It's all about what you put into something!

The more I do my research on the challenges that I've set myself the more I become acutely aware of the training, determination and believe that is required to complete these events: I have put up another website to give more light on my upcoming events, visit:  http://www.ettiennedebeer.com/.

First of all I want to congratulate my little brother who were married yesterday! May you both have a very long and happy life together!

Finishing off at work last night around 22:30 pm something popped into my head. Can I run through the night? To complete my fell record attempt I would be required to run 24 hours non stop, I was wondering if I could, at the drop of a hat make it through the night.

I cycled the 4.2 miles home as fast as I could in the rain and wind, had some salmon that Tricia had prepared for dinner. I packed my food and drink bag for the run and made my way to a suitable start point.

It was a mad attempt to try something like this on the spur of the moment but I felt good. As the time passed away under the quarter moon and spells of pouring rain I kept thinking of what I'd have to endure on the fells. I chose to run through parks and areas that would challenge me as much as there was challenges around running in London. I would negotiate muddy banks, dart between pools of murky water and stepping over sinister hidden roots.

I really enjoyed this adventure in my back yard, so to speak. However by mile 18 my body was starting to freeze up and by mile 21.5 I called it a day-or night.

I was disappointed for not making it through the night and thought how on earth am I going to make it through 24 hours of mountain running if I could only manage about 4 hours and 2800 ft of ascent.

Before I'd beaten myself up too much I had to remind myself of why I only could handle this tonight.

• I haven't had a run in over three weeks due to a stomach virus.                                                       
• I did leg strength training earlier in the week and my legs were still sore and fatigued.
• I cycled to work (4.2 m), completed 8.5 hours of lifting and shifting weights on the gym floor then cycled home (4.2 m) before I took on this run.

With that said, I felt better. I had a quick wash down and jumped into bed. Knowing that it was possible if I'd train more regularly and seriously my mood improved and now I'm sitting working on my training program.

I have decided on regular runs during the week with one all night run included. With completing my one all night run a week for a suitable time, I would progress to include one 12 hour run a week and then finally progress to one 24 hour run a week. 

Now that that is decided, back to work on planning, training and finishing my book.

Who would've thought writing a book can take so much time, and what is more, so draining?

Negotiations and planning for my next expedition is coming along slowly, at times it feels too slow...However it is coming along!

I hope that everyone is following an old dream and do the thing that you've always wanted to do! If not, here is something to think about.

There are several consistent habits that you'll find in the lives of successful people.

1. They don't wait around, they act quickly.
2. They know what they want.
3. They do not stop until they have achieved what they'd set out to do, no matter the amount of set backs or how long it takes.
4. They take risks.
5. They do not listen to negative or destructive advice or comments- (As a rule of thumb, if the one giving the advice haven't done/attempted what your setting out to do, they probably don't know what their talking about).
6. They're not afraid to admit that their wrong when they've made a mistake.
7. They learn at every opportunity.
8. They have a greater goal and vision than just pure financial gain. 

My trusty Rigeback.

The weather is crisp, my nose is running, my hands are numb, but what a ride!

To BE alive is better than just knowing that your breathing!

My thought for today to ALL

                                                       BE ALIVE!

AND HE WAKES UP!

I have to admit that not pushing oneself to the extreme is really, really hard work. Floating around the house is not for me and after a 20 mile run I'm sitting down plotting my next expedition.

Although first things first...money!

Unfortunately even with everyone's dedication in helping with this fundraising attempt I have not met my target by a long shot. And if anyone knows me, I will not stop until I have done so.

My gratitude goes out to everyone who have made a contribution no matter how large or small it was and I hope that we can inspire many more to do so.

I will keep this space active and ongoing until my target of £100 000 is reached.

Off to brainstorm and train...   

19/10/2012

Day 49 Southampton to Brighton pier

The big day! The last day! The day!

However you'd like to say it, I still had to cycle the 109 mile coastal route to the end. This time it was a joy, the roads were as flat as the salt plains and the wind was from behind, what more can you ask for.

As you can see the day started with rain and it didn't stop raining and as I sit here writing I can still hear it raining, but as this man above said, when your wet, your wet and on we go.

Before I knew it I was near the end and I wish I could tell you more about the scenery but it was bland, busy and grey. Oh,did I mention wet?

This was me coming in to Brighton taken by my support vehicle and Tricia from behind. And us at the end victorious and done for kissing in relief for completing this outrageously epic expedition in one piece. 

4200 miles in 49 days.

I have tried to upload a movie I made but am failing miserably, could be that I'm exhausted?  

Basically thanking everyone, I've put this link on and hope you can follow it successfully and watch the movie!

http://youtu.be/W2T9SnxgNQ4

Keep an eye out for my next expedition and adventure here, I will put something on as soon as I wake up...........!

18/10/2011

Day 48 Christchurch to Southampton

This was the photo that I was hoping to show you last night if it wasn't raining so much!

This part of the world we both now well so a bit of the excitement is taken out by familiarity, however, I never thought to run 52 miles of it though. As I pass from Dorset to Hampshire I have to admit that the reality of very nearly completing the challenge seems real to us for the first time.

After a good while running I came to the Solent Way and took to some off road running sandwiched between the salt marches and the sea. The only living beings were a few cows, local bird life and myself, it was glorious.

And a quick shot at Lymington yacht haven where Tricia and I spent hours looking at yacht's and marvel at there beauty, speed, style and above all, price!

                                                                                                                                     The run was getting tough and the New Forest is a big place, but even so I passed this little village called "East End" how bazaar. You can clearly see in my face the fatigue setting in. And not too long after this photo I was back in survival mode to the end.

The original plan was to end my run in Southampton, then take the ferry to Cowes where we'd stay the night and then cycle round the Isle of Wight to Fishbourne, take the ferry back to Portsmouth and finish my cycle to Brighton.

But because Billy's repair costed near £500, it put our budget very low and we decided very sadly and reluctantly to leave the Isle of Wight section and take it from Southampton to Brighton instead. So the plan is to finish at Brighton pier itself around 13:30 pm and still have enough money to live on baked beans and toast for the remainder of the month. (Ha ha!)

One happy family at the end of very long and hard day 48 and 4099 miles completed.

  

17/10/2012

Day 47  Sidmouth to Christchurch

Where to start, the rain and heavy winds made it hard to sleep so we both had a lingering tiresome start to the day. At least it wasn't raining when I got going but the winds did mach gale force, I took these couple of photo's of the sea at Sidmouth just as I started.

And to top it all off, within my first 12 miles I had to endure 5 very long hills consisting of various gradients starting from 14% - 19% on top of the heavy winds, you can see I was not in the mood for more hills but it comes with the territory. 

After battling with nature for some time I made it to Dorset where I took a couple of pic's and battled onward's enjoying the sun as much as I could.

It did appear that the elements in all it's glory was trying to prevent me from finishing this expedition intact and it took every effort to continue forward. 

There were only two times in this whole expedition that I had to get off the seat of my bike for 5 mins to regain composure to continue, the first was the fourth 25% incline of Porlock hill in Exmoor forest and the second was today on the Dorset coastline in gale force winds. I made this video to show the winds that I was in, cycling along the coast line up 14% hills.

 

 After this ordeal Tricia and I met up for some food and then pressed on for the last few miles, from where this photo was taken it was only 21 miles to our destination Christchurch.

Unfortunately due to severe rains at Christchurch I did not want to risk my camera for a pic at arrival but took this one in Billy preparing dinner, yum!.

I want to thank my lovely Tricia for always making me such lovely food and fuel to keep me going!

The completed distance so far is 4047 miles in 47 days and only two more days to go, eat sleep, run is the agenda! 

16/10/2012

Day 46  Lostwithiel to Sidmouth

                                                   OK, it's official, I'M STRUGGLING!!!

Today has been seriously hard and it's not like it's the first time I did over 100 miles, but it felt almost undo-able. After yesterday's 43 mile run, which is not that far anymore but rather taxing on me old body, everything was sore.

My right glute felt like it was misfiring, my calves were burning and my quads resembled carved butter to give you an idea. I'm not quite sure if it's purely psychological or got to do with the combined physiological torture that I've been putting my body under for the last 46 days, but every pedal resembles a hernia.

                                                                                            After what felt like years I made it to this lovely village and had to mask the struggle with an elaborate display of strength.

                                                                                                                                                                                   A quick snap by the beach and snack the off again, no rest for the wicked hey.















I met Tricia at the Dartmouth ferry crossing and we crossed together having a chat with the ticket man (below) and a couple of ferry crosser's, one couple who lives just down the road from us in Beckenham, small world hey,

After that it was fighting these *!"£*!*&^&* hills and more hills till I got to this sign that meant my destination was only roughly 35 miles away, hooray!

I'm sure you can see the joy in my face.

  At long last the end.

 Both Tricia an I am in shambles tonight and cant wait to eat and then sleep, and starting tomorrows 110 mile to Christchurch near one of our favorite breaks, the New Forest.

15/10/2012

Day 45 Falmouth to Lostwithiel

The start of another beautiful day for running, not too warm and not too wet, yet!, and I'm prepared for anything. Today's run is scheduled to be a 42 miler and by no means an easy one either, these hills of Cornwall is a true killer if ever I knew one. They're so cunning, beautiful to look at but a lot harder to experience.

                                                                                                                       It might look like I'm fresh, but that's just a good pose. By this time I'd run just short of a marathon an making good time despite the terrain.

Guess what went through my mind...?

No, not nice birdie, but foooooooooood!

The days feels much longer than they should and recovery is slowing down dramatically. Both Tricia and I am struggling to get up and going in the morning these days and it is taking all our effort to get the miles out of the way before night time.


On my travels I passed this fantastic historic village that will stay in my mind for years.

As the day drew to a close and we're nearing the border of Cornwall, I feel a little sad to go. Some areas that we've passed seemed less active than others and Cornwall is a splendidly active County that gives one hope. Hope that not all enjoyment of the outdoors are forgotten and enjoyed to the max.

The final smirk of the day as I made my way into Lostwithiel, bringing the combined distance covered to 3834 miles in 45 days and four days let to go.

13/10/2012

Day 43 Rest day Newquay

Originally this was to be the day to end in Newquay but to have Saturday off we sped along Friday to clear today.  The day started with a photo shoot with Terry Barnecutt an award winning photographer from the Newquay Guardian.

Our next move was to look for a campsite to freshen up and rest, Tricia asked Terry if he knew anywhere good as he knows Newquay well. 2 mins later he was on the phone and 10 mins later we were driving to a 5 star holiday resort called Hendra Holiday Parks.

The manager Matt gave us free pitch and a few goodies such as free swimming and so on. He is also a fundraiser and have done some fantastic work, thank you Matt.

Needless to say, we ate a lot, showered a couple of times and had a good rest, back on the road we go!!!

Ps. Happy birthday to my sister Yolandie, keep them coming. Lots of love!!


14/10/2012

Day 44   Newquay to Falmouth

The day started with a lovely sunrise and kept bright but fresh. We both had a good sleep and was ready to rock and roll. The first place I visited was Portreath and then moved along the Atlantic coast as much as I could,

It was a fantastic day for photography and it was a shame I was on the bike moving away from Newquay, I whish I could have stay a few more days and do a bit of surfing, but hey, next time!

I was enjoying my solo ride until I got near St Ives, suddenly there were loads of cyclists and I found myself being ushered into places I wasn't planning on going but went along to see what was happening. It was a sportive event and all who had a cycle took part, it not only slowed me down but also poor Tricia. But it was good to see and I wish them all the best!

 I took plenty of photo's...

And they all made me want to just lay in the sun and dream away

 Every one I took

                                                                                                                           I threw this photo of me in just so you can see that I didn't cut them out of a travel magazine, that is what the day looked like for me.

Made it to Lands End and a family photo

                                                                                                                                             
One in Penzance as the day started to come to an end

                                                                                           Finishing the day off in Falmouth and getting ready for a small run tomorrow, 42 miles, heeha!

12/10/2012

Day 42 Appledore to Newquay

The sun was out when the rain wasn't falling and at those times it was a beautiful day, but when it rained it wasn't such a nice day. 

As I made my way along the Atlantic coast pushing Devon's boarder I came across many villages with strange names and I find myself wanting to meet the people who named these places to see what inspired them to do so.

Today is a shortish day standing at 110 miles but the hills made it feel like at least 140 miles plus and after a few hours of cycling I entered good old Cornwall where I had to make my surfing pose, I'm glad you cant see my body!                                                                  

Like I mentioned, the weather was unpredictable within a space of an hour I had rain, strong winds, sunshine, hail and sunshine again.

These two photo's were taken at the same time but on different sides of the road.

Today I didn't take a lunch break and was determined to finish within a respectable time despite my weak legs and general overall fatigue, and also, I kept missing Tricia on a few meeting spots for reasons beyond our control, like, she got lost with a sat-nav?

I passed historical villages such as Camelford and Wadebridge before I made it to Newquay 7 1/2 hours later and where we end for the day to have a rest day tomorrow.

 And not a day too early.!!!

3671 miles completed in 42 days.

11/10/2012

Day 41 Lynmouth to Appledore

It was a wet start and it carried on all day in various of degrees, but mostly very hard rain We slept in a lovely lay by right next to a small waterfall and lush greenery. The run started immediately with a 19% incline and I could feel my calves screaming from yesterdays hill cycling.



                                                                                             Like I mentioned before, one thing you could see more in England was the change of seasons as this photo shows.










It was really wet and every time I could I took a photo or in this case this movie:

I met Tricia for some lunch just outside Ilfracombe where as you can see I was drenched by, but the joy of running and the freedom and fresh air just kept me going all the way.

After this the weather just got too bad to take any more photo's and my camera got wet again, thankfully it is still working, just!

Arriving at the end in Appledore wasn't what either Tricia or myself had envisioned after the spoils of Exmoor National Park. We are now in Devon and am making our way down to Newquay tomorrow and then a rest day.

This does bring the combined completed distance to 3561 miles within 41 days and approximately 614 miles to go in just one week! 

Recovery is very slow and the hilliness of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall was my fears from the very beginning of this expedition and so far haven't let me down just yet.