Zoom zoom

Last night we did it in 18 mins dead, with the river. Very pleased, especially as the boys had been getting faster and faster without me!

Here's a couple of videos of river crossings, one for lads, one for lasses.

Lads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqxbgQ4kkEA&feature=channel_page

Ladies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2mfcHqpnfo&feature=channel

Enjoy.

She floats!

We did the full run last night, roads, river and all.

18:40 was the time, since you asked and no, it wasn't fun. Held up by a bit of traffic and a cat/dog incident so there is definitely room for improvement somewhere in there.

Spent the rest of the evening in the bath looking for leeches. That was just me, not the others. Don't know what they were looking for.

The beginning stages

Here is the bed in fancy mode. Still awaiting the sparkle to bring it to life, but you can see where we're going with it.

and here is the secret weapon - it's deafening, until the cable runs out.

What a bunch of...

...hunks?

The mighty Juggs, gearing themselves up for some pavement pounding. Hear their thunder, smell their fear.

Greased Lightning

Look at this beauty.

That baby is going to F L Y.

Big up to Paul C and his mates and a big big up to Mr Bob Barker, who knows a router when he sees it.

Tomorrow is booked for sea trials. The Nidd has risen a foot overnight. Yikes.

3 by 4

3 miles run

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/knaresborough/650124117785874887

4 pints drunk

http://www.roosters.co.uk/blindos.htm

Does that add up?

Roosters!

We are proud to announce our official sponsors are Roosters! Oh yes!

Big Steve will spend the day dressed as a chicken. Fantastic.

Follow this link to find out more: Roosters

Or why not pop into Blind Jacks for a pint or two of Yankee.

Oh dear (Part 1)

Conor has hurt his leg.

We are saving up for one of these...

Money, money, money

Give us your money:

http://www.justgiving.com/bedrace2009

Do it.

Do it.

Do it.

Do it.

Do it.

Thar she blows

The bed has arrived, the bed has arrived. And it has a STEERING WHEEL!!!! Get in.

Here it is:

Ah, if only...

Running up that hill

Castle Ings.

No problem.

Honest.

Another fine effort on Thursday. New boy Neil, one of our much appreciated reserves joined us and led us all the way. Good work fella. Apparently it's the cycling that means he can fly up hills.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/knaresborough/328124051437689927

Mr Cook was absent due to seeing Keith Floyd, or something. Mr Wood was given a note.

So glad you made it...

We have a theme - it's The Blues Brothers. Good, yes?

Did a good training run 
http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/gb/knaresborough/706124022942365709 at a good pace. We also experienced our first insults from members of the public (thank you boys) and had our first potential kidnapping. Luckily Big Steve managed to scare off the van that was shadowing him. For now anyway.

The big vote was an exciting affair. If politics was this exciting everyone would vote.

The top 4 (I believe) were

1. Blue Brothers

2. The Wall/Nellie the Elephant

3. The Wurzels

4. ZZ Top

Something like that anyway. So now we need 6 black suits, shades, hats, trumpets...oh yeah and a full scale model of  a Dodge Monaco sedan made out of 2 by 4 and paper mache to fit onto the bed we don't have. 

Most entertaining bed

Andy, Conor and the 2 Pauls put in a very fine display for most entertaining bed on the Thursday before Good Friday (is that OK Thursday?). 

Sadly one of the WAGs has since informed us that "Most Entertaining Bed" is judged solely on the display in the paddock and the march down the high street on the actual day of the bed race.

Apologies for this misunderstanding.

New blood

A meeting was held post-run to bring everyone up to date on our ideas for themes etc. I will let you know when the minutes are out, but we met one of our replacements last nigh - "Big John".

He has taken on the role (or should that be roll) of nutritional expert/coach. Good to have someone with such an obvious love of their subject on the team.

Welcome aboard.

Actually up and actually running

Messrs Head, Wood, Kingston, Clark and Young took part in the first training run last night. Paul said he knew a nice 2 mile route to get us going - turned out to be this 
http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/gb/knaresborough/511123874516766718Oh lordy!

It went brilliantly well, we started as a team and finished as a team, setting a good pace all the way.

3.5 miles, 35 minutes. Wood and Kingston also had extended runs to get to the start and finish - so hats off to them.

Mr Mooney, the fitness coach, was absent due to work commitments. He actually said he was in Waitrose, but we are giving him the benefit of the doubt.

More of the same next week.

Up and almost running.

We have had our first meeting, notes have been made, positions allocated, plans are afoot. The good news is we have a bed. The bad news is there are now no excuses.

Thursday evening will be our first training run. We expect it to be a short formation run without the bed, using broomsticks to mimic the handles of the bed and flat roads to mimic the massive hill. Afterwards we will be meeting with our fitness coach, Mr Conor Mooney, to discuss our performance and to rehydrate. We will also take that opportunity to finalize our theme for the bed. Hmmm. Hope someone has an idea soon.

We will shortly be setting up a web page for internet donations. Thanks in advance.

CONVOY! We have a name.

It was a tight decision. Many fine entries were received but it soon became apparent that the front runners were:

1. St John's Geriatrics
   
2. St John's Juggernauts
   
3. The Knights of St John
   
4. Smelly.
   

And the winner is...St John's Juggernauts. Huzzah!

We felt the name suggested a powerful, forward moving, unstoppable force of nature. It also had no mention of speed, performance or winning which meant it was a name we felt we could live up to and wear with pride.

Thanks to everyone for their excellent suggestions and congratulations to Halle Coles for coming up with the winning name.