In
lots of what I do in life, especially the bonkers stuff, I draw on combinations
of some influential and inspirational people. There are historical ones such
as Isambard Kingdom Brunel who I admire for his ground breaking work and sheer
drive and “can do” approach. Then contemporary key ones that fall into two categories:
First family:
My Dad, a still active 93 year old living in his own bungalow and mentally as “sharp as a pin”, whilst having angina and heart attacks since he was 68! Years before being a production director in the automotive industry he spent 5 years as a prisoner of war, primarily in Stalag 8B in Lamsdorf in Poland. He escaped three times, eventually successfully and making his own way across Europe to hitch a lift back to blighty in the back of a Lancaster bomber, from France to be greeted by a WAAF with a DDT spray!
My two teenage, UNI attending daughters who are a daily source of pride, with my youngest being the artist behind this portrait of Dad.
And, my partner Debs, who has brought a whole new life and amazingly selfless levels of support in all my bonkers stuff (bar getting her wellies muddy at Endure24!)
Then, running related, including:
My running club (Sherfield Park Runners) and its great and growing membership from who I have drawn so much energy. Some have had profound effect on me in many ways.
The SPR runners at VLM2014 where Debs and I went to support 5 club members and had an emotional and life changing day. I had always said “... I’m not going to run a marathon” whist secretly watching and learning from their prep during the early months of 2014. So, my first marathon is due in spring 2015, hopefully in London.
Gary Turner, 13 times World Champion in various fight formats, and now an evidence based hypnotherapist, weight and nutrition guru and an ultra runner with his two huskies.
And, Ira Rainey and his book “Fat Man To Green Man” about his path to his first Ultra that just grabbed and inspired me in my holiday reading some weeks ago.
So, put all that with my bonkers approach to getting on in life and making things happen and you have my drive for new challenges developing into getting ready to run a first marathon quickly followed by a first ultra marathon and bonkers moves to ultrabonkers to reshape my life. And, no doubt, the lives of my nearest and dearest!
And, my partner Debs, who has brought a whole new life and amazingly selfless levels of support in all my bonkers stuff (bar getting her wellies muddy at Endure24!)
Then, running related, including:
My running club (Sherfield Park Runners) and its great and growing membership from who I have drawn so much energy. Some have had profound effect on me in many ways.
The SPR runners at VLM2014 where Debs and I went to support 5 club members and had an emotional and life changing day. I had always said “... I’m not going to run a marathon” whist secretly watching and learning from their prep during the early months of 2014. So, my first marathon is due in spring 2015, hopefully in London.
Gary Turner, 13 times World Champion in various fight formats, and now an evidence based hypnotherapist, weight and nutrition guru and an ultra runner with his two huskies.
And, Ira Rainey and his book “Fat Man To Green Man” about his path to his first Ultra that just grabbed and inspired me in my holiday reading some weeks ago.
So, put all that with my bonkers approach to getting on in life and making things happen and you have my drive for new challenges developing into getting ready to run a first marathon quickly followed by a first ultra marathon and bonkers moves to ultrabonkers to reshape my life. And, no doubt, the lives of my nearest and dearest!
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