Yayā¦..We did it!Ā
With more than a week pastā¦.My knees are still scabbed and bruisedā¦..But iād like to give an Elephantine amount of thanks for everyone involved! šŖš¼Ā
ā§From left: Adie, Vini, Me, Josie & AshleyĀ ā§Ā
First, Iād like to give aĀ stupendous amount of thanks to my lovely Wife Sarahā¦.The amount of love and encouragement was/is mind-blowing! Ā And the āHard As Nailsā teamā¦..āāmy muscles were fading but the sense of team work was overwhelming and no matter whatā¦..We were getting over those obstaclesā.šŖš¼Ā
Second, iād like to give a monumental amount of thanks to the āCrazy Clappersā team. “When i’d finished an obstacle and was about to collapse……I’d hear the Cheering Team and you’d put a big grin on my face to remind me it was alright and to keep going! šĀ
Third, iād like to give a gargantuan amount of thanks toĀ all of you guys for your donations to āWorld Cancer Research Fundā and encouraging Ā me(& the team) every step of the way! “Intention isnāt Preventionā¦ā¦And you all have helped me spread the good Ā news with everyone so we can all be aware and empowered to start fighting the cancers we can prevent.āĀ
Fourth, A colossal amount ofĀ thanks to John & Sarah Atherton(from the Epsom Camera Club) for giving up your Saturday and taking the amazing photos of us allā¦.Weāve got fantastic memories of the day!
Finally, I’ve already passed the whopping Ā£1,000! The fundraising page is open for another 3 monthsā¦..So if you havenāt donated yet or youād like to donate again(now you know iāve managed it) it would be amazing to smash more obstacles and raise as much as i can! š šŖš¼
Tough Mudder 5K – Saturday 13th Octoberā¦ā¦.Here Goes!
ā§ From left: Adie, Me & Josie ā§Ā Ā
Ā ā§ Me carrying Adie on the āHero Carryā ā§Ā
It was amazing to have my friend of nearly 30 years Adie Monk join our “Hard As Nails” team. I thought we’d sit and catch up over a coffee….I didn’t have this in mind, lol!
Thanks John Atherton for taking another great photo. I can’t thank you and Sarah Atherton enough for giving us all these memories to cherish! š Ā
After jogging a little, we came to thisā¦ā¦.
“At over 2 stories high, this is one of the most impressive obstacles in the UK. It is a giant A-shaped cargo net that you and your team will have to scramble up and over it. Working together will be the only way to overcomeā.
Ā
This is where my new trainers just hooked perfectly around the rope and it felt completely solid. Also my blindness helped me out for once as i couldnāt see how high i was, and didnāt freeze like a couple of people i heard up there!
Ā Thenā¦.When getting to the bottom i hear āYay, Whoop Whoop, Steve, Steve, Steveā and the sound of the plastic clapper hands were going crazy! What a feeling to know my lovely Wife Sarah and the Crazy Clappers team were cheering me all of the way, a great feeling! š Ā
Ā ā§ Me, Vini & Ashley biggin’ up the cheering team ā§Ā
More joggingā¦.Adie and the team were excellent at guiding me when jogging. Moving low hanging branches, telling me of tree roots and pulling me in the right direction. Adie said āI tried running with my eyes closed for a few stepsā¦And there is no way iād try any of this if i couldnāt seeā.
Thenā¦..
āWe’ve taken the 10′ Hero Walls and tilted them right at you. By removing the ability for you to climb up and over this wall, you will have to form a strategy with your team, work together and boost each other to the other sideā.
Ā ā§ Ouch, my leg hasnāt bent that far in about 20 years, lol! ā§Ā
More Joggingā¦..
“This obstacle will have you crawling on the ground, pinned down by a giant cargo net. Working your way through this one will require lots of communication, teamwork and a strong willā.Ā
Youāve guessed itā¦..More jogging and thenā¦.
“The aim of the game is to get your team up and over this stack of super-sized hay bales. There is no right or wrong way so boost, shove or yank every last team member over the other sideā.Ā
ā§ Ashley helping Josie in a display of team work ā§ Ā
Ā Nextā¦ā¦.
“Can’t go through it, can’t go round it, you’ll have to go over it. Work together to boost and shimmy your teammates up and over this 10′ Tough Mudder stapleā.
Ā Yep, more joggingā¦..
“Time to get swinging. Grab on, hold tight, feel the momentum and swing yourself from ring to ring like a regular Tarzan. This obstacle will test your strength, coordination and flow. Hang in there, you got thisā.
Really didnāt do well on this oneā¦And i canāt really blame my sight for lack of strength, lol!
 After a little more jogging⦅
“One of the most teamwork-inducing obstacles in the Tough Mudder portfolio, this obstacle is difficult to complete alone. You’re going to have to work together to form a human pyramid and, like its namesake, climb up and over your fellow Mudders on the way to the topā.
As Vini was making everything look so easyā¦..It was great to look at the photos afterwards and see it wasnāt all too easy!! šŖš¼Ā Ā
Ā AND NOWā¦ā¦MY NEMESIS!!!!
“A true Tough Mudder legend. Everest will challenge participants to run up a quarter pipe to reach the summit. Can’t do it alone? Not to worry – teammates are encouraged to hang over the top to pull their new friends up and overā.
Ā I knew this was going to be more difficult for me as i needed to try it and get hands on before i could calculate what exactly i needed to do. Adie & Ashley explained the processā¦.But i knew i just had to do it before i would really knowā¦.As running at a half pipe wall thingy when blind is going to be interesting!
Here Goes Nothingā¦..
I took 1 step too manyā¦.and before i knew it the wall was in my face! Ooooo i was so close to reaching the ledge. Ā
After hitting the wall i dropped down on both knees, and as the obstacle was made of hardish tyre rubber, it simply burned and ripped the skin off both kneesā¦.Wow that stings, lol. Time to regroup and recalculate!Ā
“Ok Steve, just do the same but with 1 step lessā. Here i go again!
Yayā¦.Thatās betterā¦..And once i had my talon trainers gripped to the ledge, i could just heave myself up. Wow i made it! šŖš¼Ā
ā§Ā Ashley showing how it should be done!Ā ā§š Ā
Ā The team were fantastic and we all made it up. No-one was being left behind and you could just feel the team growing closer with each obstacle, it was amazing.Ā
Ā Now the final obstacle was overcome, it was time for a short jog to the finish line,Yay!Ā
The Finish Line & The Headbands⦅Ā
Ā WE DID IT⦅Ā
ā§ When words fail to say how thankful you are!!! ā§Ā
ā§ Me, Adie & the headbands ā§Ā
ā§ Adie, Vini & Me for a final photo ā§Ā
WOW WHAT A JOURNEY⦅
I hope after getting this farā¦..Youāve enjoyed this journey with me and the team too? They are already talking about doing a longer and more muddier one with more obstacles for next year. What do you think? Should i go for it? Would you like to see the Blindman take on a greater challenge? Let me know in the comments section what you think!
I canāt thank everyone enoughā¦.
Recent Comments