61 days to go, exactly 2 months today!

Where does the time go?!?!? It's getting closer by the day, before it was weeks. I think we're almost at the point of counting hours, scary!!

It is at this time that I find myself drawing a lot of inspiration from other people's aventures. I would like to share some of those adventures with everyone supporting PaddleFree. Check these people out, they are remarkable!

• 3 women from the Isles of Scilly (including my good friend, Carol) have just completed a cycle ride from John O'Groats to Land's End to raise money for a warming blanket at the island's hospital. They finished today!! Well Done Ladies!!!!!

• I am reading 'Sailing the Dream' by Mike Perham (www.sailmike.com), the world's youngest globe solo circumnavigator. What a guy!! This kid is going to be one of those people that sets the world alight and inspires others his whole life. Two world records before the age of 18!
  

• Dave Cornthwaite (www.thegreatbigpaddle.com) paddled the entire length of the Murray-Darling river in Australia, and is planning to Stand Up Paddle from the UK to Africa. All this after skateboarding across Australia for www.boardfree.com (book avaliable on the website). I met Dave whilst studying at Swansea where he was running the newspaper. He is now a professional adventurer!
  

All these people are taking risks and living their dreams, true inspiration! So, when you feel like you need a good kick up the proverbial pick up one of these books, check out a website or 2, set yourself a goal and have the courage to reach for it. It's scary as hell but there isn't a pick-me-up like it!

Keep dreaming! Sara x

Training, Training and more Training

Another session done with the lovely Sam at www.pttroop.com and yet more aching to come! This kayaking malarchy is hard work, but it's going to be so worth it. That is what I hold onto when the aches really set in.

It makes me smile to think of the wonderful things we will (fingers crossed) get to experience. Hopefully we will get to see dolphins, basking sharks, seals and a whole host of sea birds. It's the right time of year for such things and long daylight hours give us maximum time on the water. Unfortunately June can bring some strong winds, so I can forsee some hard paddling to be done. That's a scary thought.

Sometimes the fear feels like it's going to swallow me whole. That's when I call Dan and we have a big old chat, a giggle and we sort it all out. Don't be fooled, there may just be one kayak but this project is a team effort. We lean on each other, motivate each other and comfort each other when doubt creeps in. The team is made up of lots of people, not all of them directly involved but important none the less. If that's one thing I have learnt through all this build up and preparation, it's that the relationships we build with others are a source of strength and should not be underestimated.

Sara x

The Hedgehog effect

Anyone who knows me knows that needles are not my thing, so you may be amazed to find out that I was voluntarily turned into a human hedgehog on Thursday.
After pulling my back during training on Wednesday Sam (my trainer) suggested acupunture. I was adament it was not going to happen! There was lots of face pulling involved! However, the pain on Thursday was so bad I found myself at The Oriental Medicine Clinic that evening having little needles tapped into various points down my back. And............it didn't hurt and actually helped!! Amazing!! The pain is almost completely gone and I slept so well afterwards. I may well be a convert, on the understanding that I never actually have to see any of needles!!
Today I felt together enough to go for a run with Hattie after work. She did really well, and having to stop every 1km to let her catch up helps me feel less guilty about being awful at running!! Dan is doing really well with his training, so I think Kerri and I have some catching up to do.

Sara

The Virtual Launch of PaddleFree

This is it. The first blog of PaddleFree. Tomorrow the website will go live and be open to the public, there's no going back now!

It's been a long slog to get this far, and it hasn't always been plain sailing. I had no idea what was needed to organise a project like this, and it's a lot more work than it looks. Whilst everyone else sees a polished website, donation page and team t-shirts (coming soon!), I see 6 months of planning, learning, persuading, training, panicking and numerous pub meetings. The financial commitment needed also came as a bit of a surprise. All the money donated goes straight to the organisations being supported. Whilst I have stayed within my savings budget (so far!) it's amazing how quickly little things add up! All in all it's been a massive learning curve, and it ain't over yet!!

So here's to the next phase. More water training, putting the project out there and getting a following. I can see that this phase will have many components of the last phase, especially pub meetings! As the weather improves and the evenings get longer so will the runs in preparation for the Bristol 10k. The weekends will be spent in Falmouth (www.seakaykingcornwall.com) and Trowbridge (www.familyadeventurestore.co.uk) out on the water. Hopefully the sun will shine and the winds will be fair.

Welcome to PaddleFree!

Sara x