Let me start by thanking everyone who gave so
generously of their time and effort to come out on the rides, gave
me encouragement and, of course, contributed to the £1,600 (and
counting) that we have raised so far for the Multiple Sclerosis
Society. While I am hesitant to name individual people, I
really do have to mention a few:
Paul Wills, who managed to use his
'magic hands' to keep my body functioning and, believe me, that was
no mean feat;
Steve
Mac' who, as ever, was his usual ebullient self;
Nick Harding,
for organising the use of the Hurstpierpoint
College swimming pool and for acting as the
lifeguard during the swims;
my
children, who can shout louder and longer than any other
supporters, and, of course,
my
wife, Lizzie, who not only had to put up with a somewhat distracted
husband for months but was a real inspiration
throughout.
You may recall that
the challenge involved a 4km swim on Friday
8th
April, a 100 mile bike ride on Saturday 9th
and the Brighton Marathon on
10th. That was followed by another 4km swim
on Friday 15th April,
100 mile bike ride on Saturday 16th
and the London Marathon on the
17th. I am well aware that this was by no means a
unique series and especially given that a significant number of
people have done multiple back-to-back full Ironmans. It was
though, something of a challenge to me, even in the conception of
it and as my body will testify, in the completion of it.
I started the first swim at just before 0700
with what Dave Jones describes as 'my waddle' up the first of 160
lengths of the 25-metre pool. I was aiming to complete in a
time of 80 minutes or so and thus tried to maintain a steady 30
seconds a length. I tried to concentrate on tempo and style -
something that I insist others do when we train. Requiring it
is one thing, doing it is another. I found it quite difficult
at first to achieve any kind of rhythm, let alone tempo, with the
constant turning. It did start to come after about 300 metres
and, thereafter, I managed to keep a good, steady, even pace.
I quickly lost count of the numbers of lengths and relied on Lizzie
showing me a countdown board. I finished in little over 76
minutes. It was a little quicker than I wanted but I must
say, I really enjoyed the whole thing. It was a great
training session.
The first ride the following day was an
experience I will not forget. It was not that it was my first
ever 100-mile ride but that so many people had organised themselves
into groups to cycle around the various laps of the course with
me. I was really moved by the enthusiasm and
commitment. I had devised a route that took in 3 laps that
took us from my house through Ditchling, along the bottom of
the Downs to Cooksbridge, up the A275 to
Chelwood Gate, then to Horsted Keynes and back through Cockhaise to
my house. I intended to try to cycle at somewhere between 14
and 15 mph and so finish in a little under 7 hours. The
weather was superb and just got better. We ticked along,
chatting about everything under the sun. We maintained the
hope for pace on the first lap, slowed a little on the second and
picked it up on the third. The last bit of the third lap was
bit of a mess. My bike computer was only intermittently
picking up the mileage. I got it into my mind, and I know it
was stupid, that the computer had to show 100 miles plus before I
could finish. Trevor Moore was with me (Steve Mac' had had to
branch off earlier because he was running out of time). He
and I ended up pedalling up and down Gravelye
Lane until my computer tripped over the 100-mile
mark. Goodness knows how far we actually did but Trevor is a
patient man.
The Brighton Marathon was an experience and a
half. I am by no means a runner and, despite the
ministrations of Paul Wills, I was not looking forward to it.
I set out at a steady pace aiming to get somewhere around the 4
hour mark. The weather was splendid, if a bit too hot.
The event itself was absolutely fantastic. The support was
incredible. The spectators were 3 or 4 deep from the very
start through to the end. We really do have a marathon to be
proud of. Unfortunately, my performance did not match the
quality of the event. Someone switched my energy supply off
at 20 miles, just as we got into the dreaded
Shoreham Harbour, the one place
where there was little spectator support. I went from just
under 9 minute miles to walking in a matter of metres.
Thankfully, Steve Birchall came passed at about 21 miles. He
stopped and then helped me to the end. I was in tatters for
the last 3 miles. Steve managed to coax me over the line in 4
hours 5 minutes and 51 seconds. I then proceeded to nose dive
into the concrete just after the finish, making a complete and
utter idiot of myself. After a dowsing in the sea (in lieu of
an ice bath) I then gave back all of the Poweraid that the
organisers had kindly given out on the run. Unfortunately, I
gave it back without the bottles. My mood was not helped by a
number of horrid blisters, one of which was somewhat deep and
across the bottom of my right foot. I was none too keen to
think about what was coming up the following week. I was
disappointed with the time and with my inability to stand up to the
physical challenge. It was quite a low time.
The next week seems to be a bit of a
blur. I kept to the regime that Paul Wills had set me and was
able to sit in the cold baths for 10 minutes without expending my
entire repertoire of expletives. I enjoyed the London Marathon
registration because of the buzz and the opportunity to go to the
exhibition. I left there on the Wednesday afternoon actually
looking forward to what was to come.
The swim on the 15th went
well. I stuck to a steadier pace and felt comfortable
completing the 4kms in 78 minutes and 2 seconds. The ride the
next day was okay too. Once again a host of people came out
even though a good number were racing the next day in
Cambridge at the qualifying race for the
European Duathlon Champs or in the 25 miles time trial. We
ticked along at a slightly quicker pace, chatting the whole way and
setting the world to rights. We altered the course slightly
to get off the A275. It seems that the sun brings out the
worst in motorists. Some cannot evidently comprehend that
cyclists have as much right to be on the roads as they
have.
Oddly enough, I was looking forward to the
London Marathon. I haven't done it since 1989. I was
like a little boy waiting for Christmas. Gone were the
dreadful thoughts at the end of
Brighton. David Rickets and his wife
kindly took me up to the start. David was really great in
looking after me and certainly through the first 13 miles. My
plan was to run on heart rate at 9 minute-mile pace for the first
half and to see what happened thereafter. Everything went to
plan, although David and I got separated at about 14 miles. I
felt pretty good physically and so just kept going on heart
rate. I got tired when I saw the 26-mile marker. For
some reason, my brain decided that that indicated the end and I
spent a little while trying to persuade myself that there was .2 of
a mile left to go. I finished in 3 hours 53 minutes and 13
seconds. It might have been a relatively slow time but I must
confess to having been chuffed to bits.
I have thought quite
a lot about the experience. I set out to do it for a number
of reasons: to raise money for the club
charity, to give myself a challenge, to get into the routine of a
reasoned training plan and to lose some weight. I have
achieved those goals. I enjoyed the whole experience. I
also learned a great deal. At the risk of sounding
sanctimonious, there are two things that stand out for me: (1) the
mind is something with considerable potential but all too often I
have allowed mine to be a limiter in terms of what I might be able
to achieve and (2) my body can withstand far more than I have given
it credit for.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone.
Mark
Jordan
