Well, after 18 months of intense hot weather/cold weather/altitude/track/road/gym training we're nearly ready to start our attempt at LEJOG. Actually, to be more accurate, the training of any consistency and frequency only really got underway around the beginning of April, in Martin's case because in February he spent a week in hospital in Dundee, after significantly overestimating his freestyle skiing capabilities up in Glenshee! In practice, the interruption in his cycling activities was helpful to me as his fitness was so far ahead of mine, that it (marginally) narrowed the fitness gap between us.
Since the beginning of April we've managed to cycle most weeks together, although in my case the training is reminiscent of when I was running marathons in the 1980s and the final preparation always seemed to be when doing the event itself!
We have a route, which for reasons mentioned elsewhere in this blog is a bit longer than the classic distance for this ride and will involve the two of us (plus anyone who wants to join us en route), with stopovers arranged, mostly by Martin, at B&Bs or with friends or relatives (thanks in advance to all for their hospitality).
Last week (June 4th) I'm really pleased that we were able to call in to see Mr Morgan, my bowel surgeon at the Infirmary in Lancaster, who I had not seen for around 20 years (see the Photo Gallery). The hospital had issued a press release prior to our visit and, as a result, I was interviewed on Radio Cumbria on the morning of the visit and when we arrived at the hospital there were representatives of Radio Lancashire, the Lancaster Guardian, the Westmorland Gazette and Granada Reports.
Even before we have started the ride, the profile we have been given by the media has been remarkable and we're grateful to the various organisations for this. An example of this is the piece on Granada Reports, which was broadcast that evening, the link to which is below:
http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2014-06-04/man-returns-to-thank-surgeon-after-20-years-of-being-cancer-free/
Hopefully we will make good use of the publicity we have been given to help raise awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms, as well funds for Beating Bowel Cancer.
That's probably just about it until we've actually got underway next Sunday. I'll do my best to provide frequent updates en route and we look forward to meeting as many people as possible along the way. If anyone when looking at the route thinks we may be cycling in their area, if they would like to join us on their bikes or would just like to say hello, you will be very welcome and if they would like any more information, please get in touch (Our email addresses and mobile phone numbers are on the Contact page).
This is the blog recording the progress of Ian and Martin's ride, starting from Land's End on June 15th and planning to reach John O'Groats on July 3rd. As you can see from the photo, which was taken after a training ride, we are supporting Beating Bowel Cancer. Ian is the tired looking one on the left!
