Click to track my swim in real-time! My boat's called The Viking Princess.
"You can never cross an ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore" - Christopher Columbus
WHY!!
People take up challenges for lots of different reasons. In today's society with the pressures of work, family life and external influences, we find that there is less and less time for ourselves. Taking on these challenges can make you feel alive again, as though there is something out there that is bigger than you are and bring you one step closer to helping you understand more about yourself than you can ever imagine.
I have been lucky that with the support of my wife and daughter, family and friends, I have been able to take part in these opportunities as and when they arise.
Everyones motivation for getting involved in these adventures is different, some may do it because they are sport orientated, or maybe because a particular person has inspired them in the past. I think that looking deeper, my motivation is to learn more about myself, how far I can push myself before I break and most importantly I would like to make my wife and daughter really proud.
My Insperation
A huge insperation to me in all this is my daughter Chloe,
She is and always has been a better swimmer than me, and and always manages to make swimming look so effortless. Her Grandma introduced her to swimming at a very early age and at first she hated it with a passion. However she stuck with it and in May 2005 was voted the "Southern Water" achiever of the year and was invited to attend a presentation at Bewel water where she was given the award by Duncan Goodhew. She was even more delighted when he placed his own olympic gold medal around Chloes neck. Well done You and I will come ond support you when you attempt the channel in a few years time!!!!
14th March 2007 Hastings Half Marathon
In March 2007 I took part in the Hastings half marathon finishing in a time of 2 hours and 6 seconds. If only I hadn't slowed to answer the phone I may have beaten the 2 hour barrier. Never mind I will give another go sometime. I raised over £200 for cancer research and got to share the experience with my good friend Gav Sweetman. A very memorable and worthwhile day had by all.
%20(1)_1.jpg "Photo-0034 (3) (1)_1")
Gav, me and Chloe
Sports Relief 2008
In 2008 Chloe and I decided that we would raise some money for charity by running the sports relief mile in Brighton. Me, Chloe, Ann-marie, Mum, Dad and John set off on what was a wet and damp day but ended up having a great time. Its so nice to take part in somthing as a team as this year I realised how lonely long distance swimming was. We completed the run and I even think Chloe crossed the line before I did. 4 miles next year wooo XX
NSPCC 2008 Parachute Jump
In 2007 I undertook a 14,000 ft free fall parachute jump and raised over £200 for the NSPCC. It was something that I knew that I had always wanted to do and it seemed like an amazing idea right up until they opened the plane door for us to jump out of!! If ever you have thought of having a go but haven't got round to it JUST BOOK A JUMP, you wont regret it (unless of course your parachute doesn't open) Pictures above is me and two very good friends, Gav (left) and Dave (right)
Gav, Me And Dave Me & Instructor
Eastbourne Half Marathon March 2nd 2008
In March 2008 I ran the Eastbourne half with work colleague and friend Brett Williams. I spent the winter training with Gav but he was unable to make the big day in the end. A painful experience at the time but little did I know that it was nothing compared to what was to come!! I finished in 2 hours and 3 minutes, a good 10 behind Brett.
Bike Ride Was
A
Resounding
Success!
Wow – what a fantastic day! A beautiful sunny day and hundreds of happy cyclists! We were hoping for 600 riders but the final figure was 752 ! That’s 200 more than last year’s record number and there has been loads of positive feedback. The Burgess Hill Bike Ride took place on Sunday 8th June and returned to our regular start and finish point at Oakmeeds Community College in the town centre. A new feature of the ride was the choice of 10 mile, 24 mile or 40 mile routes – all starting and finishing in the town centre.
