I am an instructor with the Sea Cadets at Worthing Unit and have seen how much the cadets get out of the activities they do. I have also seen how much these activities and all the surrounding admin costs. The sea cadets are a charity, and I felt this was a fantastic way of raising money for Worthing in particular and also to encourage some of the cadets to try something different. If I can do it, so can they!
The gold challenge is based on the sports in the Olympics. Some of these sports I can do with the sea cadets, and I have purposely chosen several of these to illustrate the variety of activities that can be done, whilst also doing something that I think will be fun.
My challenge is to do the following activities.
1. Swim - Learn to swim - again. For those that have seen my swimming style, it has recently been described by Mrs Lawrence as "directional panic in water".
2. Canoe - Learn to canoe. I have canoed in the past, but again this was a long time ago and all the new stuff I have learnt has forced this skill out!
3. Shooting – Learn to shoot. Again, a skill that I have done in the past but want to relearn. This is also another sport that can be done within the cadets.
4. Weightlifting – For those that know me, they will know how therapeutic gym time can be for me. This is a great opportunity for me to focus some of my energy on something different in the gym.
5. Triathlon. This is a personal goal, to do a half triathlon. I have never done one and this is the one element that I plan to do in 2012. This will link my swimming and gym work together.
6. Rowing. Learn to row - I can do this with the cadets.
7. Sailing. Learn to sail. Again, something I can do with Cadets.
8. Cycling. Take part in a cycle ride or three. I'm training for a triathlon. This incorporates a cycle leg, so why not do a cycle challenge too?
9. 1/2 Marathon. This is similar in theory behind the cycle ride. If I'm doing a triathlon I might as well develop it further and do a half marathon. I'm not expecting to be fast round the course, just finish and not die on the way round would be a bonus.
10. Archery - Try archery. To be perfectly honest, I needed another sport, as its in multitudes of 5, and had seen Robin Hood recently so thought I would give it a go.
The challenge is to do them by the end of 2012, but I am aiming to have most of them done by the end of 2011, with the conclusion being the half triathlon and half marathon. Once I had booked a place in the triathlon all my sponsers will be invited to watch the pain!
There will be regular updates on www.goldchallenge.org and also on my just giving page.
Please give to this cause, and hopefully we can get some showers installed!!!!
Updates on progress and events: http://goldchallenge.blogspot.com/
