Hi Everybody,
Thank you for clicking onto my just giving page.
So 640 K through Ireland and on to Edinburgh in March on a push bike!...... is Gallagher really bonkers? He's much too old for this sort of thing i hear you say. I agree, just looking at the route below fills me with dread. That said there are 5 stages and I'm only taking part in the final one. 250 riders will participate overall starting in Rome, ending in Edinburgh via Paris, Twickenham, Cardiff, Dublin and Belfast. Needless to say it's a fantastic way to raise money and will be tough but hopefully fun too....
Am sure all of you have done something no matter how small for charity and so you know how important this type of fundraising is. The charities that will benefit from this venture are Help for Heroes ,Sports Relief and The Dallaglio Foundation supporting amongst others, Cancer Research and Leukemia Research. The PRA will also be a beneficiary.
I'm already week 9 into my training having started with sessions in the gym, then onto spinning classes and having picked up my bike i have completed 30 K, 54K and 74 K bike rides in Regents Park.....apart from a very sore bottom i feel ok so far; oh and am getting used to wearing lycra! Needless to say i am more than aware that unlike Regents Park the hills in Ireland and Scotland will be a plenty... Only two weeks to go Aaaaaaaaa....i am beginning to feel sick.
Last week 15th Feb Feb i did two lots of 50's and a 70 K. I also took part in two spin classes...not easy.
Sat 20th Feb did an hour and a half of leg strengthening excerises...........could hardly walk afterwards.
Sunday the 21st Feb completed 88.4 K's in four and a half hours...very numb bum and pretty knackered...suspect i will feel it tonight....might as well get used to it.
Monday the 22nd Feb another seriously hard spin class...Fabio has decided to use me as a guinea pig.
Looking to do another legstrengthening session this evening and a a big bike ride next Sunday.
My bike goes across to Ireland next Monday so there will be no turning back..
I would really appreciate any support you can give me and i'll be in Edinburgh afore thee.............
See the latest clip from the team in now back in UK.
Many thanks
Seamus
The Route: ROSSLARE to EDINBURGH 550km
Day 1: This stage begins with the longest ride since the continent, mainly following 150km of coastline all the way to our penultimate stadium stop, Lansdowne Road.
Day 2: Hopefully not nursing a sore head, today the tour edges us closer to the Irish border. On a day significantly shorter than yesterday, we will cover a minimal 60km to our last overnight stop outside of Great Britain, Drogheda.
Day 3: Crossing the border today we make our way to the Northern Irish capital. After a 120km stint, I’m sure half a Guinness will go down very well, particularly with a rest day tomorrow!
Day 4: REST DAY, at some stage we will make our way over the water to Stranraer ready for tomorrow’s efforts.
Day 5: Our introduction to Scotland begins in style as we cycle through the beautiful Galloway Forest Park today, totalling 100km to Thornhill.
Day 6: On the penultimate day of cycling we begin the ascent up to Edinburgh with a gentle 70km ride to the small town of Lanark.
Day 7: Finally here it is – day 7 in the saddle! After the last 550km Lawrence et al will arrive at Murrayfield shattered but elated I’m sure
