Tom is doing IRONMAN Wales for Scope: Sunday 20th January - Week 1 - What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

So, Here’s my first real entry to my weekly blog – and what a piece of news I have for you!

My aim is to summarise the training and fundraising that’s been going on with pictures, info, articles, links etc. that may be of interest and related to the cause.

At the end of each blog ill keep an ongoing list of weekly donations I have received and the list of all donations will be held on the www.virginmoneygiving.com/TomPartridge page.

As this is the first of my blogs here is the list so far – a massive thank you to all who have contributed, its truly amazing how much has already been donated! We are now up to:

£331.25 with the gift aid!

Chris Rowe£10.00

Hayley Speicher£10.00

lily woolrich£10.00

Hayley Thomas£30.00

Andrew Walters£10.00

Clare & TQ£20.00

Lia and Kelvin£50.00

Sarah Hurley£20.00

Vicky Arnold£20.00

Abandoned Shoe£20.00

Dai & Lauren£75.00

Training-

What a first week- we’ve had it all from outdoor cycling in the sun to running in the snow and plenty of in-between indoor gym sessions too.

Monday – Cycle to work (20km) then a Run from work to Ponty (11.5km)

Tuesday - Early morning sprint and interval session then a great Cave trip to Pwll Dwfn (above Dan Y Ogof)

Wedbesday – Early swim session (1.5km) and then a Weights super set with cardio sets in between in the gym

Thursday – Rest morning then an Interval Sprint Training and Circuits session at the gym in the afternoon

Firday – Early Run in the SNOW (8.5km) and then some serious Snow Digging!

Saturday – Managed to get out for a 4hour Cave trip in the Forest of Dean

Sunday – Well….then It all went wrong!

Piece of News-

So, Sunday morning I was out, just at the end of the road with dog, wife and baby in the pushchair and I decided to try and head but the ice on the floor! Not really, I slipped and whacked my head and in the process managed to land on my shoulder – OWCH! Well a bit more than ouch – 3.5hours in A&E revealed that I have done something (pretty bad I have a feeling) to my AC joint in my shoulder – to which I prompted the nurse to give me the treatment and recovery, she said, “well, if its bad, which it may be, it’s a simple operation and then a few months out of action….what do you do for a job ?” I replied and she smugly smiled as if to say – “I don’t think you will be doing any of that for a while!”

GREAT! – I am currently down, on painkillers, waiting for an MRI Scan on Thursday – BUT – I am not beaten – its 8months until Iron man and having a bad shoulder doesn’t stop me on the running machines, bikes in the gym or Turbo trainer at home…I promise I wont let you down and ill be doing it!

I guess this also proves all those people who say, when I take them out caving, climbing, canoeing etc. is it safe? Will I die? Don’t you hurt yourself? And I always say – “you are more likely to fall down and break something outside your house!” Guess what? I am living proof.

There will still be a weekly update on my progress and still be posting on the Facebook group too.

Please do not loose faith and this is a minor temporary set back!

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! – (Quote: Kelly Clarkson!)