Team Pilgrims

Team Pilgrims
Team PIlgrims

Olympic Gold Medallist Jamie Staff

Olympic Gold Medallist Jamie Staff
Olympic Gold Medallist Jamie Staff is supporting our event and will be cycling alongside us

Tuesday, 30 March 2010

30 March

Today is a rest day which is probably as well given the weather. Spent time gaining sponsorship and marketing the event. Personal sponsorship is now at £325 which is great. I also managed to get a poster in the Elham Coffee Shop which should attract interest as it is frequented by cyclists at the weekends.

Monday, 29 March 2010

29 MARCH - PART TWO

Checked out the Crab and Winkle Way with Deborah Kellond and Steve from Spokes. Looks like it is going to be a good route for the family ride/Canterbury Hospice challenge. Still has some hills but not too difficult.

STEVE'S WEEKEND

As they say in the military: "no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy". Well Saturday was a bit like that. It started well with a 14 miles ride from home to Downland Cycles for a ride out with my trainer, Will. Unfortunately Will could only take me out on a 20 mile ride rather than something longer. Anyway, after a tour of Herne Bay, Whitstable and the surrounding countryside, I set off on a circuitous route home to Lyminge. The first bit to Wingham via Stodmarsh and Preston wasn't too bad but the last 10 miles were purgatory. The 5 miles from Wingham to Barham is steadily uphill and was also into a biting headwind. Suffice it to say I ran out of steam at Derringstone Downs and had to walk a short while. Got back on and made it home for a total of 54 miles. Lessons learnt:

1. 70 miles is a long way in a day - still more training required.

2. It is important to take onboard the right amount and sort of food and drink. I didn't and paid the price.

Today I cycled the 13 miles from Lyminge to the Canterbury Hospice; the hills don't get any easier!

Friday, 26 March 2010

Steve Auty's Planned Training for 26 and 27 March

Going to try out the ride home tonight which should be some 13 miles from Canterbury via Upper Hardres, Lower Hardres, Bossingham, Stelling Minnis, Rhodes Minnis and on to Lyminge.

Tomorrow (27 March) the plan is to re-trace the route and take part in the Downland ride (25 miles) before cycling back home. This should break the psychological barrier of 50 miles for the first time.

Ian Ashton (almost a professional) is racing so won't be taking part in the ride. I'll let you know how I get on in my next blog.

Steve

Tuesday, 23 March 2010

A bit of an introduction

This blog follows the training efforts of CEO and Team Pilgrims member Steve Auty. Although the blog is updated by myself, words professing to be Steve's are indeed his own (including his impressive mileage claims which are true to the best of my knowledge!). We would love to hear from anyone who is also participating in our Cycle Challenges this year, whether you are taking part in the 70 mile route or the smaller 15 mile routes being held in each Hospice town (Canterbury, Margate and Ashford). Please see our website www.pilgrimscyclechallenge.org for further info and to book online.

Pilgrims Hospices is a charity providing palliative care free of charge to people in east Kent. It provides palliative care for patients with a range of illnesses that cannot be cured including cancer, heart failure, respiratory conditions and neurological diseases. Care is provided from the three sites in Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet, in patients' homes and via community programmes. Care is also extended to families and carers.

To keep delivering care to those that need it the most, Pilgrims has to raise over £8 million each year. The majority of this comes from our local community, so fundraising is very important.

We hope you enjoy Steve's blog. With a bit of luck it will be a source of encouragement to those of you taking part and inspiration to those who are considering it!

Please feel free to contact me, Clare Sherwood, with any comments or queries that you do not wish to share on the blog. Email: clare_sherwood@pilgrimshospice.org

A bit of an introduction

This blog follows the training efforts of CEO and Team Pilgrims member Steve Auty. Although the blog is updated by myself, words professing to be Steve's are indeed his own (including his impressive mileage claims which are true to the best of my knowledge!). We would love to hear from anyone who is also participating in our Cycle Challenges this year, whether you are taking part in the 70 mile route or the smaller 15 mile routes being held in each Hospice town (Canterbury, Margate and Ashford). Please see our website www.pilgrimscyclechallenge.org for further info and to book online.

Pilgrims Hospices is a charity providing palliative care free of charge to people in east Kent. It provides palliative care for patients with a range of illnesses that cannot be cured including cancer, heart failure, respiratory conditions and neurological diseases. Care is provided from the three sites in Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet, in patients' homes and via community programmes. Care is also extended to families and carers.

To keep delivering care to those that need it the most, Pilgrims has to raise over £8 million each year. The majority of this comes from our local community, so fundraising is very important.

We hope you enjoy Steve's blog. With a bit of luck it will be a source of encouragement to those of you taking part and inspiration to those who are considering it!

Please feel free to contact me, Clare Sherwood, with any comments or queries that you do not wish to share on the blog. Email: clare_sherwood@pilgrimshospice.org