Tony: So have the mind games begun?
….David turned up with these and said they were too small for him.
He got them for free but do they work ?
or perhaps do they turn into lead weights after 10k……
Mind Games
01 Saturday Feb 2014
Posted in Tony
Category Archives: Tony
Team Summary for dry January
31 Friday Jan 2014
Posted in Tony
So as we say goodbye to January we have just the three months and a little bit of tapering until the big day.
However things are well underway….the group seems to have split in two with the oldies putting in the km’s and the younger members of the team going for the high intensity approach. I have reviewed this approach and have decided that with two knackered knees and a shoulder if I attempted a high intensity approach to my training I would line up in May missing vital parts of my body as they would have dropped off and this would then make the event even tougher……
We have seen Peter get pissed off with British rail and start training twice a day, David is now cycling quicker than the British cycling team, Andy has begun to realise taking on the Russell’s is perhaps a little dangerous, and an apology was almost evident in his last message and Dan, well all I can say is his desk at work must have eaten him…..having secured a massive deal he is having to deliver it, well that’s is in between drinking with his mate Robbie who is visiting.
So with just six week to go before we take on the Brownlees in Abu Dhabi training will have to sharpen up…and some good news, while the team have been training, admin has been working hard as well and has arranged for Dan and I to meet both Alistair and Jonny before the race in AD…..should be good and who knows we might even get them involved.
The fund raising stuff also needs to begin and we are meeting this coming week to see how we can encourage you all to part with your money, so any ideas please let us know.
And finally it’s very important to know that all the money we raise goes to Headcase, and I mean ALL….in addition over 98.2p (£1.05 with giftaid) in the pound then finds it’s way to the research programme, Colin Spiers who set up and runs Headcase takes nothing from the money at all, that is a true charity…..isn’t it ?
A hard week’s training
26 Sunday Jan 2014
Posted in Tony
The weather has been absolutely dire, over 100 flood warnings in the UK, and that would be added to by the sweat produced by Team Russell and their hard work clocking up kilometres put in on bike, in the pool, on the treadmill (and in the buggie!)
Not quite sure how deep the sympathy pot will be for a pretty poultry training figures for the week Mr Russell senior.
A word from the wise
17 Friday Jan 2014
Posted in Tony
So it appears we are up and running again, this time with additional resources. The three new members, David, Peter and Andy are all partaking in the longest event in their tri careers so out of their comfort zone. The banter has commenced and the day gets ever nearer…..I am sure the journey will be interesting, painful, frustrating but most of all fun.
However, let’s not forget what this is really all about. We lost our inspiration last year but prior to that I made a promise…to Colin. For those of you that knew him and those who got to know him through the written word will appreciate what a totally amazing bloke he was, and during one of our chats at a Chelsea match he said to me, ‘don’t give up, beat this thing for me……and I promised to do what ever I could to play a little part in supporting the Headcase charity and provide funds to the clever people who might just be able to beat it. The disease might have thought we had given it a bash last year with the money raised and that we had given up 
and let it destroy many others, but watch out it has never come across a determined single minded sod like me!!. Further fuel to this situation is that my brother-in-law’s wife in Australia has recently found out her mother has the disease with a similar prognosis to Colin.
So whilst the following 16 weeks will be a bit of fun the main focus is to ensure we add to the funds in whatever way we can, all of those of you who helped last year with events, and ingenious ways of raising money we look to you to repeat. And perhaps we can inspire a few others to get involved.
I am convinced we can help make a difference, they need our help, not only those who are seeking a cure but also those who have unfortunately been or yet to be diagnosed.
So please join us and make it a bit of a mission to beat it. Thanks
New Year, a New Start, a New Challenge
13 Monday Jan 2014
Posted in Tony
Same God awful disease we want to clobber!
last year we raised 40k for Headcase and we will be able to say what it’s being used for shortly and it’s really exciting. So the new challenges for this year, firstly we have decided to take on the Brownlees, so on the 15th March in Abu Dhabi Tony and Dan will take on Alistair and Johnny in the same race. We then have 4 Russell’s and a Brown going to Mallorca for a 70.3 more info later. So we are going to set up the site again and see if we can raise a bit more money…watch this space.
http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/mallorca.aspx#axzz2qJN7272S
We did it his way!
29 Monday Jul 2013
So in just over 6 months our aspirations became reality….the £30k target was breached ! In fact with gift aid we are now standing at £35,253.91…AMAZING.
Colin’s legacy is assured and as Faye put it ‘this bastard form of Cancer’ better watch out cos we are going to get you.
Its been a journey, one which was inspired by a true gent and a mate, who I know will be chuffed to bits at the achievement. He will even now be egging us on to beat this thing as that is just the kind of guy he was.
We still have applications for company charity donations out there and we will be making one to Lloyd’s in the next few weeks, so its not too late, in fact its only just begun.
Thanks to the successful three peaks team who conquered their challenge at the weekend, if you haven’t looked at their blog do so, its great as well as seeing a message to Colin flying high on the top of the mountains.
And finally a huge thanks to all of you who have donated or organised an event which added funds its been a great team effort, one which I’m sure the Headcase charity appreciate and one which I know will make a difference, but hey, that’s what Colin did !
We are nearly there!
24 Wednesday Jul 2013
We may have lost our inspiration but the fight goes on, Colin would not have wanted it any other way. His passing has just made it even more important that we do not let this disease beat us!
The good news is that Mick Ward has just been awarded £1000 by his companies charity committee. Xylem Water Solutions in Letchworth considered over 20 applications and stated that the Headcase Charity ‘stood out’. It just goes to show that a few minutes to write an email can pay huge dividends.
Great job Mick and thanks very much XYLEM.
Passing of a Legend
21 Sunday Jul 2013
Today we lost our legend, Colin passed away at 4:30 am this morning. When we first heard about Colin’s situation, you always believe it will be okay, but as this an aggressive unrelenting and terrible disease takes hold it becomes clear it will be a battle, and to make it worse Colin’s complications prevented the drugs he needed to keep it at bay. However throughout this ordeal Colin displayed astonishing strength, being positive and pragmatic at the same time.
He made it easy for everyone of us by being very open about his plight, prepared to openly talk about it and keep us amused with his legendary humour ! He attended all the Chelsea games including the final in Amsterdam, what strength and determination he showed.
He always made us laugh and never played the “why me” card, staggering. He was supported by a top family now led by Helen, who also showed tremendous strength of character during the past year.
Going to Chelsea will never be the same, however we know that the supporters club in the sky will now be chaired by one of our own.
Colin, it was a real pleasure to have known you and to have shared so many laughs and great times, Munich possibly being the highlight.
You will always be in our thoughts and you will be missed by us all.
Thanks for the great memories xx
Caption Competition 2
26 Wednesday Jun 2013
Caption Competition 1
26 Wednesday Jun 2013
Headcase Ironman 