Sunday 18 March 2012

Challenge 1 of 6 complete

18th March 2012, Challenge 1 of 6 -  Hethersett 30/60 Cycle Challenge (Norfolk).


Today I started my '6 challenges in 2012' for the Alzheimer's Society (justgiving or text GOLD51 £2 to 70070) and today's challenge was a 60 mile bike ride.  I set myself a goal of completing today's challenge in 4hrs 30mins. 
I arrived at the start line nice and early (8:30am) so I could get a good start, which meant I was able to get away in the very first batch of 20 riders at 9 am sharp. This turned out to be a perfect, although very fast, start as most of the riders in the first 20 were 'club' riders and had every intention of getting away quickly and getting some very fast early miles in.  This was exactly what we did and although some of the very fast riders broke away, a few of us stayed together as a group and soon found ourselves averaging around 17 miles per hour.
I had prepared well for today, by doing a practise ride last week of 36 miles, a mid week 7.5K run and a personal training session Friday night, to focus on my core muscle group and by the 30 mile/half way point I was going strong and not ready to stop. Just over 10 miles later however, I could feel my feet getting numb and the base of my spine aching so I took advantage of an official rest point at just over 40 miles, taking on some extra fluid and enjoying some jellies. I knew that then that it was time to push hard for the last 20 miles and finish in a good time. I blanked out the pain and the heavy legs and pushed on. I have to admit I hit a mini wall at 56 miles where we had to climb a hill for approx 1 mile, but I knew I was nearly there and I knew I had cycled faster than I could have ever planned.  I crossed the finish line at 12:45pm just as the rain started, my official time for 60 miles 3 hours 45 mins (possibly the hardest 3hrs 45mins) of my life, but I couldn't stop smiling.

I collected my medal, my certificate, my banana and my bottle of water and I found a wall to lean against and a new found mate to take my photograph.

My next challenge and number 2 of 6 challenges is the North Norfolk Half Marathon on Sunday May 13th at Holkham Hall, my training now needs to move in to distance running!!!!! (I will keep you posted)

I would like to thank my main sponsors Plumbase (National Plumbers Merchants) and Viessmann Boilers (Domestic and Commercial Boiler and Renewable Energy Manufacturers) and DAT1 for supplying the kit.



Sunday 11 March 2012

What is Plumbase & Viessmann..................

Hello, my name is Ian Golden and I am a Regional Director for the Eastern Region for Plumbase, in 2011 I decided to sort my life out and lose weight, so I joined Slimming World, got in to cycling, took up running and lost 4 stone. Whilst doing this I entered a 60 mile cycle challenge, completed it, even though I was still 17 stone and raised £1275 for the Willow Foundation, so this year I decided to push myself further and I have entered 6 challenges to raise money for the Alzheimers Society www.justgiving.com/ian-golden-2012 or text GOLD51 £2 to 70070, the challenges I have entered will test my cycling and running skills to the maximum and the training will be relentless, the challenges are; Sun March 18th, 60 mile Cycle Challenge. Sun May 13th, Half Marathon. Sun 27th May, 100 mile Cycle Challenge. Sunday Aug 5th, 60 mile Cycle Challenge. Sun Sept 9th, London Duathlon. Then the BIG ONE, Wed 31st Oct to Sun 11th Nov, Vietnam to Cambodia 470K Cycle Challenge!!!! I have two main sponsors; Plumbase (Plumbing and Heating Merchant) and Viessmann Boilers (Germany's Number 1 Boiler Manufacturer) This blog will be how you can follow my training and event progress as it happens, I will be posting updates, pictures etc, especially whilst I am in Vietnam and Cambodia (wifi permitting) I hope you will enjoy my posts and I would love your support and comments, you can also follow my progress on Twitter, by following me @iangolden Thanks for reading