This was Sallie's idea.  My cheese eating, clog wearing, ride on a flat road, plate pie eating friend who (was it drunkenly - I forget) suggested that we challenged ourselves in the year of our half century.  I'm not one to turn down a challenge. 

I don't cycle. Never really have since I gave up my paper round aged 13. It seemed that people had too small letter-box for every single Sunday paper. One Sunday it rained and I ditched the lot. And the bike. 

On holiday last year I was persuaded to take to two wheels again. I was shaky and nervous (& flipping unfit!) but enjoyed seeing the countryside whilst the BFA was getting a workout. When we returned I bought a bike. It cost more than my first car. Then the gear. Man alive!  The GEAR to go with it!  And of course, all the geekery that informs me when I really should stop as I am just not that fit. 

The cycling is going well and I am reliably informed that I am doing well in the four months of training thus far. Hills are my nemesis and although I have been sighted HIT training up Pen Hill I am gradually getting a little farther up each time. I'm not totally sure how I am going to do 80 miles per day. On the flat it might not have been so bad, but chuck some pretty steep hills and I know it's going to hurt massively. 

The last two years have been pretty rubbish. Much uncertainty, worry and a lot of eating in the car.  All of which has seen me gain at least 2 stones if not more. My foray into 'running' in the Great South Run was perhaps the 'idiot highlight' of my life so far. No training. Not a bit. But I managed to waddle in at just under 2 ½ hours. This is different because there won't be any cuffing it. 

The charity is Anthony Nolan. If it weren't for them, then Seany wouldn't be here. Or he would be but not for so long. So please support. If you are under 30 you can give stem cells (won't help my weight issue, but you could save somebody's life). If you deep. Sallie, Angie and I are looking forward to this challenge. Anybody who wants to join us is welcome!!