So having had a very busy last few weeks, I had a very relaxing week off work last week. I feel so much fresher for it!
I would probably write a 50,000 word essay if I went through everything that has happened in the last few weeks so instead I’m going to do a bit of a photo blog with a few comments instead, so enjoy!
So this month saw another run out at Kingsholm and another battering! But it was a fun day and again loved every minute of having a run out at Kingsholm.
The season then ended with TOURQUAY 2013 and what a tour it was. No your eyes are not playing tricks on you that really is me at 10. The game was one of the most fun games i’ve been part of and it was a great way to close out the season with the lads.
So this week off i’ve finally got back out on the bike and clocked up some decent miles- 160 of them to be precise. Its been awesome to find time to get out on the bike and I’m looking forward to many more of them in the coming months. Starting from tomorrow, i’m aiming to commute to work at least 3-4 times a week, so it means an early start but hopefully a big kick up the arse for my fitness!
I’ve also found some time to chill out with my lovely girlfriend Em, which has included an awesome day out at The Bird of Prey Centre in Newent!
So thats it in short form. I’ve got a lot coming up in the next few months; Em’s Birthday, Sevens, Dinner dance, Cycling and much much more. I’m feeling pretty good at the moment. Things seem tobe on track at the moment and hopefully that will continue.
Till next time, hope you are all well and catch you soon,
Cheers,
Russ
x
So I had an e-mail to inform me that two years ago today I set up my blog! Wow. That means two years ago is when I first toyed with the idea of doing something for charity.
Its flown by and a lot has changed in that time. I’m less of a fat bastard, I’ve cycled further than I can imaging, I’m captain of a rugby team, I got a job, lost it, got another one, moved to another city, made new friends, laughed, cried and pushed myself.
At the moment I’m going through a fairly tough time. I’ve kinda hit a rut, a big one and i’m trying to pull myself out of it. Its hard for me to admit that. After the bike ride, I promised that would be it, I’d move on to better things and things would change for the better. I forgot one important part of the process though; me.
I kinda just assumed that all of this would happen, that I could it back and watch thing change. So i’ve let the good work I put in, slide away and I feel back to square one. I’ve kind of seen this happen for a few months now, but not had the energy to tackle it. I can blame lots of factors; my job is tough at the moment, i am not getting my work/social life balance right, i am still getting used to captaining the rugby team, and many other factors, but it would all be smoke and mirrors, ultimately the buck stops with me.
Its time for that to change, take your pick from the following phrases but I need to man up, grow some balls, sort my shit out. etc etc. Whatever it has to be this time, that I finally sort it out, I keep saying, this will be the week where things change. And it never is. This time that vow has to be true.
So happy birthday blog, here’s to the memories and its time to make a few more.
“Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.”
That’s right today you get not one but two updates!
So at the weekend, we had a game of rugby. We were sloppy, we lack hunger, we lacked dog, belief and comittment. We lost. This lead to a weekend of me being grumpy and miserable. Why because I fucking hate losing. But most of all because I didn’t feel like I had given everything I could, I hadn’t put it all out there. So that game will forever as a what if? What if we had gone that little bit harder? what if I had ran that little bit faster? What if I had put more effort in to make that tackle? If there is one thing I hate more than losing its what ifs.
Now to loads of people this will seem an overreaction, its just a sport, a hobby. But its more than that to me. I captain the side because I love doing it, because I want to succedd. I take it as seriously as if I was captain of Gloucester. I love the lads I play rugby with and know we can be a bloody good side. So I expect us to put it in. As captain I didn’t and if I don’t how can I expect the lads too?
But this doesn’t have to be a bad thing, you remember the defeats more than the wins,the hurt is a positive. If you channel it, learn from your mistakes, right them and come out fighting a defeat is a good thing. And that’s what we are going to do.
We have 4 Games left this season. One against a team we didn’t perform against, another against our closest rivals and one against the team that is running away with our league and yet to lose. We are going to be tested. I love being tested; its what life is all about.
So I cannot wait to get training tonight put some of that pain behind me and get ready for the next game. Because the joy of sport is the next game always comes along and defeat soon becomes victory if you put the effort it.
So I’ve just had a long weekend off of work and its been much needed. It’s been pretty hardcore at work lately and its been kicking my arse!
It was nice to have some time with Em and yesterday we went over the bridge and had a day out in Wales. We ended up in Tintern, which some of you may remember was part of my route on LEJOG. It was great to share some of the memories with Em as we drove into the stunning Wye valley and took me back to the bike ride. Now i’ve had a bit of a tough time of it lately. I’ve been finding work has been kicking my as and leaving me feeling knackered and lacking motivation. And driving some of the route reminded me of somethings.
When I was on that bike, yes it was tough but I was out there trying and putting it in. At the moment I’m not doing that. I’ve not taken that accomplishment and moved on, not built on it. I keep talking about what i’m going to do but i’ve not yet got off my arse and done it. Yesterday was a timely reminder of what I can do when I get off my arse and put my mind to something. I know there were people who didn’t think I could do that bike ride, that I’d never cycle a 100 miles. But I did. I lost the weight, I got myself fit, I plugged away, because I believed. Its time to get that back.
So i’ve signed up for a bike ride again, i’ve got the cherrypickers game to look forward too. I’m going to start cycling to work, I’m going to attack work with new vigour, I’m going to get to where I want to be. Because I’m being optimistic and once again I believe, so don’t you dare tell me I can’t!
It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.
Muhammad Ali
Happy New Year!
So there goes another holiday period in a flash!
It was a much needed and welcomed relaxing break, and feel refreshed for it. I spent a large chuck of it in Dorset with Em and her family and it was great to get away and unwind.
I had some fab presents, a new iPod, an awesome t-shirt, Bicycle dreams and a number of other dvds. But the best present was Em buying a ton of parts for my bike and getting her brother to give it a much needed service. I’ve taken it out on a couple of test runs and it is like a new bike. Tom has done a great job on the service and I really appreciate Em getting it sorted.
So it’s a New Year and that brings about the excitement of what the year will bring. One of my main resolutions was to blog a bit more so here we go let’s see how long I can keep this up!
It’s a fairly busy start to the New Year for me. We are straight back into the rugby season and we have an exciting second half of the season with a chance to finish well. It is also the clubs first tour in years and I’m really looking forward to that.
In terms of fitness I’ve been getting to the gym a bit more frequently and hoping to keep that up going at least two or three times week. I’m also trying to eat a bit healthier and to cook fresh more and enjoying doing so.
I’ve done a couple of bike rides over the holidays and definitely got the taste back for it! I loved riding around Dorset and some of the hills. I am hoping to get out on the bike again at the weekend and keep clocking up some serious miles. I am currently working out the rides I want to do this year and in the process of organising some decent ones with some mates which is exciting.
The last but by no means least thing I need to organise this year is a holiday with Em. We’ve not been away together and its long overdue.
Well that’s it for now, hope you all had a great new year and looking forward to catching up with you all soon.
Cheers,
Russ
So 2012 will soon draw to a close. Its been a pretty awesome year and the new year has a lot to follow. But I will be trying to do just that.
As is customary for this time of year I need to set some goals I suppose. Some are personal and I won’t share them (yet) but they are there in the background.
1) Blog more
2) Get fitter: I am much fitter than I was, but i’d still like to drop another stone and get into the best shape i’ve been in.
3) Cycle as much as possible.
4) Do the Bath 100 and the tour of britain wales: both of these stages bested me last year they won’t this year.
5) Clock up over 10,000 miles on the bike.
And a few more will be added to this list. I may yet do another event for charity i am not sure.
Well I’m off to relax and get ready for a busy 2013, so whatever you are doing have a happy new year and see you on the other side!
I was cycling up a horrible hill the other day, and I hit breaking point. I’d go through all my gears, I was wobbling all over the road, I was blowing big time, like a trumpet solo, my leg ached, I didn’t have the energy to stand up and get the legs driving. I went round the bend to see the climb continued and my heart sank, then I saw it a drop in the curb.
