Update 16th July 2008
Follow training updates and information on the triathlon when it happens at
http://davidramsay1.blogspot.com/




Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

I got involved in this triathlon through my partner who works as a Transplant Coordinator at Harefield Hospital. She knows John Fisher, who in turn runs the charity To Transplant And Beyond via the website www.heart-transplant.co.uk.

I do therefore know something of the complicated, stressful and emotional process that those on the Transplant List have to go through before, if they are lucky, they are matched with a donor organ and have the chance of a new lease of life. I was therefore delighted to be involved with this project to raise money for John’s charity and raise awareness of the Organ Donor Register.

I have led a somewhat sedentary life in recent (and not so recent) years and so when the London Triathlon was first mentioned I was fairly confident that I could complete the Super-Sprint or even the Sprint distance. I’m not sure where the breakdown of communication happened, but when I told my Dad it was now the Olympic Distance at 1500m swim, 40Km bike and 10Km ride, he simply said I was mad, and Mum says he’s been very worried about me ever since.

The training has been a bit off and on. Things keep getting in the way, like family, work and life,  although I did manage a little bit of altitude training in Afghanistan. Then there was the dark nights and poor weather of winter which made things difficult, followed by the lighter nights and poor weather of spring, followed by …… anyway  when I decided that things really had to get underway it dawned on me that I did not own some fairly necessary items of sporting paraphernalia – the most glaringly obvious being a bike.

The last time I was on a bike I had two large bags of Sunday supplements to deliver, and I have to say that in the last 25 years the weight of bikes has reduced somewhat - as has the size of the saddles. Not too sure about the clip-in shoes either, I haven’t fallen flat on my face yet, but it is only a matter of time…..

And then there is the swimming. Unless you’re a pretty dedicated swimmer what real swimming do any of us do these days. I’ve spent loads of time at water parks and at the beach, but sliding down the Red Thunder and playing with a beach ball doesn’t really prepare you for two laps of Heron Lake.

At least the running is fairly straight forward and safe, you can’t fall off and you can’t drown, but 10 KM….. it’s a long way, and after a swim and a bike it will seem even longer.

The training really started to kick in once I got involved with a local triathlon club. Completed several 10 mile bike time trials, came last in every one, but the confidence on the bike is coming back – should have the stabilisers off soon, and its so much easier without the Sunday Times weighing you down. I have even completed one Sprint Triathlon and managed a credible last place there as well; I do think that consistency is so important.

My goals are to i) finish the triathlon before the marshals go home or darkness sets in, ii) to try and enjoy it and finally iii) sub 4 hours.

So if you would like to sponsor me on behalf of John’s charity please read the bit below, if you are unsure, then please take a look at his website and think about what a difference the gift of an organ can bring, and whether you would like to find out more about the Organ Donor Register.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: To Transplant and Beyond gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now,