Tuesday 8 January 2013

Morphswim Morphride Morphrun!

I was gonna blog New Years Eve and give a big thanks to all the people who helped me in 2012. There was simply too many of you though so I didnt. Its fair to say that if you have read this, or I follow you on Twitter, we've done the same event, we're mates on Facebook or we are actual in the person mates then you have been a great source of help with my challenges and fundraising! So thank you very much!
2012 ended with the birth of the Poppyfields January Challenge (see previous post and its not too late to join in!). Purely by word of mouth and social networks a project that I thought might catch the attention of 20 or 30 people is, as I type, nearly 150 strong with over £800 raised in 3 weeks! What has amazed me more is the impact the challenge has had. A community of support has built up, it's brought families together as they exercise together to maintain the challenge, people who dont normally exercise are reporting the benefit of getting up and moving after just one week and we've gone international with challengers from Australia, USA, Belgium, Denmark and Dubai! To say that I'm overwhelmed is an understatement. I tip my hat to you all!
2013 has one goal for me. Outlaw! Not a wussy last man home Outlaw. Not this time. This time I am going for it. You already know I am going to attempt the whole challenge in a Morphsuit. I dont think its been done before (probably for very good reason) so it would be nice to be the first. I dont want to just finish either. Given the Morphsuit limitations and my own lack of speed I am going for sub 15 hours in a Morphsuit. My training plan has been cooked up, tweaked, re tweaked and super tweaked and if I can hit my training target of 20 hours per day I should be fine! In reality if I can stay injury free (no lurgy, no chair lifts and no ankle twists this year) sub 15 should be the minimum improvement I expect. I honestly cannot wait to immerse myself in that event and community again. I have no other triathlons planned so Outlaw will be my second triathlon.
Training has started. November and December kicked along nicely with no injuries so I just kept my eye in with the running and cycling. I've stuck to my plan so far in 2013 with swimming being reintroduced this week having not swum since Outlaw. My main focus will be learning to Morphswim, any improvement on last years 1:35 will be a bonus, and Morphcycling or blindcycling as I like to call it! My cycle let me down badly last year. Or I should say that I let myself down badly with poor preparation for the cycle leg last year. That wont happen again.
After Outlaw I have one eye on the Ripon Ultra and JWUltra and I am hoping that either (or both) could be a springboard to WHW 2014!?
Thanks again and if you havent already get on the Poppyfields January Challenge!
As with 2012 it could all get a bit bumpy but it would be great to have you all on board for the ride!

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