So ... Challenge Charly is GO!
We've got the You Tube page -
http://uk.youtube.com/user/challengecharly
The Facebook Group -
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8905359430&ref=mf
And a special Facebook Group JUST for Challengers who complete a challenge with Charly -
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11745157015&ref=mf
We're getting 'Charly Challenged Me!' t-shirts made for all Challengers, and they will be specific to the challenge you complete, and we're even thinking of getting medals made like Jim'll Fix It!!!
The whole point is that it is interractive - you guys suggest the challenges, and either watch me complete them, or take part in them with me.
If you have an idea for Challenge Charly then either leave a message here, or on the YouTube or Facebook walls.
Likewise if you'd like to be a challenger, let me know
Charly xxx
Friday, 21 March 2008
Rome Marathon
Hi everyone
Challenge Charly is now truly up and running.
Last Sunday was the first proper challenge - the Rome Marathon, and with 4 'Challengers' - Amy, Amy, Mel and Jo - I successfully completed the challenge.
The run was pretty hard - the start of the race was far warmer than any heat I'd been training in in England, and I'm pretty sure I was glowing bright red for at least the first hour.
I fell into time quite comfortably with the 4hr 30 pacemakers, and was looking set to break the 5hr barrier (I ran the Paris Marathon in 5hrs 9 mins 3 years ago), until just after 10 miles a backwards runner tripped me up.
Backwards running is something of a new craze - no doubt a future Challenge Charly will be based around the phenomenon!
Anyway, this guy crashed straight into me and sent me flying across the Roman cobbles. I cut my hand, bruised my elbow, and fell really hard onto my knee, which is now a pleasant shade of green!
I luckily only slightly scratched the video camera I was running with, but as a result took the brunt of the impact myself.
I walked for a few minutes, and I thought I wouldn't be able to carry on because I was in so much pain.
I ran to the Half Marathon point but by then my knee was throbbing, and my internal voice was starting to get a bit negative.
It's far easier to give up when you're doing something on your own, and thus you are the only person who you need to convince to stop.
Luckily at just the right point, when I needed 'another voice', I met Thomaso.
Thom was in his 50s, an Italian from Rome, who had children my age, and who had run over 25 Marathons.
He explained how he was running a km, walking a km, and asked if I would like to join him.
At first I thought I'd just stick with him for a couple of k, but in fact his form of Scout's pace was perfect and I walked/ran with him for about 12 kms.
Just before the Collosseum I met up with Amy and then Mel, and we all finished within a minute of each other - 5 hrs 6 minutes.
Jo finished about 15 minutes later, and Amy I we discovered, finished half an hour ahead.
I'm not going to say it was easy by any means, but the biggest challenge is definitely overcoming your own doubts.
A positive mental attitude is by far the greatest weapon when it comes to endurance tests like the Marathon - some of the girls had only been training for 6 weeks, and Jo only decided to sign up the morning beforehand!
I think if I get up to full fitness, and train properly, I could run a Marathon in 4 hrs, but for now, the next challenge is to complete one in under 5 hrs, ideally in 4 and a half.
There are whisperings of the Athens and Milan Marathons in November, and I'm also keen to run at least a Half Marathon dressed as a big fluffy mascot!
Challenge Charly is now truly up and running.
Last Sunday was the first proper challenge - the Rome Marathon, and with 4 'Challengers' - Amy, Amy, Mel and Jo - I successfully completed the challenge.
The run was pretty hard - the start of the race was far warmer than any heat I'd been training in in England, and I'm pretty sure I was glowing bright red for at least the first hour.
I fell into time quite comfortably with the 4hr 30 pacemakers, and was looking set to break the 5hr barrier (I ran the Paris Marathon in 5hrs 9 mins 3 years ago), until just after 10 miles a backwards runner tripped me up.
Backwards running is something of a new craze - no doubt a future Challenge Charly will be based around the phenomenon!
Anyway, this guy crashed straight into me and sent me flying across the Roman cobbles. I cut my hand, bruised my elbow, and fell really hard onto my knee, which is now a pleasant shade of green!
I luckily only slightly scratched the video camera I was running with, but as a result took the brunt of the impact myself.
I walked for a few minutes, and I thought I wouldn't be able to carry on because I was in so much pain.
I ran to the Half Marathon point but by then my knee was throbbing, and my internal voice was starting to get a bit negative.
It's far easier to give up when you're doing something on your own, and thus you are the only person who you need to convince to stop.
Luckily at just the right point, when I needed 'another voice', I met Thomaso.
Thom was in his 50s, an Italian from Rome, who had children my age, and who had run over 25 Marathons.
He explained how he was running a km, walking a km, and asked if I would like to join him.
At first I thought I'd just stick with him for a couple of k, but in fact his form of Scout's pace was perfect and I walked/ran with him for about 12 kms.
Just before the Collosseum I met up with Amy and then Mel, and we all finished within a minute of each other - 5 hrs 6 minutes.
Jo finished about 15 minutes later, and Amy I we discovered, finished half an hour ahead.
I'm not going to say it was easy by any means, but the biggest challenge is definitely overcoming your own doubts.
A positive mental attitude is by far the greatest weapon when it comes to endurance tests like the Marathon - some of the girls had only been training for 6 weeks, and Jo only decided to sign up the morning beforehand!
I think if I get up to full fitness, and train properly, I could run a Marathon in 4 hrs, but for now, the next challenge is to complete one in under 5 hrs, ideally in 4 and a half.
There are whisperings of the Athens and Milan Marathons in November, and I'm also keen to run at least a Half Marathon dressed as a big fluffy mascot!
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