So here’s the plan. Ever since my mum died from cancer a few years ago, I’ve wanted to do something to raise some money for Cancer Research. My idea at the time was to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats. I mean how hard could it be? Then I did some research, and found out they are 874 miles away from each other. And that’s if you go in a straight line. Realistically I’m probably looking at about 1000 miles. Even doing over 70 miles a day, it’s going to take me 2 weeks. The most I’ve ever cycled in a day is 40 miles, and that was over 10 years ago when I was young and fit.

These days I’m not young and fit. By September 2012, when I plan to do it, I’ll be 30. At the time of writing I weigh 22 stone, the most I’ve ever weighed in my life. It’s not helped by the fact that I’ve got a slipped disc at the moment, so I’m basically just sat at home all day. Back in January, I decided I hated my job, so I quit without having another one to go to, in the middle of the credit crunch. 4 months later, and with no new job in site, I’ve decided on a career change, and I’m hoping to start an IT degree in September. The reason this fits into my plan, is it means I have 3 and a bit years where I’m going to have more free time than I’ll ever have again for the rest of my life. So it’s now or never.

The way I see it, my plan falls into 3 stages. Stage one is likely to take the next 18-24 months to complete, and that is to lose enough weight to make this challenge realistic. I’m 6 foot 2, and quite big built, so I should weigh somewhere around 12.5 stone (175 pounds). That means I’ve got 9.5 stone (133 pounds) to lose! That’s going to be hard enough, especially as I’m starting with a couple of injuries that will prevent me from exercising. Along with the slipped disc I mentioned above, I also suffer from Patellar Subluxation in my left knee, which basically means my kneecap is unstable and moves around, and sometimes dislocates itself. So I’m going to have to take it really easy on the exercise in the early days. Losing weight should help both problems enormously, and both are potentially curable if I can correct my muscle balance and posture (according to my doctor). So it’s likely to be light cardio and a bit of yoga and stretching in the early days, and I’ll see where I go from there.

Stage 2 will hopefully start around Spring 2011, by which time I should have reached my target weight. I’ll then have approximately 18 months to teach myself to ride a bike all over again. I’ll need to build up the muscle endurance and stamina needed to cycle for 6-8 hours a day for 14 consecutive days. Again, that’s going to be a pretty big challenge.

Stage 3 is the ride itself. I’m aiming for September 2012 for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I’ll have just finished my degree, so will try and fit the ride in before starting a job so I don’t have to take a load of time off work. Secondly, I figure that in September it won’t be too hot or too cold, and with a bit of luck will give me ideal conditions for the ride.

At some point I’m going to need to start some fundraising as well, because the whole reason for putting myself through this is to raise as much money as I possibly can for a charity that means a lot to me.

But all of that is a long way off at the moment, and the main goal at this stage is get the weight off, which is where I’ll pick up with my next post.