Week 46: Preparing for The Ride
26 Feb 2012
The raw food diet is still going strong, I'm still swallowing the supplements and today I felt well enough to tackle 20 miles on the bicycle in the steep hills of the Blackdowns (I climbed a total of over 2,000 feet which I thought was not bad...but of course freewheeled down the same amount!).
It was an amazingly sunny day, blue skies, windless, lambs in the field and snowdrops in the hedgerows. Spring seems to have arrived, albeit rather early. (The picture above is a bit of a cheat, as it as actually taken last April, but this really was how it looked today.)
Meanwhile I am excited about joining The Ride, a marathon bike event being organised to draw attention to the lack of good advice on nutrition and exercise for people with a cancer diagnosis. It's the brilliant idea of Reka Pataky, who herself has cancer.
As she explains on the website (please visit and leave messages of support) the main idea of the 1,000 mile bike ride - visiting Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Cardiff and London - is to have fun, to preserve the sanity of the riders who are also coping with cancer, and to show the world that you can live well with cancer as it is 'part of our lives not our whole life'. I love that philosophy.
The aim is also to highlight the need for services for people who have cancer but who want to keep active and make lifestyle changes to both maintain their quality of life and to aid recovery. This is exactly what I am trying to do, so I was delighted to be approached by Reka to take part. I have written before about how surprised I was that I was not given medical advice on diet and exercise, both of which seem to help a great deal.
I should add that I am not planning to do the whole 1,000 miles but will join them for the section that runs from the top to the bottom of Wales. Should be great fun and very beautiful (and I'm sure it won't rain in July, even in woolly Wales).
The Ride needs to attract wider awareness (and some sponsorship) so please do tell as many people as possible about it. I'll be writing more about it in due course.
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Annie Kirkness - 27 Feb 2012
Good luck!
What a wonderful idea Mike, so important to encourage people to take "ownership" and highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle and exercise in managing any disease process. Best part is that its something positive people can for themselves. Great cause - keep up the good work
John Izbicki - 27 Feb 2012
Your Bike Ride
Congratulations, Mike - and the very best of luck. I do so agree with you about the lack of medical advice regarding diet and exercise. Surely this merits a feature article which you are well qualified to write!
Very best wishes and kindest regards,
John
Neil Bennett - 08 Mar 2012
The Ride
This sounds like a really excellent idea, Mike. Happy to sponsor and support.Keep me posted
Best
Neil
Stephen Heppell - 15 Jul 2012
easy rider
Sounds like a great plan - and fun too...
...just a bit nervous about the whole "and I'm sure it won't rain in July" bit - although we have just completed a dry St Swithin's Day, so even this unlikely dry dream may yet be possible.
Looking forward to the feedback from the trip - and surely a yummy Welsh Cake or two won't entirely compromise the sound diet? OK, see what you mean. Well, just one then.