Day 73 - A bit of a mish mash

Today's blog doesn't really have any theme or direction to it. I've noticed that most of my recent ones have (quite rightly) focused on the coronavirus and the almost overwhelming sense of helplessness I've been feeling this far away from home, and those I love. 

It has been so difficult, watching developments back home and not being able to do much about it. I know you can't do it all now, but there should be no reason not to spend time with those that you love, those that you care about. Friends and family. Don't neglect them, don't take them for granted, make that call. Being 4000 miles away sucks at times, don't use smaller distances as an excuse. It frustrates me when I see people not taking opportunities that not all of us have (for whatever reason).

Anyway, now that I'm locked down for the next 3 weeks (minimum) there was a real worry that I'd continue on the same vein and forget the purpose of this blog - to stay in contact with folks and give them some insight into life in the USofA. 

Once this clears I'll be back on the road again and hopefully giving you a broader sense of what it is like down here on the banks of Old Blue. But form now I hope you'll indulge me some "me me me" time as I take you through what life looks like for Doctor Tom at the moment!

I've not managed to quite keep up with my 5 things I wanted to do, primarily as two of them involved being outside. But I have still been trying new things (and trying to re-invigorate old things) as I've been pottering along.

Spanish

I've been at this for a while now and I'm getting competent enough to be able to read bits in Spanish magazines and newspapers. Which is nice. Only bits though, and my vocabulary is still woefully short of poor even! But I can pick up sentence structure and I'm beginning to get the hang of written Spanish too. The big test is obviously going to come once I get out and about and begin to meet people who speak it. That'll come after the virus clears.

Gym/Yoga

The gym is closed now. But I've readjusted and got myself a daily exercise routine - plus a couple of runs a week. The weight is coming off slower than it did at the start but I'm losing inches all round (well, not ALL around) so that's good. I've also recently taken up yoga with the brilliant Adriene. I'm doing the 30 days of Yoga one at the moment and am already noticing the difference in flexibility. Though my knees do make noises they never used to!

Take up a new hobby

I have a couple of exciting developments on the way here. 

As well as becoming a full-on 3D jigsaw addict (check out Winterfell now, the main castle is done) I'm soon to be frustrating my neighbours as I try to learn to play the piano. I've got no music talent whatsoever, but what the hell eh? Problem is that the delivery is delayed for coronavirus so it might be a few weeks before it arrives. As long as I can play something recognisable by the time I come back I'll consider it a success. Hopefully you may even get a Katie/Daddy duet when I get good enough - but not yet.

The other one is a secret. Till it arrives on Saturday. Can't give all my secrets away in one blog. But I will give you a hint. Think small. And cute. And no, it's not a pet.

Challenges
Two 10km runs done. And I'm itching for another one. But I'll have to wait until the virus looks like it is clearing up before I commit to anything serious. And the sky-dive is still on. As soon as I can confirm the date I'll be after money for Christie. So be prepared :-) I'm still hopefully I can get 6-10 in this year, but again we'll see.

Other post virus stuff
Once I'm allowed out again I've got even more irons in the fire. I've joined the Baton Rouge Sunday Social Running Club (here), just waiting to get out now. And I've got plans to join a few of the local disk golfers for a round or two. Plus when sport comes back I've got my eyes on a baseball/softball league and a bit of over-40s soccer when I finally pass the milestone.

So despite everything, life is busy. In these uncertain times it is the best way to be. It hurts to dwell on the past, so I'm trying not to. And the future has so much going for it. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Till then, Tom

Day 56 - Quick Charity One

Sat in the apartment here in New Orleans after a very busy day yesterday. Full blog will come later tonight once I get back to Baton Rouge but I know I still owe you Day 56. So, as promised, here is a quick list of the charities I've been sup[porting as part of my lent initiative. 

These are a combination of charities that I know from conversations with people in my life, that I already donate to regularly or that I believe are important from my own research. Please help to support if you can, thank you so much.

Lupus UK

Sepsis Trust

Rett Syndrome (in memory of Jude)

Shelter UK

RSPB

Woodland Trust

A little bit can go a long way.

Till later, Tom

Day 54 - Rekindling a past project

I've been doing a lot of reminiscing and looking back over the last few weeks. A lot of it has been trying to find more inspiration for my blog. But it is also the case that I feel more in common with the me of 3-4 years ago than the one of the last 12-18 months or so. Despite being an arrogant prick at times (see previous post) there was a much greater sense of dynamism and positivity about a lot of what I did. And a surprising amount of creativity too, something my daughter would definitely attest to being in short supply around me!

As I was looking back I was reminded of a project that really first came about during a family Christmas conversation - and I think the idea can be traced back to my dad.

Maybe 4 years ago I started to write a series of children's stories about the adventures in space of two children and a cat (played brilliantly by my nephew's Charlie and Oscar and my niece Poppy). They are guided through their escapades by a star called Luke, named in memory of Jo and Mark's baby - who is the main reason Friends of Serenity exists in the first place. I've since made a few revisions to incorporate Katie into the stories, and I've started to sketch out the next batch.

The idea all along was to publish these and sell them to raise funds for the charity. I still want to pursue this idea. 

I know there are huge hurdles to overcome but I also know there are some fantastic, generous people out there and with a bit of hard work we can make this happen.

I've finished the stories now and am still hoping the editing and illustrations done by friends or family. My sister originally planned to edit them, but her life keeps her busy. Katie would like to do the illustrations but there are still a bunch of other things that we need to get sorted in the meantime before we can get even begin to make this a reality.

We need to find a publisher who is interested or if not we need to locate somewhere where we can layout and print our own books. I'm sure there are plenty of other things I've not even considered either.

So we are still a way away, but if you know anyone who may be able to help in any way at all then I would love to hear from you. 

You can drop me a line at doctortomowens@gmail.com or you can get me via my twitter handle @tomthedoctor. 

Also, if you can share this around then it would be magnificent. The more people who hear about the project, the greater our chances of finding someone who might be able to help and the more likely it is that this will eventually see the light of day.

Thanks for reading.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 50 - A Milestone

50 days. A nice round number. Halfway to a century. A milestone. For some reason. I'll confess I've never really understood the human need for milestones. We seem to be obsessed with getting to these random "achievements". I mean why is 50 seen as a much more impressive achievement than 49? It's one extra. 48 to 49 should elicit the same level of recognition as 49 to 50. But it doesn't.

I tried to look back through human history to see if there was anything that particularly drives this odd behaviour. But it turns out we've always done this. We have always celebrated what (in the cold light of day) are purely arbitrary achievements or targets. I think this comes from an intrinsic desire for organisation an overwhelming natural urge to look for patterns and meaning in a world that is frequently devoid of it. If we can somehow ascribe some semblance of order to the utter chaos of the world then we might feel somehow better about the fact that we are completely ignorant about the purpose of any of this!!

So we celebrate as significant those things which are really quite mundane or simply part of the recurring nature of our daily existence. I'll wake up tomorrow a day older. And it means nothing. However on the 15th July I'll wake up not just a day older, but suddenly 40 years old. There will be introspection, nostalgia, planning for the future and a million and one other thoughts that simply won't be there tomorrow. Why will they be there in a few months time? Because I think they should be or because we are somehow inherently programmed to be this way. 

It is one of the things about human kind that make us so intriguing. Our desire to find shape, pattern and order in things. Our wish to create some sense of understanding and control by applying our arbitrary concepts onto a universe that frankly has no interest or awareness of them. We put such store in things that, to the infinite cosmos, must seem quaint and cute. 

But it does define us. It does shape how we live, how we exist and how continue. We celebrate milestones, we set targets and we package things together in certain ways for a reason. It helps us to create structure, to create a solid underfoot which provides an anchor to a reality we can understand. Because when you stop and think about it, nothing out here makes sense. There is no rhyme or reason to the universe that our minds can truly comprehend. 

That is a wondrous thing. We are able to live our lives, to enjoy our lives in most cases, by ascribing a set of abstract concepts to the world around us - and then clinging tom them for support when the vertigo kicks in! 

All that said, it is important to have these concepts to help us through. To allow us to package the world up in ways we can understand. So, 50 days doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. But I celebrate it all the same, and look forward to the next 50!

Today's charity is one that I heard about during a coffee break at work today. One of the people I was chatting to was telling me all about the money her and her husband have been raising for this charity in memory of their nephew. This struck a huge chord with me due to my charity efforts and the closeness of the causes. And they are headquartered in Houston too. I present to you the voluntary organisation Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which has been raising money since 1949 to combat all kinds of blood cancer. I had no idea we even knew of blood cancer in 1949 so my hats off to an organisation that has been fighting the fight for over 70 years. Here's to many more.

Still owe you today's blog.

Till later, Tom

Day 49 - Learning about yourself

So according to Facebook, 5 years (and one day) ago Natalie and I completed the Chase the Yeti OCR event. Thinking back over those five years has opened up some interesting thoughts about how sometimes we need to reflect on where we were, in order to understand where we would like to be.

Natalie will tell you that it was an awful experience, honestly - and I have absolutely no qualms about taking full responsibility for that and apologising completely (I hope I've already done it directly but maybe not). I completely ruined that event by complaining the whole way round, about everything. I then sprinted to the finish to "win". Every single thing about that previous statement can rightly be classed as a dick move. Looking back I cringe at my behaviour, but even more for the reason behind it.

I let my ego and arrogance completely overtake me. Rick and I had been doing a few of these runs for a while by this point but he was getting better and I wasn't. I had stopped enjoying them because I hated losing, and I hated that I wasn't improving. Of course my arrogance at the time refused to allow me to accept that maybe it was because he was putting a shit load more work in than I was! I was frustrated and, instead of doing something about it, I just grumbled. In my arrogance I just assumed I would be able to do this because, well why wouldn't I?

Another part of it was that I didn't want to show this new girl that I was rubbish at something. Egotistical fucking asshole. 

What I should have been doing is what I am doing now - working harder to improve whilst removing ego from the equation. Instead of trying not to disappoint Natalie (and myself) I should have been taking the positives and working out how to make myself better each time. Accept your limitations, but don't let them define you, and work on making the most of them. Be humble, gracious and work hard. For some reason when I read those words back I hear them in my mum's voice, and that tells you just how good advice it is!

Fast forward 5 years. 

I stood on the line today with zero negative thoughts, zero ego and (OK maybe not completely) zero arrogance - certainly about the run. I knew what was coming and I embraced what it would tell me about myself, instead of fearing it. The difference was astonishing. I know full well I'm near the back of the field, and my time today would embarrass anyone who considers themselves a runner. 

I could not care less. I put everything I had into today, and trusted that the end product is simply what it is. No target other than complete the task. No losing mental battles. Yeah physically I struggled, despite my recent weight loss I'm still an overweight 39 year old with a chronic lack of fitness and a dodgy body. 

But it doesn't matter. I put myself out there, I put my ego and arrogance away and just enjoyed today for what it was. It was a challenge, and part of the trick of challenges is picking the right goals - the right definition of success. 

34 year old me was an arrogant, egotistical, petty child at times. Interested in the wrong things, targeting the wrong "successes" and trying to be someone I'm not, nor would I ever truly want to be. It cost me a lot, and it deserved too.

But 39 year old me is (I hope) a better human being. The one I wanted to be when I was 18, the one with all the dreams for the future and the whole world ahead of me. The one with a sense of pride, but in the right things. The one I hope Katie is proud of, and the one I hope (some of you at least!) are happy to call a friend. It's a long journey back to me, and I'm still on the road. But as long as I focus on the right things, I'll get there.

Post Race Party

No surprises that today's charity is the amazing Christie Trust. I cannot repeat enough what they have done for my family over the years, and how they still inspire me on a daily basis. The world is a better place because of them, a shining beacon in the darkest, most frightening of places. They don't have all the answers, but anything you can give (here - please either donate direct or use Lil/Dad/Ann's Snowdon Event) gets us closer

For you mum, always.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 48 - Rodeo Eve

Houston Rodeo kicks off (kind of) tomorrow with the Rodeo Run. I'm doing the 10km, cos I found the 5km so "easy" last year lol. Anyway 0930 tomorrow morning I'll be on the start line ready for 2020 Challenge Event #2. The Rodeo and Livestock show has been going in some form or another since 1931 - so closing in on 90 years!

Howdy Partners

It is a spectacular event, with 20 days of livestock shows, rodeo events and a massive celebration of the Texas life-style. Over the last few weeks people have been heading to Houston on horseback via "trial rides" and the big parade is tomorrow. There is a cook-off, the Rodeo run itself and a whole loaf of pre-events before the main event kicks off on the 3rd. 

I'm staying at the very fancy Hyatt Regency right in Downtown Houston and I knew I should've bought a hat. There are literally hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls downstairs - and I'll definitely be joining them tomorrow. Tonight though I need to get my beauty sleep and to prepare for the run in the morning. 

The whole Rodeo thing is a huge part of Houstonian life though and something everyone should get to experience at least once. I was lucky enough to be around last year, and the timings have fallen neatly too for this year. I've got the next week in Houston and then I'll be back for the last weekend too. 

And the Rodeo itself does a massive amount for local charity, donating over $8m in local scholarships last year alone (here)! So today's charity of choice is going to be the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. A Houston institution and a phenomenal supporter of the local communities which help to sustain it. 

Till tomorrow y'all, Tom

Day 47 - One of those days

I've been trying to send a package back to Katie for about 3 weeks now :-( And no matter how hard I try I can't get anywhere with it. FedEx are trying to charge me $300 but every time I get close to the end the website crashes. DHL and UPS are just as bad. I think I may have gotten somewhere with USPS but all I currently have is a label and a customs declaration - I'll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow I'm heading back over to Houston. 2020 Challenge #2 is on Saturday, the Houston Rodeo Run 10km. I did the 5km last year and I'm looking forward to stepping up and seeing how I get on with the longer version this time. I did pretty well a few weeks ago and I've been keeping up with my exercise routine so fingers crossed for this one. As always I'll be raising money for The Christie - keep an eye out tomorrow for the details once I have set the event up. 

And speaking of charity, it is Day 2 of my 40 days of Charity. Quick update from yesterday from Jo (co-founder of Friends of Serenity). She isn't sure the exact total but in there last seven years the total raised is somewhere in the region of £180,000. An unbelievable amount of amount - all down to the hard work, determination and persistence of Jo, Mark and every one else involved. Bravo.

Today's charity is another one that supports a cause that has a personal connection to me through my amazing G'ma, Elsie. 

As most of you who know our family well will be aware, G'ma has been suffering from dementia for a while now - and she is by no means alone in this world. I can't imagine a scarier thing that your life gradually fading from memory and you not being sure whether what you can remember is real or not. 

Thankfully my G'ma is lucky enough to have the greatest granddaughter you can imagine in my sister, who is there 24/7 whenever needed. But not everyone is that lucky. I remember going to see her after her fall in a place near Wythenshawe Hospital and being amazed by the number of the patients in there with dementia or some kind of other degenerative disease. And not everyone of them had someone like Lil, or my mum, or the many people who I know have helped G'ma over the years. But there are charities out there who can provide that love, care and attention for those who don't have what they need. 

The hardest part about this next 40 days or so is going to be singling out charities - I know for every single one I do mention there will be 100s and 1000s of equally worthwhile ones who I miss. 

But this is really about raising awareness, about encouraging you to see what you can give to others who need it more than you. To make the world a slightly less selfish place, and to encourage people to think about others and show that compassion we all have within us.

For the price of a cup of coffee and a sandwich you can make a difference. Every tiny but helps, and if everyone can dig into their pockets and find that loose change, I think you'll be amazes what that adds up to.

Back to today. My choice for Day 2 is Dementia UK. Although I personally have had no dealings with them, anybody who can give their time and love to supporting those with dementia deserves my gratitude and respect. So thank you for all you do.

As I said yesterday please reach out if you know of others that have more personal connections to you. This is also about me finding a balance in my life, and part of that comes from me trying to give back to those who have less than me, or who need it more. 

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 46 - Giving

So I have decided what my lenten activity is going to be this year. The best one I actually saw (well the one I like the most) was, "donate an item you don't use every day for 40 days". Unfortunately as I am new here and with a skeleton crew of stuff I don't have anything to really donate. All my crap is back in my lock-up in Manchester!

Another good one was volunteering. But unfortunately with my hectic and ever changing schedule here in the US I didn't want to commit to something that I wouldn't be able to follow through. Once I get a bit more into a groove then I still intend to do that, but not right now.

I finally decided on two things. 

1) I am going to donate a single item from my cupboard (or my weekly shop) each day. Then when Easter Sunday comes (and Katie is here) we are going to go to the local food bank and donate it. It's not much, but it is something.

2) Every day I am going to mention on my blog a charity which I think is worthwhile and deserving of your time and (hopefully) money. Some will be local here in BR, some in Houston, some local to Manchester and others very close to my heart. I will be donating to each and every one of them too. A small gesture I admit, but hopefully every little bit can help.

Today's charity is one that is very close to my heart and one that I had the privilege of being a trustee of for a short period of time, Friends of Serenity. They do have a website but I think they are most active on the Facebook page. A quick bit of history behind the charity - shamelessly stolen from said website as Jo is far more eloquent than I when talking about this:

Friends of Serenity is a non-profit organisation that was set up by Joanne Edwards at the end of May 2013 after she lost her son Luke, earlier that year, as a result of Trisomy 13. Friends of Serenity has a few main aims;

To preserve and protect the health of sick pregnant women and those who have suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death in particular but not exclusively by:

(i) providing and assisting in the provision of facilities and equipment at East Lancashire Women and New Born Centre not normally provided by the statutory authorities.

(ii) supporting newly bereaved parents by the provision of memory boxes.

(iii) providing qualified information by any means appropriate on the chromosome disorder Trisomy 13 for the public benefit.

I've no idea how much Jo, Mark and the others have raised in the nearly 7 years of tireless work, but it is a staggering amount - and a real testament to the power of positivity in the face of overwhelming pain and anguish. They continue to be an inspiration to me today and I am so proud to have been a part of everything they are continuing to do.

So please, if you have something spare, make a trip to their JustGiving page and give anything you can. Friends of Serenity really makes a difference to people's lives, they help families to take the positives from situations where there seems no hope and they have created a loving community which enriches all those involved daily.

If anyone has any charities close to their heart please let me know. I am hoping to promote as many as possible over the next few months. The world is a great place, and humans can show levels of kindness that are breathtaking. Let's bring some harmony and love back into a world which desperately needs it.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 45 - Sacrifice?

So the last day before lent. Traditionally we should all (according to Christian) tradition begin abstaining from certain things tomorrow for 40 days. I am by no means religious and so it would be wrong for me to really make too many statements about this process, how it has been "adopted" by the masses and what it means in this modern day world.

I have however in the past attempted to make resolutions, sacrifices and the like. Usually with a pretty poor success rate. It is generally accepted that if you want to give something up then a "cold turkey, rely on the willpower" approach isn't really the way to get results. Some people can obviously just flick a switch but for the majority of us mere mortals it is more than that. Especially as we are generally looking to give up something we enjoy. It frequently ends in failure, and we write it off for another year.

But to my understanding the idea of lent for those who mark the time is less of a purely masochistic and sacrificial thing and more of a time for introverted reflection and consideration. In the Christian church Easter is the time of new beginnings, of sacrifice and rebirth, of starting again. Lent is a time for people to prepare themselves for that new beginning, while at the same time acknowledging the sacrifices of others.

As I said, I am not particularly religious. However I do feel that I am in a fortunate position compared to a lot of people. You don't need to be religious to care about other human beings, and to subscribe to the ideas of love, peace and togetherness.

This year I am therefore going to do something during the period of Lent, simply as the opportunity is here and this year is all about taking opportunities. I'm not going to give up any specific, tangible material items. I've already stopped eating and drinking certain things as part of this new healthy lifestyle anyway, so there isn't a smoking gun in my arsenal really.

This year, for the next 40 days, I'm going to spend time understanding and appreciating more what I have and what others do not. Instead of giving something up, I intend to give something.  I appreciate my fortune in this world and I am grateful for what I have. 

I will reveal more tomorrow (shameless attempt to get you all to keep reading my blog lol) but I hope that it is seen in the spirit to which it is intended.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 2 - Making Plans

Day 2 back in the big city. Managed to get a reasonable amount of sleep until the train reared its ugly head (see videos below). Weight now down to 15st 10lb so trending in the right direction.

One of the big things I've been committing myself to this year is to restart my challenge events, and the first one is ready to go. February 8th, so 26 days from today I'll be doing the Mardi Gras Mambo 10km in Baton Rouge (https://runmambo.com). I'm hoping this will be the first of many this year - in fact I'm targeting one a month - but I need your help.

What do you think I should do? Is there anything you did that you think I should experience, or anything you wish you had dnone and want me too do on your behalf. I'm thinking all kinds of races (regular, OCR etc.) as well as unique challenges and one general adrenaline stuff.

Obviously it needs to be relatively affordable but the wackier the better if I can find a way to make it happen. So hit me up with your thoughts and let's get the calendar full with amazing experiences an memories. And if you want to join in, and can afford it, then the more the merrier I say.

Once I've managed to set something up these challenges will all be to raise money for the incomparable Christie Hospital (https://www.christie.nhs.uk) who provide an unbelievable service in one ion the most heart-wrenching environments. These people are simply staggering in what they do and the world needs to support them in any way it can.

That's all for today. Its only about 1:30pm here but this afternoon is likely to consist of work, the gym and maybe a beer. Oh and I'm making satay prawns tonight so keep an eye in Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for the recipe (which I'll also bob on the blog later if it is any good) - as well as all the other photos from my adventure.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 0 - An Adventure Begins

So after nearly a year with absolutely zero in the way of blogging I'd decided to have yet another rebrand! Seemingly this is a regular occurrence.

This time however I hope that I am going to actually post something, because I have a genuine motivation for this. I'm the luckiest guy in the entire world because I get to be the daddy to the most amazing daughter in the world, Katie. And a big part of this blog will help me keep in touch with her (and show her what I'm up to) from over 3000 miles away.

I'm lucky enough to travel with work, and as a result I'm relocating to Baton Rouge for a year as part of a new assignment. I've spent a bit of time in Houston over the last 4-5 years on a separate project, but this is different. This is a proper relocation complete with apartment, car and visa!

Part of being able to travel with work is being given a golden opportunity to try things I would never have been able to. 

Me and the Monkey

I turn 40 this year and Katie's mum and I recently agreed to end our engagement. We are still going to be friends and raise Katie as mummy and daddy, but nevertheless this constitutes a seismic change in my life. All the plans that were starting to mature are gone, and new plans are needed to fill the spaces that now exist.

I've also had a chance to look back on the last few years and realise I am neither the person I used to be, nor the one that I wish to be. I became so scared about the future and losing what I had, that I forgot to live in the moment and cherish what was there. I've already lost so much as a result, and with my mum dying ahead of her time a few years ago this mortality has been brought into sharper relief.

Enjoying the Business Class

So 2020 marks a change, a reversion to where I was 3-4 years or so ago. I'm going to be saying "yes" to things, instead of finding reasons to say no. I'm restarting my challenges, whilst trying to raise as much money for the fabulous Christie hospital in Manchester who supported mum unwaveringly. I'm also going to get as fit as I've been in years and tick so many things off my bucket list that I should have done with others when I had the chance.

Along the way I want to show you Houston and Baton Rouge, and dispel some of the myths people who aren't from this part of the world have. The people, places, cuisine and culture are amazing - I hope this comes through from my blog. So this is Day 0 and I'm writing this from 37,000 ft as I cross the Atlantic for the next (but by no means last) great adventure.I hope you come along for the ride, and enjoy it. 

Till tomorrow, Tom

Why did you do that?

Another year over with, time really does fly by these days. As the year was drawing to a close I began my usual process of planning what I’d like to do this coming year, mainly deciding the charity events for next year’s Many Silly Adventures. 2015 was a reasonably successful year in terms of 10 events being completed, though something had begun to fell amiss towards the end of the year as I was ploughing through the last couple and not enjoying them as much.

As those who have followed the story will know, I do these challenges to support the charity Friends of Serenity. But last year I seem to have inadvertently got side-tracked. It seems that I had completely forgotten WHY I was doing these challenges. I don’t do them for personal gain nor to scratch some kind of competitive itch - I’m not that kind of person really.

I do them for the enjoyment of simply completing them and to use them as a vehicle to try and raise money and awareness for the charity. Don’t get me wrong, I still like to do the best I can, but I’d rather finish last with my team than shave a few seconds off a PB.

Yet last year I was getting more and more disappointed with myself for not being competitive (despite making no real effort to put in the hard yards to allow that to happen). Why was I suddenly becoming more concerned about my times and my growing inability to be competitive – and why had my focus drifted away from the charity and the fun element?

I don’t really have a good answer to be honest, other than it is very easy to get swept along when you are doing something if you aren’t focusing on what got you doing it in the first place. Sometimes it is good to take stock and reset your expectations and, more importantly, limitations.

So the focus for this year’s challenges has shifted. I plan to do a lot less OCRs, partially as I feel these are part of the problem. I’ve felt over the last year a growing divide between those who take part in these for fun (and are often slow and non-competitive) and those who have taken a more serious approach. Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with people who want to be more competitive and treat OCRs as simply a race to be won but it’s not my cup of tea.

And the growing split in the community has certainly played a part in my lack of enjoyment last year. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been barged out of the way by “quicker” people – so much for a community spirit built around everyone helping each other. The vast majority of people who enter these are not elite racers, yet I almost feel like I am a second class citizen in the eyes of some event directors who are focusing so heavily on the front end of the race. I’ll still do a few of these; but it will be firmly at the back, purely for the enjoyment and definitely with a bunch of folk around for company.

For the rest of the challenges I intend to change it around a bit, incorporating more than just running and trying to get as many people involved as possible. And the charity will be the focus again, not my personal achievements.

So please go take a look at our website again, and if you fancy joining in or helping out with any of the confirmed challenges below (there may be more to add), then please get in touch and let me know (even if it is just turning up and cheering me on).

Sun 28^th Feb 

Manchester Cancer Research 10km

Sat 7^th May

Dirty Weekend 20 mile OCR (Burghley House, Lincolnshire)

Sun 22^nd May

Great Manchester Run 10km

Sat 2^nd July

Great Manchester Swim 1 mile

Sun 31^st July

Salford Sprint Triathlon

In 2016, it’s time to remember what this was all about in the first place.

Till next time,

DT

The Butterfly Awards

It was with a great sense of pride that I accompanied my fellow Friends of Serenity trustees to the 2015 Butterfly Awards in October 2015. 

These awards honour those who champion baby loss causes and make a difference in bringing the many causes of pre and early-post natal death to a wider audience.

Those of you following the story will know that we were nominated for awards in three categories, and it was truly an honour just to be represented at such a fantastic (if tremendously poignant) event. It is fair to say plenty of tears were shed as we heard some amazing stories of overcoming adversity and making something positive out of devastating turns of events.

The whole evening was a real testament to the dedication of the organisers and helpers. No-one in that room would want to be there in an ideal world, but the strength and determination shown was absolutely unbelievably and genuinely inspirational.

I’m also delighted to report the Friends of Serenity took home both of the awards that the charity was nominated for, firstly for Cherished Keepsake and secondly for UK Support Organisation. Speechless would probably be the best phrase to define how we felt when we were nominated, so to win was beyond belief.

Part of Team Friends of Serenity with the silverware

Three years ago, the charity didn’t exist but now we are making a difference and being recognised as such. 

It is a testament to all the hard work done by Jo and Mark, and also to the phenomenal support I have received from everyone whilst doing my Many Silly Adventures on behalf of the charity. It has been hard work but worth every second.

So, once again, thank you so much for everything – it really does mean the world to those who use the charity and benefit from its work. 

Till next time,

DT

EVENT REVIEW: Tough Mudder North West

We are approaching two and a half years of challenges, something I didn’t think would be possible when I first started. Completing two and a half challenges would have been a decent effort but I’ve managed to surprise myself (and probably a few others as well).

CHALLENGE #29 (OCR #17)

Tough Mudder NW

11-12 mile OCR

September 12^th 2015

Cholmondley Estate

If I mention to any “regular” person that I do OCRs then the first question is often something along the lines of, “Oh, you mean like Tough Mudder?”. Love them or hate them (and there are people firmly at both ends of the spectrum), Tough Mudder did help to put OCR on the map. True, they are now getting prohibitively expensive and not overly conducive to a day out the way some of the others are (£12 to park, £12 just to watch). But they helped to kickstart this OCR revolution in many people’s eyes and they still have a part to play for me.

Pre-Race Day Organisation

Pretty good. I managed to get an entry for about £50-60 as a result of doing the survey after last year’s one so the cost was kept down a bit. I got one of those “general entries” which requires conversion into a specific race when the dates are known. To be fair to TM, it was slick and easy to change and they provided everything you need well ahead of time. Now about that price…..

8 – Very Good

Event Facilities

Decent facilities including plenty of toilets, a merchandise tent, beer tent and a Mini-Mudder for the little ones. The problems I have are (a) £12 for parking and a pretty big queue to get everyone in and (b) £3 for a bag drop. Yes it is for charity, and anyone who reads this blog regularly knows how much I like to do for charity, but £3 is a bit steep in my eyes.

7 - Good

Registration and Race Day Organisation

Slick and easy registration, very pleasantly surprised by this in fact. Was well organised and plenty of staff on hand to keep people moving. Race Day Organisation was a bit rubbish though, we turned up at the warm-up area at 1030 for our 1040 wave only to be told that 1040 was already in the second warm-up pen and the 1100 wave were being pre-warmed up! Doesn’t really matter with TM as no-one checks your wave but an announcement or two wouldn’t have gone amiss.

7 –Good

Location and Watchability

Only an hour from Manchester and pretty good (judging by the accents I heard on the way round) for the Merseyside and Midlands crowds. Three well marked out spectator routes for those who want to come and cheer you on, along with signposts to all the main obstacles.

9 – Excellent

On Course Facilities

Plenty of well-spaced water stations dotted around (I think I counted four or five) although only a couple of them had any refreshments beyond the “sponsored” water. Mile markers dotted around always cheers me up too (especially when it tells you that you are close to the end)! Lots of marshals around the major obstacles too.

7 – Good

Warm-up and Briefings

Despite the problem with the wave timings, the warm-up and briefings did the job satisfactorily, if not greatly. The pre-warm-up crowd surf was a new one on me and did plenty to raise everyone’s camaraderie and sense of togetherness beforehand. But like so many other races, the warm-up area was too small and the warm-up too far in advance of starting to be really useful. Briefing was fun as always and you never cross the start line at TM without feeling pumped up.

7 – Good

Variety of Obstacles

Pretty standard really, despite TM promotional adverts showing all kinds of funky stuff for us to take on. They had updated a few of the obstacles (arctic enema, mud mile etc..) from last year but nothing really jumped out and said “wow”. Bit disappointed with the lack of a Legionnaire’s Loop too.

7 – Good

Obstacle-to-run Mix

Plenty of running, but at 11-and-a-bit miles that is not unexpected. Only really had the one major queue so the balance must have been reasonable when you consider that people are starting every twenty minutes. Never really got bored during the running phases either so all-in-all, not too shabby,

7 - Good

Usage of Terrain and Nature

Not the hilliest place to stage an OCR but they still managed to introduce a few ups-and-downs. Most of the major obstacles were man-made but a decent fist was made of incorporating the available features and terrain.

7 – Good

Post-Race Pack

Tough Mudder don’t do medals, and for a while this year they didn’t plan to do T-Shirts either! A post-race bottle of cider and a non-tech T-Shirt felt like a pretty poor return, considering the phenomenal expense some people encountered for their tickets. Yes, you get a very funky TM headband to sport in work (or in my case two as I got my green 2xTM) but I’d like to see something a bit more lasting please.

6 – Above Average

Course Difficulty: 7

Obstacle Difficulty: 7

Not the most difficult course on the legs, though the sheer distance knocks up the difficulty a notch or two compared to your “typical” `10km courses. Obstacle wise there wasn’t much here that a seasoned OCRer would struggle with – I had the usual go at everything, with my equally usual fall off some things. It’s not a tough event in the grand scheme of things and most newbies would certainly be able to have a go at most of the obstacles, if not all.

Overall Thoughts

Just the two of us this time, and the second half of the race was spent minus Rick as I was running so slow that his knee was beginning to hurt from lack of pace! I really enjoyed the first 6-7 miles but struggled massively in the last few to keep going. Strange atmosphere on the course too considering the number of people watching, I didn’t hear as many people shouting encouragement as I have at other events. Overall I enjoyed it however, though it might be my last TM until the prices come down.

Overall Score

7.0 – As mentioned before I got this cheap, but for £100+ I don’t feel you get the greatest value for money. Some of the new obstacles being advertised weren’t around and it was missing that little something for me. TM events are well put on and professionally run though, so you will definitely have a good time if you take part. My advice: grab a bunch of you (6 to 8) and go for the banter and the memories!

A reminder of the system

10.0 Nothing will ever get 10.0, you should always strive for better

9.5 Sell organs AND children. And everything you own. About as good as it gets

9.0 Sell organs and/or children to do this event every single time

8.5 Highly recommended indeed, this gets booked as soon as it is released

8.0 A very good event, only money or illness would stop this being a yearly thing

7.5 Definitely one to recommend. Not much would keep me away

7.0 On the list for another go, though not necessarily an automatic selection

6.5 Would do this one again if the stars aligned, but wouldn’t break the bank for it

6.0 Was fun but only a very cheap deal and a free weekend would tempt me again

below 6.0 Not for me for one reason or another.

EVENT REVIEWS SO FAR

8.0 Tough Guy

7.5 Reaper Day Race

7.5 Dirty Weekend

7.5 Mudnificent 7

7.5 Yorkshire Warrior (Year 1)

7.0 TOUGH MUDDER NORTH WEST (YEARs 1 and 2)

7.0 Iron Run

7.0 Survival of the Fittest Manchester (Years 1 and 2)

7.0 Spartan Sprint Yorkshire

7.0 Total Warrior Lake District

7.0 Spartan Sprint Manchester

7.0 Yorkshire Warrior (Year 2)

7.0 Avalanche - Chase the Yeti

7.0 Deerstalker

6.5 Mighty Deerstalker

6.5 Pandemonium Iced

6.5 Stockton River Rat Race

6.0 Ram Run

Next up was supposed to be a repeat of one of my favourite events so far, Reaper. But shoulder damage incurred during a nasty fall off a wall at TM means I’m probably not going to be fit in time for that one.

So the honour of marking 30 challenges will go to Manchester Survival of the Fittest, the first three-peat OCR I’ve done and, interestingly, the first OCR I ever attempted way back in November 2013.

The sport has come a long way since then, as have I.

Till next time,

DT