David Shoulder - Isle of Wight: October 2017

I am in blogging mode today - tying up loose ends.

Over the last few months I have written blogs about my sail training with Clipper (Round the World). In March 2018 I join Clipper yacht Dare to Lead at Qingdao (east coast of China) to sail across the North Pacific to Seattle USA as part of the race crew. Dare to Lead is one of 12 70' Clipper Yachts racing around the world. The overall race is divided into 8 race legs and started in August from Liverpool. Leg 1 was to Uruguay. Leg 2 is nearing completion at Cape Town. Next leg - Leg 3 will be across the Southern Ocean to Australia etc. The leg I am on is Leg 6.

While my training has been comprehensive I felt I would benefit from some more experience before tackling the mighty Pacific. With this in mind I have signed up as one of 12 crew with the Tall Ships Trust sailing a 72' Challenger Yacht (very similar to Dare to Lead) from Gosport to Gran Canaria. We leave next week and 16 days have been allotted. The actual sailing is very unlikely to take 16 days but the timetable allows flexibility to find a suitable weather window to cross the formidable Bay of Biscay.

I am hoping the voyage will allow me to test my gear, practice my sailing skills (or otherwise) and deal with the inevitable sea sickness challenge. It should be good fun - but a serious off shore sailing challenge - especially at this time of year.

My intention is to keep a log - which will eventually be the basis for a blog - but that will not be posted for a few weeks I wouldn't think.

Here is a link to the Tall Ships web site. http://tallships.org/sail-with-us/ When I have the detail I will post the boat number etc that will allow you to track my boats progress in live time if you are interested.

When I get to Grand Canaria I will be meeting up with son James and brother Mike for a few days of R & R - all-inclusive pool side sun. A big smile! xx

One of 4 Tall Ships Challenger Yachts - which I understand were formerly BT Challenge Yachts used by Chay Blyth

Apology. This is a rather self indulgent blog from a proud dad.

At the weekend my four offspring and myself completed the Exeter Great West Run - a half marathon. It is most likely this was a one off occasion. It was special for me/us to do this full on event with all my 4 kids (sorry I still use this term) in as much as it was my daughter Victoria's first major organised run and probably the last I shall attempt myself.

Here is a bit of background on the fam :

Victoria is 36 - a wife and busy mother of two fantastic little girls. Professionally she is a nurse - a Ward Sister. Vic has ulcerative colitis and has to have periodic suppressant infusions but she gets on with it uncomplaining. Until about the last 12 months Vic had done no running at all but started partly motivated by efforts to improve her own general well being, partly by her brothers running achievements and to some extent my efforts but mainly because she wants to be a role model mother for her girls. She is tough, feisty and focused when she needs to be - (that is especially evident after Sunday's run!).

George is 35. While running is not his particular passion - (squash is) - he is very fit and super determined. Phlegmatic defines him. He runs regularly but not organised runs as a club runner. He has run a marathon in under 2 hours 57.

James - George's twin has got into running only in the last few years. He loves it now and is a member of the Isle of Wight Road Runners. James has achieved masses since he started running and continues to do so. His marathon PB is 4 hrs 8. See James Shoulder Brighton Marathon 2016 through the link below.

http://davidshoulder60onwards.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/brightonmarathon2016-james-shoulders.html

Rich is the youngest sprog at 23 but the tallest and my stocky build. Rich is in good shape despite the excesses of student life. He has plenty on his plate at the moment - just a few months off his final medical exams. He has run a 4 hour marathon. His training is understandably hit and miss but the benefits of youth, quiet dogged determination and common sense always sets him up well.

And then there is me. In April I did the Paris Marathon - to be my one and only marathon - a monkey off my back. I ran every yard albeit in a very slow time. That was enough - certainly enough for my knees. My subsequent plan was to play squash and do the odd 10k run to provide the vital challenge we all need in some form to keep the soul spirit topped up.

However Victoria and George came to Paris to support me as back up crew and in the euphoria afterwards we talked about doing a Half Marathon together as a special thing to do as a family. It gave Vicky six months to step up her mileage and only 6 months for me to hang on before hanging up my long distance shoes.

So that is what we did. We chose the Exeter Half Marathon because that is where Vic lives and because it is where I was born and brought up. There are strong ties and in many ways our home town.

The Exeter Great West Run is a big and well established Half Marathon - about 3000 runners I think. It is NOT a flat course. It also has a stretch of about 2 miles out on one side of the road and the same coming back the other side. This is psychologically challenging. (It has the benefit or disadvantage of being able to watch the faster return runners.)

Of course within the family there was quite a lot of banter about the likely outcome of the run. We all had our pressures in various ways. It was taken for granted George would be the first of us home and in a terrific time. He was - but George we know how much effort you put in and how hard you drive yourself. A fantastic effort as you are not even in run training mode especially. George finished in about 1.27. Then James and Rich. We pulled their legs about who would be first back as James is now the club runner - the "professional" runner in the fam. As it turned out James over took Rich a few hundred yards from the finish. A great effort Jimbo! Rich was tired - true - but he was happy to be passed by James. (as it turned out Rich was few seconds faster on the chip time - so to the next time boys!) They finished in 1.46 I think.

Then Victoria. What a star too. From a standing start less than a year ago not to mention her UC - Vicky has really surprised us with her running. Recently she has been doing long distances at 9 minute miles. We kept telling her that finishing her first half marathon would be a great achievement but she started to feel the time was important too. She started to think a half marathon in under 2 hours was possible. Understandably Vick was a bit anxious at the start - I guess all runners are to some extent. (we had decided not to run together but do our own thing and meet at the finish). As is so easy to do in the euphoria Vic started faster than normal - running 8 1/2 minute miles or less but amazingly kept it going. Her 11 mile time was her fastest - which is unbelievable. Apparently Vic feinted within a mile or so of the finish. She was prone for 15 minutes and vomited. I am not sure how it happened but husband Phil and cousin Sammy (a nurse) and her husband Mat - (an experienced runner) - got to her. They diagnosed blood sugar levels - something that can happen to long distance runners who push their bodies so hard. She was given some Lucozade and that turned out to be a magic potion. Vic wanted to finish and Phil and Mat supported her initially. Amazingly she got back to running and finished strongly - punching the air and smiling broadly. Wow what a woman - determined and brave and tough and still finished well in front of her old dad!

As for old dad - once again I ran every yard - but I was never comfortable and found it very tough. My 6 year old granddaughter Annabelle summed it up well when I heard her shout as I approached the finish - "come on granddad" in a tone of get a move on ! For some reason I felt more drained at the end than I did in my April marathon - but it is done now and all the fam where there at the finish and we were all safe.

So we ran a half marathon together. It was memorable for many reasons. I certainly will remember the feeling I had as I ran out on the narrow country road towards Stoke Cannon searching anxiously to see my "children" running back down the other side. I shouted out their name to each of them as they went back towards Exeter. First George - determined and motoring and working very hard - then Rich going well - listening to music and in the zone - followed by James about 150 yards behind and chugging along with his short fast steps looking very purposeful. Finally I see Vic - going well - a big smile - she is enjoying it - really fantastic and amazing to see.

At the finish there is a lot of hugging. Vic is ok - thank goodness I was not around when she keeled over. I did see a couple of runners prone and being attended to - one with oxygen. It is horrible to see it happening to anyone but I will admit to relief when I realise it is not one of mine.

We eventually get to the pub. We are all weary but all quietly sated and satisfied. This is what makes running so great. There is nothing like a long distance run to get you to the core of yourself. You have tested yourself. You know what you have done and the effort it took. Times do matter but fundamentally as long as you are satisfied with what you have put in - it is all that really matters. There is also the fantastic tiredness and achiness you experience - even pain - to be worn and felt like a badge of honour. Mad isn't it - but addictive!

So there we are. I have 4 wonderful offspring - with real spirit and determination. We have all run a half together. I take huge pleasure and satisfaction from that - a very warm and lovely feeling. (which mum would have massively felt too). I am sure there will be other occasions when the four of them will run together again - maybe a marathon even. That will be great to see - and alas why it would be easy to say "I will do it too" it would probably be sensible not too! We will see - ha!

Ps Thank you to Phil and Laura for all their fantastic support and help. Laura when you are back to your best we look forward to cheering you on with your running. I was stunned to understand your half marathon PB would have put you first lady back. Amazing.