I reached 50 in September 2004, was 114.7kg and was definitely going to seed. I had reached my mid-life crisis and had travelled further, well over the Horizon!
A John Shackleton "Fit for Life" seminar in 2004 got me thinking - John asks - "What are the 3 most important things for you to succeed at in your life?" and the replies are usually: Financial Security, Relationships with Family and Friends, and Health. The next question is "If you could only have one of these which one would it be?" the answer is usually Health and then "How much time per day do you devote to this ?" - Usually nothing! Well that certainly was the case with me.
I set myself two objectives – to get to 90kg and to get fit (the two are, of course, linked).
By Xmas 2004 I had started taking exercise, was following a Weight Watchers plan and now wanted to accelerate a fitness programme.
On Boxing Day 2004 the World suffered one of the greatest natural disasters EVER and I was still worrying about how I would cope with all those extra Christmas calories. I decided then to do something to help.
I had been talking to friends at Phoenix Recruitment (Auckland) about their cycling activities and before I could blink (or think of any excuses), they had lent me a bike, given me a $100 Pack n Pedal voucher for some cycling shorts, and signed me up for their team in the 100k Rotorua to Taupo Avanti Flyer ride on the 2nd April 2005.
Early in the 2005 New Year the Event organisers (Ingrid and Murray Fleming) spoke to Avanti who agreed to loan me a bike for training on condition that it was auctioned for the Red Cross when I got it to Taupo. This generous donation raised a further $900 for the appeal and I completed the ride and raised over $12,000 for the Red Cross.
In November 2005, I completed a 160k ride (100 miles) for fun around Lake Taupo. Since then I have completed the Taupo ride another two times (2006 and 2007) and will cycle again in November 2009
