Phil vs Nature: Fundraising for Blood Cancer

"That's right James, it's 3 whole days. The first day is pretty much all uphill, and deemed to be expert skill level. And we might be on the bike for over 10 hours." If that face doesn't inspire a donation, what will? Just like that the next big challenge is here. Mountain biking across the UK, so you're sat down. Easy right?  Well, not according to my route planner! Three days, coast to coast, from Whitehaven to Scarborough. 200 miles, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, the North Yorkshire Moors, and a bollock load of hills. We've made it out on a couple of training rides for this, and when I say a couple, I mean just that. Two. Though James might have done a third one when my back was turned, and Simpson might have been spinning twice a day, 6 days a week for several months, I have been focusing firmly on everything apart from riding a bike. So when we made it up the Malvern Hills this week in glorious sunshine, trekking for a sw...

It was 10 minutes to the briefing and I was stuck behind a bus on a single track road. I couldn't find any Kendal mint cake for sale anywhere. I'd not had any proper breakfast. Could it get worse? Yes, actually. I was 6 km in and my bladder burst. Back up a couple of hours from that, and as we'd left the hotel in Morecambe a little later than planned, the choice was made to get some grub en-route to the start. A very swift supermarket stop and two small handfuls of dry granola from the box, and I decided no breakfast was better than some. The briefing began as I made my way down from the car park. I got there just in time to hear all about wise old Cedric and his 19th century tractor , and how he was responsible for stopping us sinking in the first part of the run. "Be safe" my wife whispered as we hugged, and I set off to on to the beach. Running across Morecambe Bay was quite surreal. It is a potentially dangerous crossing with strong tides and q...

The Lake District. Home of the greatest and most famous glucose based peppermint flavoured confectionary that has ever existed. However before we get to that, let's turn back time to just under a couple of weeks ago: I'm sat on the grass at the finish line for Man vs Coast. It's so hot, and so sunny, with not a hint of cloud in the sky. I've spent hours following distance markers and trying to count down the miles whilst the kilometres add up. My thighs are literally stuck together with salt water chafe, and every time I move I'm peeling them apart taking more skin off. My calves are red raw with sunburn, having continually washed off all of the cream I topped up at every pit stop. My feet are blistered and swollen, and feel a bit like walking on hot coals. Someone said to me "will you ever do this again?" and unequivocally, the answer is no. I feel terrible. Five days of stretching, therapy, and regular moisturising later... and I'm pa...

It was nearing 18.00 when I finally saw "the end". The relief washed over me, and I punched the air with excitement! Before I got there though, a whole other range of emotions and feelings had been milling around. Gathered under the inflatable starting archway, I was nervous, but ran a final check over my bag, put on my sunglasses, and we were off. About 10 seconds later, I was in the sea for the first time. Now this was early on in the day - I was a 09.10 start - and it was bright and clear, but a little chilly in the water. Gasps and whoops as the mass start piled in for a deep wade and a short swim out to an inflatable log, we mostly avoided each other's flailing arms and legs to make it out again safely, and run down the beach. By this point we were a couple of miles in, and we reached another water based activity. And luckily the activity was a couple of miles out to sea. Or so it seemed by the time we'd swum out there. It can't have been mor...

Back at the start when I signed up to save a life , this all seemed so distant. Something not to worry about. It would be fine! And then I read this: "THE MOST EXPOSED ADVENTURE RUN IN BRITAIN" screamed the headline. "BUGGER" screamed I. And just like that, here we are for the inaugural Man vs Coast, 2018 edition.  It's a long bloody way Cornwall is, and so is the race. An estimated 23 miles - though with the Rat Race distance marking I've experienced before I'm not certain it won't be longer - from St Michael's Mount to Lands End, via the Cornish coasts of course. Yes. Coasts. North and South. Uh-huh. The company is at pains to point out that it's a running event. But runners will be fully immersed. And runners will need to swim. And jump off a cliff. Rat Race say to expect brooding moorland, alongside beaches, waves, rough-hewn rocks, water jumps, and some of their signature obstacles - though which ones will be a surpri...

Between the start time and staggering across the next finish line, another 35 people will have been told they have blood cancer. Let's not forget why I'm doing this. For someone with blood cancer, an amazing stranger donating their stem cells could be their best chance of survival. That amazing stranger could help your best friend, your Mum, or your work colleague. That amazing stranger could help someone being looked after by one of the Clinical Nurse Specialists funded by Anthony Nolan at hospitals around the country, paid for by your kind donations for challenges like these. That amazing stranger could be you, with a simple web form and a cheek swab. You can help make sure more patients will get the care they need, more families will be reassured, and more people will get back to their lives after cancer. You can help fund those specialist nurses to help people on their long recovery road, get essential advice, support and a higher standard of post transplant...

"Phil, you've turned off 2 alarms, GET UP" And just like that, the King of running procrastination was able to procrastinate no more.  The first event of my fundraising year for Anthony Nolan. Here, so soon! Except for the small matter of a 3 hour journey first. Up and away we went, my wife and I, packed into the car and I settled in for a nap in the passenger seat... oh wait, no, that wasn't me! A few hours later and we pulled up into a very busy car park, and laid eyes upon the biggest event village I've ever seen for an obstacle race. Veterans of the game were everywhere. And just then the winner arrived back at the top of the mega-slide. A tip of the hat to you Sir - incredible finishing it in around 3 hours! Wave 14 was up and it was beautifully warm and sunny as we got underway with a fire breather signalling the start. It was very clear this wasn't going to be an ordinary race! Ah the hay bales. The classic Rat Race starter but supe...