The End is Nigh!

Training has peaked in January. Indeed I overdid it around the 16th - strangely enough it was probably an energetic evening of ballroom & latin dancing that was the final straw! But I bounced back quickly and I've since logged several 4-mile runs around Sandown Park.

People are being very kind and generous both in person and via the Virgin Money Giving page (http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LukeReader). Meeting my brother in Kingston tomorrow to swap some bits and pieces and help with his final equipment shopping. Time to pack.

STOP PRESS! virgingivingmoney site created!

If anyone wants to make a donation to the Anthony Nolan trust (all event costs are covered by me), the link is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LukeReader .

Another way to support the Anthony Nolan trust (if you're under 40) is to join their register of potential bone marrow donors. To do this simply visit their website http://www.anthonynolan.org/ and click on ‘Join the Register’.

Dec 2010

Lots of snow and ice stopped my hill running in early December (too dangerous). I still managed a couple of 3-mile 'yomps' through the snow over the local common land and forested areas. The snow melted before Christmas and I put in a 7-mile run along the Thames towpath via Kingston and Hampton Bridges. Plenty of gym time at both Nuffield Health and the local Surbiton Racquets and Fitness Club.

I've now got all my final jabs (Typhoid, Hep B booster, Yellow Fever), the strong anti-malaria pills, the diamox for altitude, and some tough insect-repellant. I invite you to read the ingredients on a DEET-based insect repellant - there's a reason the bugs don't want to land on your skin after you've sprayed that stuff on!

Its all becoming very real now – just over a month to go!

Nov 2010

As luck would have it, the weather is getting worse just as I further increase my outdoor training. I now run twice a week, always including a hill (normally Sandown Park, near my workplace). Then I walk about 8 miles each weekend, again searching for hills!

At this stage in any training I recall a champion runner's mantra: "The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare". One of the joys of running for me is the knowledge that you've mentally overcome the body's natural resistance to sustained hard exertion. I believe willpower is like a muscle - it improves with training. And from what people are telling me, getting up Kilimanjaro will need plenty of willpower...

Oct 2010

Back in Blighty, its raining, and now the training becomes a bit grim. Three decent walks this month, including one via Kingston University Coombe Hill campus to explore their new woodland Nature Trail. Well ... it looked bigger in the newspaper write-up.

My gym sessions now are focussing on leg strength as well as endurance. Pleased to see new 45-degrees and vertical stepper machines at the local Nuffield Health centre. These are now my main cardio warm-up prior to the free-weights area.

Sept 2010

Slovakia! The High Tatras!

My brother & I went there for 9 days of training, walking at around 2,000 metres up. That's lower than Kilimanjaro but high enough to bring on shortness of breath during exertion. And we were frequently walking on deep and rotting snow, employing a graceful action of foot/pole/foot/pole/bum/get up/carry on.

My brother planned the walking in the Tatras and he didn't mess about - the first day saw us out for 10.5 hours, stopping only for food. Great spirit from the locals for whom this area is a bit like their Surrey Downs. Excellent mountain hut facilities for accomodation and food - we even found a pool table at one place! We particularly enjoyed several glasses of their local 'tea' - just 40% proof. Surprised to see some people having it for breakfast...

Outcome - our fitness was OK, I need new gaiters, my brother needs new walking boots, and we proved that we could spend that much time together without losing it. Looking good so far.

August 2010

Blackberry season! Its still hot walking, but with a bit of planning I had four of my walks go through off-road blackberry-picking spots. These are free and natural resources close to many people's doorsteps, yet they seemed to me to be surprisingly underused.

Training is now picking up - five walks this month of 7 to 11 miles each, plus several hilly runs and gym classes.

I tried walking with two poles for the first time - Nordic walking. The trick is to land each pole ahead and outside of the foot, so you don't kick it as you step forward. Do that correctly ten thousand times in a row and you're motoring, so to speak.

My family joined in the training - my sister on a walk south from Hammersmith, and my brother on one of the blackberry forays. He and I also planned our training trip to Slovakia, and booked the Kilimanjaro trek with Exodus. We looked at many suppliers but they offered the longest route up, giving the best chance of success via acclimatisation.

July 2010

A hot month for training walks ... plenty of water & suncream needed, plus a hat. Managed to find a lot of nettles off-road between Tolworth and Chessington. Made up for it with a nice pint and lasagne at the Cap in Hand on the Hook roundabout on the way home.

Enjoyed a 20-mile cycle with friends from my choir (http://www.kingstonchoralsociety.co.uk/) around Home Park and Richmond Park.

June 2010

Training continues - a couple of 8-mile walks from Wimbledon Village to home, and some running. Took advantage of a work charity day to run 2.5 miles in 60's fancy dress. I had no chance of winning the race, but the costume won the best-dressed prize!

May 2010

Slight injury from overdoing it. I did a 15-mile ‘3 parks’ walk covering Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, and Bushy Park via Teddington. I stopped for a bite at the Pheasantry (north of the Diana Fountain) before heading home. Light rain for most of the walk, clearing at the end. Very enjoyable but my left ankle ached badly for a week afterwards – perhaps too much fast road walking in my walking boots.

Further walks of 7, 11, and 15 miles this month, and went out with my choir to do a 9-mile 'Surrey 3-peaks challenge'! We summited Box Hill, Leith Hill, and Holmbury Hill, and sang madrigals at the top of each!

Still running during the week - mainly hill-sprint training. This sounds easy:

1. Jog to hill

2. Sprint up for 30 seconds at top speed

3. Jog down it

4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 for a total of 10 times

5. Jog home.

For some reason this is quite hard!

April 2010

Training starts with a walk on Easter Saturday - 8.5 miles with two hills. Went from Surbiton through Kingston to Richmond Park, up past Pen Ponds and out through East Sheen Gate, then west from Mortlake to Sheen and then Richmond. Arrived at 5pm exactly to meet wife and friend for a meal and then a show. Lovely cool & dry weather, magical sighting of 30-40 deer peacefully grazing while I respectfully walked around them, no aches suffered. A good start!

Futher walks of 9, 11, and 12 miles, plus various training runs on the flat and up a nearby hill.

Slightly worried to see on Wikipedia that only 40% of climbers actually reach the summit (Uhuru’s Peak). Most turn around at Gilman’s Point, which is 300 metres but some hours lower down. Most of these people will have trained also. Hmmm.

March 2010

My brother & I attended an Exodus slideshow and talk on Kilimanjaro. We got ideas on training and equipment, as well as mental and physical tips for the ascent itself. If you aim to reach the top, or just get to Gilman’s Point, you probably will (in either case). I decide to regard Gilman’s Point as ‘half-way up’.

Feb 2010

We did our initial planning. It'll be 3 weeks in Feb 2011 with the Kilimanjaro trek in the first week. My chosen charity will be the Anthony Nolan Trust. I’ve been on their donor register for years, and can encourage others to do the same as well as try to raise some money for them.