29th Sept Just 36 days to go - Fundraising & Training

Well, It's getting closer now. It's a scary thought that it's just a little over 5 weeks now until I go.

I've started working down my kit list, I got my vaccinations today...my arm isn't that sore. But I still have to get my visa. I would have done it weeks ago, but the Vietnamese embassy isn't yet in the 21st century, and only takes cash or postal orders, so I need to get myself down to the Post Office and sort out Postal Orders I guess. Luckily it appears that it doesn't take too long to process, so I'll sort it out in the next few days.

Fundraising has been going well. I had loads of donations of things to sell at car boot sales, and so far made £340. That leaves me only a little way short of the minimun sponsorship that we need to raise, however I'm aiming for more than that, so will keep going. I have a few things donated that I think will fetch more on Ebay, than a car boot, so I'll see what I can do there, and then do another (and final) car boot sale in about 2 or 3 weeks time. It'll be an 'everything must go' sale.

The training was going well, and then I stopped for a week, but now I'm back on it. I cycled my Killer ride on Saturday, and was in the saddle for 6 hours and covered 62 very, very hilly miles. I have still to work out why the South DOWNs are so names, they were most definately the South UPS on Saturday.

I nearly wimped out at Horndean, and called for a lift...I was tired, getting cold, and a little bit bored...but then I remembered there was only 1 more hill, and the rest was either very flat, or very downhill....needless to say, I cycled the last 10 miles, felt very proud of myself, and collapsed in the bath when I got home.

The ride totally took every last ounce of energy I had, but on Sunday morning, I felt wide awake, and quite capable of riding again (despite a couple of minor tendor points). But Sunday was a fundraising day, so I was up early, ready for the Gosport Car Boot sale. Afterwards I spent the afternoon at the pub......well I had earned it, and it was a lovely sunny day..what else was there to do!

The healthy eating isn't going as well as it could, I've eaten probably a few too many chinese takeaways...however, they are carb rich, and to be honest, I'll be living on a noodle diet in Vietnam, and cycling on it, so it's just as well to get used to it now. I think I had better look up some Vietnames recipes though soon, and make my own, it might be a bit more realistic.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Training - 59 Days to go 5th September 2008

Hi,

I've been pretty rubbish at maintaining this blog, but I'll quickly update you on what I've been doing to train since my last entry.

Until the end of June, I hooked up with Hayling cyclists most Sunday mornings and tagged along on their training rides. They were in training for Hayling-Paris circular ride which averages similar distances to the Vietnam ride, although for less days. Hopefully I'll join them for their ride properly next year. On the last ride I did with them I covered 67 miles...very very hilly miles. I wasn't in agony the next day, so for the first time I actually felt that I might be up for this Vietnam ride after all.

At the beginning of July I spent a week in the Quantocks in Somerset, and spent 5 days offroading in the hills. Generally I was averaging about 20 miles a day..which doesn't seem much until you see the nature of the terrain. Lots of hills, rocks, loose stone and earth, tree roots, and on the last day lots and lots of mud. This was the first time I had tried several successive days hard riding, and so I came away feeling pretty pleased with myself.

Unfortunately after I got back there seems to have been something going on every single weekend, and I haven't been out on my bike for a proper ride since.

So now we are back to the present day.......

I've now sent in the 80% of my sponsor money that guarantees my place, and I still have to send off for my Vietnam Visa and get my vaccinations. I also still have to raise just over £500 in sponsor money, and I'm coming up with ideas for raising that.

It is now 2 months until I go, and I am now back into training mode. Skyline Events that organise the trip sent me a training schedule which looks something like this.

Cyclists/Moderately Fit (That's me)

Ride 3 times a week - 25 miles each, and up to 40 miles on Sunday (for 4 weeks)
Next 3 weeks, add another ride and each ride should be 30 miles each with 50 miles on Sundays
The final week should be 3 10-15 mile rides only.

I'm glad I got a lot of distance in earlier in the year, as I'm not sure that in September & October that I will be able to get all that riding in. However, I do intend to supplement the training with regular visits to the gym (especially if the weather is bad) and swimming..to give my poor old joints a rest.

Good diet also starts now...High protien, low fat, high energy foods, upping the carbohydrate at weekends in readiness for Sunday rides. Minimum alcohol, which means I'll be drinking my red wine in very small quantities and only on social occassions.

My stats today are
Age 42
Weight 145 lbs
Body Fat Index 29% :-(, (which apparently weighs in at 19kg)...Damn I hate that machine that works that out.

Aim by the end
Age 42 (well I can't do anything about that can I?)
Weight 133 lbs
Body Fat Index below 20%

BTW - I started well, went to the gym for an hour after work yesterday, and will keep my gym gear in the car so if the weather is bad, I can go to the gym instead of a bike ride.

That's it for now. Keep checking this page for my progress...and nag nag nag at me if it doesn't look like I'm working hard enough.

Ciao
Marcia

Day 7 - 273 days to go - Training

Hi,

In view of the distances required, I thought it best to start training properly as soon as possible - also to get a good idea of my fitness once I put hills into the distance cycling equation.

My Plan

Do a circular loop from Portsmouth, up Portsdown hill (good climb), drop down to Southwick, head along to Horndean, then Ramsdean into Petersfield via Stroud. Go through Peterfield and head to Buriton via Nurstead. cycle along side Queen Elizabeth Park towards Rowlands Castle and then back to Portsmouth via Havant - total distance 41 miles, time allocated 5 hours.

Well that was the plan!!!!!

The reality

I knew that the route was undulating.....I was unprepared. I can do hills...I have just chosen not to over the last couple of years. It was a big mistake thinking that I could still do 40 miles in 5 hours WITH hills. I had expected the climb up Portsdown hill to be the biggest - and I know I can do that. But that was just the first of many in the first 2 hours. In addition I took a wrong turn outside Horndean heading me towards Clanfield, which meant another climb back onto the road I was supposed to be on.

My progress was steady, but too slow to get me back home before dark, so I had to adjust my route. Just before Ramsdean I decided to take a route directly to Buriton missing out Petersfield altogether.

From Buriton (once the really really steep hill is climbed), the route really is pleasantly undulating, and although it was getting cold by then, it was a much easier last 12 miles, than the first part of the ride had been.

I got home just as it was getting dark, but with every muscle in my body aching - and having only ridden about 30 miles. Still, long or short loop, it's a great training ride for Vietnam, which is going to be quite hilly, and average between 40 & 50 miles a day.

Still I'll know for next time - Notes to self - leave earlier, get fitter, don't aim too high at the beginning.
I'll be on the full loop by spring - I hope

Marcia x

Day 1 - 279 days to go

Hi,

Welcome to my blog, detailing all there is to know about my charity bike ride to Vietnam in November 2008.

This post will be quite long so I can tell you what I am doing and why. Future posts will be shorter. Feel free to add comments & suggestions for both fundraising and training - all help greatfully recieved.

I work in an office doing a job that I really enjoy, and I also do life coaching when I'm not at work. I don't really consider the coaching to be work as I really love helping people to discover their inner strengths, so it's a total pleasure to do.

I decided a few years ago that I really wanted to be able to

a) travel to unusual places, and
b) raise money to help others who faced difficulty in their lives

Like everyone, I've faced some challenges from time to time. Times when there hasn't been enough money to pay all the bills, or when I've had to compromise some of those things that many people consider normal such as a holiday or a new car. But, I've always had a roof over my head, clean clothes and enough food to eat for myself and my family. I am lucky to have a network of family and friends and we all help each other out from time to time.

So many people living in the community around us however don't even have those basic needs. Somewhere in their life they've been dealt a bad hand and have not found themselves able to get the support they need to pull themselves up and lead a happy life.

I simply cannot comprehend what it must be like to carry all your belongings with you each day from place to place, wondering if you'll find somewhere warm to sleep, or what you'll eat. Relying on charity from strangers, who to be fair are not always that charitable.

What I can understand though is how for some, drink or drugs is the only way to numb the pain and enable them to go on each day. Of course, then it's a vicious circle, and it becomes even more difficult to climb on out.

I am lucky to know a number of caring individuals who either voluntarily or through their work, are thrying to make a little difference to the lives of these people. They do it through their actions, maybe by actively searching for rough sleepers at night and taking food and sleeping bags to them, or by working for charities and community organisations to help those who decide that they want their lives to change.

One such organsation in Portsmouth is CENTRAL POINT. They are a registered charity and part of the larger mental health charity RETHINK (reg charity no 271028).

CENTRAL POINT provides many services for single homeless people in the Portsmouth area. In addition to daily hot meals, they can get a shower there, visit a GP, get advice and access to many services. For those that start to get back on their feet, they have a rent deposit scheme, and will also help out with food and toiletry packages for when they find their own accommodation. They are also the local distributor for the Big Issue.

Council funding for local services such as this is always one of those that gets cut back, and so I want to raise as much money as I can to make sure that their future is as secure as it can be.

So what am I planning to do?

I am embarking on the biggest challenge of my life to date, and for me the trip of a lifetime. It's the first of my list of 100 things to do before I die, so I expect to be very busy for the next 50 years or so.

I am gong to cycle 700km through North Vietnam for 10 straight days. This is a beautiful part of the country, very green and hilly. I can't wait to meet the people and experience the unique culture of Vietnam.

I am a keen cyclist, although I confess that the furthest I have ever cycled before is 96km (60 miles) and I thought I was going to die when I did that. The longest day on the Vietnam trip is 121 km (75 miles) - I'm relying on the awsome scenery to take my mind off the distance. Also I've never cycled any distance for more than one day before. My average summer rides at home are around 65km (40 miles) on a good day, and they are flat. I think I've got to do a lot of training over the next few months.

Hopefully along the way I've lose a dress size too. I love food, hate dieting, so this would be a fantastic bonus for me.

I think you've had to read enough now.

Wish me luck and dig deep and sponser me.

Marcia x