NSPCC Big Bike Ride

After a late night of boozing and embarassing dancing at a local friend's wedding (and that's just the kids!), this morning we cycled down to Walmer seafront to take part in the Big Bike Ride in aid of the NSPCC. The route was along the seafront cycle track and then onto the ancient highway towards Sandwich, pit stop at the pub for Pimms and return to Walmer Castle. 10 miles in total. Some of our local friends were also there with their kids, and about 100 people set off.

Unfortunately Indie was involved in a nasty crash with a woman coming the other way, and ended up underneath her and two bikes. The organisers managed to bandage her arm up and once she calmed down, she said she wanted to carry on, somewhat gingerly for a while.

After we finished, there was a cool barbeque on the beach. Indie cycled 15 miles in total including the ride there and home, not bad for a 6 year old. Kofi is now pretty confident on the tagalong bike too. Chris and I also did a 63 mile training ride on Friday so it's been a bit of a biking weekend really, might give my bum the day off tomorrow!

Stripes is an Ironman!

Hot off the press, our friend Andrew Smith (commonly known as Stripes, don't ask me why) has just finished his first Ironman in Nice, France. He did a fantastic time of 13hrs 40mins. This race includes a seriously hard (like, proper mountainous) bike leg so a brilliant acheivement. Must have been those couple of training rides with me that did it (joking of course!).

Congratulations Stripey!

North Downs 30km (and a kidney stone)

Meanwhile, Indie had a lovely day together back in Kent on Saturday and then on Sunday, Paul and I headed to Gravesend to compete in the Norths Downs 30km tough, hilly, hot, cross country run (sound familiar?). We were using this race as Ironman training and I had persuaded Paul to enter at the last minute.

It was a stunnning course, very up and down, some of the downs so steep it was hard to actually run......poppy fields, woodland sections. It was also probably the best marshalled and signed race I have ever run, full credit to the organisers. It was tough but I enjoyed most of it despite the heat leaving me very thirsty almost the whole race. I was downing two cups of drink every feed station, which then sloshed around in my stomach up and down the hills!

I was pleased with my finish time and for the first time ever I was first Deal Tri lady back!

Paul 3hrs 3mins
Chantal 3hrs 13 mins

But the story doesn't quite end there......shortly after setting out back down the M2, Paul started complaining of back pain and within a few minutes was writhing in absolute agony. He then threw up all over the hard shoulder of the M2 and I began to realise he was proper poorly. Eventually after another puke stop, I got him to Canterbury hospital where they got some pain relief into him pretty quick. Poor bloke, he looked terrible and was in ALOT of pain. It could be the race had dislodged the kidney stone.....anyway, he spent the night in hospital but hopefully they'll get him sorted today. Bet he's glad I persuaded him to do that race......

South Downs Marathon 2008

Chris and Kofi headed for Hampshire on Friday to stay with Ron and Jean and for Chris to compete in the South Downs Marathon again on Saturday morning.

This very hilly cross country marathon takes runners across and along the south downs from Arundel back to Petersfield. A pretty tough race by all accounts especially as it was also hot and sunny this year. Chris did really well for the second year in a row and came in at 3hrs 58mins.