us kayaking on the final day - seeing the white surf of the caribbean sea and reaching the finishing post carrying the girls on our backs... typical!

a few more photos with our rather dodgy underwater camera of the rafting and kayaking days included here! in the water, out of the water and the massive pump we had to bring in when we discovered we had a leak.....

WE ARE BACK!!!

Back in one piece - minus a few cuts, brusies, blisters, dodgy knees and some seriously weird tan lines and sun burn!!!

It was a fantastic week - started with a 26 hour journey from heathrow to madrid and then on to san jose, via a quick stop in guatemala city (of course!). arrived finally in san jose only to be whisked on a surreal coach journey for 3 hours across bridges that looked to be supported by nothing but chicken wire. arrived finally at 1.30 am at a best western hotel (!) in Quepos on the Pacific coast. We were told go time was 6am....

No time for jet lag - we saw the pacific ocean, got our bikes and headed off. A quick 20km bike later we stopped for lunch near a local football field on the edge of the rainforest. The organisation of the trip was impecable - lead by 2 ex marines, Kerry and AD - fab guys with a great team behind them. They fed us incredibly well - 4 square meals a day - the fruit was out of this world! Although we did all get a little fed up of rice and beans. Our first costa rican inhabitant encounter - he told us there were two speeds in CR - slow and stop. We didnt seem to be doing either.

Changed over to hiking - a 14km hike up to 900m above sea level through the rain forest. It was incredibly humid and this was just warm up day. then down to 700 m to first camp - we again were lucky - the tents were set up - so we could crash in our cold showers and eat - everyone was so tired we all just went to bed... Zoe having cunningly managed to grab us a tent for 4 people instead of two two people tents. Go Zoe!

The next day was the first day of the competition - it began with a 12km uphill hike in the blazing sun, combined with a scavenger hunt and a brief stop for a shower/swim in a waterfall. then back on to the bikes until we reached second camp. a football game ensued with the locals - 8 year kids who were naturals at playing and naturals at acting like they had been fouled. they made the portugese national team look like wooden dolls... then came the news the next day was a 4 am get up with a 5.30 am start for a 14km uphill bike race. nice. and the marines sabotaged our bikes to increase the challenge. We aced it - 14km going up 700 m to 2200 m above sea level knocked off in an hour and 40 minutes. We were on fire and racing up the leader board.

This was followed by our second breakfast - it was a great feeling to be 7.30 in the morning and already having accomplished so amazing - breakfast was brunch, lunch, dinner all rolled into one. But it didnt stop there - 45km of biking still to go: we started our first downhill section, then off road downhill, then steep off road downhill, then steep off road downhill with sand underneath so there was no traction - I went A over T and my bike smacked into me leaving a few brusies and tears. People started to get off and walk. There were sections so steep that EVERYONE had to get off and walk - but the views were breathtaking. The landscape had changed so quickly. We were now out of the rainforest and into mountainous hillside, sweeping vallies and farm steads. Camp that night after 55 km of biking was welcome - it even had a swimming pool!

The next day was another mammoth day - another 60km biking - but this time with some great down hill - started off by another 25km race - with a bar stop with everyone dancing to MTV... there were also lunchtime competitions - like at the river side where we had to build the hightest pile of stones... we didnt unfortunately excel!!


next team competition: who can get furthest as a team up a hill so steep even the marines could hardly bike up it.... nice! my chain broke. thats my excuse anyway and I am sticking to it!

The afternoon took us through the low lands, the industrial sugar cane plantation area of costa rica and past their newest hydrodamn. Then there was one more thing to be done: a steep uphill climb to the "Hotel". sods! The steepest bit was the actual drive way of the hotel. We got to the hotel to be told that half of us wwere staying in another hotel further up the hill. back on the bus and we took our life in our hands, as with music blaring, the bags on the roof, we climbed this off road track along the edge of the mountain to the "hotel" - which though it had a great view didnt have ceilings that met the walls - so every creepy crawly known to man was waiting for us - lovely! we even had birds living in our bathroom! We went back down for dinner in the bus - another rollercoster ride in the bus in the dark and then to let our hair down with the others for a well deserved big night. Then the bus back, with some guys riding on the roof... yikes!

THere was one more half day of biking - a welcome relief to many of the boys who were getting very sore in the nether regions...! But it was uphill - steep uphill, leading to off road down hill and then to the river where we gave the bikes back, ate and changed for white water rafting. we got a guide in our raft and set off - soon we were into a 2km race challenge which brought us to our camp for the night - by far the best of the whole trip - we beached the rafts on the water side, entered into the jungle to our small jungle camp: tents and a bar floor up on stilts. no electricity, just oil lamps, candles and the sounds of the jungle. it was so noisy and the sky was so clear - we all fell asleep looking at the stars from the bar area. the food was also amazing. on gas burners they managed to cook sumptuous chicken in mushroom sauce with mash and veg and rice. and in the morning pancakes and maple syrup - heaven.

we set off for a full day of white water rafting in up to class 4 rapids, with one of our team having to guide (go Koko!) then we had a team challenge of having to flip the raft, right it and get back on it asap - we did it in 18 seconds. not back given that we had never practiced!
more white water rafting brought us from complete isolation in the jungle back to bridges, people and cars. It felt like we had not seen anything like it for days - nor did we want to.

we said goodbye to the rafts and made our way to our final camp expecting a somewhat easier final day. no chance. get up was at 3 am, on the river by 5.30 am in our kayaks in the dark - we had to use our head torches to see!! That was followed by 40 km of kayaking - which took 8 hours, including a 15km hard race... in a river with crocodiles, surrounded by howler monkeys, sloths and more fish than you can shake a stick at. We were exhausted and there it was finally: the surf of the caribbean sea reaching into the river, with the water changing from green to azure blue. we raced to the line, dumped our kayaks and flung ourselves collapsed into the ocean... not too far though as there were sharks about! A quick drink of champagne and then onto motor boats to rendez-vous with our coach, get some supplies and then a bus journey to our gala night hotel - a spa with sulphur thermal pools! everyone was so tired at the dinner that things didnt really kick off until the alcohol kicked in and then we were away till dawn. brunch, another lunch and then off to the airport for 24 hours of travelling back to the UK (with 5 hours of delays of course and the requsite close inspection by a sniffer dog... actually that was just me... maybe it was dodgy beard...)

The best thing for me about the whole experience was that the sheer concentration on the activities in hand meant that you couldnt not think about anything else - everything about your life back home got pushed out of the mind - and it wasnt until you hit the airport that it came flooding back. It had been a week of real physical exertion but of complete mental break and change - I came back really revitalised and ready to go (at least in my head!) and for that kind of peace I would doing something like this again in a flash.

Thank you to everyone for your support - we were the top 4 person fundraising team. By the end of the biking section, we were in 4th place in the race competition but we slipped up during the water sports ( when teams of big lads overtook us) to end up 8th. Definitely not last though! We put in a good show and we did everyone proud. The whole challenge will raise nigh on half a million pounds for the Prince's Trust. Now thats worth shouting about.

Thank you for supporting us in making a dream become a reality. And thank you from me personally for having helped me face up to a challenge I never thought I could meet. Over and out. xx

So here we are at the Ely town welcome sign half way through our 60 km bike ride and looking a lot happier in front of ely Cathedral after having had tea and cake (or about half the menu in Koko's case..!). Do also check out Koko's padded shorts that he seemed so keen to show off.....

As you can see from the second two photos, the mood is high in camp Pythians - this is us deciding to (or rather me deciding) to put our feet up BEFORE the half marathon run and practice our best orangutan (?) impressions on Zoe.... we did do the run I promise....

Enjoy! Mxx

Its almost time for the off!!

Today we had our last big training session - a half marathon run along the river Thames in London - 13 miles completed in 1h 50 mins. Chrissie was unfortunately asked to come in to work ( on a saturday - damn those big city law firms!) so was unable to come with us (clever ruse to get out of running...) but we toasted her memory on the way round from Putney Bridge to Kew Bridge and back.

Last weekend the team was up in Cambridge and we went for a long biking session - a 60 km bike ride from Cambridge to Ely and back in about 3 and a half hours (with a cheeky stop for tea and cake at Ely Cathedral tea rooms!). Then onto watch Chrissie's younger sister in the Varsity Lacrosse match. On the sunday we took to the streets again with a 14km run before all heading back to London.

We feel ready and fit to go. The training slows down now in the week before the off - just some simple stretching and walking to keep everything moving and to prevent stiffness creeping in. This time next week we will be somewhere over the Atlantic on our way to San Jose!

There's just a few items of kit yet to find..... !

There wont be any blogs while we are out there unfortunately (funny that - no internet connection in the jungle/mountains...) but will report when we get back with some of the pictures and of course there will be the movie of the whole experience to watch at our thank you party later in the year!

Look after yourselves and give us a thought or two from Saturday 17th - Monday 26th!
Mxx

And the final photo!

Enjoy the photos - yes we are not looking the most successful of mountain bikers but Chrissie does look very professional in her kit.... x

Hey all

Happy New Year! We are now in massive count down to the challenge itself - only about 30 days to go. Christmas and New Year were tough time to keep the training going for all sorts of reasons - not just because of the plentiful food but we all emerged not too fat and not too un-fit from it all. Since the beginning of January we have all moved up a gear in our training and started to work on the endurance part - keeping up the work outs day after day.

We got some good news from the Prince's trust last week also to tell us that we were the second highest fundraising team (so far!) So thank you for all your donations and please keep them coming in so that we can mantain our position!!

We had also been kit- buying with lots of padded shorts, gel seats and special camelpak rucksacks to keep up safe and happy on our travels... I thought stationary shops were exciting but these kit places are unbelievable - everything you never thought you could need until you see it and then its something you cant do without.

Latest training weekend has just taken place out in the Chilterns between Henley and Reading. Two great days of VERY muddy biking as you can see from the photos during which Koko got a bust bike and had to carry it, Michael wiped out several times and Chrissie and Koko had mud fights. Zoe managed to remain very calm and collected throughout the whole thing apart from when we were trying to choose which corner of a field we had to turn at at the end of a 20 mile bike ride.... great stuff - team fitness shaping up really well. Another training weekend in Cambridge still to come and then a big half marathon run the week before we go as an end to the traininig schedule - the last week is warm down week.

Enjoy the photos!!
Mxx

We show off our muddy backsides, Ian and the team, Koko is lost somewhere on the downs exhausted - we are covered in mud, as are our shoes, Koko and Michael head for the sea!

Merry Christmas everyone!

We had another training weekend at the beginning of December down on the south downs to improve our mountain biking skills. Ian Davey, from www.bikeforlife.org.uk took on the dangerous job of being our instructor for the day and put us and our bikes through their paces. We learnt lots of skills for going uphill (gears are a great thing when they work..) and for going downhill (how not to go a over t when sliding your back wheels over hidden roots, leaves and mud).

The conditions were atrocious - heavy rain the previous two days had turned the whole place into a mud pit - which meant that we were all covered in mud from head to two within minutes. But it was a great day as we biked it all the way up to the south downs way, over the crest of the hills, ran into the sussex hunt in full pursuit and back down again to the coast - followed by a bike maintenance and repair session - which amazed me more than the rest I think because I had never know how to change a bike tyre before... ah well you learn something new everyday!

Saturday night there was a huge storm and then sunday we deciding to go running/cycling along the beachfront. The wind was still howling, the waves were crashing and we were dodging pebbles and seaweed. As if this wasnt enough - and Chrissie clearly thought it was by the expletives coming out of her mouth - Koko decided (and convinced me as well eventually) to go swimming in the sea... but we all ended up safe and sound in a cafe with tea and mincepies!

Have a fab christmas - more training weekends in January! We are now under 100 days to go!

Merry Xmas!
Michael x

Some Photos from the weekend!!

Hello all!

We had our first big training weekend this week. Everyone came up to stay with me in Cambridge friday night and we hit the ground running Saturday morning (after I had kicked everyone out of bed!). We did a longish bike ride (20km), with everyone feeling suitably sore afterwards! Many thanks to all those who lent bikes for the occasion - much appreciated!

That was followed saturday afternoon by a kayak training session with the Cambridge kayaking club. Again thanks very much indeed to Hugh and the CUCC for organising and for putting up with our incompetence. I fell in the Cam twice and got completely soaked and we were all stumped as to how to control the double kayak. We got in an extra 3 km run as we all ran back home from the kayaking as we were so cold! After that we had a de-stress sauna session then all went to a party with lots more crazy dancing (thank you laura, sarah, bella and mathew for organising!). On sunday, after a slightly later start we did an 11km run through Granchester, Trumpington and back into town, the second of our bike rides (another 20km) and then evensong at Trinity Hall!

Training tips - always wear padded shorts when cycling. You feel like you have a nappy on but oh my god they help! also - micropore tape over the nipples - a must for the men. and kayaking - well it appears to be a lot more difficult than first thought.... still not quite sure what we are supposed to be doing!

Another big training session in two weeks time - when we go on an off-road, mountain biking weekend down on the south downs.

Take care and keep the donations coming in!
Mxx

Well hello! where have we been since the beginning of october you ask? Never fear the team have been busy!

As the cold weather moved in, it felt time to move from running outside to running inside and going to the gym. Which is good because I was getting wary about you were supposed to meet fellow joggers eyes outside. Do you acknowledge them? Give them a hearty man to man dip of the head? Smile in a "arent we both nuts" kind of way? Its all a bit difficult!

but then you move into the gym and you have to face people next to you on the step machine for 40 mins... do you talk, ignore one another or what? ask to borrow their magasine?

The aim at the moment is building up strength - so its lots of free weights and some aerobic stuff - uphill treadmills and power ergs... lovely! also have purchased a bike so now having something to train on for biking.

Last weekend we had a big costa rica training/info day organised by the Prince's Trust and Across the Divide - finding out more about the expedition. There was a really fit guy there who had been to the south pole, giving us an "inspirational" talk. THe girls wanted to fire the boys from the team and replace us with him. But then he turned out to be married with two kids. bad luck girls! We are also all desperately concentrating on fundraising to meet the late december deadline so please help!!!

The team had a fireworks outing on Saturday 4th november night and are looking forward to the first big training weekend taking place on 18th/19th november. Everyone coming up to stay with me in Cam for biking, runnning and kayaking training. plus a big party!

Look out for the photos coming soon. We are also getting a camcorder to start recording our video dairy of this adventure!
Take care
Mx