By Vince on 28/08/2007 14:08

“What have you done?”  Caroline says, looking at me, not quite cross yet.

‘What do you mean?  I haven’t done anything, it wasn’t me, I didn’t mean to...I ...I...’.   I could feel my cheeks flushing with heat.  Adrenaline surging into my muscles.  It was going to be fight or flight and I’ve always been much more of a flyer than a fighter.

‘What have you done?....oh my god, why are you on the ironman uk website?  We only got back from Lanzarote yesterday.’  She looked over my shoulder at the laptop and shoved me to the side.

‘I couldn’t help it.’  I sobbed into my hands.  Hanging my head in shame.  ‘I....I....love it too much.’  I fell to my knees and grabbed her legs, sobbing against her thigh.  ‘It....it.....completes me.’

‘Ok....ok....relax.  At least this one’s in England.  Hang on...I thought I completed you?  And what about your son?....doesn’t he...’

...

Read More »

By ecook on 22/08/2007 08:20

As you may or may not have heard, I managed to finish L’Etape du Tour in one piece. Although I was not foolish enough to think it would be easy and I never considered not finishing, the event was much harder than I had anticipated, in fact 40% of the 8500 participants did not finish. After just over 9 hours 52 minutes from crossing the start line in Foix, I crossed the finish line in Loudenvielle emotionally and physically exhausted. This time placed me 2056 out of 8500 which put me in the top quarter, a goal I had thought I would like to achieve. I received a medal for finishing, which despite obviously not winning still meant so much to me as you will see from the following account.I rode for most of the event with a guy called Tim who I met on the trip out there and we set a good but sensible pace. We saw Dad and Tim’s sister, Hannah, videoing us and taking photos as we left Foix. It was not long before we reached the first climb which was not very steep and quite enjoyable, working our way through the field...

Read More »