Many members of Saddleworth Round Table have been “doing their bit “for at least 50 years.  50 years is about my age, hard for me to say but true I’m afraid. Five decades so hence the five challenges. Two triathlons, the national 3 peaks 24hour challenge, a parachute jump and to finish me off a marathon. “Why these events I hear you ask.

Triathlon is a tough often gruelling, kit heavy sport that demands lots of your personal and family time to prepare for. I often treated this strange breed of athlete in the clinic, and to be quite frank I used to think they were perhaps a few slates short of a full roof. I’d never done anything like this before, I’m not the best swimmer and the bike made my derrière quite sore, so what was the appeal?  John Wooden said “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do”.  So it began. I didn’t really understand the amount of time it would take up or the pain it would cause.    “Practitioner heal thyself”, there was never a truer word spoken.

I completed the 1^st challenge triathlon on the 13^th of June and survived to tell this tale. The big one is in our capital city London, Hyde Park on the 25^th of July. Cameras at the ready, I don’t think our current world triathlete champion, Allister Brownlie, has much to worry about.

So with that completed it was onward and upward literally. The national three peaks challenge is not unique, even the 24 hour challenge is done quite frequently, but the rewards of getting through as a team is what I think will make this special. We have a team of 8, myself and my son Ben,  Mike Coulter, current round table chairman, Dave Cooper, past chairman and president, Phil Wiggett , esteemed long term member of table and Nick Farrow and his friend Paul Syrymgeour. Last, but not least Dave MacDougal our back up driver, emergency Labrador and cook. Dave has been given the role of head navigator, and charge of food preparation due to his in depth knowledge of nutrition, and his uncanny sense of smell for a watering hole. Vital traits, in challenge such as this.    

The parachute jump will be done in the Lake District, on the 28^th of August. A place soaked with beauty, charm and a few big hills. So to free fall at 13.500 feet above this green and pleasant land, I can’t think of a better way to take it in.

The final challenge is the marathon in October, to finally finish a truly unique journey. The journey has allowed me to reflect on many things and make me realise how lucky I am to be able to rise to these challenges and raise money for 2 very worthy charities and make a difference.

 

So we shall endeavour to hit above the mark to try to achieve the mark.

Saddleworth Round Table would also like to thank MSK Partnership and The Rose and Crown for their kind sponsorship.