I am an instructor with the Sea Cadets at Worthing Unit and have seen how much the cadets get out of the activities they do. I have also seen how much these activities and all the surrounding admin costs. The sea cadets are a charity, and I felt this was a fantastic way of raising money for Worthing in particular and also to encourage some of the cadets to try something different. If I can do it, so can they!

The gold challenge is based on the sports in the Olympics. Some of these sports I can do with the sea cadets, and I have purposely chosen several of these to illustrate the variety of activities that can be done, whilst also doing something that I think will be fun.

My challenge is to do the following activities.

1. Swim - Learn to swim - again. For those that have seen my swimming style, it has recently been described by Mrs Lawrence as "directional panic in water". DONE

2. Canoe - Learn to canoe. I have canoed in the past, but again this was a long time ago and all the new stuff I have learnt has forced this skill out! DONE

3. Boxing – Learn to box. I needed another sport and someone I work with can train this! DONE

4. Weightlifting – For those that know me, they will know how therapeutic gym time can be for me. This is a great opportunity for me to focus some of my energy on something different in the gym. DONE

5. Triathlon. This is a personal goal, to do a half triathlon. I have never done one and this is the one element that I plan to do in 2012. This will link my swimming and gym work together. DONE

6. Athletics - sprints. I was given the oppertunity to race at the 100m olympic stadium. DONE

7. Wrestling - in the process of doing the Judo section I managed to also cover the wrestling challenge, so it seamed approapraite to include it - DONE

8. Cycling. Take part in a cycle ride or three. I'm training for a triathlon. This incorporates a cycle leg, so why not do a cycle challenge too? DONE

9. 1/2 Marathon. This is similar in theory behind the cycle ride. If I'm doing a triathlon I might as well develop it further and do a half marathon. I'm not expecting to be fast round the course, just finish and not die on the way round would be a bonus. DONE

10. Judo - Try judo. To be perfectly honest, I needed another sport, as its in multitudes of 5, and this was suggested by some one at work. DONE



The challenge is to do them by the end of 2012, but I am aiming to have most of them done by the end of 2011.


Please feel free to add comments of support to this blog, and please sponsor me at - http://www.justgiving.com/alan-lawrence-SCC

Sunday 24 July 2011

My attempt at impromtu concrete slidding

This morning, whilst out with my dog, I decided to try and run with him again.  I thought this was a good idea even after last time when he nearly pulled me over just to "visit" a tree.  I thought we would only do a 200m run as part of his walk.  This was potentially the most painful 200 meters I've ever done as yes, he succeed in knocking me over.  

Everything was going well with him running on the left side of me and the road on the right side, when all of a sudden he saw a small dog on the opposite side of the road.  I could almost hear him shout as he pulled straight across me, "Look.  A dog!" I've gone straight over onto the concrete landing on my left side, thinking "This is gonna sting" when I realise I've let go of his lead!  A quick grab later and I had hold of him just in time for him to drag me along the pavement a shirt distance.  He has then stopped, the other dog owner has stopped and is now, from the opposite side of the road, asking me if I am ok.  The first thing that went through my mind was the fact if if I said no, what was he going to do as he had a dog, my dog was bigger and hates all dogs so he couldn't come over and help anyway!  I picked my self up, apologised (I don't quite know why I apologised) and after seeing him look a little shocked at me I walked and ran home (the whole 50 meters away, so all the neighbours saw this)

I was greeted at the front door by Mrs Lawrence, who took the dog from me.  At this point I realised my leg was bleeding quite badly and this was probably what the other dog walker was a bit shocked about.  I've got cuts and grazes all down the left side of my leg, bruising coming out and a really nasty cut and graze across the entire knee that's 2 1/2" by 2" and a bruised palm (I didn't even realise you could bruise the palm of your hand!) When I told her what had happened the dog was made a fuss of and received loads of attention, I got the customary "Try not to bleed every where honey."  Ain't love great!
Posted by No comments:

Saturday 9 July 2011

Little set backs, but still gaining

I thought it was about time I added something as its been a few weeks!

So, what progress has been made?  Firstly, the swimming has been coming along nicely, which meant that this morning I started to learn how to breath both sides, rather then just from my right side.  This sounds easy, and I'm sure after a while it will be easy. However, its not that easy to start with and resulted in me swallowing several mouthfuls of water.  I'm beginning to dislike chlorinated water and the taste it leaves for days afterwards!

Secondly, the planning for the sailing and archery are coming along nicely. 

Now for the setbacks.
   Its now only a few months till the half marathon and I still haven't been out for nearly as many runs as I should.  Some of this, not making excuses, is due to a re-occurrence of an injury from last year and a calf muscle injury.  Don't know what I done to my calf, I think it may have been a strain, but its better now and look forward not back!  Started to look at the possibility of running in the South Coast 5K & fun run in august.  I'll try a 5K run this week and make my mind up!
 
Posted by No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)