Tone up

Right, this is my fifth attempt at writing this particular blog post.

For some reason, the ability to write about my toning challenge has completely evaded me over the last couple of weeks.

Maybe the part of my brain that is linked to writing witty and verbose copy has turned to muscle....

Anyway, let's see how I go writing this tonight (I'm missing the Walking Dead for this #FFS!)

I'm going to write using the medium of bullet points.

Imagine all these bullet points set to The Eye of the Tiger (here's the link so you can listen at the same time)

There, now picture me in lyric doing some lunges......

* Possibly the vainest challenge on my #40before40 list
* Never about a six pack (yeah, yeah - it was really)
* Improving overall fitness
* Strengthen core
* Improve posture (he says slouched over his laptop)
* Never had an issue with legs (running and football)
* Upper body strength a bit rubbish
* Always carried weight around my tummy
* Spent most of September to December 2013 with a football-related groin injury
* Mrs P got me personal training sessions for my 39th birthday with Felicia Sheingold (visit her website and get down and give me 10 burpees now!)
* Did lots of squats, reverse lunges, press ups, crunches, weight work and burpees (I love burpees!) from January to May
* Attempted to eat more protein and less carbs and sugar
* Carried on doing reps at home (often with one of my daughters acting as a makeshift weight)
* Groin injury sorted
* More defintion (thumbs up from Mrs P)
* Still got more work to do (I blame cake)
* Better core strength
* Finished 277th out of 1880 in the Rock Solid Race in Exeter
* Played six football games in 18 days at the end of the 2013/14 season
* Knocked 11 minutes 56 seconds off my Classic Quarter time
* Finished 18th out of 200+ runners in the Rok 5k
* Did my first fell run
* Got down to under 13st (12st 13lbs) for the first time in 15, possibly 20, years.

There, great work people. Take a drink of water, and check out some of the action shots below!

Rock Solid Race, Exeter

About to start my leg of the Classic Quarter

Grrr fell running

Post fell run mince pie

. 

Run Forrest Run

Number 4 on my #40before40 was to run 850 miles in 2014.

Flashback a decade and setting this target would have seemed like a dream, rather than a potential reality.

Growing up I'd always I enjoyed watching and taking part in sport: football, tennis, cricket, swimming, hockey, basketball and rugby. 

Although running was one of the sports at school I didn't really take to. I think that point was bought crashing home when I stumbled across the line to finish last in the 800m at school sports day when I was about 15. 

It was a bad performance, although not as bad as when I was entered for the javelin, even though I'd never shown any particular skill in this area.

I was number 13 to throw and as I ran up on a grey, drizzly summer's day, my less than grippy trainers gave way below me and I slipped over. Cue mass howls of laughter from the sidelines as the javelin went about 30 cms over the white line and I landed on my arse.

I somehow kept my feet behind the line and avoided a foul throw, meaning that my misery was compounded and the throw was measured. 

As I entered my 20s, I became less active and, for a number of reasons, developed a pretty poor lifestyle. I was unhealthy and overweight.

When I moved to our old flat to Falmouth when I was 29 I decided that one of my challenges I wanted to achieve before I was 30 (in 2005) was to lose weight and get fit.

So, I started to run.

To begin with I could barely get round Pendennis Point, which is just a couple of miles, but I kept going. I kept setting myself targets and kept, literally, plodding away.

I got to the position where I could run round Pendents Point in one go without walking, so I pushed it a bit further, and then a bit further.

By 2008 I'd run my first half marathon (Truro) and my first marathon (New York). I'd also taken part in two triathlons (Perranporth and Helston).

And like Forrest, I just kept running (also, we don't have a shed, so to get some space from the girls and to clear my head instead of going to the shed, I go running).

At some point in late-ish 2012 I downloaded the Log Your Run app to my phone. I wanted to keep a record of how much running I'd done.

On New Year's Eve 2013 I checked the app and it said I'd run around 800 miles.

"Wow!" I thought to myself. That was great, but I think I can beat that. 

So I set a target of 850 miles, which I thought would be achievable, but also push me a little bit.

Now, on checking the Log Your Run website, I discovered that on New Year's Eve 2013 I'd misread the data on the app. It had showed me the amount of running I'd done since I downloaded the app, not since January 1, 2013.

In fact I'd 'only' done 664.1 miles during 2013.

Running total for 2013

And instead of getting up to 850 miles, I'd recorded 522 miles in 2014.

Running total for 2014

There are a couple of reasons for the drop in miles: I played a lot of football in April and May, which meant I was unable to get out running; and I started having session with a personal trainer, so I often did sets of reps instead of going for a run.

Despite being down on my targets, I'm chuffed with the total for 2014. 

There were some great runs and events thrown in, such as the Classic Quarter (where I beat my 2013 time), Rock Solid (where I came 271st out of 1880 entrants) and the Rok 5k.

I'll just have to see if I can increase the miles to 800 + in 2015!

Birthday Party

So, I'm writing this blog on the eve of my 40th birthday - just two and half hours to go before I leave my 30s and move on to the next decade.....

Number 31 on my #40before40 challenge list was to have a great big party to celebrate being 40.

The original plan was to have the party on Saturday 24th January, and make it a joint party with my brother-in-law, Dan, who turns 30 on that day.

We had to move it forward a week to 17th January as Dan is off snowboarding, but we decided a combined 70th party was the way forward.

I'd wanted to do a mini beer festival, so thanks to Mrs P's family's involvement with Truro Rugby Club, we managed to find a venue that would allow us to take our own beer in.

Once we'd got a theme in place, I set about ordering the beer and getting everything ready.

Invites were sent out, and as most of our friends have got children, we decided to open it up to save people the hassle of finding a babysitter.

As Dan works in Exeter a lot, I took responsibility for choosing the beer. A tough job.....

With numbers filling up I thought that four 18 pint polypins of ale would be the way forward.

I decided to contact Rebel Brewery, Skinner  Brewery and Firebrand and ordered 18 pints of Cornish Sunset (Rebel), 18 pints of Ginger Tosser (Skinners), 18 pints of Graffiti IPA (Firebrand) and 18 pints of Cross Pacific (Firebrand).

Once I'd arranged the venue, set up a Facebook event, ordered the pasties and beer, I handed over to Mrs P and the family to do the rest.

Mrs P made some amazing cakes for Dan and myself; the family provided the decorations and some embarrassing photos; and our friends and family turned up, celebrated with us, and drank 72 pints of beer in three and half hours and ate 68 pasties (we'd ordered 80, so my mother-in-law, Cathie, dropped the remaining 12 off to St Petroc's - the homeless charity).

As Dan and I had bought the beer ourselves, we decided to sell it for £2 a pint, with £1 going to the rugby club and £1 going to the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust. 

My selling point was to encourage people to buy more beer as they were helping to support the Air Ambulance and save lives.....

Anyway, here's a selection of images from the build up and the night itself.

Cheers!

Creaking Backs Beer Festival artwork designed by MPAD's Matt Hollands

Collecting 18 pints of Ginger Tosser from Skinners Brewery

Collecting 18 pints of Cornish Sunset from Rebel Brewery

Setting up the real ale

Amazing birthday cakes made by Mrs P

(L-R) Me, John (Mrs P's step-Dad), Frankie (Truro Rugby Club) and Dan

Me and Mrs P drinking Cornish Sunset

Happy 70th

A fine selection of Cornish cheese

Olivia (left) with her friend Alice propping up the bar - a sign of things to come

Bryher with her big cousin, Tegen

What's a Cornish party without pasties

72 pints gone by 10.30pm

Christmas Day Swim

Number 16 on my #40before40 list was to enjoy a Christmas Day swim.

It was something I'd never done, despite the fact I grew up in Falmouth and lived just a stone's throw from the beach from the age of seven to 19.

I was joined in the challenge by Olivia, my mother-in-law (Cathie), brother-in-law (Dan) and the family dog (Sampson).

Luckily it was a sunny Christmas Day this year, so it made the prospect much more palatable.

We headed down to the car park by Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth where we met the family and changed into our wetsuits.

I know we should have done it in just our swimming costumes, but it was on the second time I'd been in the sea in Cornwall this year and I wanted to keep warm.

Gyllyngvase Beach, Christmas Day

Me, Olivia, Dan, Cathie and Sampson pre-swim

Testing the water

Dan thought it was a bit cold

What surprised me was how many people where in the sea, especially the amount without a wetsuit. 

I was impressed with their bravery.

After we'd got out we headed back to the carpark where Cathie's camper van was parked for tea, croissants and smoked salmon sandwiches. 

I could quite happily make it an annual event as it was a good way to start Christmas Day.

New Year's Day Fell Run

Taking part in a fell run was a late addition on to my #40before40 list.

I just happened to switch The One Show on one evening and found former 400m runner Ewan Thomas taking part in one and thought it looked like fun.

Knowing we were going to be spending New Year in Yorkshire, I Googled away.

The results took me to fellrunner.org.uk where I found details for the Captain Cook's Races, which was taking place on New Year's Day in Great Ayton on the North Yorkshire Moors.

There was no pre-registration, so I thought I'd keep it open.

So, we travelled up to Yorkshire on Monday 29 December to stay with Mrs Ps family ready for New Year.

With one eye on the fell run I decide to take it easy on New Year's Eve and stuck to water from 11pm.

Despite going to bed around 2am, I woke up on New Year's Day feeling pretty good.

Although I did decide to make sure I was okay by using one of the breathalysers that you have to have in your car when you drive in France.

I passed the test.

Just making sure I was okay to drive on New Year's Day

So, after scrambled eggs and porridge, I set off from Wetherby on the 50 mile journey north to Great Ayton (it was actually the furthest north I've ever travelled in the UK).

I did feel some trepidation as I got on to the moors driving towards large hills that were covered in mist, or about to be enveloped by cloud. I was also unsure what to expect race wise, and definitely felt like I was going outside my comfort zone.

I parked up, got changed in to my running gear and headed to the Royal Oak pub to pay my £7 entry fee and register.


The Royal Oak at Great Ayton

My race number 

Obligatory pre-race selfie

Waiting to start the race

At the start of the race I did feel like a bit of a southern wimp stood next to hardened northern runners who were wearing just running vests and shorts.

Unsure what to expect weather wise, I was wearing running leggings with shorts over the top; a training vest, long sleeved running top and a short sleeved vest on top; a running jacket; hat; and gloves.

The race set off though the village on the road, before heading on to a farm track and then into the countryside. 

Gradually the 5 mile course became muddier and muddier, and hillier and hillier.

As we headed up to Captain Cook's monument, a climb of 1043ft, it was walking and crawling pace only.

I reached the plateau to be welcomed by an amazing view across the North Yorkshire Moors, as well as being hit by huge gusts of wind.

The view across the moors 

Heading towards Captain Cook's monument 

Once we reached the monument, we started our descent.

To begin with it was on a stone path, which was a bit slippy, but this soon gave way to a mettled track where you could really get some speed up.

However, that didn't last long, and we were soon heading down mudding slopes.

It was at this point in the race where I started to lose ground and was regularly overtaken by fell running experts in trail shoes with spikes. 

While I in my normal running shoes descended like Bambi on ice. Quite how I didn't fall over or lose a trainer in the mud, I'll never know.

We then got back on to the road and I managed to pick up some speed again, as well as avoid posing for the official photographer.

Grrrr!

There was a point here that was brilliant. As we ran down the road, we passed a house where an older and very dapper gentleman, was stood in the road, ringing an old school bell and shouting 'Happy New Year' to all the competitors.

The race then back on to fields and through a wooded area before we reached the finish line.

My unofficial time was 53:32.

When I checked the website I found that I did it in 52:44 and finished in 205th place out of 271 runners.

I was actually a little disappointed when I saw the results and know that if I'd had some trail shoes with spikes, then I could have finished higher.

Also, if I'd checked in my boot a little more closely I would have found these, which would have probably done the trick....

D'oh!

On reflection it was my first attempt and it was one of the best activities that I've done, and I'd recommended it to anyone who wants to try something a little different. 

Slightly muddy trainers

Sightly muddy socks

Enjoying a celebratory mince pie and cup of tea

Giving Blood

"I see it's your first time today. What made you decide to give blood?"

A question I was asked twice this afternoon: once during the initial consultation and once as the nurse was preparing to push the needle into my left arm. 

Number 25 on my list was to give blood, and as with signing up to be a donor, it was something I'd never really thought about. 

I signed up to be a donor after being taken through to a webpage after buying my car tax, and I signed up to give blood after a leaflet came through in the donor pack. 

So, just before 3pm I left MPAD HQ and walked through Truro to the Carrick Sports and Recreation Centre near Hendra park. 

As I got closer to the building, I started to feel nervous.

The Give Blood van outside the sports centre

The feeling grew as I stepped inside and handed over my appointment letter. 

I was given two leaflets to read, asked if I'd eaten plenty during the day and was given 500ml of water to drink. 

What surprised me as I walked into the building was, apart from the consultation booths, how open the set up was. You could see people in reclining chairs giving blood. 

As I sat down to read the leaflets, which gave a list of reasons why shouldn't give blood, my nerves grew. 

I was soon called in for the initial consultation where the nurse went through my health questionnaire, took a pin prick of blood from my middle finger, and said I was good to donate. 

I was taken to another area where in front of me there was a table with drinks and a bowl of biscuits.

I delved deep and found a Mint Club, a biscuit that I'd not had for a long time. 

As I was unwrapping the Club, I was called by the nurse to go over to make my donation. 

I was sat into a chair, where donor carer, Clare, checked if she could find a good vein. Test passed my left arm was strapped in and the chair was reclined. 

Clare handed me a leaflet advising me to do some simple exercises while the blood was being taken. As well crossing my legs, I was also advised to clench my legs and buttocks.....

It was time to insert the needle. Clare told me to keep opening and clenching my hand, and that the whole process would take less than 10 minutes. 

The needle was a bit uncomfortable to begin with, but once the blood started to flow, it felt fine. 

She filled three sample tubes to start with before attaching me to a bag. 

While I was being drained of a pint I asked Clare how much blood they expected to take during the session and whe it would go. 

Clare said they are set a target to collect 90 pints, and that they took 99 yesterday, and that blood from the morning session would go to Derriford. Blood from the afternoon and evening slots would go to Bristol, after picking up the morning's blood from Plymouth, where it would be tested. 

And that was it - the blood was taken. 

Clare took me over to the tea table, but I was told that as it was my first time I was unable to have tea (in case the heat made me feel lightheaded), so I stick to water and tucked into a packet of cheese and onion crisps and some digestive biscuits.

My sticker


Stickers for the girls

I did feel slightly emotional at this point, and I couldn't tell if this was to the blood loss, or the fact that all the blood donor team were so grateful and said 'thank you' at every opportunity. 

After 15 minutes I rolled my sleeve down and headed back to the office. 

I gave blood selfie

But not before I signed up to do the whole thing again in March.

All patched up

The girls chuffed with their stickers

Stoptember

I am currently tucking into my first beers (first alcoholic beverages in fact) for over a month.

Man drink beer

I had my last drink on Sunday 31st August.

We were up in Yorkshire for Mrs P's auntie's wedding. which was on Saturday 30th.

I'd enjoy several pints during the celebrations, but somehow on the morning after, I had managed to put my back out when I placed one of youngest daughter's nappies in the bin(!).

So, while everyone was enjoying the post-nuptial celebrations, I sipped on two glasses of red wine in between back spasms and paracetamol.

I didn't have any plans to take part in Stoptober, as its the same month as the Falmouth Beer Festival; Bryher's birthday is in November, so there will be celebrations; Christmas in December; and my 40th in January.

I'm not really sure why I put being dry for a month on the #40before40 list, so it seemed to be a case that September was now or never.

I enjoy beer and wine and I've even brewed my own beer (Beardstroker) as part of this challenge.

Beardstroker

I drink a lot less than I used to in my 20s, especially since having children, and I like to think I am fairly responsible.....

Perhaps it was the test to see if I could do it.

I was slightly aided by my bad back.

As soon as we got back from Yorkshire on Monday 1st September I booked into see the doctor.

He prescribed me with some pretty hardcore painkillers (Codydramol) - well, they were pretty hardcore for me as I rarely take medicine.

The PIL (patient information leaflet) advised me not to drink alcohol with the medicine, so I didn't.

After four days, despite the drugs feeling great when they were working, I was still getting painful spasms in my back. Being woken up at 5.30am by three spasms is not a good experience people.

So, I went back to the doctors and got some more pills. I was also recommended to take ibuprofen.
I'd always avoided them as technically I have asthma.

But due to doing loads of running and exercise I've not had to take an inhaler for several years, so the doctor said to give them a try.

The drug taking carried on for another week.


The drugs do work

By the time I was finished the course of drugs, it was halfway through the month, so I thought I might as well carry on being dry.

Due to our hectic work and family life, the last two weeks of September flew by and I didn't miss having a drink.

One possible issue was that we were due to go to a fancy dress party in Penzance last weekend, but Liv was poorly, so we gave it a miss. I'd also decided to drive to help me in this quest.

However, I'm not sure if not drinking has made a massive difference.

There are days when I have felt really good for going a few weeks without imbibing in booze, but there are days when I feel absolutely shattered. This is mainly due to parenthood and having two little girls who like to wake up before 6am, as well as having to work late to catch up on my to do list.

What I have noticed is that, as the time went on, the smell of alcohol seemed to get stronger.

If Mrs P had a glass or two of wine I could really notice the aroma, or if I was near a drink, it smelt really strong.

On Wednesday 1st October, after completing 30 days off drink, I went to the Bottle Bank (a most excellent establishment) in Falmouth (following an event at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall) and treated myself to four beers.

Beer from the Bottle Bank

I was planning on drinking one, some or all of them in the evening, but I'd been on a team building event with a client, and by the time I got home at 10pm, I was tired and had a headache (not aided by the fact Liv and Bryher had both woken up at 5.15am that morning).

In fact I was feeling quite tired tonight, but with Mrs P out at a meeting and the girls fast asleep in bed, I decided to crack open one of the beers - The Mayan produced by Ilkley Brewey - a very dark chocolate, chipotle stout, and enjoy it while I wrote this blog.

This was quickly followed by another stout - produced by The Kernel and coming in at 7.1%.

So, would I do another month off? Well, yes. It was fairly easy. There was only the odd occasion, when the girls were in meltdown, that I thought I really could do with a drink, but other than that, the last month and a day have been fairly straight forward.

But, after coming back to beer, I think I may sleep well tonight!

Zzzzz.....