It Stung A Bit

The concept was to run 7 marathons in 7 days in a Morphsuit in various locations across the country.

The opportunity was born out of an enforced time advantage after I was made redundant.

The aim was to raise some money for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

The hope was to hit £2000.

The preparation was 20 days.

The vision was of tough days but that tough can always be pushed through.

The reality? Well the reality was an awesome week of peoples kindness of heart, generosity of spirit and iron will to help make a difference.

I was going to blog about each marathon. How day one went surprisingly well and how much I enjoyed popping Bear's stand alone marathon cherry on the harsh exposed concrete surrounds of the Humber Bridge, meeting new people and my very own HOTH.

The joy I felt on the morning of day two when my legs could support my weight when I got out of bed and even propel me in a forward motion. The slightly overwhelming feeling of running with proper actual runners, 1500+ runstreaker, top drawer Ironman lady folk and being supported by a mate who was determined to ride as much of it with me as he could and who's little girl, Moo, supported me in the rain at Outlaw helping us raise money while she battles a brain tumour herself!

There were the contrasting emotions of day three with an ace start with my Mich before she went to work and Bob who worked in the first 11 miles around his 'working from home' schedule to the loneliness and miserable self absorbed whingyness of running the next 11 miles of my home town marathon on my own as pains and niggles are magnified by a wondering mind to the positive ending with Bob returning after finally winning a 7 mile game of hide and seek to cycle alongside me for the last few miles.

The generosity of spirit from strangers running with me on The Wirral and the cleaner who let me have a pre run poo, the sheer stubborn strength of Adrian O'Brien to get me round, the background social media and radio campaign and the bloody big cuppa at the end. The will to battle the elements and the increasing lack of co-operation in the knee department. Celebrity stalkers too.

I was gonna blog about how it all nearly ended 7/8 miles in on day five in Bath. How my support kept me going when given the option of bailing or carrying on with what would be a very long day they gave me the look that said 'we're in it for the long haul' and, with 18 miles to go on a non working knee, we decided 'no one gets anywhere in life by being a [inaudible] ' - may have involved a swear - almost certainly involved the most obscene of profanities. I could tell you about the Pranic Healing that might have saved the day ( I don't believe it did but it could have ).

The awesomeness of day six around the canals of Birmingham is probably simply beyond words. The running, the company, the surprise, the jumps, the scares, the drunks, the weather, the banter and more surprises made for an exceptional day that 24 hrs earlier looked like would never happen.

Of course because day six did happen it meant that day seven was gonna happen no matter what. I could tell you about the emotion of taking it back to my school days in an attempt to capture a slither of days gone by that will always be beyond me, the failed plan to run with the masses, the Morph shuffle which saw me through the last 22 miles or so and the sheer love, patience and support of those that got me round, that got me through. No one believes me when I deflect praise or more accurately accept it on behalf of everyone else, but it cannot be overstated just how much of the challenge is done by the team around me. We can all run 7 marathons in 7 days, our bodies are capable of it, but the mind will be beaten into submission in the absence of the strength of those around us.

Instead of blogging it all, whittling on about the pains, the 20 days of training, the excruciating constant pains, the awesome support, Norseman, alcohol recovery the poor nutrition, inspiration, the text support, the tiredness, the claustrophobia, the bloody Morphsuits, the lenses, the eye, the ongoing pain, disrupted sleep, tiredness, pain, Batmans house, smelly WPC, burgers, bepanthan, chaffing, disappearing fluids, discomfort and pain, disruptive interviews, builders tea, prostate ops, Poppyfields, radio interviews, Whittington Barracks, the emotion, the ace phone calls, quiet Whittington, daughters daily texts and sons casual nightly enquiry 'how was today's marathon dad?',  job panic, kindness, celebs, pride, massage recovery, fear, loss, mourning, joy and freedom, instead I will leave you with the pics and the clips which say it so much better than I can.

Finally, I would like to thank you all, a most sincere thank you for all of you that made this challenge possible and raised over £5,000 for Birmingham Children's Hospital and their research and treatment of child brain tumours.

Just in case you want to sponsor just pop to www.justgiving.com/marathonmorphtour or text 'MORF77 £10' to 70070.

Credits:
Hull Crew: Bear, Neil, Andy, Ed & Rachel

Nearly done just gotta hit the post 2 more times.

Done!

Nottingham Crew: Kelli, Jane, Mike, Lee Ian, Alex, Wayne, Kelli's mate

Tamworth Crew: Mich & Bob

Wirral Crew: Tracey, Ultan, Adrian, Boardman, City Radio, Jayne, Dave, Sallie

Finished!

Bath Crew: Hutch, Uncle Peter, Jono, Ewen, Tracey, Mark, Radio WM, Bob, Maria, Kelli

This clip is the closest I came to giving up!

Of course we didn't give up.

Brum Crew: Neil, Dave, Jayne, Steve, Stu, Chantel, David, Billy, Erin, Mich, Ken, Nick, Georgina, Ellie, George, Lisa, Poppy, Lily, Ella, Dom

Lichfield Crew: Mich, Neil, Alison, Clive, Georgina, Nick, Dutchy, Veronica, Jay, Karen, Richard, Lisa, Torrance, Gary, Kerry, Dean, Dave, Ellie, George, Lexi, Kirsten

The Finish and in my head I was running!

Sports Massage Therapists: Vanessa, Geraldine
Team Bear, PFI, Outlaw, Equinox

Next day stairs

Thank you Mich for the strength, love, patience and unwavering belief.

Marathon Morph Tour

1 Morph 7 Marathons 7 Days

April 25th Humber Bridge Hull
April 26th Nottingham
April 27th Tamworth
April 28th Birkenhead
April 29th Bath
April 30th Birmingham Canals
May 1st Lichfield

They will all start about 6.30 - 7.30 am.

If anyone fancies a few miles with a Morph that would be ace!

If you want to support the effort which is for Birmingham Children's Hospital research and treatment of child brain tumours go to www.justgiving.com/marathonmorphtour

or text MORF77 £10 to 70070

Thank you.

The Devil makes work for idle hands

Of course he does! So what's going to happen to me while out of work? Obviously I am applying for jobs, I'm networking, I'm speaking to people I think I need to speak to and I am exploring a whole host of new opportunities. I am trying to become a better man and make a difference.
That aside there are certain other opportunities to be seized. One of those opportunities is time. Time to spend with my family while they are off school during Easter. Time to relax. To recharge. Of course once relaxed and while recharging the mind can start to wonder. Ideas that were previously time restricted are given a fresh lease of life.
I've always fancied a multi marathon challenge like the Brathay 10in10 or similar. The problem in taking on a challenge like this (other than the fact I don't think I can do it) is time off work for the event itself and time to prepare to be able to do it. I've always thought a good 6 months of run training would be a minimum requirement. Over the last 6 months I've cycled a lot but done very little running. In March I have run about 10 short runs with a 6 miler and a 10 miler thrown in. I am far from marathon fit let alone multi day run fit.

I have a small (hopefully) window of opportunity whilst I am without employment but I won't have any real preparation time. Of course we see the likes of Eddie Izzard smashing 27 marathons with very little preparation and prior to that his 40 odd marathons in 50 odd days.
So, sensibly in my opinion, I ran a challenge by a few mates and none of them warned me off. They are the type though that eat challenges for breakfast. Probably not the best people to give me a sensible opinion. I'm particularly keen to take advantage of this opportunity because I don't think it is possible for me, based on my current run fitness, to do it.
As a nod to Eddie Izzard (a small nod in comparison) I will attempt 7 marathons in 7 days from Monday April 25 - Sunday May 1st. 7 different runs of 26.2 miles ending at the Lichfield Half Marathon which I will do twice for that days marathon. The Morph will return for this challenge so its a Morph Marathon Tour. I've not sorted the exact logistics but each marathon will have an early start and anyone who wants to run a mile or two with me at any stage will be more than welcome. If anyone wants to cycle alongside and carry some water or meet along the route that would be great too. In fact with pals scattered across the country I would like to get to run with as many of you as possible whether it's for a mile or 26.2!

I'm thinking the tour could start local with a canal run in or around Birmingham. I want to run along The Wirral Way. The Brutal marathon course around Snowdon has been suggested as has Devizes to Bath. I'd love to run the HOTH route for 26.2 miles and I fancy the Peak District perhaps the High Peaks Trail. I will then finish in Lichfield running with Mich.
I will be raising money for Birmingham Children's Hospital and their research and treatment of child brain tumours. I would love as many of my running/triathlon/normal pals to run a bit with me and help raise as much awareness and money as possible. What do you reckon? Morph Marathon Tour - who's in?

New Job Please!

As of the 24th March I will be available for new opportunities. I can run a fast track personal injury case load standing on my head but with 25yrs of my working life to to look forward to I'm ready for something new. I want to go to work with a spring in my step and proudly tell everyone what I do for a living. I want to make a difference.

My experience is in personal injury claims and insurance but that only tells half the story. I am driven, determined and focused. I achieve goals and I smash my limits. I break myself to fundraise by running for 24hrs in a Morphsuit or completing an iron distance triathlon on a kids BMX. I can bring together and coordinate 150 strangers to exercise around the world and inspire people to exercise everyday.

The new opportunity could be in a charity, in events, in media, sports, sales, marketing or any combination of the above. I'm worth a chat. I can make a difference.

PACT 2016

2016 Challenge to raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital and their research and treatment of Child Brain Tumours (the most common form of childhood cancer). They don't only help the kids of Birmingham. Their work benefits kids nationwide!

Our Aim
500 Poppyfielders
£5000
500,000 miles

A simple, straight forward race to 500,000 miles! All we have to do is exercise everyday in 2016 and log our exercise miles. If we miss a day we pay a £1 fine to the cause (max £10 per month). Who's with me?

You define your exercise so it can be a 5 mile run or a 1 mile shuffle. It can be 10 press ups or a 2 hour weights session in the gym. It can be a Zumba marathon or a 20 mins yoga class. 30 mins on the exercise bike or 2 hours on the road in the rain! Its your challenge and your exercise so don't fret that you've got to break yourself everyday. Rest days are important and its easy to exercise on a rest day too.

The aim is for us all to improve our health and fitness and raise money to help improve the lives of others less fortunate than ourselves.
If you want to register and do nothing but pay a tenner a month then that's fine with me. Anyone can join at anytime so spread the word.
It is this simple:-
1. Pay a £5 registration fee at www.justgiving.com/PACT2016 or simply text PACT57 £5 to 70070. It's easier for us if you tick gift aid and tell us who you are in the message!
2. Exercise everyday in 2016 and pay a £1 charity fine for each day you miss (up to a maximum monthly fine of £10). Pay on the above link in a monthly lump sum or text PACT57 £1 to 70070.
3. Rope in as many of your mates, colleagues, clubmates, family to join the challenge.
4. Log your exercise miles from 1st Jan 2016 (details of how will be confirmed before 1st).

All donations go straight to Birmingham Children's Hospital via Justgiving. Justgiving take a nominal percentage of online donations for providing their services however if you donate by text the full amount goes to the charity. This challenge is based on your circumstances and is judged by your honesty. It is your challenge! We will do our best to support, cajole, encourage and assist but if we are going wrong anywhere or something isn't working right or needs a tweak just let me know either on the FB group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/609304449197838/ ) or on twitter @sidowski

Good luck with your miles and thank you sincerely for helping kids fight brain tumours, We know the difference you make!

Warning: Participating in this challenge will make you more awesome than you already are, it will give you a sense of achievement and pride, a warm toasty satisfaction that comes with making a difference.

Equinox Morph 2015

This is truly difficult to put into words although I will probably now ramble on and add quite a few. The essence of the event is a conglomerate of awesome kindness. If you took the 1300/1400 people involved in the event overall and asked them to run the country this nation would be filled with people holding doors open for others, allowing motorists to pull out in traffic, saying thank you and please, helping someone carry something heavy, treating everyone else with respect, saying good morning to each other and dishing out manhugs like sweets! I've said before that every 18-21 year old should be made to train for and complete an iron distance triathlon. As an alternative I would allow them to opt for Equinox as a solo. The amount you learn about yourself and others in the 24 hrs cannot be taught in any other arena. 

The stuff you witness and experience in the 24 hours is a world away from the daily shitty mind numbing grind that comes with being trapped in a job you hate, in a shit industry, where everyone is clambering over each other, its a world away from the motorist trying to kill you because he perceives his inability to overtake you on your bike as your fault and is prepared to end your life in momentary rage, its a world away from worry and stress and finances and sickness and illness!

Ironically being a solo is truly selfish. Concentrate on No 1 and just try to keep going is the key. The challenge for me is to see what I can do in 24 hours after last year slacking and stopping at about 10:30am. The will wasn't there to do just one more lap. This year I would crack on until the end.

Now, I am lucky, very lucky! I have a quite unbelievably awesome wife, Michelle, two cracking kids in Ellie and G Man and an extended family of Poppyfielders just about wherever I go. At Eqiunox Michelle, G Man and myself pitched the Team Poppyfields base on the back straight of the field on the Friday night. Soaked up some atmosphere while England knocked off Fiji and did a bit of mingling. I met some Outlaw pals including Dutchy who kindly said hello with a shoulder massage! His wife and kids looked set for some serious supporting and marshalling. I said hello to Glenn who I need to thank for most of the pics on here www.curleyphotography.co.uk , Johnny and Laura who seemed remarkably chilled, Stewart Sale gearing up for some 'shot laps' in a relay team, Sarah who had won the Beer mile run, Lozza who was really looking forward to going solo for the first time and Kate who was back to defend her title. You wouldn't guess from the relaxed atmosphere that everyone was preparing for a 24 hour running race! After getting a snack (most fantastic burger ever from the exceptional Pop up Cafe) we ambled back to get some sleep. G Man asking on the way if I was famous because "everyone knows you are Sid".

After a night of extreme discomfort, lack of sleep, cold, howling dogs, singing sheep and crowing cockerels (do cockerels crow?) I was up at about 8.30am to a gorgeously sunny day. The next  few hours raced by as I pitched my solo tent, got my kit ready and looked after No 1. A kind solo let me use his car for my annual '90 mins 9 pairs of contact lenses' Morph vision prep and the rest of the time was spent meeting up with lovely kind people. Matt and Emma with the Pirate clan, Lena and Billy, Andy and his team pitched next to Team Poppyfields and just loads of well wishers for the 24 hours ahead as well as congratulations for the Outlaw BMX effort!

I tried (twice) for a lucky pre race poo. Body wasn't interested and once the Morphsuit was on I wasn't intending to go again for 24 hours! We listened to the briefing but really everyone by then just wanted to get cracking. Mich was taking the first lap for Team Poppyfields. She gave me the 'you've got this' hug and kiss and we were ready. Just before getting to the start a couple approached and asked if I was the BMX Bandit from Outlaw. I said I was and they asked if their lad could have his pic taken with me. The lad was wearing his 'Future Outlaw' T Shirt and had waited out in the rain to make sure I got the BMX back to t2 in time at Outlaw. What an ace lad! Of course I couldn't refuse.

I met Kaine and Bear in the starting pen and a few others. I moved towards the back with the intention of running 12 mins/mile. Took a moment to appreciate the fact it was 20 plus degrees under a scorching sun and I was in a Black Tuxedo Morphsuit!! Then we were off.

The run itself is a repeated 10.125km lap and it went a bit like this:-

Lap 1 - A steady pleasant plod round with Solo 59 Wolvo Paediatric medical man discussing all things Poppyfields and Childrens Hospitals!

Lap 2 - Somewhat more of a struggle as it became apparent early on that not only was it ridiculously hot but the new Morphsuit was acting as a cheese grater on the hairs on my chin!

Lap 3 - Was more of a struggle as the lack of running preparation became apparent and all of it became difficult.

Lap 4 & 5 however were positively lovely. Not sure why or what was different but I felt strong.

Lap 6 - Revealed to me that 4 & 5 were just toying with me as 6 was easily the most miserable lap of the day. Nothing was right. Stuff was hurting and mentally I was almost resigned to calling it a day. Indeed as I finished lap 6 my intention was to bail!

Lap 7 - The problem with bailing is that there are too many people willing you on and there is always someone to hold your hand. For me it was, as ever, Mich. She had sat me down and fed me a burger at the end of 6. She was very matter of fact that I would continue and she would walk 7 with me while the burger went down! We did and it was probably my favourite lap. 

Lap 8 - Was much better. Slow run/walk but I felt better despite my ass hairs doing their best to grate my inner cheeks!

Lap 9 - I have no idea but I think Mich joined me.

Lap 10 - No recollection at all which is odd as 10 was where I gave up last year so it was quite a milestone.

Lap 11 - Was a good one with Mich and Flamingo lady. The chatter being a great distraction. I ummed and arred throughout as to whether to do a 12th! I finished 11 at 11:20am. Johnny offered another lap...I accepted!

Lap 12 - Mich had rubbed my legs and set me up to go out on lap 12. She went off to wait for a team member to return so she could hopefully do a last lap herself. I marched (wobbled) on. It soon became clear that lap 12 wasn't gonna happen at least not on my own. As I rounded the first field I was all over the place. Very weak and uncoordinated. I had stopped for a breather and unzipped the hood of the morphsuit just after 1km. I had stopped. Truly wondering if I could do 12! I tried to pull myself together. A team caught me up and one of them offered to re zip me as I was clearly struggling. I got chatting to the guys telling them why I was suffering in a Morphsuit and I started to walk. The distances started to tick down as we passed 2km then 3km. We walked the hill reasonably well and from the top you know the back of the lap is broken with less than 5km left to go. Mich and Ken breezed by on their last lap ignoring my pleas to stay with me. (They marched on to be at the finish when I got there!) I was overtaken by 'Scottish Lady' who I had seen throughout ploughing on lap after lap. We chatted briefly as we tackled 'That Hill' for the last time. She was on her 18th and about to win with a new course female record! My adopted team saw me into the finish straight. The last competitor out there. Ellie and G Man ran me in as I carried the Team Bear flag with the motto 'Suffer but NEVER surrender'. Somewhat apt considering! As I approached the line the reception was truly outstanding. A humbling experience that I will enjoy for a long time. I applauded everyone as I finished as without all of them I wouldn't have got much further than lap 2!

What is missing from this recap is the massive impact everyone had on my 12 laps. I've name checked a few but that doesn't even scratch the surface of the help I received. Everyone who walked with me, ran with me, laughed at me, pointed at me, cheered me on, slapped me on the back, hi-fived me were equally instrumental in my effort. Mike Wells dropped in to support on each day and ran with me, Johnny walked me round the field from the crossroads at the end of a night lap, Shabba's let me warm up at their fire every lap as did 'solo support lady' just up from the finish and the group of blokes across the top by the field entrance, Cara and David (pairs) checked on me each time I passed & Kaine each time he ran by, Ade walked a couple of sections with me, the original Morphman Phillip Box gave me a nudge every time he went by, Suz and Tan took it in turn to do sections with me and Billy was both the provider of support at the top of the field and the deliverer of bad news when telling me how the Villa had got on, Cooker and the Alvechurch support crew kids were a constant highlight as was the varying levels of abusive shouts from Kate as she chased her way through the leader board, Wilko was his usual irritating tree hiding self and if the truth be told I preferred Barrister dancing with Mrs Wilk anyway, rapid Scottish guy delivered a good luck message from Colin Thompson at home in Aberdeed, Duane Roberts' words of encouragement despite him being gutted to have to pull out with a calf tear, Lena was a complete inspiration with a show of strength and determination I can only marvel at, every marshall was ace, Dutchy could manhug a grizzly, Disco Dave could Disco all night, The Peaky Blinder had Haribos, Laura making sure I was ok at the end of each lap, The Pirates giving me a constant shout, '1st time Ruth' and Amanda SBR and even Mr 'I'm gonna run through you rather than go around' kept my mind off the grind for a km or two, the sound of the Team Bear cowbells was one of the loveliest sounds to hear on the way down from the water stations, they provide superb hugs and the Team Bear Hoodie saw me through the night without a hint of the temperature issues I suffered last year. 

Of course, the highlight and most heart warming moment of each lap was seeing Team Poppyfields. Last year they were in the middle of the field so I didn't get to see them very often and they missed out on supporting. They made up for it big style this year and it meant I got to see Mich and the kids at least once a lap. All three of them taking it in turns to race over from the Team to my solo base to sort me out with whatever I needed and to give the emotional boost that means so much!

If anyone is in any doubt about how appreciated they are please don't be. I cant find the words to express how important you all are and I know I will have missed people out. That's not deliberate nor out of ignorance but just because my head is still spinning from the overwhelming kindness everyone showed towards me.

It is odd that we are called solo's as the team behind this solo makes us a very large team! I said to Johnny that whatever 'it' is that he and Laura do, whether by design or accident, however big this event gets, can they please keep doing 'it' because if they can keep hold of the atmosphere or the Soul of this event (as Lozza blogged it) it will remain the special event it has become.

A brief mention for some absentees. Chris Bennett who helped me so much last year was taking on the Brutal Ironman in Snowdon and by all accounts he smashed it. Particularly on my mind throughout and a great help in shutting up the legs was Doddi and JP tackling the Triple Brutal Ironman. 60 odd hours of intense brutality. When it began to sting at Equinox I only had to think of what they were up too!

All this nonsense in a Morphsuit is for Birmingham Children's Hospital and their treatment and research into child brain tumours. The most common form of childhood cancer. Without BCH Poppy wouldn't have been there this weekend to do a lap of her own. The true focus should be on the cause, the kids, the fundraising, the awareness. Don't look to me as a hero or legend or whatever other wonderful superlative you laid at my door. I am just an idiot seeking redemption. a menagerie of mistakes trying to atone. The true Heroes are the kids looking up and the adults holding up. True Heroes are all of you that have helped make a difference! 

I have asked a lot of family and friends of late and put immense pressure on Mich and the kids. Despite this and in amongst the turmoil of life Mich remains my one true constant, the true strength behind the idiot in the Morphsuit!

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Pre Event Morph plea

Morph on the course

The morning after