Well then ladies and gents, it seems that if I'm going to do all this self punishment then I may as well raise some money for a couple of causes close to our hearts. I have decided that I will do both the Double marathon in April and this years Double Iron in aid of SSAFA and Help for Heroes. I don't do much of this charity raising stuff normally but it's a shame to put all the effort into the training and races without helping these really worthwhile charities.

So, if you fancy giving a couple of quid to keep me grinding myself into the floor then visit either of these 2 sites, donate the cost of a pint (also dear to my heart) and leave a comment too!

Cheers

www.bmycharity.com/PhilMcNeill

www.bmycharity.com/philmcneillSSAFA

Just a quick update on the Double Marathon. After Ambition events cancelled the Stratford Night/Day Marathon on the week of the race (race refund promised?!?) I was backed into a corner. Advised by friends and family to pick a marathon later in the year, I refused to let it lie. After visiting the good running guide website, I measured out out my own half marathon route around trail paths of Coventry and went for it anyway. Ably supported by my best mate, I followed the same rules as the original race format and completed both marathons in respective times of 5 hours 43mins and 5 hours 43 mins. More by luck than timing. As it was virtually all off road including some hairy moments with a head torch, mud and the edge of a canal, I was very very tired at the end of it all. No t-shirt, no medal, no logos but an immense feeling of achievement and satisfaction. Feeling like I could go sub 30 hours this year at the Double.

Oh yeah, I've already entered the Triple for next year.

So you'll deffo be doing my C2C then as a warm up training session next year?!

Well done on the double, that's the really hardcore way to do it!

Well that was fun. Not. God knows why I do these events really. Finished this years Double in 34:20:57 and to be honest by the end I was toast. Ant Downing did a superb 30:18:48 which was made possible by a suberb 10:19:19 double marathon. He was still running when I was struggling to get even a shuffle going. Big respect to that young man from me, awesome effort fella especially after suffering from the cold on the bike.

The winner this year was Chris Holmes in 23:48:23! How obscene is that? Great racing from him. As last year a brilliant event where every athlete was made to feel that the race was for them. I will be putting together a report as soon as I can muster the energy.......................

Phil your my hero!

Well done Phil and Ant; awesome achievement in atrocious weather.

Phil, I don't think Nick Holmes will be too happy that you gave the race win to his brother ;) and I don't know why you put yourself through these events either; looking forward to the triple next year? Alss, Monique is looking for participants for the Quin if you're interested (the endura guys said it might be cancelled due to lack of competitors)

Having supported at this event for the last 2 years I can confirm that I shall not be returning next year.

Yaarrggh!

Top effort Phil and Ant, respect

Thanks to Pirate Dave's updates I felt I travelled much of the journey with you, including through the night! Total respect to the pair of you. You made what was otherwise a very difficult weekend for me more bearable. Thanks.

Perhaps it's time to get those new knees Phil before you do anything as crazy again.

My challenge for 2010 is now set, I've entered the Ride Across Britain event for June

K

Well done Phil, a legendary effort catch up with you soon mate
regards
Breezy

A big thank you from me to everyone for your support - particularly Pirate Dave and Kelda - please pass on my thanks to all your fellow 'Pirates' too. It really, really was appreciated, although I may not have looked like it!! Also, an awesome effort and thanks to Phil - it was reading your race report in Oz whilst under the influence of post IMWA euphoria that made me enter,,.arghh!!! Doing it once is forgivable, but going back for more is properly hard....
Right, I'm off now to eat, sleep and do absolutely no training whatsoever
Cheers,
Ant