Wow…When I ended my walking workout at my front door after walking 2 laps, I couldn’t believe it was exactly 6.00 miles. I think I’ve managed to create a very measured lap, great for my stats, lol! π€£
As you may have guessed, there was a slight drizzle when I left the house this morning, so the photos automatically qualified for the mono filter! π
lap 2 pond photo…
I thought for the second lap pond photo, I’d try and get the usual pond and the path inside one photo. I think I have the path on the right that I usually stop and take the photo on. I don’t often walk across the grass to get close to the pond, as I don’t want to risk twisting my ankle…Or falling in the pond, lol! π€£
Scripture snack…
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks…π
Me carrying a Princess! π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, reading a fave blog post or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
I’m so thankful that there is not much to report from today’s walk. The trail was nice and quiet, I didn’t hurt or injure myself and I actually enjoyed myself out there as I slowed down and gave thanks for everything! π π
My lovely Wife Sarah welcomed me home with a lovely fresh black coffee, a big hug and that amazing sunshine smile that I can feel as it warms me up instantly! π
sarah & the siblings…
From left: Maddie, Sarah, Simon (top), Alfie, Marshall & Corrie
Speaking of Sarah…As you know we were up in Yorkshire for Alfie’s (Sarah’s youngest brother) wedding last weekend, and there was an opportunity to capture a photo of all six siblings in the same place together. The six siblings havn’t been together like this for over 20 years!! π²
Scripture snack…
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks…π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, reading a fave blog post or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
It was a 3 lapper this morning, and I was so thankful for the quiet trail and the weather that was cloudy and overcast…Perfect! π
I walked at an average pace of 3.60 miles per hour, and I arrived home tired but not in too bad shape. I can’t believe I’m saying this as I couldn’t even imagine a 3 lapper a few months ago! π
lap 2 pond photo…
The temperature was a little warmer today at 10ΛC, so I could just wear my t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms with my INOV8 ultra pack and it was cool but manageable!
Oh and yes I had my chocolate hobnobs with me too! π
lap 3 pond photo…
The trail was nice and quiet so I could focus on walking speed and staying on the trail without all of the distractions.
Scripture snack…
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks…π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, reading a fave blog post or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
Wow, if that was the fundraising trail walk challenge…I’d be happy that I finished it! BUT this was only 4 laps plus a pitstop and the challenge is 11 laps and 3 pitstops! π¨ After how I felt after today’s walk…That’s too much especially at the moment…But I’m getting stronger week by week. π
It was a cold 7ΛC again and as I was going to be out for around 3.5 hours, I thought I’d leave my tracksuit bottoms at home, as I’d soon get too warm as I stomp around the trail…I was wrong, my legs were ice blocks for about 2 laps! π€£
lap 2 pond photo…
As I was cold I think I tried to walk so fast I’d out pace the cold and my legs would warm up nicely…They didn’t.
At least there was some good news. As I’d burn about 1200 calories on this walk I was wearing my trusty INOV8 ultra pack which not only had 2 x 500ml of zero calorie orange water…But 8 chocolate hobnobs (the best biscuit in the world). They are 93 calories each and they should start being absorbed around 30 minutes after that amazing taste! π
lap 3 pond photo…
It was overcast mostly for the first 2 laps but then the blazing low hanging sun come out to play (ruin my walk). My pace slowed lots as I tried to stagger around like an extra in a zombie movie.
I only had to do 3 laps before I leave the trail and walk to my pitstop (home). It’s only 0.4 miles to and another 0.4 miles back so quite a quick pitstop. I managed to not collapse (good start), keep moving whilst eating half a sandwich and try to get back out within 10 minutes max. When my 50Km walk starts I have to try and have 3 pitstops whilst doing 11 laps, so today was the first time to see if I sieze up?!
lap 4 pond photo…
My legs were a little tight after destroying my leg stabiliser muscles on the trail, then slowing down in the pitstop. But after about a mile they were broken but still moving! I was simply so thankful and so happy that I’d managed my first pitstop and was back out stomping out the miles!
I was overwhelmed with joy as I arrived home and stopped my workout which was exactly 12.12 miles, that made me smile for some reason. It really felt like I was walking on prayers from you guys! I really had nothing left and was laughing to myself that my legs were still going right to the end when I wanted to just give up! π π
Scripture snack…
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks…π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, reading a fave blog post or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
Yay, I managed another 2 laps (6 miles) this morning, and I wasn’t in a total heap when I returned. I must be getting a bit stronger (and lighter) as I have to start doing 2 laps each day and not wimp out for a 1 lapper! π€£
As this was my last proper trail pounding walk of the week, I do 4 trail walks then have 3 days off to recover, spend time with my lovely Wife Sarah, and also get supplies ready for the next week on the trail! My legs just wanted to give up on lap 2, I think they’re just empty from the last 3 days walk! π€£
lap 2 pond photo…
I love walking past the pond for the second time, as it means I can get a different angle. What is also fantastic is that all of your markers are called out for the second time, so I get to pray and give thanks for you all over again! π π
Scripture snack…
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks…π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, reading a fave blog post or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
Today I headed out on my last FitBlitz walk of the week, and I was certainly thankful for this beautiful place. I walked nice and slow actually enjoying (instead of racing) around the trail.
I took the time to listen properly to the markers in my ear, and say prayers for the people who’s marker it was named after as I walked towards, and past the marker. It really was a beautiful, relaxing and prayerful walk. π π
Scripture snack…
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks…π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, reading a fave blog post or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
When Sarah hits the kitchen, itβs not dinner time…Itβs showtime. And this time, she turned out a plate so bold it felt like a headliner at Wembley.
Front and centre: chicken breasts. Not just any chicken breasts, but juicy, golden seared beauties marinated in that black pepper paste with coconut, belting out heat and aroma like a Marshall stack cranked to eleven. Every bite had punch, swagger, and enough kick to make you sit up and take notice.
Then came the pilau rice, rich and spiced with that deep Tamil-style stock, laying down the rhythm section like a phat bassline, keeping the whole dish grooving.
But Sarah doesnβt stop at rhythm, oh no. She brings in solos. Caramelised onions swirled through the rice like molten guitar licks, then…Out of nowhere, she threw down fried mushrooms and lettuce, sizzling away like pyrotechnics on stage. Totally unexpected. Totally EPIC. Totally Sarah!
And just when you think the flavourβs going to take your head clean off, in comes the turmeric yoghurt seasoning…Creamy, fragrant, and cooling, like the encore that leaves you wanting more.
The result? A dish that didnβt just feed the body…It set the soul on fire. Epic Sarah cooking isnβt just about food…Itβs about creating an experience. This Tamil Black Pepper Chicken wasnβt just tasty. It was a culinary anthem. πΆπ₯π΄
Theyβll be talking about this meal for centuries. The night Sarah took the humble chicken breast and forged it into a weapon of pure flavour will go down in history as one of the great culinary creations ever made! π
There are sandwiches, and then there are monuments of flavour. Today, I bring you the latter, a creation so mighty, so vibrant, so unapologetically stuffed to the rafters, that Iβve officially christened it: Sarah’s Super Saturday Sandwich.
At its foundation lies the humble but heroic Hovis Wholemeal Seven Seed bread. Forget your flimsy supermarket slices, this is bread with backbone. Each bite brings the crunch of sunflower, flax, and poppy whispering tales of wholesome power while standing tall under the weight of everything it holds.
Between these sturdy slabs of seeded armour sits a layer of creamy (fat free) cottage cheese, spreading smooth comfort across the battlefield of flavours. Then comes the ham, a salty, savoury punch that demands attention.
But this is no one-note wonder. Sarah has engineered a rainbow riot of freshness:
Juicy tomato slicesΒ that burst like little grenades of summer.
Cool cucumber, slicing through the richness like a refreshing breeze.
Mixed salad leaves, adding crunch, colour and a leafy swagger.
Shredded carrots, sweet and earthy, sneaking in extra crunch with every bite.
And just when you thought it couldnβt get more dramatic…Enter the beetroot. Deep crimson, unapologetic and staining everything it touches like a culinary rebel. It doesnβt just sit there quietly, it shouts its presence, painting the cottage cheese in wild streaks of magenta and giving this sandwich the swagger of a rock star mid-guitar solo.
What youβre left with is not just food…Itβs a stacked masterpiece, a sandwich so mighty it has to be cut in half just to reveal its inner glory. Each cross-section looks like a geological dig of flavour: strata of pinks, reds, oranges, and greens pressed together by the seed-studded cliffs of bread.
The Super Sarah Snack is proof that sometimes, the greatest meals arenβt complicated. Theyβre just layered with love, packed with goodness and bold enough to take risks.
So hereβs to Sarah, the culinary architect behind this stacked skyscraper of taste…I think youβll agree: this isnβt just a snack. Itβs a statement. π² π β€οΈ
Well I’m certainly thankful that I’ve done all 4 trail walks this week, and had no dramas, accidents or collapsing! I’m also thankful for all of the motivation from my lovely Wife Sarah (even after her surgery), Drill Sergent Bruce and of course all of you guys…It’s humbling to say the least that I have so much support, love and encouragement! β€οΈ
As I’ve walked around only 1 lap per day this week, I’ve been carefully listening out to see where I can place lots of new ‘Donation Motivation Markers’. I’m so thankful that I’ve actually made it out this week (even though I didn’t want to), but I needed to stomp and put my legs in to action, as I don’t want them getting lazy, lol.
As you know my lovely Wife Sarah is in recovery mode after her surgery, so this meant she wasn’t working in the London office…Which also means there will be no ‘Steve’s Smelly French Toast’ today…Sorry Dayle but no EPIC descriptions, lol! π€£
Scripture snack…
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks…π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, reading a fave blog post or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
My lovely Wife Sarah is working in London again today, so I went out on the trail at 7am. One of the good things about attempting 3 laps today, is that I get to take 6 photos for you.
It was nice and cloudy today so I didn’t have the sun to use as an excuse, lol. I also had a couple of soft flasks, a carb gel and a Grenade protein bar on my person…I want to be prepared and not be left wanting! π
It was also cool at 13Β¬C which is perfect for me. I still have 37 pounds to lose so I’m too insulated at the moment, lol. It was time to let the brakes off my HOKA Speedgoats and just hold on!
When I arrived home and stopped my workout, it’d taken me 2 hours 29 minutes to do 8.56 miles. So I must have been walking around 3.5mph which is fast for me, yay! πͺπΌ
Oh and after I’d picked myself up off the floor (you’ve guessed it) it was time to make my smelly French toast as Sarah’s not here to choke on the smell. I’ll leave it to your imagination on how it turned out, as I really don’t want to take a photo of it, lol! π€£
Scripture snack…
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks…π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
Picture this: 7 a.m., the streets still yawning, and me stomping back home after walking 6.42 miles (my longest distance so far) like a man on a mission. Sarahβs off to London, so itβs just me…And the lonely kitchen. No kisses, no cuddles, no lovingly made coffee, just the cold hard reality that I have to make my infamous smelly lunch.
Enter my protein french toast…
Imagine 3 innocent slices of 7 seed wholemeal bread…Suddenly colliding head-on with a tanker full of egg whites, with the aroma of a gym locker room. Sarah hates the smell of those egg whites…So I only unleash this monster when sheβs not around.
the result…?
On the plate it looks like the breadβs been in a high-speed chase, taken a wrong turn into a hen house, and then been caught in a murder mystery. That deep red “crime scene“? Donβt panic…Itβs just sugar free maple syrup pooling like suspicious evidence.
Honestly, you wouldnβt think you could make this much visual chaos with only 3 ingredients…But here I am, casually creating my ‘French Toast’ art that looks like it should be taped off by the police. π¨
Still…With 65 grams of protein, 650 calories, and a plate that could double as a true crime documentary prop…It’s a killer meal and I’m very THANKFUL for it! π
From tales to trails…
I hope you enjoyed the ‘French Toast’ story? But I need to finish this post, lol. I walked 6.42 miles today, which is a record distance for me during this training. I’m still waiting for the muscle memory to keck in, as I’d say I’d never walked this far in my life…It was killer, and I was so THANKFUL that I actually made it! home.
As I did 2 laps today, the 2 photos above were when I decided to walk down the side of the usual pond (smaller one) to get to the steps that lead up to the larger pond (see photo below). I’ve got other ‘audio beacons’ on my Soundscape app which are not on my trail lap route…And the steps is one of them. So when I got to the usual pond photo spot, I selected the ‘Top Pond Steps’ audio beacon, listened to the radar sound as I turned my head, and when my head is facing the beacon (steps) it makes a different beep so I start walking towards it…Hoping I don’t fall into the pond or hit lots of other obstacles! π¨ Wow I’m THANKFUL for the Soundscape app!
Once getting to the top of the steps, you’re greeted with a lovely view of the larger pond.
Back on the trail on lap 2…
I love walking along feeling so small as the towering trees keep me company. Not only do they ensconce me with some shade, make smile noises as the wind tickles them, but it just feels so good walking along (zombie shuffling) surroundedd by lots of trees. π
Give thanks…π
How might you pause to give thanks today? Maybe itβs lifting a prayer, holding onto a Bible verse that leaps off the page (or screen), letting a worship song wash over you, walking in nature, or simply soaking in a quiet moment of reflection.
Motivational quote…
“Every step I take is a gift I refuse to take for granted. Iβm thankful for the legs that carry me, the air that fills my lungs, and the strength God gives me to keep moving forward. Iβm thankful for the quiet moments on the trail where I can hear His voice in the wind and feel His presence in the steady rhythm of my steps. Life may not be perfect, the path may not be smooth, but the journey is still beautiful. Faith, Fitness, Focus” – Steve (me)
A Biblical Blessing:..π
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I hope you’re enjoying these audio/video versions of ;Drill Sergent Bruce THE Boxer’. It’s taking me a little longer to create these ones…But I hope to catch up with the written ones soon, and have both in one post! Until then, Hit play and sit back and enjoy! πͺπΌ π
EYES FRONT, YOU DROOL-DRIPPING DUMBBELLS! Welcome to the PAIN PALACE!! This isΒ Bruce THE Boxer, your barkinβ, boxinβ, no-excuses fitness commander β and today weβre not jumping, tugging, or flyingβ¦Β weβre talking REST. Yeah, you heard me. But donβt get any ideas about slacking off βΒ this is tactical recovery, not a holiday.
DAY 4 DRILL: βSTAND DOWN β RECOVERY MODEβ.
Listen up, you biscuit-brained bone-chewers… Youβve been jumping like kangaroos, tugging like maniacs, and sweating puddles the size of swimming pools. If youβve been hitting every drill like I ordered, then your muscles are screaming louder than a squeaky toy in a blender.
GOOD. That means youβre doing it right!!
But now comes one of the most critical weapons in your training arsenal β SLEEP. Thatβs right. Recovery isnβt weakness β itβs strategy. And while you’re snoring like a bulldog after leg day, your body is secretly rebuilding itself into a muscle-clad machine of glory.
HERE’S WHY SLEEP IS YOUR SECRET WEAPON:
1. It repairs those shredded muscle fibres youβve been abusing. 2. It works best with a belly full of protein-packed chow to build new muscle. 3. It sharpens your mind, so youβre not just strong β youβre dangerous. 4. Skip it, and your body falls apart faster than a tennis ball in a Rottweilerβs mouth!!
Bottom line: Rest like a warrior, eat like a beast, rise like a legend!
And just to make sure you donβt forget whoβs always watching…
βEvery snack you make, every meal you bake, every bite you takeβ¦ IβLL BE WATCHING YOU“. Yeah, Iβve got eyes on that fridge too, soldier.
TODAYβS ORDER: 1. Take it easy. 2. Fuel up. 3. Hit the sack early. 4. Dream of gains.
Recharge. Rebuild. Return stronger. Next time we go again. HARDER THAN LAST TIME!! CLASSDISMISSED!
I was out proper early at 7am this morning, as Sarah is working in London today so I followed her out. This also means that when I arrive home with no cuddles, kisses or coffee I have to make my ‘Protein French Toast’. I use a carton of egg whites (50 grams of protein but they are smelly, and Sarah isn’t a fan of the smell so I save them for when she’s in London! There isn’t a photo of them as they are not pretty and look like 3 pieces of toast has crashed into some eggs with blood every where (well sugar free maple farm grove syrup). You wouldn’t think I could make such devastation with just 3 ingredients, lol! π€£ I’m thankful for the 65 grams of protein and just 650 calories! πͺπΌ
The trail was very quiet this morning, I think going out extra early kept every one away. Either way it meant that the blinding sun wasn’t quite fully awake yet, so I could go out and enjoy the walk…I’m thankful for that! π
I couldn’t get this Robin Mark song out of my head πΆ “Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King…His love endures forever. For He is good, He is above all things, his love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise!β πΆ but as it’s ‘Thankful Thursday’ I couldn’t ask for a better song to be singing around the trail. π
I’m super thankful that I can now get around 1 lap (2.6 miles, but it’s another 0.8 miles to and from my house) without completely collapsing when I get home. It’s only been about 2 months since I’ve been FitBlitzing the trails again, and I’m so happy it’s finally starting to get a little easier (I really didn’t want to use the word easier), but I’m also getting lighter which can only help! π
Give thanks with a grateful heart…
How might you pause to give thanks today, whether it’s through a prayer, a bible verse that jumps out at you, a walk in nature, or a quiet moment of reflection? π€
A Biblical Blessing:..π
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Please take a couple of minutes and listen to this audio I’ve just created with Text2Speech and give me your feedback?! I won’t say anymore as I’d like to hear what you think of Bruce THE Boxer your Boxercise Instructor. π€
Attention! Eyes front, you slobber-snouted slackers! WELCOME TO THE PAIN PALACE!
This is Bruce THE Boxer, your no-nonsense, quad-pumpin Boxercise Instructor with paws of steel. Todayβs drill is gonna have your teeth clenched and your muscles SCREAMING.
DRILL #3: TUG Oβ WAR 𧨠Listen up recruits, this ainβt no playtime fluff-fest. This is battle. One-on-one, tooth-to-hand combat. You. Versus. The human. Weapon of choice? Anything you can clamp between your teeth without destroying the house.
OBJECTIVE: Engage the enemy (your human) in an all-out tugging war! I used my legendary plastic sausage link, Sarah never stood a chance. But you can grab a rope toy, old towel or even a knotted sock if thatβs all youβve got. Just NO biting limbs, no matter how tempting their flappy arms are. Weβre warriors, not wild animals (Wellβ¦a few of you are).
WHY TUG Oβ WAR? Because this drill is no joke…Youβll be building: πͺ Jaw strength πͺ Neck power πͺ Shoulder and back muscles forged in fire πͺ Mental grit…cause youβre in it to WIN IT!
You think your humanβs doing all the work? WRONG. Theyβll be sweating, panting and begging you to stop. Good, thatβs the point…Make them EARN your respect.
PRO TIP: While tugging, growl like a beast. It strikes fear and builds morale. And if your toy explodes mid-battle? Even better…victory is messy.
I canβt remember who won the last bout between me and Sarah? (Pause for dramatic sniff). Actually, YES I CAN. IT WAS ME…ALWAYS ME. πΎ
So grab your weapon, square up and TUG like your reputation depends on it..Because it DOES. See you in the next drill, warriors. Until then…STAY HUNGRY and STAY DANGEROUS…DISMISSED!
Yay it’s raining! I’m thankful for the rain (keeping the nature reserve lush, my Cagoule (keeping me dry) and for the ‘Monochrome’ filter on my photos (Dayle will like these shots, lol!). I put the ‘Monochrome’ filter on the photos each time it rains! π
There’s something calming about hearing the rain hit your hood, the leaves and the path, and as there were not many people out today…It was a lovely walk. Now that’s something else to be thankful for. π
I also want to give the biggest thanks to God. Without Him, none of this would be possible. From the refreshing rain to the peaceful path, from the strength in my legs to the joy in my heart…It’s all His gift. I’m also very thankful for my old trail shoes (I didnβt want to get the new HOKA Speedgoats wet, lol), and they walked me around 1 lap today. And of course there’s my lovely Wife Sarah, who does so many things (behind the scenes) I can’t thank her enough for making this all happen! β€οΈ
Give thanks with a grateful heart…
How might you pause to give thanks today, whether it’s through a prayer, a bible verse that jumps out at you, a walk in nature, or a quiet moment of reflection? π€
A Biblical Blessing:..π
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This is Bruce THE Boxer, your barking, burpee-loving Boxercise instructor, and todayβs drill is gonna launch you into orbit!
TODAYβS MISSION: “GETTING AIR!“
No, you ainβt Michael Jordan. You ainβt pulling backflips off a BMX half-pipe. But starting today…You’ll learn to fly!
Your objective is simple… Jump higher, faster and harder. And donβt you dare stop until you’re getting eye-level with the ceiling fan, or at least matching your own height (Yes, even if you’re 3ft tall with paws the size of tennis balls). I donβt care…JUMP!
Why are we doing this? Because weβre building those fast-twitch muscle fibres, the ones made for power, strength and explosive action. No slow, lazy sloth-muscled fluff here, this is plyometric warfare, and itβs your ticket to becoming a lean, mean air-snatching machine.
Fast-twitch = More gains. More gains = More strength. More strength = You looking like the top dog of the street pack. π₯
DRILL INSTRUCTIONS: βοΈ Jump as high as you can, keep those knees tucked and land like a ninja. βοΈ Rest? NEVER heard of her. βοΈ Compete with your human. Beat them. Dominate them. Impress them (Treats may follow).
Wanna know how itβs done? Check out the photo above, thatβs me, mid-flight on Old Hunstanton beach. I jumped so high I lost the beach…I donβt even know where Norfolk went!
Now MOVE IT! Donβt let gravity win…Make the ground fear your return. Boxercise isnβt for the faint-hearted, itβs for warriors who can FLY. Now get out there and earn your air…Class dismissed!
Just like last ‘Thankful Thursday’ the first thing I want to give thanks for is my lovely Wife Sarah. Before I head out to the trail, she always makes me a lovely fresh black espresso, gives me a big hug and tells me how much she loves me…Wow! ββ€οΈ
It was a tough one today, and I must have looked like a crazy man (yes more than usual, lol) as I was laughing to myself as I couldn’t believe my legs were not wanting to behave. They were like a stroppy teenager not wanting to move! π€£ I know my youthful/puppy dog mind keeps writing cheques my old overweight body can’t cash…But eventually after about a mile, my legs finally conformed, and I gave them a huge thanks! πͺπΌ
Audio Beacon ‘The Crossroads…
As I approach this audio beacon, the verse from Jeremiah 6:16 always springs to mind. It says “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls”. I always need to turn left to stay on the good path and stay on my lap, and being out on the trail always gives rest to my soul! π
Give thanks with a grateful heart…
How might you pause to give thanks today, whether it’s through a prayer, a bible verse that jumps out at you, a walk in nature, or a quiet moment of reflection? π€
A Biblical Blessing:..π
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Oh no…Sarah has deployed ‘Drill Sergeant Bruce THE Boxer’ to help me get in shape for my ‘Steve‘s The BIG 50‘ challenge. It’s been 4 years since Bruce THE Boxer shared his Boxercise classes on here…But this time he isn’t messing around, he’s taken on the Drill Sergent roll like ‘Gunnery Sergeant Hartman’ from the Full Metal Jacket movie from the 1980’s! Sarah says Bruce has 50 posts (sessions) to fit with my challenge, so we all better get ready! π¨
“ATTENTION, Recruits!”
I’m ‘Bruce THE Boxer‘ your new Boxercise Instructor. Make no mistake, I donβt do soft cuddles and belly rubs…I doΒ results. Over the nextΒ 50 sessions, Iβll be dishing out Boxercise drills right here onΒ iChristian, and you better be ready to sweat, grunt andΒ EARNΒ your fitness stripes.
When the first class drops…The destruction of laziness starts! If you’re looking to torch fat, build muscle harder than a frozen chew toy and learn the basics of battle-fuel nutrition…Then report to class, soldier!
WHOβS THIS FOR?
EVERYONE! Young pups, old hounds, mutts, purebreds, humans of all shapes, sizes and sofa-dwelling tendencies (like Steve). I don’t care what you are. If youβve got a pulse and a will to fight, youβre in. This is for beginners, families, lone wolves βand yes, even cats…If they dare! No excuses and No whining.
WHAT YOU NEED:
A bottle (or bowl) of water, youβll be dripping sweat like a bulldog in the Sahara.
A warriorβs mindset. Iβm here to push you, not pamper you.
And yeah, a sense of fun. Because pain is just weakness leaving the body,
So square up, eyes front and paws ready, as this is going to hurt!
Thought I’d photobomb your usual photo and say Hi! π
Hi Fitblitzers.
Wow, that was hard. I want to give thanks to the Lord for showing me that my stamina is rubbish, lol, and I need to build it up if I want to do more than 5K. !
my next challenge idea…π€
For the last few weeks since I’ve been back on the trail, I’ve been having random thoughts about #BlindSteve’s 7th challenge. I was thinking I’d like to do a music/Guitar challenge of some kind, but the number 50 kept dominating my thoughts. After a few weeks of trying to think of every challenge possible…The number 50 kept coming back!
the big 50…
Yesterday on the trail everything shifted into place, and the number 50 won’t come around again…So here is my idea and please let me know what you think as you know I’m like a moth to a flame on focusing on fundraising challenges close to my heart! I wrote a draft yesterday for my JustGiving fundraising page (not set up yet) and wondered what you think?
The Big 50!
Hi, Iβm Steve (#BlindSteve), and on Sunday 1st March 2026 Iβll be taking on the biggest challenge of my life!
Iβll be walking 50K in one day, to raise funds for the MS Society.
But this isnβt just about me managing this walk as a blind manβ¦Itβs about love, loss and giving hope.
π A month that changed everythingβ¦
My mum was just 50 years old when she died, after a courageous battle against Multiple Sclerosis. That same month, I was registered blind, it was the hardest month of my lifeβ¦. I lost my mum and my sight within weeks.
That double blow changed me forever. But it also gave me a deep compassion for others living with daily battles and a strong sense of purpose.
π£ BIG 50 challenge
This year I turned 50 and I want to do something big to honour my mumβs memory, doing something that will challenge me to my limits and help give hope to others living with MS.
So Iβve set myself a monumental challengeβ¦
To walk 50K in one day in an ultra-trail marathon
To lose 50 lbs in the seven months Iβll be training for this event
To do it at 50 (the age my mum was when she died)
Raising funds for MS research
Iβll be walking my 50K on a trail around Epsom Common,. Iβll do it all in a single day, pushing through the pain, the fatigue and the challenge of not being able to see the trail Iβm walking on.
Because no matter how hard it gets, itβs nothing compared to what my mum, and thousands like her, go through, every day, with MS.
𧑠A Legacy of actionβ¦
Iβve already left a gift in my will to the MS Society to help them fund future breakthroughs in treatments, care and support. But I also want to give now! Because MS is devastating families today, and hope is needed now more than ever!
π Walk with meβ¦
This walk is about more than fitness. Itβs about remembrance. Itβs about transformation. Itβs about turning pain into purpose, and love into action.
Iβll be walking blind and on my own. But I wonβt walk alone.
Iβll carry my mumβs memory with me every step. And I hope youβll walk with me in spirit by joining me in this challenge, whether itβs through a donation, sharing my story or offering words of encouragement, youβll help amplify the impact of my walk.
Together, we can bring hope to those living with MS today, and help create a better future for them tomorrow.
Thanks for walking along this journey with me.
With love and determination,
Steve (#BlindSteve)
A Biblical Blessing:..π
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Hi FitBlitz Friends! . Now these bad boys will really put the ‘Motivation’ in to Mondays walk, lol! π€£ This morning me and my lovely wife Sarah visited Fitstuff (running specialists) in Guildford, Surrey, UK, to buy some more trail shoes now I’m back FitBlitzing again, and to help me with my determination to lose the 50 pounds I need to! Yes that’s 50 pounds now I’m 50 years old! πͺπΌ
I tried around 6 pairs of shoes, all different makes and styles…And these ones fit perfect with just the right amount of cushioning, grip and weight. I can’t have too much cushioning as I need to feel the trail, as I’m blind I use my feet lots to help guide me around along with my Soundscape app. π
Sarah’s stupendous Oat & Almond Fruit Protein Pancakes…
I seriously can’t describe how tasty these protein pancakes are…They should be banned, lol! These are Sarah’s custom make (top secret recipe) pancakes. All she told me is that she’s used oat flour, Almond flour and Whey Isolate for extra protein boost! I then add zero fat greek yogurt and after Sarah’s covered them with zingy fruit…I add the special Grove Farm sugar free Maple Syrup (diabetic friendly) which is only 9 calories per 2 table spoons! π²
I can’t wait to get out on the trail with my new Speedgoats, and also eat more of those stupendous pancakes…Losing weight has never tasted so good! πͺπΌ π
The first thing I want to give thanks for is my lovely Wife Sarah. Before I head out to the trail, she always gives me cuddles, kisses and coffee (a lovely fresh black espresso)…And just when I think she couldn’t get any more amazing, she makes me an iced coffee when I return, as it’s the start of a 5 day heatwave! π²
As I was zombie shuffling along the back of the lap after the ponds, I was giving thanks as there were not many people out today which makes my walks much much better…It’s sounds very anti-social butto me they are not people, cyclists, runners or dog walkers…They are seriously dangerous obstacles! π€£
Also when me and Sarah walked around my lap to see if it was safe for me to start Fitblitzing again…A small part of my lap was closed. But I tentativley shuffled along expecting to hit something, and to my surprise it was all open again, yay! Once I was clear and the audio beacon had called out this location I turned around and took the photo above…I’m very happy it’s back open and I can do my proper lap again! Plenty of thanks here to the rangers and local volunteers who keep this place beautiful! π
Audio Beacon ‘The sunshine bench’…
I always smile when I hear ‘The Sunshine Bench’ audio beacon, as it’s Sarah’s favourite bench as it always seems to be in the sun. And it always takes me back to my ‘Ultra Trail Marathon‘ walk I did for the MS Society, as Sarah was sitting on here waiting to jump up and take photos of me. I still can’t believe I did that!
How might you pause to give thanks today, whether it’s through a prayer, a walk in nature, or a quiet moment of reflection? π€
A Biblical Blessing:..π
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This has got to be one of my fave posts every year. Not only because it’s all about God and my lovely Wife Sarah, but it’s such a blessing and a reminder to count my blessings with this tremendous gift of marriage that God has given us.
Hi all! Each time our wedding anniversary comes round, i canβt believe how much our marriage has grown more and more fruitful. Our love keeps blossoming through every season…And i always thank God for my lovely wife Sarah!! β€οΈ
One of the things i say all of the time is ‘Think Bigger’. This is mainly about someone’s view about God, or their view on a situation that they see as only subjective…But i thought i could never love Sarah more than i did on our wedding day, and somehow (no idea how) my love grows bigger and bigger each year! God seems to say to me ‘Think Bigger’ and opens my heart just a little bit more every wedding anniversary!
I’ll carry my Princess anywhere she wants to go!
Striving to be a Godly husbandβ¦
I strive daily to love Sarah biblically and extravagantly, but to love her biblically i always first ask βWhat is Godβs love for us like?β
God’s Word…π
Husbands, you must love your wives so deeply, purely, and sacrificially that we can understand it only when we compare it to the love that Jesus Christ has for His bride, the church..
βLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never failsβ¦β β1 Corinthians 13:4β8
Our Prayer…π
Father God, Thank You for the gift and design of marriage. Nothing has brought greater joy to me than the spouse You created for me. Because You designed my marriage and are the author, perfector, and the foundation of marriage, I bring us before You today to bless this bond. In a world that has twisted what marriage is intended to reflect, in a world that tries to tear at the very fabric of our union, we ask that You continue to keep our eyes wide open to the enemyβs tactics, strategies, and distractions. May we always fight for our marriage and each other. Today, we come before and ask that You bless our marriage…Amen.
A Godly Marriage Post…
The post (below) on marriage is beautiful and is writen far better than anything i can come up with, lol…So i hope you enjoy it as much as me! π
Marriage is meant to be a miniature of Heaven–a fragment of the celestial blessedness, let down into this world.
Marriage is meant to be a little sanctuary, into which husband and wife may flee from earth’s storms and dangers, where in love’s shelter, their hearts fed with affection’s daily bread–they may dwell in quiet peace.
Marriage is meant to be a shelter in which, covered from the frosts of the world and shielded from its cold and tempests–two lives may grow together into richest beauty, realizing their sweetest dreams of happiness, blending in whatever things are true, whatever things are pure, and attaining the finest possibilities of godly character.
Marriage is meant to be a holy ark, floating on the wild floods of human life–like Noah’s ark on the deluge, bearing to Heaven’s gates, to the harbor of glory–the lives which God has shut within its doors.
A godly marriage is a little nook in the very heart of God, where faithful souls are held close to the Father’s heart, and carried safely, amid dangers and sorrows, to the home above!
This has got to be one of my fave posts every year. Not only because it’s all about God and my lovely Wife Sarah, but it’s such a blessing and a reminder to count my blessings with this tremendous gift of marriage that God has given us both.
One of the things i say all of the time is ‘Think Bigger’. This is mainly about someone’s view about God, or their view on a situation that they see as only subjective…But i thought i could never love Sarah more than i did on our wedding day, and somehow (no idea how) my love grows bigger and bigger each year! God seems to say to me ‘Think Bigger’ and opens my heart just a little bit more every wedding anniversary! π π
Hi all! Each time our wedding anniversary comes round, i canβt believe how much our marriage has grown more and more fruitful. Our love keeps blossoming through every season…And i always thank God for my lovely wife Sarah!! β€οΈ Oh and i just had to show you the wedding cake…Unfortunately i didn’t have one made again for this anniversary, lol! π€£
Our Wedding Cake…Mmmmm! π
Striving to be a Godly husbandβ¦
I strive daily to love Sarah biblically and extravagantly, but to love her biblically i always first ask βWhat is Godβs love for us like?β
God’s Word…π
Husbands, you must love your wives so deeply, purely, and sacrificially that we can understand it only when we compare it to the love that Jesus Christ has for His bride, the church..
βLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never failsβ¦β β1 Corinthians 13:4β8
Our engraved wedding rings!
Our Prayer…π
Father God, Thank You for the gift and design of marriage. Nothing has brought greater joy to me than the spouse You created for me. Because You designed my marriage and are the author, perfector, and the foundation of marriage, I bring us before You today to bless this bond. In a world that has twisted what marriage is intended to reflect, in a world that tries to tear at the very fabric of our union, we ask that You continue to keep our eyes wide open to the enemyβs tactics, strategies, and distractions. May we always fight for our marriage and each other. Today, we come before and ask that You bless our marriage…Amen.
A Godly Marriage Post…
The post (below) on marriage is beautiful and is writen far better than anything i can come up with, lol…So i hope you enjoy it as much as me! π
Marriage is meant to beΒ a miniature of Heaven–a fragment of the celestial blessedness, let down into this world.Β
Marriage is meant to beΒ a little sanctuary, into which husband and wife may flee from earth’s storms and dangers, where in love’s shelter, their hearts fed with affection’s daily bread–they may dwell in quiet peace.Β
Marriage is meant to beΒ a shelterΒ in which, covered from the frosts of the world and shielded from its cold and tempests–two lives may grow together into richest beauty, realizing their sweetest dreams of happiness, blending in whatever things are true, whatever things are pure, and attaining the finest possibilities of godly character.Β
Marriage is meant to beΒ a holy ark, floating on the wild floods of human life–like Noah’s ark on the deluge, bearing to Heaven’s gates, to the harbor of glory–the lives which God has shut within its doors.Β
A godly marriage isΒ a little nook in the very heart of God, where faithful souls are held close to the Father’s heart, and carried safely, amid dangers and sorrows, to the home above!
Me and my lovely Wife Sarah (The Blind Sightseers) were chatting today about what i’d like to do for my 50th birthday next April 2025? I mentioned that i’d never been to America and i’d love to go there one day. Sarah said that she’d also love to go to America and we both talked about maybe Florida?!
I said i’d write this post to ask all of you amazing people about what you guys thought about ‘The Blind Sightseers’ travelling Stateside? Can you guys think of where we could visit, places to go and see and points of interest we could explore? I’m thinking of Florida at the moment but i’m open to any other ideas too? I’ve heard of the enormous crocodiles, snakes and spiders over there…And this could only make the adventure more exciting if we survived, lol! π€£
Please could you leave a comment with all of your thoughts as i’d love to hear them…I’m getting excited already! π
The beautiful Benagil caves in the Algarve taken from our RIB boat tour!
Hi WordPress Family…
Me and my lovely Wife Sarah (The Blind Sightseers) have not forgotten you…We’ve just had the chance to celebrate both of our birthdays in the Algarve, Portugal, our first holiday in 5 years!! π
We have taken lots of photos for our amazing memories, and i hope you can enjoy them too?! Here are a few i’ve managed to edit for a little taster until i can post more as i edit them. π
Our holiday doesn’t properly start until Sarah has her feet on the beach!My lovely Wife Sarah at Vilamoura marina, Portugal.Me & Sarah sat at the front of the RIB boat on our tour of the Benagil caves!Wow a dolphin! π²
On our boat trip to the caves we stopped to see some dolphins. Sarah was saying that the dolphins were popping up everywhere…I whipped out my camera and randomly clicked, i didn’t dream i’d ever catch one in my shot, lol! π² β€οΈ
π Father, I simply want to thank you for my wife. You have blessed me with a woman that knows you and loves you. She challenges me to be a better man and encourages me to love better. I pray that I can love and cherish her like the gift she is. The gift you have given me, Amen.
Carrying My Princess…
I thank God everyday for Sarah as i know i donβt deserve her, but God never seems to stop expressing His love! β€οΈ
I’m giving thanks today for creating 4 more audio beacons, and that i arrived home safely without any damage or dramas! I did 4.49 miles whilst the sun was out blitzing my eyeballs so only a small headache from my walk…Which is a painful win as it could’ve been much worse! π
I now have 37 audio beacons (31 on my 1 lap course) as i’m trying to create my ‘Figure Of 8 Scalextric’ 5 mile lap which will help mix it up a bit. I lost all of my audio beacons when the Soundscape app was canceled…But now it’s back up and running (which i’m also thankful for) i have to create all of my beacons from scratch! I only have one more section to create to complete the figure of 8 which i’ll try and finish tomorrow! πͺπΌ π
What are you giving thanks for today? π
Inspirational Lyrics: Ronbin Mark
πΆ “Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King…His love endures forever. For He is good, He is above all things, his love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise!β πΆ
The photo i managed to take above is of the top bigger pond on my trail. I was adding some audio beacons when i thought i’d take this photo for you. This top pond is up some steps (or a different path) which is off my usual lap, but today i was on a mission to add more markers…Which i managed and added 6 more audio beacons to my lap for a total of 35 waypoint audio beacons! πͺπΌ
I didn’t want to let you down either so i took a photo of the smaller stew pond as this is the one i walk past everyday! I take a daily photo for you, as i can’t see it so i hope you can enjoy the changes through the seasons as it goes from grey to green! π
Motivational Quote:..πͺπΌ
βI donβt stop when Iβm tired, I stop when Iβm DONE!β
From Sight Village, guitars and supercars, what a journey…So Far!! πͺπΌ π
Β This weekend we’re celebrating a brobdingnagian 19 years since the ‘Blind Sightseers’ first met at Sight Village, Birmingham, UK. We’ve been simply stunned how God has joined us together with the incredible love we thought we’d never find, taken us to places we thought we could never go…And He always gives beyond anything we can imagine…And it’s not over yet??!!! π² π
Our Journey in Photos…π
2004; Two Souls Entwine…
2005: Weymouth, UK…
2006: Heacham, Norfolk, UK…
2007 – The Big Day!
2008: Old Hunstanton, Norfolk UK…
2009: VIP Hot Air Balloon Flight…
2010:..3rd Wedding Anniversary…
2011: Friday Street, Surrey, UK…
2012: Castle Rising Castle, Norfolk, UK…
Me & Sarah Worshiping with music to the Lord
2013: 6th Wedding Anniversary…
2014: Florence, Italy…
2015: Saint Kitts, Caribbean…
2016: Caribbean Cruise…
2017: Greek Islands…
2022
2018: Tough Mudder & Barbados…
2019
2019: The Unimog, Bonaire & Barbados…
2020: Trail Snow & Ultra Step Challenge…
2021: Doughnuts & Football…
2022: Lamborghini & Ferrari Drive…
Sarah in the Lamborghini Gallardo 5.0L V10 in 2022 π
Steve (me) in the Ferrari F430 Spider 4.3L V8 in 2022 π
Here is ‘Bruce THE Boxer’ 14 th July 2000 – 3rd Dec 2011. He was my 1 and only dog and such a character, i still miss him now (yes he’s the furry angel from my testimony) and love keeping his memory alive with these legacy photos i’d taken! Hope you enjoy meeting him?! πΎ
Today whilst i was walking around the 2 laps, i started to think about this post i was going to write and the title ‘Thankful Thursday’. So i thought i’d start listing the things i was thankful for off the top of my head. 1st i was thankful that today (after 13 days of the challenge) it was actually overcast which is fantastic for my sight and walking, 2nd i was thankful for another day with my lovely Wife Sarah, 3rd i was thankful that God holds together all things including my legs that are getting me around these 6 miles etc, 4th i was thankful for you guys…Then i thought hang on if i start listing everything it’s going to be way too long and you’ll all block me, lol! π€£
I think your getting the idea of this post, and i hope you can find things to be thankful for, even if it’s a really challenging time or your not in the mood.
Oh and thanks to Robin Mark for the song i always like to sing -πΆ “Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King…His love endures forever. For He is good, He is above all things, his love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise!β πΆπ π€πΈπ₯
Day 13/92 Step Challenge ‘Theme…Animals’
Yay…This blindman can dip into my ‘Blind Photographer’ archive and show you some of my fave ‘Animals’ from my adventures. Getting these shots was an amazing lesson in patience, lol…Especially as i couldn’t see the subject…Thanks to digital photography for lettting me delete thousands of images, lol!
Oh, i also want to write a second post (coming later today) another ‘Animals’ theme with my 1 and only dog i had – “Bruce THE Boxer”…Yeah he’s the ‘furry angel’ from ‘My Testimony’. πͺπΌ π
Please let me know which one/ones you like the best?? π€
Motivational Quote:..πͺπΌ
βI donβt stop when Iβm tired, I stop when Iβm DONE!β
Today i actually had a more relaxing walk, as the theme today is ‘Trees’, now this is a theme i can do as i bore you to death with photos of trees everyday, lol! π€£
Day 12/92 Step Challenge ‘Theme…Trees’ π³
Yay, let this blindman show you around my 3 mile trail lap today, and you can see all of the ‘Trees’ i walk past every day but can’t see them, lol! Hope you have a lovely time joining me walking through this beautiful local nature reserve?! π³
Motivational Quote:..πͺπΌ
βI donβt stop when Iβm tired, I stop when Iβm DONE!β
Yay for the clouds…Well at least the first lap was better for me, until the sun blazed my brain on lap 2. Either way i managed both laps today and got my daily 6 miles in for the step challenge! πͺπΌ
The trail was nice and quiet too, so after 11 days i still haven’t been savaged by dogs, torn flesh on thorns and stinging bushes, flattened by cyclists etc…I’m not used to not having any dramas as yet, lol! π€£
Now it’s time to check i’m still in tune from last week, or do i just need to tweak?!
EADGBE…πͺπΌ
E – Endurance – Tortoise NOT Hare, lol! π€£
A – Activity Rings – I use apple watch so i need to close my daily rings.
D – Deficit – Make sure i’m in a healthy calorie deficit each day until healthy weight.
G – Goals – Focus on my many lifetime goals.
B – Body – Listen to my body and look after it (it’s not young anymore, lol).
E – Edification – Pretty much help and improves everything, lol! π€£
Day 11/92 Step Challenge ‘Theme…Triangles’
As part of my 92 day step challenge the Diabetes UK facebook group posts a different theme each day, and here’s mine…
Yay, Friday was me & Sarah’s 16th wedding anniversary, and i’ve been dying to show you guys my present but didn’t have the theme…Until now!!!
Check out the ‘Triangles’ on this bad boy!! I love the shark teeth fret inlays!
Motivational Quote:..πͺπΌ
βI donβt stop when Iβm tired, I stop when Iβm DONE!β
Hi all! Each time our wedding anniversary comes round, i canβt believe how much our marriage has grown more and more fruitful. Our love keeps blossoming through every season…And i always thank God for my lovely wife Sarah!! β€οΈ Oh and i just had to show you the wedding cake…Unfortunately i didn’t have one made again for this anniversary, lol! π€£
Our Wedding Cake…Mmmmm! π
Striving to be a Godly husbandβ¦
I strive daily to love Sarah biblically and extravagantly, but to love her biblically i always first ask βWhat is Godβs love for us like?β
God’s Word…π
Husbands, you must love your wives so deeply, purely, and sacrificially that we can understand it only when we compare it to the love that Jesus Christ has for His bride, the church..
βLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never failsβ¦β β1 Corinthians 13:4β8
Our Prayer…π
Father God, Thank You for the gift and design of marriage. Nothing has brought greater joy to me than the spouse You created for me. Because You designed my marriage and are the author, perfector, and the foundation of marriage, I bring us before You today to bless this bond. In a world that has twisted what marriage is intended to reflect, in a world that tries to tear at the very fabric of our union, we ask that You continue to keep our eyes wide open to the enemyβs tactics, strategies, and distractions. May we always fight for our marriage and each other. Today, we come before and ask that You bless our marriage…Amen.
A Godly Marriage Post…
The post (below) on marriage is beautiful and is writen far better than anything i can come up with, lol…So i hope you enjoy it as much as me! π
Marriage is meant to be a miniature of Heaven–a fragment of the celestial blessedness, let down into this world.
Marriage is meant to be a little sanctuary, into which husband and wife may flee from earth’s storms and dangers, where in love’s shelter, their hearts fed with affection’s daily bread–they may dwell in quiet peace.
Marriage is meant to be a shelter in which, covered from the frosts of the world and shielded from its cold and tempests–two lives may grow together into richest beauty, realizing their sweetest dreams of happiness, blending in whatever things are true, whatever things are pure, and attaining the finest possibilities of godly character.
Marriage is meant to be a holy ark, floating on the wild floods of human life–like Noah’s ark on the deluge, bearing to Heaven’s gates, to the harbor of glory–the lives which God has shut within its doors.
A godly marriage is a little nook in the very heart of God, where faithful souls are held close to the Father’s heart, and carried safely, amid dangers and sorrows, to the home above!
“Diabetes is relentless and simply never stopsβ¦But neither do I!” – Blind Steve πͺπΌ
Hi iChristian Family!!
The blindman is off the sidelines againβ¦And while God gives me the strength in my legsβ¦iβll use them for doing crazy fundraising challenges to help others! I really didn’t want to fill this blog with annoying fundraising asks, as my last fundraiser ‘Trail Marathon‘ was only in April 2022…But you know me…And when i stumbled across this ‘One Million Step Challenge’ and found it was for Diabetes UK i just had to do something!
For the last 18 years since meeting my ‘T1D Warrior Wife Sarah’, i’ve always wanted to be a ‘Sarah’s Walking Warrior’ and raise money for Diabetes…So here is the 4th ‘Blind Steve’ fundraising challenge…πͺπΌ
Below is the story taken from my fundraising page…
Support Blind Steve in the Diabetes UK – One Million Step Challenge
Diabetes is relentless and simply never stopsβ¦But neither do I!
For the last 18 years iβve seen first hand how my lovely wife Sarah battles, struggles and copes with her βbrittle Type 1β diabetes. She’s such a warrior and is truly my inspiration on perseverance, determination and drive to keep fighting.
So last week, when I heard of the βOne Million Step Challengeβ i had to sign up straight away. Iβve always wanted to fundraise for Diabetes UK and show Sarah how much it means to me too, and this is my chance!
I realise this challenge has already started (running from 1st July to 30th September 2022). Requiring participants to walk a million steps over those three months. My cunning plan is to start the challenge on Monday 1st August and try and walk the one million steps in two months instead! This works out at over 16,000 steps each day, for the 61 days, without a rest
Type 1 diabetes never gives Sarah a rest, so I donβt want to have one either during my fundraising challengeβ¦The nature reserve trail is going to get a pounding again, lol! π€£
Quick Factoid…
Did you know someone is diagnosed with diabetes every two minutes? As many as 4.8 million people are living with diabetes in the UK right now.
So if youβre feeling inspired…Please hit the donate button and support my stepping challenge. Every step and every donation counts. Join me and let’s help everybody living with diabetes. For all the mums, dads, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents, and best friends, creating a world where diabetes can do no harm.
Let’s get this party started!! π As 1 Million steps is around 500 miles, i’ve already donated 5p per mile (Β£25.00)β¦It’s going to be a really tough challenge and it’s the furthest i”ve ever walked…But i’ve got to do the steps now!!
Every penny given will go towards Diabetes UK care and support services, advice and guidance, and pioneering research. Together, we’re changing the world for people with diabetes.
From ‘Sight Village’ To ‘Supercars’, what a journey…So Far!! πͺπΌ π
Β This weekend we’re celebrating a brobdingnagian 18 years since the ‘Blind Sightseers’ first met at Sight Village, Birmingham, UK. We’ve been simply stunned how God has joined us together with the incredible love we thought we’d never find, taken us to places we thought we could never go…And He always gives beyond anything we can imagine…And it’s not over yet??!!! π² π
Our Journey in Photos…π
2004; Two Souls Entwine…
2005: Weymouth, UK…
2006: Heacham, Norfolk, UK…
2007 – The Big Day!
2008: Old Hunstanton, Norfolk UK…
2009: VIP Hot Air Balloon Flight…
2010:..3rd Wedding Anniversary…
2011: Friday Street, Surrey, UK…
2012: Castle Rising Castle, Norfolk, UK…
Me & Sarah Worshiping with music to the Lord
2013: 6th Wedding Anniversary…
2014: Florence, Italy…
2015: Saint Kitts, Caribbean…
2016: Caribbean Cruise…
2017: Greek Islands…
2022
2018: Tough Mudder & Barbados…
2019
2019: The Unimog, Bonaire & Barbados…
2020: Trail Snow & Ultra Step Challenge…
2021: Doughnuts & Football…
2022: Lamborghini & Ferrari Drive…
Sarah in the Lamborghini Gallardo 5.0L V10 in 2022 π
Steve (me) in the Ferrari F430 Spider 4.3L V8 in 2022 π
Hi all! Each time our wedding anniversary comes round, i canβt believe how much our marriage has grown more and more fruitful. Our love keeps blossoming through every season…And i always thank God for my lovely wife Sarah!! β€οΈ Oh and i just had to show you the wedding cake…Unfortunately i didn’t have one made again for this anniversary, lol! π€£
Our Wedding Cake…Mmmmm! π
Striving to be a Godly husbandβ¦
I strive daily to love Sarah biblically and extravagantly, but to love her biblically i always first ask βWhat is Godβs love for us like?βΒ
God’s Word…π
Husbands, you must love your wives so deeply, purely, and sacrificially that we can understand it only when we compare it to the love that Jesus Christ has for His bride, the church..
βLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never failsβ¦β β1 Corinthians 13:4β8
Our Prayer…π
Father God, Thank You for the gift and design of marriage. Nothing has brought greater joy to me than the spouse You created for me. Because You designed my marriage and are the author, perfector, and the foundation of marriage, I bring us before You today to bless this bond. In a world that has twisted what marriage is intended to reflect, in a world that tries to tear at the very fabric of our union, we ask that You continue to keep our eyes wide open to the enemyβs tactics, strategies, and distractions. May we always fight for our marriage and each other. Today, we come before and ask that You bless our marriage…Amen.
A Godly Marriage Post…
The post (below) on marriage is beautiful and is writen far better than anything i can come up with, lol…So i hope you enjoy it as much as me! π
Marriage is meant to beΒ a miniature of Heaven–a fragment of the celestial blessedness, let down into this world.Β
Marriage is meant to beΒ a little sanctuary, into which husband and wife may flee from earth’s storms and dangers, where in love’s shelter, their hearts fed with affection’s daily bread–they may dwell in quiet peace.Β
Marriage is meant to beΒ a shelterΒ in which, covered from the frosts of the world and shielded from its cold and tempests–two lives may grow together into richest beauty, realizing their sweetest dreams of happiness, blending in whatever things are true, whatever things are pure, and attaining the finest possibilities of godly character.Β
Marriage is meant to beΒ a holy ark, floating on the wild floods of human life–like Noah’s ark on the deluge, bearing to Heaven’s gates, to the harbor of glory–the lives which God has shut within its doors.Β
A godly marriage isΒ a little nook in the very heart of God, where faithful souls are held close to the Father’s heart, and carried safely, amid dangers and sorrows, to the home above!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!! It’s such an incredible blessing to share life with my lovely wife and best friend…And also to feel love, fun and joy grow more each year!! Thank you for blessing my life with yet another great birthday weekend celebration…And it’s not even my birthday…Well not until Friday, lol! π€£Β
Although it was Sarah’sΒ birthdayΒ yesterday (Monday), we spent the whole weekend celebrating and making the most of creating more memories together, including; hair salon, Turkish restaurant, walks through woods, planting 15 plants in the backΒ garden and much more!!Β β€οΈ
We had a great time over the 3 days, and although it may seem that we only ate food…Sitting down at the table was the only time we remembered to take any photos, lol! π€£Β
The Turkish Restaurant Birthday Meal…π²
Sarah’s Fantastic Birthday Cards…π
Sarah was blessed with lots of great cards too! π²
Sarah’s Birthday Carrot Cup Cakes…π
We bought 2 carrot cup cakes from Craddocks our local bakers! π
Hi friends. I’m simply stunned by all of the love and support from you guys so far, we’ve now reached a whopping 86%!! I also can’t believe there’s only 16 days until all of my hard work will be put to the test!!! π°
Thanks to Suzanne & Martin for completely shocking me with another donation (yes their second) this week!! Now my ‘Blindman’s Trail Marathon’ challenge has reached a colossal Β£860 (that’s Β£86 per lap) for the MS Society…I hope my mum would be proud?! I’d really love to hit my target and make it Β£100 per lap…Oh and it’s my birthday next ‘Fundraising Friday’ (15th) so not only will i be older so this trail marathon will be even harder for me, lol…But it’s a heads up as i may be asking for birthday donations to this fundraiser…What a birthday gift that’d be!! πͺπΌ π π§‘
The Donation…π§‘
Hi friends. Youβre never going to believe this?!! It was Saturday morning and my iPhone blasted out the muppets theme tune to notify me iβd received another donation!! After iβd stopped dancing, jumping up and down and stopped grinning until it hurt, i checked who it was fromβ¦Wow it was a SECOND (yes second) donation from our friends Suzanne and Martin who we were going to meet up for a meal this weekend but it was cancelled. I then checked the lovely message theyβd leftβ¦βA little top up Steve to a nice round figure! Congratulations on your training. As we couldnβt meet up this weekend hereβs the cost of pizza instead!! Not long now till the big event Steve. xxββ¦Well if thatβs not motivation i donβt know what is! πͺπΌ π
Let’s stop MS together! πͺπΌ
Donβt underestimate the impact of the money you are donating! Itβs so important and it really does make a difference; today, tomorrow and for generations to comeβ¦β€οΈ
in Just 16 days…The Trail marathon…Or me…Is going down!! π€£ πͺπΌ
Our mission is quite simple: we want to get more disabled and visually impaired people enjoying new, fun and exhilarating activities. We want to help people with disabilities feel confident that they can enjoy the same activities and life experiences as someone without a disability.
Β Hi readers!
Just guess how excited i am right now?? π€£
I have just stumbled onto the ablenet website and found this�
β§ All imagesΒ supplied by the ablenet facebook pageΒ β§Β
Are you ready for the drive of your life for an astonishing 6 miles each per Supercar?Β
If you love supercars and are visually impaired, our ‘3 Supercar Blind Driving Experience Super Thrill’ is an experience you won’t find anywhere else. It is the best way to get to you in your favourite supercars and experience the peed, and thrill, of a high-performance beast.
Yes, it is true.Β Whatever your level of visual impairment, you can drive a Supercar with Ablenet. All of the cars are automatic and a super skilled instructor will guide you around the track whilst having access to a footbrake should it be necessary.
So, whether itβs a Lamborghini, Ferrari F430 spider, Aston Martin DB9, Audi R8, Nissan GTR or Porsche 911/997, we put you with the largest fleet of cars in the UK for you to choose from.Β The hardest part is choosingβ¦
The great benefit to driving on a race circuit is feeling the pure power of an awesome car. You will be with a professional instructor who will teach you the art of driving.
The experience also includes a thrilling hot lap ride when the race driver will show you what a performance car can do around the circuit. Typically in a BMW M3 V8 saloon car or Vauxhall VXV8, both with 3 passengers.
Since going blind at 25 (21 years ago) iβve been waiting for someone to give the blind a truly accessible experience like the ones ablenet offer! Iβve always said βi can still driveβ¦I just canβt see where iβm goingβ. π€£Β
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Iβve always loved cars as when i was fully sighted i worked in a bodyshop as a panel beater and used to customise cars etcβ¦Even my own! My dad, uncles and my cousins have always been mechanics in the motor trade so iβve grown up with cars too. So when i stumbled onto their website, i just exploded with passion to drive a supercar or 3, lol!Β
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Sorry for sounding like a group b rally car βtoo much raw power with little containmentββ¦But getting involved and trying out all of the experiences on the ablenet website is like a dream come true for me. π Β Β
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OtherΒ experiences for the visually impaired by ablenet…
Flying a plane, diving with sharks, shooting, archery,Β skiing, indoor sky diving and much moreβ¦Wow i think me and Sarah are going to have some fearful fun!Β π€£πͺπΌΒ π¨Β
Hi allβ¦This is my first post from my βFrom The Archivesβ series, i hope you enjoy reading some of theΒ classics, lol?! πΒ
The Finish Line…
As a blind gamer, i was excited to be recommended(by my brother) a brand new racing game called βProject Carsβ for the PS4. Iβm able to attempt to play a few racing games, If they include Grand Prix tracks, i can often remember each corner from my sighted gaming days, playing F1 97 etc.Β
When i sat down to play for 15 minutes last night, i was surprised to be taught a lesson on being over zealous, while lacking wisdom! π
β§ Screenshot of my 1980 Capri (Group 5 β Team Zakspeed) β§Β
I chose the rather extreme Capri to drive and chose a familiar track. After leaving the pits i span off on nearly every corner as my tyres were cold and not up to race temperatures. An influx of thoughts filled my mind,β¦.
Over Zealous…
It reminded me of when i first became a Christian and first had revelation of the Truth when reading the Bible. I couldnβt believe what i was reading, and how it described meβ¦yes me! I then did what normally happens, and become over zealous like a screaming twin turbo engine and had to tell everyone, and point out the right and wrongs with everything and everyone around me!Β
I was making a lot of noise and using a lot of power and energy, Β but was lacking something vital, i failed to slowly warm up the tyres of Godly Wisdom!
As we mature, and grow in step with the Holy Spirit, we are given all we need to finish the race. And when we get the balance right, we can stay on track until the end, and if our tyres stay hot, even the storms wonβt be able to slow us down! π
Making Doughnuts…
β§ Screenshot of my 1988 Sierra RS500 Cosworth (Group A) β§Β
After selecting βDoningtonβ, my home town track in Derby, i decided to take the Sierra Cosworth for a ride. I stopped to make some doughnuts, and thought βHere we go again, all that power and energyβ¦and iβm just going round in circlesβ.
πΒ I want to thank God for not leaving us in the pits! But instead HeΒ empowers Β instructs and steers us towards the finish line!Β πΒ
Hi all, here is a photo of my (late) beautiful Boxer dog “Bruce”. If you have readΒ my testimonyΒ then this name might already be familiar to you! π Β
Hi all, this is the official release for my fundraising towards my brobdingnagian challengeβ¦Itβs exactly 7 calendar months until my trail marathon! πͺπΌΒ
‘Steve’s Blindman Trail Marathon’ in memory of my mum Valerie β€οΈ
Iβm planning to step off the sidelines again soonβ¦ this time in memory of my wonderful mum, Valerie who died after a 14 yr struggle with Multiple Sclerosis, in the same month that I was registered blind. Iβve always wanted to do something positive to celebrate her life and as you may know, my lovely wife Sarah has just started work at the MS Society. I can think of no better time or charity to make my fundraising in memory wish come true and I can finally add my mums name to the MS Society fight to stop MS. πͺπΌ
I know Iβll be stretching myself past my limits for this challenge and so your encouragement and support would really help me to keep my training on track. Any donation you can spare would build my morale and endurance so I can smash this and reach my Β£1,000 goal to make my mum proud.
Together we can be a force for change and BEAT MS
Steve’s Blindman Trail Marathon Fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis SocietyIn Memory of my mum Valerie
Story…
Hi, I’ve chosen to raise funds for MS Society and Iβd love everyone who kindly decides to support me and this amazing charity, to take a moment to remember my lovely Mum Valerie!
She spent so much of her too short life giving to me and my siblings before MS took her independence and eventually her life. This is why Iβve decided to give something positive back. I want her name and face to join the fight so that she can live on through the tireless work the MS Society is doing to find treatments that will stop MS for good. πͺπΌ
My beautiful mum passed away from progressive MS, after a courageous and tiring 14 year battle, in July 2000.
As you may know Iβve been registered blind since I was 25. My sight loss happened in the same month my mum finally lost her life and missing her added misery to my own struggle to come to terms with the isolation and insecurities of managing my new life as a blind man.
And soβ¦β¦.
My Challengeβ¦Sunday 24th April 2022
I originally planned to take part in an MS officially organised event but quickly realised that with my sight loss walking an unknown route amongst so many people would create too much external stimuli on my senses and be too confusing for me to manage without serious injury.
I was worried I wouldnβt be able to do the challenge at all but Iβve finally found a safe(ish) trail about 2.5 miles long, in the woods and past a lake near my home. I am hoping this will work well as my walking route, (Iβve now learned it enough to be able to follow it without guided help). I think this trail will work really well for me to do my trail marathon challenge β¦ if I can manage to make my way safely around this uneven, hilly, rough terrain about 11 times! π°
Iβve begun to realise, as I write about this challenge during the start of my training, that Iβve only managed 2 laps each time so far, after which I collapse, needing water and food, lol! I have no idea how Iβm going to continue for 11 laps non-stop but Iβve got seven more months to build up my strength and enduranceβ¦ I hope. π
Itβs slowly dawning on me that this challenge is going to include around 8 hours non-stop blind walkingβ¦ Ouch that’s going to hurt and take a lot of concentration, mental effort, strength, energy and discipline. And so before I get time to change my mind, Iβve decided to create aΒ JustGiving fundraising pageΒ and Iβve notified the MS Society…so no backing out now π€£.
Please help me complete what feels like an impossible challenge in memory of my wonderful mumβ¦ because Together we are strong enough to beat MS. πͺπΌ
You can follow my training over the next 7 months on myΒ Fitblitz blogΒ and I will use my apple watch to count the steps, miles and elevation etc of the challenge, uploading the screenshots to let you know of my adventures and celebrate with me if I finish, lol! π Β
About Multiple Sclerosis Society
Over 130,000 of us in the UK have MS. Itβs unpredictable and different for everyone. But it doesnβt have to be this way. Weβre theΒ MS Society. We understand what lifeβs like with MS. We’re here for you through the highs, lows and everything in between. Together, we are strong enough to stop MS.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
October 16, 2025 
Hope you enjoy meeting him?! πΎ
iChristian 
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