Good Evening from London - Gordon here!
It's 10pm and it's now 18 degrees C outside, somewhat cooler than Jamaica at the moment. Maybe I should cycle in all my winter gear tomorrow to get used to 38 degrees?
I love the way Al plays down all he does and is, can I briefly describe the weekend he spent in London.....
He had a meeting planned at Heathrow on Friday morning, however, due to flight problems he arrived at Gatwick instead. The meeting takes place, he then heads into "7HQ", Diageo's office in Park Royal, London where he has various other meetings and grabs a session in the gym, he then heads back to South West London where I live, after a quick hello to my family he and I then head to The Stoop, home of Harlequins Rugby Team where we watch the J P Morgan Premiership 7s Tournament whilst enjoying several pints of Guinness. We get home at about 11pm and Al has a bowl of cereal as he's not eaten since lunchtime.
At 4:15am he is downstairs putting his cycling shoes on, he grabs my bike and heads up to Richmond Park, a beautiful Royal Park that has a road round the edge of it that is 6.8 miles (10.8km) and he proceeds to do 50 miles - about 8 laps! It was about 13 degrees C - by his standards FREEZING!
After a quick shower back at ours he heads off to see Wanis, a company based completely on the opposite side of London from where I live.
At 4pm he arrives back at our house and he and I jump on the bikes and head down to Pearson Cycles in Sutton - this shop is celebrating 150 years this year and is a 5th generation family-run business - there we buy Al some new cycling shoes, look at all sorts of lovely bike kit and then ride home with accompanied by Guy Pearson.
At 6am on Sunday, Al and I head out to Henley-on-Thames on the bikes for a 100 mile ride, heading out via the US Air Force Monument at Egham and back via Windsor Great Park. Home at midday for a roast lunch.
At 5:30pm his taxi arrived and he was off to Amsterdam for a conference. What a weekend.
So, as you can see, although he claims not to be much of a cyclist and on paper he really should not be, he has transferred his running fitness and capabilities very nicely to the bike. What does work very much in his favour is his ultra-marathon experience and his gritty determination, he just doesn't seem to feel the pain the same way the rest of us do.
Al - you're an inspiration to us all!
Gordon
thanks Gordie. Not quite true though! You omitted the most important thing that I did. Read a story to my 2 wonderful nieces, and get to spend time (albeit it not much!) with them both, as well as my fantastic brother and long suffering sister-in-law Ali (and the bump!) it was brilliant to see you all and we're all so excited to see you this week. As for the cycling. I might have made a mental transition, but i'm not sure i'll ever get into the gear! Pearson and the 2 of us cycling back from the shop in matching - pans people - gear will remain in my memory for some time, in shock! I had the same impact on the cowboys of Colorado last week when we holidayed on a ranch and every morning I was up for a cycle along the valley. I dont think the cowboys thought too much of the lycra. Good chaps are made of leather. This time next week we'll be 8 hours down, probably 100 odd miles done, and into the evening cool (35 degrees) and then the long night haul. 40 odd hours (but who the hell knows, in this heat with these roads and with my bike seat) to change 7 children's lives forever, to give their families hope and a brighter future, and to make a difference to the orthopaedics ward, that so desperately needs it, aint much to ask. we can all do something. 400 miles in 40 odd hours is pretty pathetic to some people, but thats not what matters - the only thing that ultimately matters is having a go to make a difference, and not letting anyone tell you you can't or shouldnt. To dress up in lycra aint, therefore, much to ask! thanks Gordie for coming along that road with me mate. Thanks everyone, and be a little mad yourself, the worst that can happen is someone laughs at you, and isnt the world better for laughter!
ReplyDeleteoh, and i fell asleep on the train into London and missed my stop! only human after all !!
ReplyDeleteSo you're not going to shave your legs then?
ReplyDelete