walked today – and boy do I ache…

I think my hip actually fell off at one point!

and that’s without any hills – God help me!

..just as long as it doesn’t go out live!!

If anyone has ever been interviewed for TV, you’ll realise it’s not as easy as it looks! It’s strange, you know exactly what you want to say, but can you say it, nah!

Channel M came round the other day to interview myself and Helen on Newlove Warrington and the 3 Peaks. Helen was brilliant. Point the camera, film, speak, done.

Then it was my turn…well…i’ll let you decide..see the results on Channel M breakfast on a date to be announced..

£85 lighter and training is now in full swing! Having run my old running shoes into the ground over the last few months, i figured it was time to invest in a nice new pair before the impact of having no support or cushioning left took it’s toll on my achiles, ankles, knees, etc and everything else that aches..

With just over 7 weeks to go, and with a good level of base fitness achieved, it’s now time to increase the 3 critical elements – time, distance and unfortunately as this is the hardest bit.. metres climbed.

So the lanes of Bradwall, home to my regular 5 mile run, will soon be swapped for the hills (or hill) of Mow Cop and the evening walks will now be increased in frequency and duration. Best get some new tunes for the ipod.

A pristine copy of the Sandbach Directory landed on my doormat this morning.  As always, upon receipt of the Directory, my first action was to fan the pages and smell it! There is something strangely appealing about the scent of a new book or a well printed magazine which I am sure many people, whilst not openly openly admitting it, are familiar with. For the record, the Sandbach Directory is a fine vintage with a great nose. For those of you who have the opportunity please indulge yourselves. You won’t regret it.

So a warm welcome is extended to whatever percentage of the 27,500 recipients of the Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Congleton and Winsford Directories, who after having taken a good sniff of it’s pages, have discovered my article on the Newlove 3 Peaks Challenge and decided to take further action by logging onto this blog and hopefully also my JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/newlove3peakschallenge. Thank you also to Andrea for running the article.

Further detail the Newlove Charity, the scale of the 3 Peaks, and how things are going to date can be found on the associated links dotted around the pages here. If you feel compelled to comment, donate or contribute in any way please do so.

Also keep checking back for the latest posts on how the training is going and what other activities will be taking place over the coming weeks and months, upto and including of course the event itself on the weekend of the 6 and 7 June.

Note: Filming takes place soon for the breakfast show on Channel M who are running a story on my 3 Peaks Challenge. Further information on Channel M Breakfast can be found here. http://www.channelm.co.uk/programmes/index/0/95/breakfast_show.html.

Further updates will be posted soon.

Thanks.

Rob

Are these seats taken?

 Last week was a real eye opener.  Not only because of the scenery which as always in the mountains was incredible, but also because for the first time since committing to the 3 Peaks Challenge, the shear scale of what is involved became apparent.

The picture to the left was taken In Aprica, Italy, near to the Dosso Paso summit, which sits at 2300m. From here, we descended (rather quickly with the aid of skis and several red runs) back down to Aprica which sits at 1181m. This is a total descent of 1119m over a route of approximately 4 miles. It took one stiff drink, a rather exhilerating 8.5 minutes and a huge amount of lactic acid build up, to get to the bottom without stopping.

It was only on a later return up the mountain, from the dubious comfort of a rickety charlift, that I started to contemplate the scale of the 3 Peaks. The facts are as follows.

Ben Nevis – 1343m, 9.4 miles.

Scafell Pike – 978m, 5.2 miles.

Snowdon – 1085m, 6.5 miles.

This adds up to a total of 3,406m and 21.1 miles. If you average this out, is comes to 1135m and 7 miles per peak which by my calculations is acually 16m higher, and 3 miles longer than the Dosso Passo Marathon Route described above.

What this means is that on the weekend of the 6 and 7 June, i’ll need to do the equivalent of 3 Dosso Paso descents, in reverse, without the aid of a chairlift or a stiff drink, in under 24 hours. There is also the small added complication that the selected peaks are in 3 different countries, and a total of 435 miles apart. Somehow, I think the only common factors will be the scenery and the lactic acid! 

Fortunately, I love the mountains. I always have. It’s one place where I feel truly alive. They are calling me again and I can’t wait for the challenge.

Let the training begin….

Media support of the 3 Peaks Campaign continues to grow. So a big thank you to Joanne Nield and the Breakfast Team at Channel M, who will be covering my preparation for the event. Filming is scheduled for Tuesday 3 March. Watch this space for further news..

The local press have been very supportive of the 3 Peaks Challenge, and will be running the story in the following publications, due for distribution on Wednesday 11 Feb.

- Sandbach and Middlewich Chronicle

- Crewe Chronicle

- Nantwich Chronicle

There was a mention of Page 3, but rest assured, not in the “traditional” sense..!

So thank you to Simon Halewood for his support in spreading the word…Watch this space for further news!

3 Mountains, 3 Countries, in under 24 hours
Click to sponsor Rob at www.justgiving.com/newlove3peakschallenge

 

Married father of 2 Rob Edwards is facing a true test of stamina and determination as he gears up to compete in the 3 Peaks Challenge.

Rob, 38, usually spends most of his summer weekends at Elworth Cricket Club, either helping with the junior section or trying desperately to recapture his youth by playing, but on June the 6^th and 7^th, he will be donning his boots and rucksack to raise money for The Newlove Campaign. 

“I’ve never climbed any of these mountains before,” says Rob, “so the prospect of covering over 22 miles on foot, climbing 3,405 metres and also covering a further 435 miles in the car, all in under 24 hours, is certainly a challenge!”

The hard work will all be worthwhile for Rob if he succeeds in raising his target amount for The Newlove Campaign. “I am looking for a considerable sum of money, but the actual target won’t be published until achieved, because I don’t want people to stop donating when I have hit the figure” says Rob.

Many people will be familiar with the story of Garry Newlove who was brutally attacked and murdered outside his home in Warrington in August 2007 after confronting 3 youths about vandalism. 

The Newlove Campaign, the brainchild of Garry’s wife Helen Newlove, was established in response to the tragedy and aims to generate a greater sense of community by motivating and inspiring young people to lead more enriched and fulfilling lives.  

 “Garry Newlove, was simply protecting his family” says Rob “any man would do the same, but Garry paid the ultimate price and leaves behind a wife and three daughters. The Newlove Campaign now works tirelessly to help provide new opportunities for youngsters and to make the community a much safer place, and they have my full support”

Noels HQ, the live Sky One TV show hosted by Noel Edmonds on a Saturday night, is also supporting the Newlove Campaign and has publicly thanked Rob for his support on the show.

 

 

 

 “Noels HQ have been very generous in helping Helen achieve her goals, and I really hope that people hearing of my efforts in the 3 Peaks Challenge will sponsor me if they can” says Rob. “I know money is tight these days, but even a few pounds will make a huge difference and mean the Newlove Campaign can continue their great work in our local communities. Please help if you can”

You can sponsor Rob by visiting his online fundraising page on www.justgiving.com/newlove3peakschallenge

 

Watch the following video for further information on the 3 Peaks Challenge..please note this is courtesy of YouTube and relates to the 3 Peaks in general. The mention of a different charity at the end does not relate directly to my own fundraising efforts, which are specifically for Newlove.