Tag Archives: headcase

OMG its only 2 weeks!

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Blog, Three Peaks

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

480042_10151082027680708_247146425_nWhilst out on their weekly run around Hatfield, Paul and Nick suddenly came to the realisation that the challenge is now just over 2 weeks away! It’s definitely come around quicker than we thought! However, this must have spurred them on as they clocked their quickest time yet for 4 miles, at just under 30 minutes! That’s around 7m 30s a mile!

James has been back home in London for the last 2 weeks, so not too sure what training he’s up to at the moment. Daniel, it seems, has taken a break from training and been enjoying the sun a bit too much, if his red face and panda eyes are anything to go by!

Climbing has taken a bit of back-burner for Nick since that lovely hand injury a couple of weeks ago (thanks Paul for stealing the picture from Facebook!). Nick has actually been exercising most week nights (in addition to the weekly runs with Paul) for the last month, with the aim of doing some cardio work each evening. He has also been doing a lot of swimming to improve general fitness, having been swimming 1-1.5 km at least 2-3 times a week. He even managed to swim a 16 minute km just over a week ago!

So training is going well and we all can’t believe that the challenge is now only just over 2 weeks away! But we’re all excited and very much looking forward to it!

A massive congratulations to Tony and Dan for completing the Ironman challenge a couple of weeks ago. It really is a super-human feat and the training and effort they both put into completing it is remarkable. Respect to you both!

Thank you for your continued support for us and for Headcase Cancer Trust!

Ok folks so where are you?

23 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by in Blog, Dan, Editor's Posts, Tony

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

Probably tucked up in bed, at least those in Blighty. Whilst the support crew are up and at ’em at 4am, fumbling for the light switch and  the tooth brush to be bright and breezy for when the guys are ready to leave. Bring on the coffee and don’t tell them we may well grab a few 40 winks after they head off up into the mountains!

Houston, We have a problem

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Blog, Dan, Editor's Posts, Tony

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Hospital

So Dan might have beaten Tony by 3mins 44secs, but Tony did go to work the next day!

Dan arrived back from Dubai on the Thursday with a tight chest and sore throat (he also has Asthma), he seemed to have gotten away with it. Dan left the UK after the race at Blenheim coughing wheezing and with a sore throat, not good 13 days before the race of a life time.  He flew back last night and things got worse.

Barely feeling his feet on the ground again and he was into the hospital, and within three hours of landing, he had a chest Xray, bloods taken, he was put on oxygen and drugs injected to ease chest rattle, along with bottles of anti-biotics. He then slpt, and slept. He is on a tight timetable to sort this……everything crossed.

They are both supposed to start “tapering” soon, but Wikipedia didn’t say anything about being bed ridden!

 Seriously get better soon, you’re not getting out of this that easy !

Another Trophy!

20 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Blog, Tony

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

IMG_00000082

So another season over and another trophy in the cabinet…not too shabby. Oh and another manager destined for the scrap heap !

Our final pilgrimage to the Bridge saw us visit the Prince of Wales, our normal drinking hole before games, so armed with wheelchair, the boys from Baldock  managed to get Colin there in one piece.

As Helen said, how he has done it I just don’t know. After the excursion to Amsterdam, where we went a straight 24 hours before ending up in Colin’s room at 3.30am on the Thursday morning, (having won the Europa Cup) eating all the sandwiches Helen had made along the way, grabbing about five hours sleep and then back on it, well just amazing.

Yesterday saw us end the season in third place beating off our London rivals and securing Champions league for next season…more European fun, in fact we are already looking at the Prague trip in August for the Super Cup against the Germans.

Special mention to Bootsie (head carer) what a job he has done, take a bow !!!!!

So now we have a break however fund raising is still in full swing, we have the Insurance night on Thursday: Lloyd’s The Musical, and the famous waxing this weekend. We have also enlisted four guys who are going to do the three peaks in July and adding their funds to our cause….great stuff.

So as we approach the second half of our challenge we are still looking at more events so anything you can think off please let us know,

Finally, and now that the money is on the JG site I felt I must point out to Faye and the girls that whilst their event and total was amazing it wasn’t quite up to the boys total !!!! Not that this is a competition (much), but with the Photograph money raised on the night we raised over £1300, I’m sure as you said Faye ‘girls should be running the world’ but let’s keep the finances with the boys !

(Trusting the editor will not use editorial licence and accidentally omit the final paragraph!)

Tommy’s Blog

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in Blog, Colin's Blog

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

, ,

Firstly I would like to start by apologising for the delay in writing my take on the current situation and events regarding my dad, Colin. Trying to put pen to paper to explain my thoughts and feelings has proven to be somewhat of a challenge, and we all know it doesn’t take much to get me in a spin. As spins go this feels like I’m stuck on a roundabout and can’t get off so bear with me people. Nothing we say or do is going to make this dreadful cancer inside my dad’s head go away but what really puzzles me the most is where he found the room to fit this inside his bonce, all that knowledge stuck between the alien invader….it’s no wonder he’s been getting headaches!!

This has been a blow to myself and my family but the strength of character my dad shows every day makes me proud to be his son. I am thankful that I have had 27 years of knowing this man not only as a father, but as a best friend. I watch him and my mum together as this illness takes effect and see that the love they share holds no bounds, they both are truly amazing people and I take my hat off to them.

Sentiments aside I would like to bore you all with some nostalgia. Where to begin is yet another challenge for me as there are too many good times to note, and not enough ink in the printer. Being the original Phyliss you’ll all appreciate how I like to go into the detail of everything so I’m prepared to spend this week’s wages on matches for all the tiring eyelids of the people that take the time to read this blog! Anyhoo….

It was my dad’s birthday last week so we rallied the troops for …..yes, you guessed it an Indian at the local curry house. As always, the smith clan took over the restaurant and ordered everything off the menu, drinks included. As the evening wore on we were all somewhat inebriated and cracking jokes at the waiters expense with everybody putting their two penneth worth in, but the cherry on the bakewell was dads comedy gold comment which had us in stitches. There was no hint of the underlying situation and dad was his usual comical self, which is what we all love about him. His sense of humour is second to none and if I ever get to become as funny as him I’ll chuckle all the way to the comedy club…! I’m sure Shelley will have something to say about this as she is second in line in the comedy stakes!

chelsea

All jokes aside, I would like to thank everybody for the support and love given to my Dad since he was diagnosed as having a GBM. Words cannot explain how tragic this is for everybody who knows and loves him and is something which you always think will happen to somebody else. Well it’s happened to us and having read up about this type of cancer can see that dad is fighting this head on…..literally! The courage and strength he shows every day is typical of his character and leaves me in awe.

Tonight he’s gone on the usual pilgrimage to London to watch the Chelsea Tottenham match. It’s a draw which I’m sure Dad will be none best pleased about as a win would have given us the qualification for next season champions league, but now it will have to go the wire. With two games remaining I am confident dad’s spirit will pull the mighty blues through!!…

Come on you Blues and on that note I’m off to put a bet on….

Love you with all my heart Dad,

Cycling takes the lead

19 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Blog, Tony

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive 2013Whilst the shoulder is on the mend I have turned all my attentions to cycling, with in the past few weeks the odd run.

So over the past two weekends I have been testing that training in two organised events, the first in Newmarket where it was 120k cycle around the countryside in what turned out to be an acceptable day with regard to the weather, cold to start but then almost blue skies, the course was quite flat but a few nasty hills got the heartbeat up and I completed that in 4 hours 54:13,

The following Saturday and I set off at the crack of a sparrow to the New Forest, weather seemed ok at 6am….but as I got closer the rain began…..arrived in a field that was already under mud and checked in wondering what I was doing……I was already soaked by the time I got to the start line as there were over 2000 idiots all waiting to have a go at the 95k course…..anyhow the weather got worse and the landscape just opened up exposing rider to the elements – which was cold rain in the face for the next few hours…..well 3 hours 49 to be precise.

Having got back to the car, my hands decided to not work and getting the wheel off to get the bike in the car took 15 mins, which was followed by a comedy sketch for any one that cared (nobody did btw) of me trying to get into warm dry clothes whilst sitting in the car….anyhow two good cycles and now off to warmer climates to check up on my Ironman buddy as he continues to impress in training…..

Colin’s weekly blog

12 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Blog, Colin's Blog

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Well, it’s blog time again and we started the week by beating Sunderland 3-1 then on Thursday we beat R. Kazan going through 5-4 on aggregate and this Sunday we go to Wembley to face Man City in yet another  F.A. Cup semi-final.  After beating R. Kazan we will meet Basle in the Europa Cup semi-final and I hope I’ll be well enough to go to these games because (phew!) it’s a hard life being a Chelsea supporter at this time of year.

I have been feeling tired but busy this week. We have collected a different car for Helen, which we nearly wrote off within four yards of leaving the garage (the wing mirrors were not set properly) and we have had two separate visits from McMillan and district nurses.  They ordered me a hospital bed which was delivered and erected on Thursday but as yet I have not slept in it.

Tony and Dan have been training hard, keep it up boys! Bootsy is still awaiting a puncture repair kit for his trike and Nick is coming to grips with his sewing kit because his lycra has ripped beyond reasonable repair after having a tumble!

Here’s a date for your diary: 26th May at The Cock in Hitchin from 2pm -5pm.   An old school friend of mine and a fellow Chelsea supporter, Brett Healey, has organised a sponsored full body wax to raise more funds for Headcase.  There will be a jazz band, “Rance Rocking Chair Band” and a BBQ. I am really looking forward to having the first pull on the wax strip and from then on I’m sure others will be able to join in the fun. Fun for us, but not him because he’s really hairy!!  Apparently, Barclays Bank will match any proceeds raised, which is fantastic.

Breaking news! Our local Slimming World group have decided to have Headcase as their charity this year according to Gill, a member of the group who works in Tesco.

And finally, I would like to say a massive Thank You to Bootsy, the staff of London Underground and the stewards at Chelsea for allowing and directing the two of us to all the disabled entrances at the ground which really made life easier.

More places for Lunch…

11 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Blog, Tony

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Oh Joy, but what a view!

On the heights of Gourdon

At the 62nd kilometer of the bike course, you will pass near the village of Gourdon. One of the most beautiful villages of France and medieval fortress, Gourdon overlooks leafy “Vallée du Loup”.

From Victoria Square, listed in 1940, a breathtaking panorama unfolds over 80 kilometers of coast revealing the Mediterranean, from Nice to Théoule !
On the road of flavors and scents, the village retains an authentic charm with its Romanesque church of the twelfth century.. Yer right sure we will feel like popping into the Church !!

At the heart of, the bustling streets, the houses of Provence, many craftsmen and the quality of its hospitality make it one of the most popular places in the area.

During your Biking course inspection or during your stay in our region, take the time to stop at the auberge de Gourdon. A traditional cuisine depending on market and season awaits you. Strolling through the streets, you’ll also discover homemade gingerbread and it’s worth the detour
Scene1

The Ascensionde Gourdon

scene 2

A weekend of sand, ice and invisible oranges

07 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Blog, Dan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

OrangeWith sandstorms hitting the UAE this weekend it gave me the perfect excuse to lock myself in my new gym and put some mileage in the legs after loosing the first 3 days of the week with a sinus infection.

Friday turned into a rather unexpected drill session with a PT in my new gym. She saw me on the running machine working on my foot striking Thursday evening and came up to me to help me film it. From there she gave me some advice on training and offered to help me (for free) with a number of things including my core strength and technique. If there is one thing I’ve learnt from talking to people and reading the countless blogs and websites about training for an event like the Ironman is that these two areas cannot be ignored. There is no question that you have to put the miles and hours in to build the endurance but if you can work on strength, technique and endurance at the same time, then you’re on to a winner. So after very little thinking I gladly accepted her offer. I had no idea what I had let myself in for…..

After cycling 30k Friday morning she  showed me the set up she’d put together outside. It all looked pretty standard for a core session with relatively low weights and steps etc similar to what id been doing in the summer with cross fit. I won’t bore you with the exact exercises but I did 3 rounds of running drills, low weight squat movements and a few other core drills and it had me on the verge of puking my guts up which is something you don’t really do when working on endurance. It was really tough but one of the most valuable hours of training I’ve done so far. Ive been working on trying to switch between forefoot and heel striking when running so I can learn how to use different muscles and conserve energy over longer distances and these drills are going to be a massive help in that transition.

What I didn’t consider howeverimage was the effect it would have on my legs which hadn’t been exposed to this level of abuse for a while. Suffice to say that today’s endurance session was a lot harder than originally thought but I got through it in the end even if I looked like was trying to balance an orange between my legs when I walk! A gruesome ice bath was next followed by an evening on the sofa watching Arsenal stumble over the line to beat West Brom and leapfrog Chelsea (even if its for only for 24 hours) capping off an enjoyable yet painful weekend.

I just want to quickly echo the praise already shown to everyone that’s helped us reach the 10k milestone. It really is inspiring to see so many people make such an effort and certainly gives me that extra 10% I sometimes need when I’m thinking about missing a session. As always Colin you continue to be a legend with your weekly blog posts which not only have my laughing out load regularly but have taught me what can be achieved when you have a positive attitude no matter what you’re faced with.