Lee Popplewell  40th Year of Challenges 

After having a Heart Attack while out running 

at age 37 in October 2012 I became involved 

with this amazing charity running my first 

half marathon for them a year later in 

October 2013. 

I am doing a challenge a month to push myself 

and to raise money for my chosen charity which is 

Heart Beat of Sport. 

JANUARY saw me do the do the X Challenge winter 

Warrior on a freezing snowy day at Donnington Park.  

It was snowing heavily on the morning of the racer

 and the layer of ice covered the water obstacles.

http://xrunner.co.uk/winter-warrior-obstacle-race/

I smashed my knee on my first obstacle landing hard on i

t on the race track.  I then rolled my ankle half way round 

making it a painful struggle to finish. 

FEBUARY saw me take on the challenge of upping my fitness 

level and losing 5kg in the calendar month all the time 

while being on night shifts at work.  This is normally a time 

when I really struggle with motivation and discipline with 

my diet.  After a lot of hard work and watching what I 

eat I did this with a few days to spare. 

MARCH was a very special challenge for me.  

I wanted to ski tour up a mountain.  I did this while on 

holiday in the French Alps in Meribel.  

This is a resort where I lived for 7 winters and in my time 

living there I never dreamed on day I would ski tour 

up the mountain setting off at 22:00hrs from the 

Altiport which is at an altitude of  1700m and walked 

up the mountain with my friend who is a ski instructor.  

He arranged the equipment which was a bit ill-fitting 

and made it tougher but we managed all the same.  

We spent four hours walking up the 2.5 mile climb 

which had approximately half a mile vertical accent.  

I felt the kind of achievement that I got form completing 

the London Marathon doing this climb.  

We had a well-earned beer sat near the 

top of the mountain before we skied down in the light 

our head torches picking up freshly 

groomed piste half way down.

APRIL I have taken my road cycle out for a ride 

and the aim of the challenge was to complete 50 miles.  

Apart from my normally boot camp and running I had 

not trained for this as it was my first rise out since l

ast summer/autumn time.  I have never been further 

than 25/30 miles as I struggle  with my back terribly 

on these rides for 30/45 mins in.  This ride was no 

different and within 30 minutes I thought I way 

have to abandon this challenge.   I kept going as 

did not want to fail and found the back pains eased.  

I stopped at 34 miles in for a spot of lunch by the sea 

in Hornseaand came back a long way as wanted to clock 

the 60 miles I was close to. I was very proud of this and 

with my mind on upcoming events I went out for a run 

afterwards only doing 3 miles. 

MAY I am doing a 20 mile obstacle race.  

I am very nervous about this but it should be great fun.

http://www.ratracedirtyweekend.com/

This was very hard but great fun. I ran all the all the way with 3 great lads 

I meet just after after the start and having company mate the whole event more 

enjoyable. It took a long time to complete but loved it!!

JUNE I am doing a trail run at the half marathon 

distance in Clumber Park.

http://rwtrailblazer.co.uk/

Due to an on going problem with inflamed sole of the foot I was in 

extreme discomfort and pain but managed to finish, just!!!

JULY is one of my biggest challenges. I am trail biking 

Coast to Coast over 3 days through the Lake District, 

Yorkshire Dale and the North Yorkshire Moors.  

This is going to be an amazing experience traveling through 

some of the UK’s most stunning scenery. 

http://www.ratracecrossing.com/

This was one of the hardest things I have ever done but it was also one of the best 

and most rewarding. Biking across 3 national parks in 3 day was so tough but 

also so amazing. The views and scenery was something very special and also 

made some great friends along the way. Now the pain and difficulties are a 

distant memory and all is left are the positive ones I am already thinking 

of signing up next year.

AUGUST    I was going to doing an event that looks a lot of fun.   

It is a 10km water obstacle race. This was probarly my easist and a very fun 

event/challenge but I can not do this now due to a clash on the date 

I am taking on a harder challenge.

http://www.stocktonriverratrace.com/ 

Instead I am going to go out on my road bike and do my first ever 100 mile day.

This is 35 mile more than I have ever done and I am nervous about his and 

praying for sunshine a little to no wind.

SEPTEMBER is another epic challenge at 

I am very intimidated by.  It is a Coast to Coast across 

the Scottish Highlands traveling running, trail biking, 

road biking and by Kayak. It is a two day event 

and the last day is my 40thbirthday!! 

http://www.scotlandcoasttocoast.com/

OCTOBER I am going to enter the Bridlington Half Marathon 

road race for the 3rd year in a row. 

Hopefully I can beat my PB time like I did last year. 

NOVEMBER I am entering the Rat Race Men's Health 

half Survival of the Fittest marathon obsticale race in Manchester. 

http://www.mhsurvival.co.uk/cities-pricing/

DECEMBER 

I ran the Leeds Christmas 10km