UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE 

ITS OVER!!

What  an amazing event, one that I will remember for a long long time.  It began a few minutes before 8am on Saturday, with me nervously standing on the beach in Nairn before the start which was a gentle 7 mile cross country run to Cawdor Castle.  Running is my favourite exercise and so even though the terrain was much tougher than I’m used to, this felt like a great beginning and one that was not too hilly! 

This feeling was short lived as we went straight into a gruelling 48 mile cycle ride up and down the hills of the highlands – my legs tell me this
was mainly up!  Towards the end of this section was the longest steepest toughest and most unfriendly hill I have ever cycled which left my legs feeling like rubber. Fortunately, when you climb a nasty hill there’s often a friendly descent and so after several hours, I was able to finally enjoy a long downward slope to the banks of Loch Ness and finish Day 1 with a kayak in the glorious sunshine on the beautiful Loch.

My body was aching, but I had finished day 1 in one piece – happy days.

Then came day 2!?!

Sleeping in a tent meant wrapping up warm and an early night.  This went well despite the constant rain, until just after midnight when my wonderful support team returned from a local hostelry, sorry two local hostelries, where they had been discussing how tough they had found it so far and how they were excited about what was to come!  They entered the tent as quiet as very considerate elephants determined  not to disturb my sleep and then, later that evening, one who shall remain nameless, got up around 4am to check out the portaloo facilities at the end of the camp site! 

So, at about 530am, after a restful night, I got changed, had a light breakfast, lots of water, a Mars bar and half a cheese sandwich, kindly purchased by my wandering support team member the evening before, and prepped my bike.  730am, still raining, I headed off on Day 2, cycling from Fort Augustus, 21 miles off road, to the Great Glen.  About 40 minutes in, disaster struck, a flat rear tyre.  This was not a good moment but after a short while, two wonderful fellow Rat Racers – Mandy and David – stopped and helped me change the inner tube.  Some 15-20 minutes later I was back on the ‘trail’, gingerly cycling the remaining 15 or so miles remembering next time that I really should bring more than one spare inner tube!

The rain stayed with me and the ‘off road’ finished at last, turning into a 13 mile road cycle to Fort William. I felt relieved that my tyres had lasted the ‘off road’ section and was delighted when I approached the edge of Fort William which meant I was just some 2 miles away from the transition.  The heavens really opened at this point and as I rode steadily around a water drenched roundabout my trusty cycle decided to go left when my body had started to go right.  I was deposited in the middle of the road with one or two drivers looking a little surprised and a couple of my fellow cyclists rushing to ensure I was OK.  Slightly bruised body and pride but with no serious injuries, I made it to transition with a huge sigh of relief that the cycling was now over. 

My support team were there moments after I arrived, and they took my bike, anything else I had finished with and helped me find and consume
a hot sweet coffee (nicest drink I’d had all weekend), another Mars bar and the remains of the previously mentioned cheese sandwich.  I was now ready for the final big run – 14 miles up and down the treks and trails of Glen Nevis. As the name suggests this was not flat!

They had saved the best / worst until last and after only a few minutes it was clear that if the constant climb wasn’t really punishing your already exhausted legs enough then the water logged, boulder covered, slippery, never ending trails were trying to finish you off!  At this point I knew I really had to be careful. I could hear my family’s voices telling me to make sure that I didn’t do anything silly like going for a specific time, rather just make sure that I finish in one piece.    Uncharacteristically, I listened! 

After what seemed like forever I reached the final stage, the big run for the last 400 metres to cross that beautiful finish line. Jill was on lookout duty and saw me first and waved, shouted, screamed at Sam, Annie and Molly that I was almost there.  This gave me what I thought was super human strength and whilst waving at my family and of course my trusty support team, I ran at what I knew was 'Mo Farah like' speed and style, to triumphantly cross the finish line.  In looking at the reality of this moment on the film taken, again thanks to my support team, I am moving a little more like an ancient  mammoth with a range of serious injuries, in slow motion, than Mo Farah, but I was moving and I had finished. 

A medal was put around my neck, felt so good, and then I headed straight for the arms of Jill and the ‘kids’.  I could not have asked for a better end to what was and possibly will remain, the most difficult challenge I have ever taken part in.

I have so many ‘thank you’s.  My family for enduring the weeks /months of my training, my parents and siblings for their wonderful messages and donations, my support team Paul and Gord, every single one of the sixty plus people who so kindly supported and donated to what is a wonderful cause, the team at Global and in particular Gemma and Ed for their generous words in their ‘shout out’ on the Heart Breakfast show, CHECT staff and trustees for all their support, Pete for his bike, Sandy who did it last year and so gave me the idea in the first place ………......

I am now planning a brief period of relaxation!  I usually do something to fundraise every two years and so I have plenty of time to find something appropriate but possibly not quite so incredibly exhausting for 2020.  

All suggestions gratefully received.

With huge thanks

Patrick

It is two years since I last did some fundraising for the very special charity I have the privilege of working for - the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (www.chect.org.uk). This time I have entered something really really challenging because I know you’ll only support me if it’s for a very important cause and an activity that’s personally very painful! This seemed like a great idea a few months ago but as the event draws nearer I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you how nervous I am.

On September 8th and 9th I am running, cycling and kayaking from the east coast of Scotland to the west. I haven’t run more than a half marathon for 5 years and until I started training for this, hadn’t ridden a bike since my teens!! The event, Coast to Coast, takes you across 105 miles of very hilly Scottish highlands and I have no doubt whatsoever that I will find it a real physical and emotional challenge.

Two years ago, my incredible family – Jill, Sam, Annie and Molly –foolishly agreed to join me in taking part in the 2016 Great North Run and amazingly each of them crossed the finishing line in South Shields somewhat worn out but absolutely elated. They are all very different, very special people and a huge part of what keeps me sane and alive. Having said that they are all so special that somehow they have found themselves extremely busy this September weekend and although they’d love to, they simply can’t join me in this particular challenge!

Whilst it is six years now since my last radiotherapy session at the Royal Marsden, my own experience of cancer is never too far from me and provides a quite personal connection with the families, babies, young children and teenagers I meet who have been impacted by eye cancer. The impact of a cancer diagnosis at any stage in life can be overwhelming but a cancer that affects babies and very young children is particularly devastating.

We are a small team at CHECT providing support and a range of services that make a real difference to the lives of a very clearly defined community that would otherwise be lost in the generic world of cancer support and the bigger cancer charities. Your generous support and donations will be received with huge thanks and put to very good use!

I have no doubt that this will be one of the biggest challenges I have ever undertaken and an enormous physical, mental and emotional stretch! Just as it was two years ago, I suspect that my stoic northern exterior will be reduced to that of a tearful, bumbling idiot when I hope I find myself falling out of a kayak and crawling the final yards over the finish line in Ballachulish on Sunday September 10th.

Thank You!