Hi Blog Followers,
This is the second to last Blog before my team of Ray Boardman (Coach/Team Captain), Derrick McMillan (Support Crew), Scott Cordwell (Support Crew) and myself (Athlete) head to Australia for Ultraman Australia to raise funds for KIWI (Killed, Injured, Wounded and Ill) of the New Zealand Defence Force. During the period 14-16 May 2016, I cover 515 kms of swimming, cycling and running over three days. My Support Crew will be heavily involved, particularly on Day 3 to get me through the double marathon by taking turns at running beside me to keep me going.
Last weekend was my big training schedule which I came through relatively unscathed and gained confidence with the distances involved in each discipline. This weekend I have had to shift focus with meeting up with my siblings to help our mother move into her new town-house in Christchurch, after the family home was completely destroyed in the Christchurch earthquakes. Amongst the moving to a new family home, Coach Ray has my training for me to complete. My siblings are probably enjoying the break away from me. It’s so good to have the family together from far afield and to see how happy my mum is. The training is going well and Coach Ray is assisting me in fine-tuning my Garmin to make sure I gain maximum benefit with the various applications.
My thoughts are with the New Zealand Defence Force Invictus Team as they head to Australia to prepare for their Invictus Games before heading to the USA to compete. I take my hat off to them with what they are achieving with their various disabilities. In actual fact I am in awe of them and wish them all the best.
This week Allan Watt finished writing a song for me to help focus on Ultraman Australia. Allan is a singer / songwriter whom I served with in Singapore in the mid to late 80’s. We enjoyed many a beer together with him jamming on his guitar and belting out some tunes. None of us really knew that he had a secret passion to record music of which he has prepared a CD for the RSA’s for fundraising. Thank you Allan, I feel so privileged that you took the time to put a song together for me, for the cause. Thank you Bob Davies (the Regimental Sergeant Major when I was in Singapore) for encouraging Allan to prepare a song towards my fundraising exploits for the Fallen.
Take care team, regards John Humphries (UltraHumps)!