Whatever you do, make sure you tube in northern Laos - Vang Vieng - and do not leave it to the South like Mel and I did!
Tubing in Vang Vieng looked amazing - we kayaked through the maze of bars and they were fab, each with a rickety swing or flying fox outside - I rather comically managed to get whiplash from one!
However, don't be fooled by the guide books or the adverts, tubing in Don Det (10,000 Islands) is little more than sunbathing in a rubber ring! 10,000 Islands seem to be the place to smoke weed, and not much else unfortunately. If that's your idea of a challenge, then go for it! Mel and I definitely weren't impressed!
On a side note - for those travelling in Laos - stick to the North - the South really isn't worth it, the temples and waterfalls lauded in the Lonely Planet were unspectacular to say the least, and we were pretty bored on the whole.
If you do travel south, ignore the guide books, visas are as easy to get as drugs! (and that appeared to be pretty easy - one hostel offered a free bag of weed per night!)
Charly xxx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixXSly5pDy4&feature=channel_page
Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventure. Show all posts
Friday, 13 March 2009
Challenge Charly Round the World
I am extremely embarrassed to realise it's been over 6 months since I last blogged.
Challenge Charly is still very much alive and kicking, however it completely slipped my mind to keep up the written blog as well at the YouTube channel, and for that I can only apologise.
Over the next couple of weeks I will try and do some write-ups of all the challenges I've done since The Philippines, there have been quite a few!
However, looking to the future ... I am currently in Argentina, 3 months in to my trip around the world with Challenge Charly!
So far I've been to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, and am currently in Patagonia, so have been heading backwards and forwards over the Chilean/Argentine border for the last week and a half.
The plan is to head to Torres del Paine, but transport here is a complete nightmare, and it definitely sounds way easier to get here when you read about it in the Lonely Planet. My plan is to walk the W, though this will depend on kit, a tent and a team, all of which I am currently lacking!
I'm off to Punto Arenas tomorrow, from Rio Gallegos - the bus stop where I'm staying tonight. From there I'll head to Puerto Natales, and finally, almost 2 weeks after leaving Santiago, I should get to Torres del Paine.
I'll keep you posted on how successful the challenge is!
Charly xxx
Challenge Charly is still very much alive and kicking, however it completely slipped my mind to keep up the written blog as well at the YouTube channel, and for that I can only apologise.
Over the next couple of weeks I will try and do some write-ups of all the challenges I've done since The Philippines, there have been quite a few!
However, looking to the future ... I am currently in Argentina, 3 months in to my trip around the world with Challenge Charly!
So far I've been to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, and am currently in Patagonia, so have been heading backwards and forwards over the Chilean/Argentine border for the last week and a half.
The plan is to head to Torres del Paine, but transport here is a complete nightmare, and it definitely sounds way easier to get here when you read about it in the Lonely Planet. My plan is to walk the W, though this will depend on kit, a tent and a team, all of which I am currently lacking!
I'm off to Punto Arenas tomorrow, from Rio Gallegos - the bus stop where I'm staying tonight. From there I'll head to Puerto Natales, and finally, almost 2 weeks after leaving Santiago, I should get to Torres del Paine.
I'll keep you posted on how successful the challenge is!
Charly xxx
Thursday, 17 July 2008
CC in the Philippines
From Sipadan it was back to Manila and on to Cebu - an island in the middle of the Philippine cluster. While I'm here I'd decided to dive at both Malapascua and Apo Island - both sites recommended to me by two guys who I did Mount Kinabalu with - Maia and Caspar.
So far I've been up to Malapascua .... and what an adventure!
From Cebu City it was 4 and a half hours by local bus, crammed full of locals and their chickens, up to the coastal town of Maya. I then had to get one of the rickettiest boats I have ever seen across the sea to the island.
It was brilliant! The response of locals who caught my eye through the paneless bus window suggested they dont see many single female white travelers, and I loved feeling like I was seeing the real country, and the way that locals travel through it.
Malapascua has been pretty badly hit by the recent typhoon, however the island was still gorgeous.
I did a night dive last night - which was fantastic! I felt like James Bond!!! scuba-diving by torch light!- and then on just 4 hrs sleep I was up at 4 to go diving with thresher sharks, Malapascua's speciality. I had just about enough time for another morning dive before taking a boat back across to Maia and repeating my journey in reverse.
It's a shame I didnt get to stay longer, however I want to squeeze Apo Island and Dumuguete in before my flight home next week, and so far I'm doing pretty well at optimising my time - on Tuesday I flew from Tawau to KK to Manila to Cebu, then it was straight up to Malapascua and back, and tomorrow I'm heading off down south to Apo Island :)
If you're looking for off the beaten track adventure, and a spot of diving on remote islands, then the Philippines is definitely the place :)
Charly xxx
So far I've been up to Malapascua .... and what an adventure!
From Cebu City it was 4 and a half hours by local bus, crammed full of locals and their chickens, up to the coastal town of Maya. I then had to get one of the rickettiest boats I have ever seen across the sea to the island.
It was brilliant! The response of locals who caught my eye through the paneless bus window suggested they dont see many single female white travelers, and I loved feeling like I was seeing the real country, and the way that locals travel through it.
Malapascua has been pretty badly hit by the recent typhoon, however the island was still gorgeous.
I did a night dive last night - which was fantastic! I felt like James Bond!!! scuba-diving by torch light!- and then on just 4 hrs sleep I was up at 4 to go diving with thresher sharks, Malapascua's speciality. I had just about enough time for another morning dive before taking a boat back across to Maia and repeating my journey in reverse.
It's a shame I didnt get to stay longer, however I want to squeeze Apo Island and Dumuguete in before my flight home next week, and so far I'm doing pretty well at optimising my time - on Tuesday I flew from Tawau to KK to Manila to Cebu, then it was straight up to Malapascua and back, and tomorrow I'm heading off down south to Apo Island :)
If you're looking for off the beaten track adventure, and a spot of diving on remote islands, then the Philippines is definitely the place :)
Charly xxx
CC goes scuba!
A few months ago when I was in Borneo I happened to get chatting to the girl next to me on my flight from KK to KL (Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu).
Her name was Jen, she was English, and she lived in Borneo with her Scottish fiance, who ran a dive company in Semporna.
During the course of the flight I told her about Challenge Charly, and she suggested I dive at Sipadan as one of my challenges.
And that is exactly what I've just done!!
Sipadan is famed as Borneo's best dive site, and the 3rd best dive site in the world according some Malaysian water bottles!!
It was fantastic. I'm technically in the Philippines this trip, making my final Masters documentary on free press and the murder of journalists in the Philippines ( a topic which unfortunately didnt lend itself to video making, so that didnt turn out to be a challenge in itself). However, it is 'relatively' easy to fly across from Manila to KK.
I saw relatively because it turns out that Clark 'Manila' airport, where all the cheap flights to Borneo fly from, is actually nowhere near Manila! I spent more money on my two 3 hour taxi journeys to and from the airport than I did on the flights themselves.
However, despite this aggravation, and some interesting time keeping as a result of the 3 hr journey, I managed to get to Semporna, the nearest town to Sipadan, fairly seemlessly.
Over the course of my 3 days diving there I completed my PADI advanced open water, dived on the islands of Mabul and Sibuan, and then did 3 awesome dives at Sipadan, seeking heaps and heaps of white tip sharks and turtles.
I would definitely recommend Sipadan for diving enthusiasts, and Scuba Junkie, the company Jen had recommended, were brilliant.
Her name was Jen, she was English, and she lived in Borneo with her Scottish fiance, who ran a dive company in Semporna.
During the course of the flight I told her about Challenge Charly, and she suggested I dive at Sipadan as one of my challenges.
And that is exactly what I've just done!!
Sipadan is famed as Borneo's best dive site, and the 3rd best dive site in the world according some Malaysian water bottles!!
It was fantastic. I'm technically in the Philippines this trip, making my final Masters documentary on free press and the murder of journalists in the Philippines ( a topic which unfortunately didnt lend itself to video making, so that didnt turn out to be a challenge in itself). However, it is 'relatively' easy to fly across from Manila to KK.
I saw relatively because it turns out that Clark 'Manila' airport, where all the cheap flights to Borneo fly from, is actually nowhere near Manila! I spent more money on my two 3 hour taxi journeys to and from the airport than I did on the flights themselves.
However, despite this aggravation, and some interesting time keeping as a result of the 3 hr journey, I managed to get to Semporna, the nearest town to Sipadan, fairly seemlessly.
Over the course of my 3 days diving there I completed my PADI advanced open water, dived on the islands of Mabul and Sibuan, and then did 3 awesome dives at Sipadan, seeking heaps and heaps of white tip sharks and turtles.
I would definitely recommend Sipadan for diving enthusiasts, and Scuba Junkie, the company Jen had recommended, were brilliant.
Friday, 13 June 2008
Challenges This Week ...
It's not just technical logistics I struggle with (oh dear, I really do need a production team!!!) ...
Sometimes Challenges provide more difficulties than just the physical ones! Take Sunday for instance - I've agreed at very short notice to cycle the London to Brighton cycle ride. 54 miles ... now hopefully my 4 hrs or so of cycling in the gym each week should stand me in relatively good stead for the race, even if, as those of you who have watched the Stockholm video will know, my camera skills behind the handlebars are absolutely appalling!
No, the problem is the logistics of getting my bike to London, and getting home from Brighton!
In the end I decided to start 2 days early, and my bike is currently locked up outside my uni's Cavendish Campus.
What an absolute nightmare taking a bike on the train and the tube! Half the tube lines don't allow them! And I still have to get it all the way to Clapham tomorrow! Oh dear!
I have decided to leave it in Brighton on Sunday and just drive home! (I have a tiny old mini - one tyre wouldn't even fit in its miniscule boot!!)
Though I'm not just being lazy, I promise!! I'm going to leave it on the coast, because I'm hoping to cycle it from Brighton to Land's End, in a warm up for cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in November!!!
Anyway ... that's months away ... this week in addition to the cycle ride I plan to squeeze in a spot of Ice Climbing, and hopefully a Rally Car Driving Day ... oooh and I'll be filming some more footage of me learning how to jump a horse ... that Challenge to be posted soon :)
Charly xxx
Sometimes Challenges provide more difficulties than just the physical ones! Take Sunday for instance - I've agreed at very short notice to cycle the London to Brighton cycle ride. 54 miles ... now hopefully my 4 hrs or so of cycling in the gym each week should stand me in relatively good stead for the race, even if, as those of you who have watched the Stockholm video will know, my camera skills behind the handlebars are absolutely appalling!
No, the problem is the logistics of getting my bike to London, and getting home from Brighton!
In the end I decided to start 2 days early, and my bike is currently locked up outside my uni's Cavendish Campus.
What an absolute nightmare taking a bike on the train and the tube! Half the tube lines don't allow them! And I still have to get it all the way to Clapham tomorrow! Oh dear!
I have decided to leave it in Brighton on Sunday and just drive home! (I have a tiny old mini - one tyre wouldn't even fit in its miniscule boot!!)
Though I'm not just being lazy, I promise!! I'm going to leave it on the coast, because I'm hoping to cycle it from Brighton to Land's End, in a warm up for cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in November!!!
Anyway ... that's months away ... this week in addition to the cycle ride I plan to squeeze in a spot of Ice Climbing, and hopefully a Rally Car Driving Day ... oooh and I'll be filming some more footage of me learning how to jump a horse ... that Challenge to be posted soon :)
Charly xxx
Monday, 9 June 2008
Diary Disaster Strikes!!
So it's definitely Challenge Month, if ever there was one in particular, here at Challenge Charly!
I started the month wakeboarding, then it was straight off to Southampton to learn how to sail a yacht.
The plan for the rest of the month includes zorbing, bushcraft, the London to Brighton cycle ride, and a Pirate Rampage, amongst other challenges!
But there are definite downsides to cramming my days full ... namely diary malfunctions! Basically without realising I booked myself in two places at the same time - on Friday I was sailing, and also meant to be driving to Wales for the start of a Mountain Leadership course. By the time I realised it was 11pm, and I was going to have to wake up at 4am in order to drive over to Snowdonia in time for the start of the course.
Total nightmare! After 6 sleepless nights in a very uncomfortable cabin there was nowhere I was going to be able to function, let alone drive! on just 4 hours of sleep. And so ... I'm not in Wales. Which is really gutting, not only financially as I lose all the fees I paid for the course, but also, because I've got about 4 spare days between now and November, I can't do my training course before my assessment week in October.
Eeek ... looks like that's one challenge which is going to be delayed :(
Ah well, on a brighter side, it looks like the CC website should be up and running really really soon, and hopefully this impromptu extra week will allow me to cram in an extra couple of challenges :)
As ever - give me challenges!! and volunteer to be a challenger!
Charly xxx
I started the month wakeboarding, then it was straight off to Southampton to learn how to sail a yacht.
The plan for the rest of the month includes zorbing, bushcraft, the London to Brighton cycle ride, and a Pirate Rampage, amongst other challenges!
But there are definite downsides to cramming my days full ... namely diary malfunctions! Basically without realising I booked myself in two places at the same time - on Friday I was sailing, and also meant to be driving to Wales for the start of a Mountain Leadership course. By the time I realised it was 11pm, and I was going to have to wake up at 4am in order to drive over to Snowdonia in time for the start of the course.
Total nightmare! After 6 sleepless nights in a very uncomfortable cabin there was nowhere I was going to be able to function, let alone drive! on just 4 hours of sleep. And so ... I'm not in Wales. Which is really gutting, not only financially as I lose all the fees I paid for the course, but also, because I've got about 4 spare days between now and November, I can't do my training course before my assessment week in October.
Eeek ... looks like that's one challenge which is going to be delayed :(
Ah well, on a brighter side, it looks like the CC website should be up and running really really soon, and hopefully this impromptu extra week will allow me to cram in an extra couple of challenges :)
As ever - give me challenges!! and volunteer to be a challenger!
Charly xxx
Thursday, 5 June 2008
I need action!
Oh dear, I don't think I'm cut out to be a sailor ... or at least not a cruising yacht sailor.
I am SO bored! It's just not high-paced enough, or scary enough! I'm definitely a thrill-seeker at heart, and pottering around the Solent really isn't doing it for me!
Hmm... maybe I shouldn't completely give up, but if I do another sailing-related challenge, I think it will be sailing to somewhere like Morocco, or doing the Isle of Wight Cowes Week 'Round the Island' race, or maybe something smaller like dinghy sailing?
Anyway, only one more day left, and then on Saturday I'm off to North Wales to do my Mountain Leadership training ... hopefully that will be a bit more active! And hopefully the sleeping arrangements (even if they turn out to be tents) will be more comfy ... yacht bunks are surprisingly hard :)
Charly xxx
I am SO bored! It's just not high-paced enough, or scary enough! I'm definitely a thrill-seeker at heart, and pottering around the Solent really isn't doing it for me!
Hmm... maybe I shouldn't completely give up, but if I do another sailing-related challenge, I think it will be sailing to somewhere like Morocco, or doing the Isle of Wight Cowes Week 'Round the Island' race, or maybe something smaller like dinghy sailing?
Anyway, only one more day left, and then on Saturday I'm off to North Wales to do my Mountain Leadership training ... hopefully that will be a bit more active! And hopefully the sleeping arrangements (even if they turn out to be tents) will be more comfy ... yacht bunks are surprisingly hard :)
Charly xxx
Monday, 2 June 2008
Watery Challenges!
As promised I am attempting to write this blog a bit more frequently.
So ... I am on Day One of Challenge 10 - Learning to Sail. I'm still aching from Challenge 9 - Learning to Wakeboard, and I didn't even technically wakeboard! I spent two hours being dragged around on a knee board. I'm definitely looking forward to getting up on my feet though, and getting behind a boat!
But for now I'm on a boat. I'm down in Southampton doing my Royal Yachting Association 'Competent Crew' qualification, well technically I'm now in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, after my first day of sailing. The weather has been pretty bleak - grey and rainy, but no wind! Hardly ideal for sailing, but have learnt heaps already - SO much to remember!
So far I think my most successful part has been navigation, which is a relief, as I'm doing my Mountain Leadership training next week and I have a feeling map reading and compass bearings are going to feature highly during that.
By the looks of things June is going to be a really exciting month. In addition to the two courses I've already mentioned, I'm also doing a Bushcraft course, and I have lots of random day challenges planned. Hopefully should be squeezing in indoor sky diving, zorbing and ice-climbing either this month or next month. I've also signed up for the Leukemia Research and 'Banana Man Chase', Pirate Rampage in Dorset.
The most exciting thing has been a spontaneous last minute challenge which I'm really excited about - a friend from school who I literally haven't seen for at least 6 years messaged me on Facebook to ask if I'd like to join her on the Brighton to London cycle ride! So I now have just 2 weeks until I'm cycling in the 54 mile race :) Brilliant! That is JUST what Challenge Charly is all about - you guys challenging me, and ideally joining me on the challenges.
At the moment I am especially looking for challengers to join me doing the Three Peaks Challenge - Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, all within 24 hours. I'll be doing the walk the first weekend of August - if you fancy joining me, either message me on the blog, or on YouTube, or via the Facebook group.
And if a random challenge has just sprung to mind, then let me know! I get inspiration for challenges everywhere! ... literally 2 days ago I caught a clip of Jordan and Peter Andre doing the Rally Master challenge at Brands Hatch and it looks brilliant! Just trying to work out when I can fit it in :)
Charly xxx
So ... I am on Day One of Challenge 10 - Learning to Sail. I'm still aching from Challenge 9 - Learning to Wakeboard, and I didn't even technically wakeboard! I spent two hours being dragged around on a knee board. I'm definitely looking forward to getting up on my feet though, and getting behind a boat!
But for now I'm on a boat. I'm down in Southampton doing my Royal Yachting Association 'Competent Crew' qualification, well technically I'm now in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, after my first day of sailing. The weather has been pretty bleak - grey and rainy, but no wind! Hardly ideal for sailing, but have learnt heaps already - SO much to remember!
So far I think my most successful part has been navigation, which is a relief, as I'm doing my Mountain Leadership training next week and I have a feeling map reading and compass bearings are going to feature highly during that.
By the looks of things June is going to be a really exciting month. In addition to the two courses I've already mentioned, I'm also doing a Bushcraft course, and I have lots of random day challenges planned. Hopefully should be squeezing in indoor sky diving, zorbing and ice-climbing either this month or next month. I've also signed up for the Leukemia Research and 'Banana Man Chase', Pirate Rampage in Dorset.
The most exciting thing has been a spontaneous last minute challenge which I'm really excited about - a friend from school who I literally haven't seen for at least 6 years messaged me on Facebook to ask if I'd like to join her on the Brighton to London cycle ride! So I now have just 2 weeks until I'm cycling in the 54 mile race :) Brilliant! That is JUST what Challenge Charly is all about - you guys challenging me, and ideally joining me on the challenges.
At the moment I am especially looking for challengers to join me doing the Three Peaks Challenge - Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, all within 24 hours. I'll be doing the walk the first weekend of August - if you fancy joining me, either message me on the blog, or on YouTube, or via the Facebook group.
And if a random challenge has just sprung to mind, then let me know! I get inspiration for challenges everywhere! ... literally 2 days ago I caught a clip of Jordan and Peter Andre doing the Rally Master challenge at Brands Hatch and it looks brilliant! Just trying to work out when I can fit it in :)
Charly xxx
Thursday, 3 April 2008
42 Miles, and then onto a plane!
Hi everyone!
So ... Challenge Charly is actually going really well - the feedback I'm getting has been great, and the whole thing is really gathering momentum.
On Saturday two new challengers will be tackling the Three Towers Hike with me - a 42 mile Scout hike across the Berkshire Downs ... and yes, we do have to do it in just one day!
I've actually done the Hike four times before, the first time when I was 16, but it definitely doesn't get any easier, and now I have a record to keep up because I've never dropped out. Could be tough as I'm still in quite a bit of pain after getting tripped up during the Marathon a few weeks ago.
In previous years I've taken as long as 18 hours to finish - you have to stay as a team of three, so if anyone in your team drops out you could wait for hours for another team to join up with.
I'd like to say our target is 15 hrs, though it's a pretty mean feat, and seeing as neither Mark nor Tom have ever really hiked before, we'll just have to see how we do!
Then, less than 24 hrs after I finish I jump on a plane to Borneo. The main challenge whilst I'm out there will be Mt Kinabalu, but I have three weeks of activities planned, so I'll do my best to film all the fun!
And then .... literally 10 hrs after I land back at Heathrow I'm setting off to Johannesburg to make a documentary about AIDS orphans, which I know is gonna be at least emotionally tough.
So ... lots to come - keep tuned to the You Tube channel - Challenge Charly is a YouTube Channel where I'm documenting all my various random adventures around the world.
The whole point is to encourage people to try things they wouldn't normally think of doing, or think they are capable of doing.
Get involved by suggesting new challenges for Charly, or by volunteering to be a Challenger, and taking part in one of the challenges with Charly.
Or you can just sit back and laugh at what an idiot I'm making of myself !!
Tune in at ...
http://uk.youtube.com/user/challengecharly
and remember, I'm always keen to hear your challenge ideas, and accept volunteer challenges to join me on the challenges!!
Who knows - if word can spread enough we may even end up with some famous Charly's Challengers!!!!
Take care, and remember to try everything you see at home!
So ... Challenge Charly is actually going really well - the feedback I'm getting has been great, and the whole thing is really gathering momentum.
On Saturday two new challengers will be tackling the Three Towers Hike with me - a 42 mile Scout hike across the Berkshire Downs ... and yes, we do have to do it in just one day!
I've actually done the Hike four times before, the first time when I was 16, but it definitely doesn't get any easier, and now I have a record to keep up because I've never dropped out. Could be tough as I'm still in quite a bit of pain after getting tripped up during the Marathon a few weeks ago.
In previous years I've taken as long as 18 hours to finish - you have to stay as a team of three, so if anyone in your team drops out you could wait for hours for another team to join up with.
I'd like to say our target is 15 hrs, though it's a pretty mean feat, and seeing as neither Mark nor Tom have ever really hiked before, we'll just have to see how we do!
Then, less than 24 hrs after I finish I jump on a plane to Borneo. The main challenge whilst I'm out there will be Mt Kinabalu, but I have three weeks of activities planned, so I'll do my best to film all the fun!
And then .... literally 10 hrs after I land back at Heathrow I'm setting off to Johannesburg to make a documentary about AIDS orphans, which I know is gonna be at least emotionally tough.
So ... lots to come - keep tuned to the You Tube channel - Challenge Charly is a YouTube Channel where I'm documenting all my various random adventures around the world.
The whole point is to encourage people to try things they wouldn't normally think of doing, or think they are capable of doing.
Get involved by suggesting new challenges for Charly, or by volunteering to be a Challenger, and taking part in one of the challenges with Charly.
Or you can just sit back and laugh at what an idiot I'm making of myself !!
Tune in at ...
http://uk.youtube.com/user/challengecharly
and remember, I'm always keen to hear your challenge ideas, and accept volunteer challenges to join me on the challenges!!
Who knows - if word can spread enough we may even end up with some famous Charly's Challengers!!!!
Take care, and remember to try everything you see at home!
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!
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Introducing Challenge Charly!
Hello and welcome to Challenge Charly.
CC is an online VLOG, accessible on You Tube at www.uk.youtube/challengecharly which follows my adventures around the world and in the UK.
The whole point of Challenge Charly is to inspire normal people to try abnormal and daunting challenges.
The world has countless opportunities to offer .... go out and make the most of them.
I've already uploaded some footage from Everest Base Camp, which I hiked to over Christmas and New Year, and over the next few months I will be running the Rome Marathon, climbing to Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, and visiting AIDS orphans in South Africa.
Stay tuned, and remember to try this at home!!
CC is an online VLOG, accessible on You Tube at www.uk.youtube/challengecharly which follows my adventures around the world and in the UK.
The whole point of Challenge Charly is to inspire normal people to try abnormal and daunting challenges.
The world has countless opportunities to offer .... go out and make the most of them.
I've already uploaded some footage from Everest Base Camp, which I hiked to over Christmas and New Year, and over the next few months I will be running the Rome Marathon, climbing to Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, and visiting AIDS orphans in South Africa.
Stay tuned, and remember to try this at home!!
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