Only 5 days left

Well, only 5 days left till I panic about the amount (or lack) of training and get on a plane. Nervous? Yep!

I have done virtually (or is that literally) zero planning or preparation for the trip. I feel a list coming on…..either that or I’ll start packing on Saturday evening at which time it is too late. If I don’t already have it to hand, it isn’t going to Cuba with me!

So the bike is put away until I get back now. Just static workouts (and quite short and easy ones at that) until the big off. I have to make sure I keep doing something but nothing to over exert myself… I think I will need to save my energy!

Enough ramblings. Hopefully more before we go. Iain arrives Saturday morning (5:50am. Ouch!)

We will post comments from Cuba as and when we can. Follow snippets updated via Twitter which will appear on the LoveFromHenry home page. Keep looking next week.

Cheers and thanks for reading.

Ramblings from UK

Rather than trying to play netball like my rather poncy big brother I have been watching my daughter play netball. That’s all I think needs to be said about netball !!!!

I have been doing well on the bootcamp…. not so well on the bike. On the static this evening to make up for the very poor weather here (any excuse, eh?). I have to say that I really miss going out on the bike. Have a big weekend planned this weekend coming and then an easy but constant week next week. More cycling, no bootcamp.

Now all I need to do is stay off the chocolate……

So, taking orders for cigars…..anyone?

Cheers and thanks for reading

Training News

More training news

Well, the bike has been a bit quiet this week. Going in for a tune up tomorrow and back out again later.

I have to thank Ben at Sussex Bootcamps for the gruelling torture he has put me through these past two weeks. I am feeling better (slightly) and less aching now. My core muscles are much improved and half way through so expecting some more improvements by the time we leave.

Speaking of which…. 19 days to go!!!! Very nervous. Have I done enough, or too much (doubtful)? I am scared that I will struggle and miss the fantastic world around me. I plan to step up my training over the next 2 weeks and really make it worthwhile.

This weekend is another chance to get out and enjoy the riding. Not sure which way to go though…. North or South Downs? Any thoughts? Anyone out riding this weekend that wants to join me?

Cheers and thanks for reading.

Training Update

Just a quicky to update you all on the training. Bootcamp is going well. The aches of the first few days are receding a little and I can feel the muscles in my stomach starting to work…. first time in ages!

The riding is going well with a number of long-ish off road rides planned for October. Really this is the last push. 30 days to go and I need to ease up in the last week to rest in readiness of the challenge ahead. So really only 3 weeks of training left. Going for it full out now.

I still need load more sponsorship though. Please can you spread the word far and wide. Every little counts.

Cheers and thanks for reading.

I’m a Twit..ter….er???

I have succumbed to the pressure of online social networking. It is true, I no longer have real friends, only pretend friends, on the Interweb, who live in their mums back bedroom and have posters of Power Rangers on their walls.

Yes, Love From Henry is now a Twitter-er (is that the right name?).

You can see me on Twitter @LoveFromHenry and follow some words of inspired wisdom and comment on the state of Pediatric brain tumours and the research in the UK and the world.

There are a number of other charities doing similar things in  this area and I have tried to follow as many of these as possible. The more people that look at this terrible lack of funding and research (<1% of all charity funding by the government is in brain tumours, yet 24% of all cancer is in the brain)

So, follow me, invite your friends to follow me and spread the word.

Cheers and thanks for reading

The torture has arrived

OK, so someone told me that it would be a good idea to get fitter for this challenge. All I can say is…. WHY DID I LISTEN !!!!!!!???????!!!!!!

A very kind offer by Ben at Sussex BootCamp has led me to leaving home at 5:30am to be tortured by a sadist at Horsham Park 3 times a week. Why would I do this to myself? Well, at least the pain (and there is pain!) will pay off in about 4 weeks time when I will be fitter, healthier and better able to cope with the challenge ahead.

It has started to dawn on me how hard this could be. 80km per day, each day….. OK, so not as hard as an Olympic sport maybe…. not as hard as childbirth (yeah, how hard can that be? half the population can do that without even trying !!!)

Before I get attacked by every female on the planet, all I can say in my defence is, I am only a man after all…. everything is difficult!

I gotta new bike!!!!!

Well, the time came all too late but it has happened. I got a new bike. Yes, I succumbed to the pressure. Apparently riding a large lump of concrete around was not good for my technique! Thanks for that observation.
So, now I have a shiny new bike with more bells and whistles than a steam locomotive! Is that really going to help a slightly chubby fella go any faster?

I’ll report back with later.

I took this new bike out on Sunday to ride around Godalming with fellow Cuba riders. A lovely chat and bacon butty later and we were on our way. Very pleasant it was too. Fantastic weather and a short 15 miles later and home for lunch. Lovely.

Still doing static stuff to keep fitness up (read the other blog about that subject!) so not out as much as I’d like. Must try harder.

Cheers and thanks for reading.

New Website!

The new website us up and running. We are VERY excited and I think it looks great. Let me know what you think.

We will be adding to it and giving it some tweaks over the next few weeks so comments are always welcome.

We have also emailed out LOADS of stuff to anyone and everyone. If you like to receive a copy of our newsletter then get in touch via the website.

Cheers and thanks for reading.

Rebranding

Well, I just thought I’d keep you posted about our rebranding. We have been in discussions with a fabulous marketing and PR company about a full rebrand and marketing campaign to increase the profile of Love From Henry and the Cuba ride.

A small snipet of one of the ideas is in the header…. just a taster. Hope you like it. I am thinking we are a few weeks away from a new website launch so keep watching.

Thanks

Fund Raising

I am aware that so far I have not approached anyone for sponsorship or fund raising. I really must get on with this, so I have taken the action to make an effort. As from this week I shall turn my attentions to fundraising and sponsorship.

If you (does anyone read this?) have any ideas of potential sponsorship areas then please leave a comment and I will look into it. I plan to email everyone I know, and ask they forward this on to everyone they know!

Comments are always welcome and helpful. Your support is required!

Many thanks, Barny.