Tom's big fitness plan...

In an effort to remain reasonably healthy and maintain a modicum of fitness, trainers have been loaded and we plan to intersperse the driving with bouts of 'jogging'. On Sunday 9th May 2010 the Bristol 10K Race takes place. We're gonna be well up the PAH by then (sorry, Pan American Highway; there are some army traits that are just too hard to shake), however the guys at my church back in Bristol (Christchurch) have joined forces with other churches (notably Woodlands, who started it all) and our friends, work-colleagues, the wider community etc. to do something a bit special... From their Facebook group:

'It’s not often you get to do something where everyone benefits, but what makes Love Running so special is the unique combination of health and fitness, social action and community engagement. Not to mention the fun of having a go with loads of other people, and the big party at the end of it. The plan is to create one of the largest sporting event mass-entries of all time in a UK road race; five hundred people entering the Bristol 10k while raising money for some incredible causes and getting involved in some community action. For more info check out www.loverunning.org or watch the video of last year's event.'

On the same day we're going to be donning the red 'Love Running' tee-shirts and doing 10K in support, wherever we find ourselves (I think we'll probably be somewhere like Colombia or Panama by then). We'll post a video of our efforts so you can see me looking somewhat sweaty, Phil looking nonchalant and Tim looking like he's in a state of exhausted delirium...

Help for Heroes

http://www.justgiving.com/This-Road

It's for charidee mate.

We are sailing, we are sailing (etc)

Expectations are now running high in the ThisRoad camp – we’ve managed to fix Barry (big thanks to Mike, Malcolm and the chaps at Harding Auto Services – Mike, I want discount for the free plug!) and on Tuesday completed the trip to Felixstowe. Has anyone else been to Felixstowe? Why is it that for an island nation we are positively rubbish at creating seaside towns of any merit or redeeming features? Who actually frequents amusement arcades?? I cannot begin to fathom how there can be anything approaching ‘amusing’ in such establishments. Anyhoo, she was squeezed (just) into a 20-foot ISO container and on Saturday departed on some massive ship for Buenos Aires, due to arrive on Tue 16 Feb. Fingers crossed she will emerge in one piece! Managed to attach a couple of surfboards too (purely, in my case, for the image). Due to the radiator ‘issue’ we’ve delayed our flights (although Tim was slightly upset by this as he wanted to put in a good 3 weeks before Barry’s arrival pesting the local girls in BA...) so our D-Day is now Wed 10 Feb – sweet!

PS – As I’m getting slightly board of having to explain (often to blank and/or slightly unimpressed looking faces) why we’ve named our beloved Landcruiser ‘Barry’ when she is clearly a ‘she’ (certainly don’t wish to be seen driving round in a ‘he’; that just isn’t cricket), can we have suggestions for a suitable alternative name?? Answers on a postcard to the usual address. Thanks!

Slight Hiccup...