Wow! I mean bloody hell - wow! 4 times around Jersey in 2 days and 40% of the challenge done. I do feel pretty chuffed and chaffed now you come to think about it. It started with a cold ok let's face it man-flu - and on a rainy dark Wednesday morning watch the video on - http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUhCmrSnKT8U&h=966dc - and so it has gone on... the coverage by 103fm, BBC Jersey, the amazing JEP full page and impending showing on the CTV interview have all helped the great response I'm getting on the way around on my bike. I'm always very shy about asking for the money when strangers come up and say 'well done' and the like but offer not a penny, which to be fair is why I'm doing it. Day 1 left me exhausted but on a high. Paul Stone has been incredibly supportive, giving up a day of work to be alongside me for both of the laps of Day 1 together with weeks of training runs and huge amonts of time and advice. Without him this would have been an impossible task. Marc Le Sueur and the bike he built me, did'nt let me down either and both turned up for day 1 on both laps. The Bee's Knees Cafe on the North Coast are even our official suppliers of a cuppa on every lap.
Hurrah for Day 1. Day 2 was an awful first circuit in contrast - the wind against me made the ride so hard and slow. Everything makes you doubt whether you are going to do this, my right knee was screeming pain, throat sore, and energy levels at rock bottom - and that was only after 30 minutes. Anna was encouraging me along, but we both knew I was in trouble. A live chat on 103 with Peter Mac helped cheer me up and slowly I chipped away at the first lap. CTV turned up in St Aubin and then I gave myself a good talking to, reminded myself that this was not at all difficult - compared to the pain, distress and discomfort felt by those who might benefit from the fundraising - so time to shut up, stop moaning and get on with it. Rather than take the wind on the coast road going east to Gorey, I took the normally tougher Grouville Hill out of the wind and made Gorey in more comfort. The rest of the 2nd lap worked better from there and hey - what do you know - I'm back in St Aubin. 4 down - 6 to go. Jersey is stunning from the saddle, you should try it, although after Sunday, I may not rush back to the bike too quickly. Anyway time for sleep and it's not even 8.20pm!
Everything I've forgotten is in the next blog... Bye!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
One down - 9 to go!
The first one is done - in 4 hours 10 mins! Better than I thought, just a twinge in the right knee and the sniffles, but taking the lemsip on the move!
Just done pasta and time to move off for the second and obviously slower second lap!
All the details on tonight's blog
Murray x
Just done pasta and time to move off for the second and obviously slower second lap!
All the details on tonight's blog
Murray x
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Start
Aching bones and a a cold is not the ideal way to start a cycle marathon - but I'm excited - and snotty - about the start.
The JEP are here - Paul & Marc my pace setters are here and all I have to do is start cycling - until Sunday night.. I'll keep you updated here.
www.murraysjersey.com is the website - keep the donations coming in.
Love Murray
The JEP are here - Paul & Marc my pace setters are here and all I have to do is start cycling - until Sunday night.. I'll keep you updated here.
www.murraysjersey.com is the website - keep the donations coming in.
Love Murray
Friday, October 1, 2010
Money - it's a hit... don't give me that do goody good...
The new bike that Marc built is just great, now I've had time to use it. Esprit bikes are the future - get him to measure you up then go buy one straight away!
Money - like it or not - that's why I'm doing this whole palaver.
The last two days have started to bring in the boost that I needed. My worry was always, that I will put myself through a certain amount of pain, during and after the cycle ride, for little amounts of donations. Trust me I've been 10,000 feet up a mountain on a bike, wondering "what the !**! am I doing here" and then remembered the faith people put in me to do something, that odd something, that people do to extract some money from wallets of many.
And here we are again. Next time, would somebody please stop me when I have a daft idea?
So is this a challenge? Well for me yes, of course is you are are a keen cyclist you may find this pips, but otherwise dust the bike off and go for a ride, in the rain and wind.
Try doing a circuit of Jersey. St.Aubin - to Gorey, up the hill to Rozel, down and up Bouley or Bonne Nuit and Greve de Lecq, around Corbeire, in and out of St Brelades bay and back to St Aubin . Then imagine doing that again in the same day. Then get up the next day and do that again for another four days. Then imagine an overweight, fifty something, non cyclists doing it (that's me by the way). You will start to wonder why the hell you are doing this. Hero? nah! I just know that know nobody will sponsor me to have an Indian takeaway and watch the golf for 4 days, which is a shame. There are only three things truly pushing me on. 1/ The thought of the money rolling in and 2/ The people who will get the benefit from it and 3/ Not looking like an arse by not doing even one circuit!
Facebook, that social media network that let's you keep count of the number of 'friends' you have, has just justified me being part of it. For what is the use of having 'friends' unless they are there for you when you need them? Or for that matter, to make a tiny donation to inspire you. Now I'm not naive enough to imagine every 'friend' I have will give money. It may be that they don't agree with giving to charity, they may not like the charities picked out or have already given their quota for the year, all of which they are entitled to do. So a sense of perspective is called for. But you certainly can't help but ponder on the whole facebook friend issue and why you have so many of them.
Yesterday and today, thankfully, Facebook messages have been popping up from all manner of directions, ranging from people I know well, to those who are social media acquaintances - electric friends - perhaps, rather than the ones I might go down the pub with of go to dinner with.
Now it is not for me to judge how much people give and frankly, all that matters to me is that I have made people feel motivated enough to make the tiny amount of effort to go through the process of donating something, however small to the cause. But it is difficult not to be human and notice the anomalies in pre-conceived thoughts, when a millionaire will donate less than somebody I hardly know, who has no job. Perhaps that's why they are millionaires, although I suspect it's because they worked hard and applied themselves. I don't hold with envy, just admiration. It's not always the case that the rich are tighter anyway, I must add. One cheque last Saturday, from a customer at Murray's was for £3000. And no matter what their personal circumstances, which are non of my business anyhow, that is a lot of money.
The good, inspiring, get-me-in-the-lyrca news is many have given without so much as a nudge and a tenner is the favoured amount. Sarah even set up a standing order to the account to give £10 per month for 10 months - nice! I like that one, just for the extra mile she went in setting it up. Holiday makers have given at the restaurant and complete strangers have walked up and handed over cash! I'll worry about maintaining the momentum after the ride... well... after the ride. Right now I have enough to ponder on, which stops me thinking about being perched on my saddle.
www.murrays10cc.com should be up and going by tomorrow - hurrah!
Money - like it or not - that's why I'm doing this whole palaver.
The last two days have started to bring in the boost that I needed. My worry was always, that I will put myself through a certain amount of pain, during and after the cycle ride, for little amounts of donations. Trust me I've been 10,000 feet up a mountain on a bike, wondering "what the !**! am I doing here" and then remembered the faith people put in me to do something, that odd something, that people do to extract some money from wallets of many.
And here we are again. Next time, would somebody please stop me when I have a daft idea?
So is this a challenge? Well for me yes, of course is you are are a keen cyclist you may find this pips, but otherwise dust the bike off and go for a ride, in the rain and wind.
Try doing a circuit of Jersey. St.Aubin - to Gorey, up the hill to Rozel, down and up Bouley or Bonne Nuit and Greve de Lecq, around Corbeire, in and out of St Brelades bay and back to St Aubin . Then imagine doing that again in the same day. Then get up the next day and do that again for another four days. Then imagine an overweight, fifty something, non cyclists doing it (that's me by the way). You will start to wonder why the hell you are doing this. Hero? nah! I just know that know nobody will sponsor me to have an Indian takeaway and watch the golf for 4 days, which is a shame. There are only three things truly pushing me on. 1/ The thought of the money rolling in and 2/ The people who will get the benefit from it and 3/ Not looking like an arse by not doing even one circuit!
Facebook, that social media network that let's you keep count of the number of 'friends' you have, has just justified me being part of it. For what is the use of having 'friends' unless they are there for you when you need them? Or for that matter, to make a tiny donation to inspire you. Now I'm not naive enough to imagine every 'friend' I have will give money. It may be that they don't agree with giving to charity, they may not like the charities picked out or have already given their quota for the year, all of which they are entitled to do. So a sense of perspective is called for. But you certainly can't help but ponder on the whole facebook friend issue and why you have so many of them.
Yesterday and today, thankfully, Facebook messages have been popping up from all manner of directions, ranging from people I know well, to those who are social media acquaintances - electric friends - perhaps, rather than the ones I might go down the pub with of go to dinner with.
Now it is not for me to judge how much people give and frankly, all that matters to me is that I have made people feel motivated enough to make the tiny amount of effort to go through the process of donating something, however small to the cause. But it is difficult not to be human and notice the anomalies in pre-conceived thoughts, when a millionaire will donate less than somebody I hardly know, who has no job. Perhaps that's why they are millionaires, although I suspect it's because they worked hard and applied themselves. I don't hold with envy, just admiration. It's not always the case that the rich are tighter anyway, I must add. One cheque last Saturday, from a customer at Murray's was for £3000. And no matter what their personal circumstances, which are non of my business anyhow, that is a lot of money.
The good, inspiring, get-me-in-the-lyrca news is many have given without so much as a nudge and a tenner is the favoured amount. Sarah even set up a standing order to the account to give £10 per month for 10 months - nice! I like that one, just for the extra mile she went in setting it up. Holiday makers have given at the restaurant and complete strangers have walked up and handed over cash! I'll worry about maintaining the momentum after the ride... well... after the ride. Right now I have enough to ponder on, which stops me thinking about being perched on my saddle.
www.murrays10cc.com should be up and going by tomorrow - hurrah!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
New bike new bike new bike
It feels different, it rides different - it is different. Is it easier? It might be when I get used to it. Tonight I have Paul Stone & Marc Le Sueur (builder of the new Esprit Bike) for company. Get Marc to build you a bike - he's good at it!
Have just ridden too hard on too little fuel - feeling flakey and a tad more nervous than normal.
Hmmm!
Have just ridden too hard on too little fuel - feeling flakey and a tad more nervous than normal.
Hmmm!
6 days and counting - the money
Ah! What lovely people there are... George & Jean Baird, Andrew Le Brun, the Pinel's and the Le Gresely's - thank you you are the latest to donate to the cycle challenge sponsorship. I have this idea of only having friends on facebook who sponsor me - is that mean?
Anyway, the money is coming in - always slower than you think... but the is a trickle, which is better than a droplet!
Also the bike is ready - well the new wheels go on later... when the new tyres arrive and my first ride on it is tonight... scary but exciting - Huge thanks to Marc Le Sueur for making this happen along with top support from Nick at Boudin Bikes in Sand Street - their sale of cycle shoes is amazing - get down there now!
Only six days til it starts and some support from those who heard me on Peter Mac's show on 103 is warming things up nicely. Keep it coming folks and if you haven't supported me with a sponsorship email me, text me or drop into Murray's and part with a bit of dosh - thanks
Murray
Anyway, the money is coming in - always slower than you think... but the is a trickle, which is better than a droplet!
Also the bike is ready - well the new wheels go on later... when the new tyres arrive and my first ride on it is tonight... scary but exciting - Huge thanks to Marc Le Sueur for making this happen along with top support from Nick at Boudin Bikes in Sand Street - their sale of cycle shoes is amazing - get down there now!
Only six days til it starts and some support from those who heard me on Peter Mac's show on 103 is warming things up nicely. Keep it coming folks and if you haven't supported me with a sponsorship email me, text me or drop into Murray's and part with a bit of dosh - thanks
Murray
Monday, September 27, 2010
Getting a response from those who care.
Asking people for money is a difficult thing for some and no matter how many thousands of times I've done that, it still is something not dissimilar to going out on stage, radio or TV. It's the getting started, the first line of your speech, gag or script, that is the toughest. After that you forget your self conscious worries and get stuck in.
So, whilst I'm in the flow, please give me some sponsor money - it's going to be divided up between 10 very good local charities so get in touch, pop down to Murray's or post me a cheque made out to Murray's 10 Charity Challenge andpost it to Norton House, St Aubin JE3 8BZ
Do it now, you'll feel better for doing it I promise.
Yesterday I received cheques of £300, £100 pounds and wait for it a cheque for £3000 - yup that's right people and mighty big fat £3k! I was as amazed as you probably are. He still paid for his breakfast at Murray's too!
No surprisingly after those shows of faith and support for what I'm trying to do, training went well yesterday. Paul Stone is my training guru and we really appeared to fly some roads and although the uphill bits were obviously slower, there is now no hill that has not been done - just not altogether yet! Paul is a top bloke and my kind of coach - thanks mate!
I've decided to take two weeks off working in the restaurant now - just so I can train, rest and train again in the run up to the ride starting on the 6th October. Thank god for a partner like Anna, who is running everything and working such long hours in covering everything at the restaurant.
The energy bars and drinks are being consumed. Thanks to Randall's who sent a case of energy drinks with an order this morning -the invoice read "Ref Murray's 10cc - Good luck Murray's". Top people them lot - thanks.
Right time for me to ride again and time for you to give a little something - if you all do a little, it'll make a lot - but don't let me stop you doing a lot!
Thank you
Murray
So, whilst I'm in the flow, please give me some sponsor money - it's going to be divided up between 10 very good local charities so get in touch, pop down to Murray's or post me a cheque made out to Murray's 10 Charity Challenge andpost it to Norton House, St Aubin JE3 8BZ
Do it now, you'll feel better for doing it I promise.
Yesterday I received cheques of £300, £100 pounds and wait for it a cheque for £3000 - yup that's right people and mighty big fat £3k! I was as amazed as you probably are. He still paid for his breakfast at Murray's too!
No surprisingly after those shows of faith and support for what I'm trying to do, training went well yesterday. Paul Stone is my training guru and we really appeared to fly some roads and although the uphill bits were obviously slower, there is now no hill that has not been done - just not altogether yet! Paul is a top bloke and my kind of coach - thanks mate!
I've decided to take two weeks off working in the restaurant now - just so I can train, rest and train again in the run up to the ride starting on the 6th October. Thank god for a partner like Anna, who is running everything and working such long hours in covering everything at the restaurant.
The energy bars and drinks are being consumed. Thanks to Randall's who sent a case of energy drinks with an order this morning -the invoice read "Ref Murray's 10cc - Good luck Murray's". Top people them lot - thanks.
Right time for me to ride again and time for you to give a little something - if you all do a little, it'll make a lot - but don't let me stop you doing a lot!
Thank you
Murray
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