Cycling from London to Edinburgh (450 miles) to run theMarathon (26.2 miles)

Since launching this page at the beginning of February, Mum's cancer has got the better of her and she slipped away from us very peacefully on 12th February 2008.  I miss her very, very much.  But needless to say, just because she won't be packing my sandwiches for the long haul to Edinburgh, we will be re-doubling our effort to work as hard as we can to make sure fewer and fewer wonderful and dearly loved Mums, Dads, friends and family are taken away all too soon by cancer.  I've left the rest of this page as it was - please read on. 

In September 2007, the day before her final scheduled radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer, my Mum was diagnosed with brain cancer, a secondary cancer which had spread from the original breast cancer.  This was the hardest blow imaginable after the long and painful months of aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy that Mummy had already endured and the news left us all shocked and numb at a time when we had thought we would be celebrating. 

But sadly our experience is not un-typical of the roller-coaster path of treatment and emotional highs and lows that so many have trodden ahead of us and, without doubt, so many will face in the future.  And not only as victims of breast cancer but of many other equally devastating but less high-profile cancers.

So I decided that my many years of dithering over whether to run a marathon had to come to an end.  We had been helped by a number of cancer charities that provide support, care, information and guidance as well as the medical staff and hospital workers.  I talked to Mummy about which charity she thought it would be best to support and with the pragmatism that has been typical of the way she has approached her own battle with the disease, she asked that we support research, because, in her own words, it is too late for Mummy (brain cancer is treatable but not curable) but what will really make a difference to people in the future is finding a cure.

Now that the charity was chosen, I needed to enter the event.  The London marathon seemed logical but I’d left it too late, so why not the Edinburgh marathon…  No reason not to but how will I get there?  Well, I thought, I could cycle there.  So that’s how it came about and now I have somehow committed myself to a 450 mile bike ride which, if all goes according to plan, will get me to Edinburgh in time to run the 26.2 mile marathon on May 25^th, before heading home (I did dismiss the idea of cycling back – but only because I’ve run out of annual leave.  If you believe that…).  And all in under a week.

All of the costs of the trip to Edinburgh and the entry fees we are paying for (thanks to all those friends who are going to provide free accommodation on the way up!) so all of your donations are going to the charity.  This is my opportunity to make Mum proud and to help make sure that less and less people have to go through what she has so bravely endured.  Thank you for helping me to do this.

Simon

Updates:

Day 1 - London to Sleaford 

Yesterday evening 20th, Matt,Simon and Tim later joined by Tom embarked on the first stage of Edinburgh madness. The water temp. was 60f or 15.5c and there was a bitter easterly wind blowing across the water of Hyde Park's Serpentine. Matt achieved his target of 2 miles which was 32 lengths of the marked off swimming area in 1 hour and 5 mins, an excellent achievement. Simon and Tim did well to swim 1/2 mile each and Tom joined his elder brother for the last section ensuring Matt kept up his relentless pace to the end.
This morning Nick (Dad) gathered up everyone and parked in the bus lane at Marble Arch whilst the final preparations were made. Eventually with tyre presures tested and Trish's (Mum)vituels safely stowed they were off just after 6.00am on a beautiful sunny London morning.

After 8 1/4 hrs and 136 miles they arrived in Sleaford ( 30m N of Peterborough). They had riden out of London following an impromptue tourist trail taking in Alexander Palace and views over London. They were soon heading for the flat terrain of Cambridgeshire. Both Matt and Tim greated the tarmac whilst sharing an energy bar but everyone eventually arrived at the first nights stop healthy,fit and well fed. They then retired to...... the Pub to watch THE match.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7317388@N04/2511531361/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7317388@N04/2511531243/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7317388@N04/2511951136/

Thanks and best wishes,

Simon and the team

Day 3 - Amplesforth to Jedburgh

Today they covered 136 miles with 9hrs in the saddle at an average speed of 15.1 mph. Simon recorded a top speed of 47mph which when matched to the average indicates that the terraine was much more hilly. Tonight they are at a campsite in Jedburgh 10 miles north of the Scottish boarder and less than 50 miles from their destination.

The weather was perfect for cycling,clear and sunny but also chilly. The North York moors were spectacular and they pased kilder water and through Kilder Forest as treats.

A break for sustenance at Durham Cathedral was welcome-see pic.

Tim is recording heart rate etc and calculates that they are consuming 4000 calories whilst actually on the move. You could add another 2000 for the other 15 hours of the day and the body's recovery process. Trish's food rations are doing their job and everyone is fit and healthy. They have also avoided mechanical mishaps which would be time comsuming.
They intend having a lie in tomorrow morning and then can have a rest in Edinburgh to prepare for Sunday's marathon which starts at 9am.

Simon and the team

Day 4 - Jedburgh to Edinburgh 

First up, thanks to my Dad for sending updates the last couple of days. I am back on line and in Edinburgh tonight.

Second, a summary of our trip:

Tuesday 20th - Swim in the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park (Matt 2mi, Simon and Tim 0.5mi!)
Wednesday 21st - Cycle London to Sleaford, 136 mi, 8hrs 15mins, average 16.5 mph
Thursday 22nd - Cycle Sleaford - Amplesforth, 119 mi, 7hrs 25mins, average 16 mph 
Friday 23rd - Cycle Amplesforth - Jedburgh, 136 mi, 9hrs saddle time, average 15.1 mph, max 47mph
Saturday 22nd - Cycle Jedburgh - Edinburgh, 47 mi, 3hrs 16mins saddle time, average 14.4 mph

Cumulative cycle London - Edinburgh, 438 mi, 27hrs 18mins, average 16 mph

So, Saturday was a lazy start including a fry up at the Jedburgh woolen mill and then an easy final 47 miles into Edinburgh. Although it was very chilly the sun came out to greet us at Edinburgh castle and we're all now tucking into this evening's pasta dose in preparation for 26.2 miles of marathon running tomorrow!

Photos of all 4 days of cycling here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7317388@N04/sets/72157605184491721/

Last but not least, a special mention to Jun Wong who was the one 'fan' to turn up at 6am at Marble Arch on Wednesday to see us off. But not only did he ride out of London with us, he then went home and put us on his blog which precipated a deluge of donations from Serpentine triathlon club members and Jun's friends. Thank you all! Check out the latest total here: www.justgiving.com/edinburghmadness

Thank you as always to you for making this happen and making it so worthwhile - I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and strangers alike.

Simon

Day 5 - The Edinburgh marathon

Mission completed. All three of us completed the marathon today - Matt and Simon in 3hrs 51mins and Tim in 4hrs 40mins after he overcame debiltating leg cramps. So that's all of us safely through the swim, the bike ride from London to Edinburgh and the 26.2 mile run.

Today's special mention goes to Crystal, my girlfriend, who completed the Ottawa marathon today, and to her and her family and friends who directed their fundraising efforts to support me. We made a New Year's resolution to run a marathon this year and as luck would have it the Ottawa and Edinburgh marathons were on the same day so we could run together. And with Crystal's 7am start and the time difference she even started while I was still running. Well done Power-liello! I'm very, very proud of you.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1228807&l=fae00&id=507716211

Due to a technical problem no pics of today on line yet but I will email another update in the next couple of days with photos.

Thanks to everyone for your sponsorship - that was what all this was about and your generosity has made it a success.

Simon

Final update - 1st June 2008

Safely back home, cycling shorts sanitised, recovery runs and rides completed and itchy-feet setting in, here's the final update.

The latest figure for the total funds raised by Matt, Simon and Tim for our two charities, the Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust and Cancer Research UK is £12,813.  We asked for your support and you responded more generously than we could ever have hoped for.  Thank you.

You can see most of my photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53764&l=87ebd&id=507716211

Far more fun are the videos (sorry but it seems that to see videos you have to be a facebook member - if anyone knows how to make them public please let me know):
http://vupload.facebook.com/video/?id=507716211

And you can read all the past updates on my justgiving page:
http://www.justgiving.com/edinburghmadness

Thank you so much for all your text messages and emails before, during and after the challenge.  They were a real boost.

All the best, Simon

p.s. One point of clarification: in my first message to sponsors I mentioned that I had been suffering from ITBS.  ITBS is an acronym for Iliotibial Band syndrome (Google it) NOT irritable bowel syndrome!  Despite putting around 6,000 calories a day through them, my bowels, you will be pleased to know, remained thoroughly un-irritable.