Time to start training

127.25 miles.

Doesn't sound impossible does it? Well we're up for a challenge so thats what it's going to be. To ride 127.25 miles, from one end to the other of the Leeds to Liverpool canal in one day (but the other way around. Mainly because we can get one train home from Leeds but it takes a couple of train switches to get back from Liverpool).

At the time of writing, not only has the challenge been set, but a few friends have expressed an interest in joining, namely Keith, Nick, Ash, Russ (Who doesn't yet have a bike) and Gaz (Who doesnt fancy the Canal route so is going to 'race' us on a road route instead! Oh God it's turned into a race already!)

The training so far has consisted of two rides, one of 34 miles along the canal which Keith and myself took part in and to be fair walked it, but, on bikes, but, you get my drift, and another of 45 point something, which was just 3 days ago involving Keith "I can't keep going at that pace!" Butterworth, Nick "My ass is on fire" Root and John "Oh God make it stop!" Prior.

The legs can still feel it, but thats ok, because we're not intending to actually go for the big one until May 2010, by which time some of us intend to have shrunk, others meanwhile intend to have grown. You can make your own guesses.

Let the training commence! (It did 2 weeks ago but I hadn't considered writing a blog at that point). 50 miles either this weekend or next. It probably won't be this weekend as the local pub, The Stork Hotel, has a family fun run in aid of McMillans and a Cystic Fibrosis charity on which my daughters and I will be, erm, walking.

As this challenge now seems to be taking on a life of it's own, it may as well turn into a charity event. Someone might as well benefit I suppose and so suggestions are welcome for charities of choice.

PS 50 mile training runs 7 months before the event? We'll p*ss it! Or will we?