The Formidable MdS here I come... soon!

I took the running easy so slowed my training pace and did a lot more power walking. Whilst this seemed to aggravate my hip, it was at a manageable level and I managed to complete a 68 mile race at the start of February. It was a race I did last year but seemed much harder this year due to the ground being very muddy which had many a competitor coming in with a brown stripe down one side or the other of their body. I met up with a few other mad people hoping to be in the desert for the Marathon Des Sables and got through without a hitch, thanks to Charlotte for putting up with me for much of the distance, just a great weekend. Such a buzz to see my wife and mate Alastair along the route with respective kids, just what I needed when I was flagging.

As ever, what seems a great outcome then gets a bit soured as a few days later whilst on a very short run, the hip flared up again in a big way and I had to limp home so back to Lisa my wonderful Nuffield physio who managed to reduce the pain a bit and got me back on the road albeit not pain free. Another session with my top sports massage man Steve improved it further although it remains not right. I guess my concern is not about now but if in the middle of the desert it flares up then I would end up crawling to the finish so I am off for more cortisone injections shortly in the hope that they will do the magic they did on the other hip same time last year. So far including training I have already done 436 miles, I think I will be approaching 3,000 by the year end, I love every step, training is never a chore.

I had the results of my latest blood test and bone scan today (1st March). The great news is that my blood score has dropped again, a wonderful thing to hear as I was convinced that would not be the case. In my head, the lower the score goes, the more time it gives me when it starts to rise again so this drop is very welcome. The cloud however is that the bone scan has shown up Osteopoenia, effectively my bones are starting to thin which is brought on by the cocktail of drugs I am on. Its not yet full blown osteoporosis and they should be able to slow progression with more daily tablets (I am sure I would rattle if you shook me) and the not so nice bit, an intravenous drip of zoledronic acid next week but hey it does mean that I can run still so whatever it takes.

I was in Milton Keynes yesterday telling my story to some lovely people from Nuffield Health, it was as ever a humbling experience, I was so well looked after and invited to share their team evening. It was also so good to hear just how passionate they all are about getting people back to health whenever they can get involved. As ever though the cloud, it all took place in Stadium MK, home of MK Dons, the football team that stole Wimbledon, my team, I just had to be professional and block out all the mischievous thoughts I had (childish I know but that’s me!).

RBS have continued to be the best employer ever for me, great support from everyone I meet.  I have recently had a 3 minute video made about my situation and “living for the day” by the Bank that will be available within the RBS group soon. I think in due course it can be shared externally but I am keen for that not to happen until after the BBC documentary I am in is broadcast, April or May I believe so I will post the link on here as soon as I can. I also understand that the Bank have just bought into really supporting Prostate Cancer UK in addition to what many have already done, I am so proud that in some small way I have influenced their thought process. I am looking forward to being more involved in some coaching for managers and future managers that is now underway, giving something back and feeling like I have some purpose really ticks my boxes and keeps those dark thoughts at bay.

So what for the future, well its only 36 days until I am back in the desert, I have not really allowed myself to get too excited until an hour ago as I was worried that the test results today could have scuppered everything. I will post again in a couple of weeks with details of how you can follow me each day online and send me emails every day (I loved them all last year, such a boost) but the race website is www.marathondessables.com/en and my race number (or Dossard in French) is 1041. So now I have to start going through my kit list, packing/unpacking/repacking my food and checking everything should stand up to the distance, I cant wait!

Whilst the desert is my next big one I am also mindful that I will be off to Iceland in 6 months for the Fire and Ice ultra marathon so I am going for a long weekend in a few weeks to Iceland just to get a feel for the place and am travelling to the North to see what the terrain is likely to be like. Hopefully will also have lots of time to soak up the Icelandic atmosphere with my wife.

The next event after the desert though is the 15 marathons in 15 days with Jeff Stelling from Sky Sports in June. It has been great to hear that so many people I know are signing up to walk one of the days with us, again, the Bank are really supportive here. I really hope that through my sphere of influence collectively we can raise a considerable amount of money.

In my last blog I mentioned the golf day I am organising with my good friend David in May. I am delighted to say we now have 13 teams and some fantastic auction prizes. Whilst its hard to single out any one I have to mention my old school friend Pete who I have not seen for 35 years who heard of what I was doing and has sent me a brand new Brian May guitar signed by the great man himself, unbelievable, thanks Pete. Pete works with Brian so I know its all pukka. If you are a massive Queen fan and this is something you would like to bid on but are not coming to the golf day feel free to send me an email with a sensible offer.

As I have mentioned before, the spirit of generosity from literally 100s of people never ceases to amaze me and gets me all emotional when I think about what people are doing to help me stay positive. I was approached by Jeff and Mark, a couple of good work colleagues last week to say that they have put together a 4 piece rock band for a one off “benefit gig” for Prostate Cancer UK in my name. I know these guys can play so yet again, 4 people from RBS are doing something off their own back to support the cause. The venue will be central London on 25th May in a suitable pub where we will have exclusivity.  Tickets are likely to be £10 so if you fancy coming along to hear some great music, have a few drinks and see yours truly then let me know and I will send you more details when its all finalised but for now just save the date if you like the sound of it.

There are a couple of other things on the back burner that I will save for another time but I want to thank you all again for what you have done to support me. Every email or kind gesture does so much for me and with your generous sponsorship I have now raised over £54,000 since I was diagnosed. That does a massive amount for the charity who continue to support me and many others who have Prostate Cancer.

My last bit of news is really in part thanks to all of you as my wife and I have been honoured to be invited to one of the Queens garden parties at Buckingham Palace in June for the work I have done and the funds that I have raised for the charity. I know its not everyone’s bag, but I have always been a royalist and feel for the umpteenth time humbled by such a wonderful invitation. The fact that my wife can come too means so much as she is always by my side either physically or mentally in all that I do.

I hope that in reading this (well done if you got this far, a shorter pre desert one in 4 weeks I promise) I can in some small way inspire you to do something in a more positive way be it a personal challenge or starting something that you have always wanted to do but have never got round to it, thanks for reading, I wish you all well.

As ever, thanks to the Bank for letting me send this from their system (my personal email cant cope with the volume) but if you no longer wish to receive them please email me and I will remove your name , I wont be offended.

Take care
Kev