I ain't goin' in no pool!

As I continue my steady progress back to full fitness I thought a blog entry would be good. It’s almost 2 months since the Valentine’s night walk. And in this time how many miles do you think I’ve walked in training for the big event? Yep, about seven, and that’s being a bit generous. The cause of my apparent sloth is a bad knee – quite important when the specialist subject is walking.

The problems won’t stop me lining up on the big day but rather than the pain starting at Buckden like I’d hoped it’ll probably be bad before Pen-y-ghent.

I haven’t developed a taste for aerobics like Ady just yet but I’m not far behind. My morning routine on the advice of the physiotherapist is a series of what I can only describe as bum lifts, followed by some vigorous leg kicks while lying on the bed (without going into too much detail, it’s a good job the neighbour is slightly deaf!) which I repeat with slightly less noise (oh dear I let the detail slip) whilst stood up.

These exercises should be repeated 3 times daily. I can’t find an appropriate place at work to carry out my extraordinary routine so I repeat at 16:30 and again at 22:00.

Whilst James and Richard were braving the elements on Saturday I was taking delivery of the Reebok Fusion – an exercise bike!

I figured in my attempt to get the legs working and keep/get my fitness levels up this was the best, nay the only, option. I had previously reignited my passionate dislike of swimming which was the only other choice.

Okay, so cycling a few miles inside isn’t what could be described as ideal preparation but at the moment it’s as good as you’re going to get. The other downside is it doesn’t make for a great pictorial blog entry but I’ll be working on getting some more picturesque landscapes in the background.

Hardly Sir Chris Hoy or Bradley Wiggins stuff but I’m already clocking up over 8 miles a day so fingers crossed its doing some good.

We’re making excellent progress towards our £1500 target but we’re not quite halfway there! Please sponsor us through our justgiving site. To those who have already sponsored us or supported us in other ways - thanks.

Horton or Bust

Two members of the Q-Team (Rich S and I) yesterday embarked on the longest training walk to date, travelling from Skipton to Horton, taking in the two highest points of the journey: Fountains Fell and Pen Y Ghent. The added challenge was that if we didn't make Horton - 26 miles away - by 21:00 that night, we'd miss the last train home! We set off at 9:35...















Rich on arival at Gargrave (10:55)



Airton (12:15)



Malham at 13:00 - this was taken shortly afterwards (13:25) at Malham's famous Cove



About to start the ascent of Fountains Fell (15:30) - the weather deteriorated sharply here and the rain started coming down!



James takes a tumble going up (!) Fountains Fell.



James in the clouds at the top of Fountains Fell (16:30) celebrating St George's Day a little early - weather: driving rain/hail

Too cold and wet for photos after this point after we both fell into big muddy puddles, but even more disturbing than that, I ruptured the only remaining bag of Twiglets in my rucksack.

We reached the summit of neighbouring Pen Y Ghent at 18:15.



Finally reached Horton station (19:25) just minutes before the penultimate train (19:31). Yay!!

Total time (including stops) was a respectable 9 hours, 50 minutes.

Mission: Accomplished

The Oxfam Cup - Final

Azzuri celebrated on Mother’s Day by winning The Oxfam Cup courtesy of a Lee Hall extra time goal.

Azzuri entered the final against Alistair Scott’s VI as slight favourites having won the group match between the two sides – both teams had progressed from Group 2 – by a goal to nil.

The first half was a tense affair with chances at a premium. In fact the main talking points of the half were some tasty challenges from both sides. Chris Orme set the trend in the 2nd minute with 2 challenges as the match threatened to boil over.

It was 5 minutes before the first shot on target when both sides exchanged long range efforts. Azzuri managed the only other strike on goal before half time as the defences kept firmly on top.

As expected the match opened up a bit in the 2nd half. Within a minute of the restart both sides had had good chances, Steven Gaughan having the best chance for Azzuri before Azzuri keeper Tony Torriero was called into action.

Despite being lead from the front by Michael Sharp, Alistair Scott’s VI struggled to make an impact, their only other chance of the half coming 4 minutes from full time. Azzuri had chances to win it with Hall and Gaughan but neither could stop the game going to extra time.

Within 30 seconds of the start of extra time Azzuri won a throw in on the half way line. The ball, after being played forward, was played back into central defence from where it was switched by Ewan Latham to the left wing where Duncan Ratcliffe made a surging run before driving a ball low and hard across the face of goal. Hall had made the perfect run and from close range beat the advancing keeper.

As Alistair Scott’s VI ran out of steam – they had played the whole tournament without substitutes – Azzuri created more chances but failed to score.

Azzuri proudly lifted The Oxfam Cup for 2009. They will hopefully return next year to defend their title.

Heads Held High

To give a flavour before the official post comes here are a couple of shots from this afternoons Tournament, excellently run (almost without a hitch) by our very own Joel. A hearty well done for not only organising the event but being our only goal scorer to boot.

And here's a couple of action shots to show we are not only good looking but great athletes to boot!

View from the boundary

The title of this post is exactly how I feel at the moment - having to observe proceedings from a distance. The knee is in the middle of a 2 week rest (which is actually closer to 4 weeks now) which means so is my training. Well almost. Skipton swimming pool had to endure my flailing arms and legs as I made my first appearance in a public pool for nearly 20 years. As all who know me will know I HATE swimming, especially in public (a combination of nervousness, fear and embarrassment on top of just sheer incompetence).

Anyway, in the name of Oxfam I'm willing to break down some of the barriers in a bid to get fit. You'd better appreciate it!

Tomorrow (Mother's Day) I'm running a football tournament (The Oxfam Cup) at Sandylands, Skipton. The majority of the 15 teams have been sourced from work. Obviously, as the organiser, I won't rest until a) all the teams have turned up, and b) the tournament is over and I can start to breathe again!

Just as much as I dislike swimming I'm equally rubbish at organising things (p*** up in a brewery time I'm afraid!) so it gives me great delight (whilst touching wood) to report that so far this event has gone swimmingly well which fills me with even more trepidation for tomorrow.

Unfortunately the tournament means my 2 week rest goes out of the window for a few hours.

Anyway, I've rambled on enough. Update on the football after the weekend which will hopefully be followed closely by another video.

Next time we can also play 'spot the pun'.

In the news

Check out the article which appeared on the T&A website (thanks to my brother for sending the link through):

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/business/businesskeighley/businesskeighleynews/4138640.Best_foot_forward_for_charity/

It looks like our training walk this weekend will be cancelled. I need to let my knee recover (although I have some exercises to tide me over which is amusing to watch with the kids copying me :-) )

Excuse me, is this really my life?

Tuesday 3rd of March, 6.21pm. Arrive home bedraggled after walking the 7.5 miles from Skipton to Steeton. Its been raining, heavy, since Bradley and the wind has been up.
The path along the canal was muddy and slippery, even in boots and every footstep was an adventure.

So someone, anyone, please tell me why I'm smiling? How a 42 year old, portly lad could actually enjoy this??? Queen's 1991 effort, "I'm going slightly mad" is starting to speak to me... I've never considered myself to be a masochist before...

Thursday 5th of March, 7.45pm. To perhaps prove the point my strange search for 'cross training' has now taken me along to my wife's aerobics class where I'm regarded with curiosity and get easily confused by 'grapevine cross steps' and other strange expressions. It wasn't that long ago that feet up, can of beer and cricket on the telly were my idea of heaven. Now I'm thinking of how many hours I can get in at the weekend and keep the wife happy and still have time for... well... anything else really.

So if anyone reading this has seen my life, please return it. There is a small reward and I will forever be in your debt. Ady 'Howling Mad' Stokes.