End of the FRC with a personal best!

Today was the last day of the Fall Rowing Challenge. One month of rowing in teams to see which team can row the furthest. 'Empty the Tanks' finished 12th out of 256 teams. I didn't make the target that I set of rowing 200km in the month, but managed 131Km.

I broke my 10km personal best twice this week. Today, I rowed my fastest 10km time, which now stands at 41m 42.2s. That is nearly 7 minutes faster than when I first started logging my distances in March of this year. My colleague Robin rowed with me today and helped me to push myself to beat my time. We are thinking of having a joint row off somewhere in Walton-on-Thames - Robin rowing for the Firefighters Charity and me rowing for The PSP Association and splitting any monies raised between the two charities. (Possibly a half marathon or even a full marathon in the early part of next year to help complete my 1 million metre challenge!)

659880metres rowed
168 days 'at sea' that's an average of 3928m per day
Averaging 10,152m each time I actually row.

Out of the boat and into the water!

I have just returned from a Swift Water Rescue course in Northampton. Imagine white water rafting and then take the raft away and that gives you an idea of what I was upto. Rescuing from flood situations, self rescue and rescuing others from fast moving water etc! Physically demanding, but i managed a quick 5000m in between the two days at the hotel gym! Bck now and hope to be back on the rower tomorrow. Only one more week of the Fall Rowing Challenge. Our team is still 12th but i haven't managed to put in the distance over this last month that i wanted to (about 91Km so far).

Another very generous £25 in sponsorship from my friend Peter taking the total to £1185 plus gift aid.

More sponsorship!

Another very generous sponsor of £100 was received from Francois, Elisabeth and Raphael in Paris! Thankyou! The total now stands at £1160, which is almost 50% of the target set. Back to rowing tomorrow!

PSP Matters!

Well, my sore throat turned into tonsilitis, so I have been off work since last Thursday. Even though nothing has happened rowing-wise in the last week, a couple of things have happened.

I received sponsorship of £50 from my sister's neighbours in Hong Kong, Sabine and Hubert, which Iam very grateful for. My sister has also been over to see mum for few days before going back to Hong Kong via her Paris home.

An article has also been published in PSP Matters, the magazine for the PSP Association, for which I am trying to raise money for. So if you are reading this after seeing the magazine article, "hello to you" and thankyou for your support.

I hope to be back on the rower on Thursday and make up some ground before going on a Swift Water Rescue course with work for a few days next week.

Saved by the bell!

I had intended another 10K yesterday, but we spent the afternoon and evening tackling a fire in the guildford area. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise as I have been feeling a little unwell and now I have a raging sore throat, so it was probably good to lay off the rowing, although the firefighting was quite tiring in itself. I also spent last night helping with beth who is ill. We had to take her to hospital as her breathing was very laboured. She has croup which sounds awful but with a few steroids and some rest she should get over it fairly quickly.

Anyway, the Autumn rowing challenge is still going well and I can't wait to get back on the rower to do my bit for the team.

Best week so far!

I have rowed 71097m this week over four days. Aswell as setting personal bests for 5k and 10k I also set a personal best for the half marathon with a time of 1 hour 34mins, which is 8 minutes faster than my first half marathon of the year.

Empty the tanks is currently 9th out of 191 teams competing in the Autumn Challenge.

My total to date is 584,880 metres.

Two personal bests on same day!

The Autumn rowing challenge began yesterday. As part of 'Empty the Tanks' virtual rowing team the aim is to collectively row as many metres as possible between 15th Sep and 15th Oct. We are currently 6th out of 171 teams worldwide.

I rowed a 5000m before lunch yesterday breaking my 5K personal best by two seconds. I intended to row a slow 10K later on in the day, but was feeling good, so i went for it and took about 19 seconds off my 10K time, which now stands at 42m and 3s.

Hoping to row 200km during this coming month?!!