Looking forward

A number of things have happened and are happening that have focused my mind on the future.

On a personal front my lovely daughter did very well in her GCSEs after working her socks off.  She is now at the Reading Festival (a popular place for GCSE results students I am told) and in three weeks it will be her 17th birthday.  All of which reinforces how time passes very quickly and how fortunate I am to be able to see my children grow up and mature into individuals of character.

On the Beating Bowel Cancer front we are looking to the short term future with the fantastic launch of our Decembeard fundraising campaign yesterday evening.  The event, held in London's Covent Garden was jam packed with friends and media all getting excited about our new brand and new plans and partnerships.  Watch this space, but expect bigger, better and, in the words of Theo, "watch out for Movember's hairier little brother".  I guarantee you will love it and we will raise both awareness and vital funds.

We are also looking at our charity strategy and how we are doing against the goals we set ourselves.  This is particularly important if we are to stretch our ambitions and, therefore, identify the additional need we can meet.  With this in mind I have been talking to our Finance and Fundraising Director about how we fund an expansion of our services to reach more people locally.  Making this happen will take time, but I am now sure we can add to what we already do and, in a significant way, be there when people need us even more.

On the cycling front (how can I blog without mention bikes) I am looking for my next challenge (maybe London to Paris for Beating Bowel Cancer?).  Whatever I do I would like to put a team of supporters together so we all ride and fundraise together. I hope to make something happen for next Spring. In the meantime, I will be carrying on cycling throughout the winter, which means buying good quality winter kit.

Just a few things I am thinking about of very many in my little head.  Have a good bank holiday weekend everyone.

Keep on pedalling

"Are you going to keep it up?" is the question I have been asked most after last Sunday's Ride London.  The second most asked question is "Did you enjoy it?".  The answer to the first is "Definitely".  To the second is "Not a lot, but I'm very glad I did it".

Riding 86 miles (not the 100 planned, as they closed the hills on very valid safety grounds), in what Chris Boardman called "Biblical" rain, was one of the experiences of my life.  It doesn't compare with the birth of my children, but at least this time I did all of the work!

I cannot ever forget being blase about standing in the open spaces of Richmond Park in a thunderstorm, holding a metal bike in my hands and not giving it a second thought.  And then being happy to set off again and ride through two or more foot deep puddles. Wet feet?  Not a problem.  Cold wet sprays of water in the face from the rider in front? Of course, carry on. Another 60 miles of it? Bring it on.  All in the cause of fulfilling Rule 9 in cycling (Google Velominati Rules to understand why that is significant).

Now the cycling shoes have dried out, the following are the lessons I have learnt:

• Training is everything.  It is not just about fitness, or learning to do the hills.  It is about putting yourself in a place where everything is familiar and things happen automatically.  On Sunday I found I just did things by second nature and was able to ignore tiredness, what few hills there were, and the need to stop for fuel because I had learned lessons over the Summer.
• Speed/pace is important to me.  While I was delighted with my time of 6:17 (5:44 moving time) I now wonder whether I could have done better if that is what I had worked on in training.  Of course, my focus was on simply doing the distance on the day, but...maybe...
• Smile for the camera.  There is not one picture, official or otherwise, that is any good of me on my bike. Either I look too fat (I know, lose more weight) or I am grimacing/have a determined look (you choose which).  A nice photo for the record would have been nice. That said, the one below with my family post event is a nice memory.
• Cheering crowds make you feel like a hero.  Towards the end the crowds were there and vocal. Riding up Whitehall to cheers and shouts was absolutely astounding and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  If you were there - thank you.
• There is nothing like a good sports massage.  Early on Wednesday morning I awoke in agony as my neck muscles went into spasm in a delayed reaction to six hours on a bike.  Not nice and very alarming. Today a lunchtime deep tissue massage looks like fixing it.  Worth every penny.
• Plan your next event.  I am keeping going.  There is a 69 mile ride in October I am going to do.  Then there is a London to Paris in the offing next Spring and a new ride in Wales worth doing in June 2015.  And, of course, Ride London 2015 - ballot opens 18th August.

So, time to get back on the bike.  Will aim to do 20 or so miles this evening and on Sunday we are riding out to do the hills we missed on Sunday.  I am looking forward to it.

My fundraising total so far is amazing, but if you wish to help continue our work - helping those with bowel cancer and beating bowel cancer through raising awareness you can still do so via: My Just Giving Page

Partner, children, nephew and his girlfriend - the family

Done

Phew. Did it. In a tropical storm. With flooded roads and very soggy spectators watching.

The downside was they cut out the hills which means I did 86 miles. It was a sensible decision to not do the hills as the conditions would have been desperately dangerous. Coming down off Leith Hill is dodgy at the best of times. But during a storm it would have been reckless. So, well done the ride organisers.

Sorry I couldn't ride each mile for the names. If it compensates I plan to ride the hills this weekend and do so in memory of those names. I hope you understand. 

The ride was one of the best things I ever did. I can't say it was enjoyable. Who would? But I am glad I did it. Yes, I will do it again next year. Along, I hope, with a London to Paris ride at some point. Join me?  

My official time was 6:17:42 and my move time, that is time on bike, was 5:44:56. Average speed was 14.9mph with a max speed of 31.8mph. Overall I was very consistent on pace, and speeded up towards the end. My legs, the calves, were very tired at the beginning and it was a real grind keeping going, but after half way, with end in sight, I took heart from the spectators and peddled harder. It was then that I enjoyed it most. And the best bit was coming through Whitehall, past the Houses of Parliament with the crowds cheering. And yes, I did get a lump in my throat across the finish line. Any water in my eyes though must only have been raindrops! 

Thank you for all your wonderful support. Thank you for all your wonderful donations. I have raised over £5,200, which is amazing and will really help our vital work.

So, who is up for going to Paris on a bike next Spring? X

Thank you

I want to say a massive thank you to the very many people who have been so fantastic and supportive in my training and my fundraising. When you say thank you there is always a risk, certainty even, that you will miss someone out and, therefore, offend. If you are that person - scream at me!  I don't want to miss anyone at all.  You have all been fantastic and I have felt incredibly supported.

Here goes then with my thanks to...

1. Every single one of you who donated to my fundraising effort. I have raised almost £5,000, which is amazing and is the equivalent of running our Nurse Helpline for more than three weeks.  I know lots of people ask for sponsorship for lots of events so don't think for a minute I don't appreciate you donating to our cause.  It means a lot.
2. It also means a lot that I will ride on 10th August in tribute to many individual names and also do the last mile dedicated to the unnamed who will get bowel cancer in the year to come.  Every name is a story and each means a lot to me.
3. Pete Digger deserves a special mention, generously lending me his road bike (it is a good one) and therefore starting me along the road to not just the 100 miles, but also to a healthier life as I am now a committed and enthusiastic cyclist.  Pete also generously donated to my Just Giving page and has even run a marathon for Beating Bowel Cancer.  He is a great supporter.
4. Another person I couldn't have done without is one of our team members, Andy Stevens.  He lives just a few miles from me and fantastically took me out on rides early in my training.  He was the one who got me up Box Hill first time and he has continued to provide encouragement and support.
5. Woking Cycle Club were also key to my progress. Turning up in June to their regular Sunday ride was nerve racking as I expected lycra clad time trialists expecting me to keep up.  Of course they were nothing like that. Everyone in the Club is friendly, keen to simply get everyone cycling whatever their ability and they have been ready with encouragement and advice that matched my own progress.
6. TomTom who responded to a request for GPS device (their sports watch) that would help me track my progress.  Very kind of them and very generous.  And it helped a lot.
7. Fiona at Wiggle who has a close family connection to bowel cancer and kindly sent me some kit and other useful stuff.  It is nice when people want to help.
8. Moyra, from Lamberts Healthcare, who was very kind and generous in providing nutrition advice - and protein powder to revive my tired muscles!
9. The Beating Bowel Cancer staff who generously and wonderfully joined together to donate to my Just Giving page.  They have been fantastic and enthusiastic in their support of their CEO taking on a challenge and then boring them silly with it!  They are a great, dedicated team - the best in my view.
10. And, finally, our Beating Bowel Cancer Ride London team, every one of whom is a hero and have my gratitude for their support.  Looking forward to joining you on the day.

Everyone has really helped me during my effort to get from unfit MAMIL to being a proper cyclist.  The event is this Sunday and what happens next is entirely up to me.

And if you still wish to donate, and help Beating Bowel Cancer help more people, you can at https://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3/ Wouldn't it be amazing if, with your help, we could reach £5,000 in donations?

See you at the finish line (gulp!).

Mark X

100 miles

I have all of the names.  Thank you.  This Sunday I will ride 100 miles for Beating Bowel Cancer in Ride London. Every mile will mean something to me.  99 will have a name alongside to pay tribute to one individual.  These names are below.

The last mile I will share with any additional names I receive and also dedicate it to all those who will get bowel cancer in the year ahead. A reminder that our work goes on to beat bowel cancer.  If you want to donate to help our work then you can for this last mile.  This will represent an investment in our nurses, our information, our awareness raising and our campaigns to secure the best possible treatments and care.

If you wish to donate you can via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3 or you can text Flan51 and your amount to 70070

The names I will ride in tribute to are:

Anne Carlin; Taryn “Smithers”; Gail Allen; Philip Willingham; Bill Bonfield; Beverly Jackson; John Hepworth; Effie Macdonald; Geraint Jones; Hannah Berry; Hazel Elkamouri; Alison Selfe; Alison Michell; Tony Levy; Jane Bardsley; Stewart Coxe; Susan Wilde; John Anton; Lisa Almond; Nia Jones; Ethel Randles; Ann Cole; Heather Spooner; Rose Sloper; Sally Tuxworth; Dafydd Farr-Jones; Susan Hill; Teresa Dealessi; Toni Millard; Mary Woolnough; Bill Luff; Olive Bennett; Melanie McGarry; All the Bum Bandits; Paul Bradbury; Matthew Stockdale; Elizabeth Fountain; Ian Fountain; Nick Busby; Lynda Leach; Steve Smith “Smiffy”; Billy Randles; Len Miller; Pat Morton; Carmen; Ke’hley; Lucy Edwards; Margery Hunter; Tracey Bushell; Avril Williams; Stan Williams; Andy Higginson; Chris Garner; The mother and father in law of Liz Torr; Myra Beckwith; Patricia Johnston; Valerie Johnson; David Hogan; Maxine Gould; Andrea Barlow; Pat Gravell; Ruth Spencer; Jim Marks; Cheryl Marks; Tim Brennan; Bob Johnston; Francis P. Rooney; Kim Cooper; June Watkins; Johanna Wathan; Kathleen Cannon; Elisabeth Strong; Keith Wiggans; Carly Wilton; Genie Henley; Mark Barnard; For all those on the Forum; David Craton; Leo McGill; Peter Bainbridge; Ian Mashen; Cath Scurrah; Mark Robson; Derek Ieuan Lewis; Rae Heald; Irene Wood; Mrs Awobode; Maggie Ryan; Malcolm Hume; Sandra Stokes; Pauline Toft; Steve Hyde; Kath Maynard; Ben Ashworth; Kate Kunzer; John Dixon; Pete Andrews; John Barrett; Roger Band, Jean Unsworth.

I know many of these names and it is my privilege to count them as friends.  There are too many in the list who are no longer with us and I, along with others, miss them every day.

Thank you for your support.  This means so much to me and really helps our work. Together we will beat bowel cancer.

If you wish to donate you can via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3 or you can text Flan51 and your amount to 70070

Time to taper

Phew.  Nearly there.  After last Sunday's long, 95 miles, ride to Shoreham-on-Sea I was conscious not to listen to my legs and taper too soon.  So, I did 12 miles, 46 miles, 51 miles and 43 miles.  Now I can taper! This week I will simply take the bike out for a spin on Wednesday and Friday.  I will try and get as much sleep as I can.  And I will carbohydrate load like mad!

It has been a good week.  On Wednesday I took a half day's holiday and met some of Woking Cycle Club to pop out to Box Hill and we had fun enjoying the sun and each other's company.  Saturday I was delighted to meet Niamh and Marc from our Beating Bowel Cancer Ride London team and, again with some of Woking CC, we "did the hills" - Newlands, Leith and Box. It was great to do them in one go and it was even better to think that the next time would be for real.  Leith was as tough as I have come to expect and I did it, according to Strava, in my quickest time.  That was despite my chain coming off near the start.

With Niamh and Marc at the top of Box Hill - the three hills done

Yes, I am nervous about Sunday.  But I am sure it will be fine. Everything I have learnt tells me that the day is so fantastic that everyone enjoys it and the atmosphere helps your legs do the distance.  My legs are tired after last week's rides but the rest this week will get them ready to be punished again on Sunday.  All I have to do is keep peddling.

If you wish to donate you can via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3.  or you can text Flan51 and your amount to 70070