doing so in the future. Some combined an event with a triathlon holiday.
So it would be easy to assume triathlon holidays are full of middle-aged men in lycra who want to swim stronger, cycle harder and run faster.
Or is it just purely the increase of media coverage:
In 2012, television exposure increased by 18%, with broadcast duration reaching over 1,000 hours for the first time. The World Triathlon Series accumulated 5.43 billion contacts in 2012 – up 168% from when it began after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The widespread success of triathlon at the 2012 London Olympic Games is seen as a further boost to triathlon ‘s popularity. Over 4.7 million people watched the spectacular photo finish between Nicola Spirig (SUI) and Lisa Norden (SWE) in the women ‘s triathlon on the BBC in the UK. The men ‘s race received even higher ratings, with 5.6 million people having tuned into BBC to see the Brownlee brothers claim gold and bronze in front of a home crowd.
Or maybe it’s just the lycra?
Sources:
BBC 14/9/13
Netfit
British CTriathlong Media
27 Monday Jan 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
Amanda Found Out She Was Dying. She Announced It On Twitter. Her Final Posts Are Absolutely Heartbreaking. The date so the tweets show just how fast this horrid disease takes hold and from fine to finale is barely 3 months!
A friend of Amanda’s made the video of her tweets.
21 Tuesday Jan 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
I thought a little amusement was needed through the seriousness of nutrition and workouts!
Headcase Ironman 