Another busy few weeks.

Training has continued well, with 18 strength sessions, plenty of running, and a few bike rides thrown in for good measure. I was away for a short family break and then spent a week away with work, but fortunately the hotel had a gym, so I was able to keep things ticking over.

All is good on the injury front. The Achilles has settled down and isn’t causing any issues. My weight has remained stable, although I should probably have lost a little more. That’s the reality of holidays and hotel stays, though. Sometimes life gets in the way of the perfect plan.

Last week was extremely busy with work, which meant I wasn’t able to prepare in my usual relaxed way for the latest edition of The Cheeky Chapati — the pop-up restaurant I host to raise funds for Aspire. A couple of late nights and a full Saturday of cooking had everything ready for lunch on Sunday.

I’ll admit I was a little nervous. Running a dinner service is one thing, but transitioning from starters to mains for 22 covers is always a hectic experience when you’re effectively a one-man operation. Thankfully, everything went smoothly and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Whether they genuinely did or were simply being polite remains open to debate, but either way the event raised over £1,000, which is absolutely fantastic.

The good news is that I get to do it all again on the 27th.

Away from the Matterhorn training, I’ve also passed all of the exams for the first stage of my personal training qualification. All that’s left now is the practical assessment. To help prepare, I’ve joined the gym where the assessment will take place so I can become familiar with the environment and equipment before booking it.

I did have a relaxing retreat booked in Portugal next week, which I was really looking forward to as an opportunity to recharge. Unfortunately, it was cancelled, so I’ve decided to do something a little more in keeping with the spirit of this project.

Instead, Nige, my cocker spaniel, and I will be heading up to the Lake District for some serious hill walking. A few days in the fells sounds like the perfect alternative. Fingers crossed for some decent weather, although knowing the Lakes, I’m preparing for all four seasons in a single day.

Overall, things are moving in the right direction. Training is consistent, injuries are under control, and there are plenty of challenges ahead to keep me focused.

As always, I’m undertaking this project in support of Aspire. The challenges I choose to put myself through don’t come close to the reality faced every day by people living with spinal cord injuries. If this journey can help raise awareness and funds for such an important cause, then every early morning, training session and mountain is worthwhile.

If you’d like to support the cause, please consider donating via my JustGiving page.

Thanks,

Nick