The Space and Blog of Mark Bryce (SilentFullback)

On the 13/10/09 I completed ‘60k in One Day’.  I did this as a charity event for Merseyside Play Action Council (REG NO: 1048263).  Merseyside Play Action Council is a resource centre which has supported and developed activities for children and young people in Liverpool since 1974. MPAC is based in a fully accessible building in Liverpool City Centre. MPAC IS A ONE STOP SHOP THAT CAN PROVIDE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROJECTS.

Merseyside Play Action Council really needs our support at this time because they are seeing a large number of their member charities/groups close their doors due to the difficult financial times.  One of their members has seen cuts of £80,000 and Rice Lane City Farm, home to Baby Moolicious, have even said “without MPAC we wouldn’t exist now”.  Your money will help MPAC continue to support creative and community activity for families in Liverpool.   

If you would like to sponsor me and support MPAC you can do so at: http://sponsor.tsconnected.com

Overview of the Day

"Ultra running is just an eating and drinking contest with a little exercise and scenery thrown in" - Sunny Blende, Ultra Nutritionist

In one day I completed 81044 steps (40.5 miles, 65km or 1.5 marathons in one day). This blog is the collected record of the day and includes links to posted videos, phonecasts and my personal Facebook updates to friends.  As you will see from these collected items the main themes of the day were fear of dehydration; need for encouragement; overriding protective fatigue (anticipatory regulation).  My experience of the challenge left me feeling as though I had left something on the road.  I was satisfied at the end but pausing at the 33.5 mile mark I was a little dissatisfied. In my fear of dehydrating badly (like I did in my previous record of 27.5 miles in one day) I headed home far too early.  I think this was the right move for safety but I was much more hydrated than I feared.  I was “good to go” with 2 hours of sleep so there is much more left in me.  Learning from this successful challenge I now want to work on reducing the effect of anticipatory regulation (Matt Fitzgerald – ‘Training Your Brain to Push You Farther) and my speed endurance.  Basically cover more distance in less time.  I really wanted to break the 50 mile mark and this is my next goal.       

Read more from Matt Fitzgerald at:

http://www.active.com/running/experts/mattfitzgerald/

Read related articles:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/going-all-out/

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2008/05/fatigue-and-exercise-part-i-b.html

Read more from Sunny Blende:

http://www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/features/health/index.shtml

60k in One Day Collected:

13.41 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update

Mark Bryce - first mile done, only another 36+ miles to go for 60k in one day :)) "piece of cake"! My phone blogs will show on my wall if u want 2 hear the pain later

13.45 | 13/10/09 | Video

Talking about starting with injuries.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1178860443111

14.46 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - has just ran the last few miles 2 stay on pace. Tweaky ankle slowing me down. Hopefully I will get used 2 the pain (2) in the next 5 miles :)

15.21 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - :)) didnt think gwinnie wud be out of meetings. Cheered me up, feeling alone. Just doing usual of thinking of hours & hours ahead not each step :)))

15.32 | 13/10/09 | Phonecast

Discussing injuries coming into the event.  If you wait for the perfect day to start you will wait forever.   

http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/MarkBryce/2009/10/13/Start-of-60k-in-One-Day

16.13 | 13/10/09 | Phonecast

Discussing running rather than walking to keep the pace high.  It hurts more when I am going slower.  

http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/MarkBryce/2009/10/13/60k-in-One-Day-Part-2

16.47 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - is going fast & sufferin less. Lets hope it doesnt bite me 12 hours from now

18.03 | 13/10/09 | Phonecast

Discussing pedometer counting slow. 

http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/MarkBryce/2009/10/13/60k-in-One-Day-Part-3

19.10 | 13/10/09 | Video

6 hours in (just about to suffer on East Lancs).  It didn’t last!!  

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1178861323133

19.17 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - Just done 3rd or 4th video. Used headlamp for lite - top tip that. Just at windle X on east lancs. Feel good. Not far off marathon if use measured distance not pedometer.

20.19 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - tough patch - will the east lancs ever end?

20.22 | 13/10/09 | Phonecast

Suffering on the East Lancs.  

http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/MarkBryce/2009/10/13/60k-in-One-Day-Part-4

21.01 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - east lancs nearly done. Omg it made me suffer. 1 marathon done. Only need a half marathon and 60k in one day will be complete

21.11 | 13/10/09 | Phonecast

East Lancs is over thankfully. 

http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/MarkBryce/2009/10/13/60k-in-One-Day-Part-5

22.02 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - doesnt want 2 eat which is a bad sign of dehydration. Not good. Only 10 more miles tho. Piece of cake that

22.03 | 13/10/09 | Video

Starting to dehydrate. 

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1178862403160

23.11 | 13/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - .for safety i am transition back 2 warr from etown. Stumbling now & weird temps. V bad. I will get home safe. Rest & try fit in b4 1pm 2moz. Done 32.5 miles

00.07 | 14/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - 33.5 paused at home

09.12 | 14/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - ouchio blisters!!!

10.52 | 14/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - has done 60kms in one day :))

12.13 | 14/10/09 | Facebook Update 

Mark Bryce - 64.4 km (40 miles) - that will do me. Time 2 stop :)

12.51 | 14/10/09 | Phonecast

End of 60k in One Day Totals. 

http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/MarkBryce/2009/10/14/Completed-60k-in-One-Day

Notes:

Original Blog at www.silentfullback.co.uk | Category: 153 Mile Challenge

http://markbryce.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=cat%3d153%2520Mile%2520Challenge

The Numbers for ‘60k in One Day’: 81044 steps (40.5 miles, 65km, 1.5 marathons in one day).

The Records (19/10/09): Total Miles (Since 21/11/05) 6173.30; Day Max 40.5 miles; Week Max 135.62 miles; Year Max 2182.96 miles; Marathons to Date (Target 700) 235; 153 Mile Bike Achieved 13/6/09. 

Please can you sponsor me £6 in a charity challenge I have organised.

For my part in the challenge I plan to walk 60km in one day (60kms is about 37 miles).  I plan to do this within the next two weeks when I have a good weather window.  I am doing this to raise money for Merseyside Play Action Council (REG NO: 1048263).

To sponsor me simply go to http://www.tyrersorrel.co.uk/plusten/pages/store/CV_productlisting.asp?pid=67 with a credit card.

It only costs £6 and all donations will be greatly appreciated.  If you can sponsor me more than £6 just change the quantity on the cart.  1 = £6, 2 = £12, 3 = £18 obviously (see FAQs below).  If you don’t have a credit card just send me a message with the amount you want to sponsor me and I will sort the rest.  Thank you in advance for your support.

You can follow my walk live on my live phone blog: http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/MarkBryce/

I will give you at least 24 hours notice on my Facebook Profile of when I plan to do the challenge.  If you don’t get my Profile simply subscribe to the RSS feed on the Ipadio page.  The blog should automatically link to my Facebook Profile and Windows Live Blog but if it doesn’t just go direct to Ipadio.  You may also have to use the calendar box on the right hand side of the Ipadio page as I may be doing some of the walk in the night to avoid sun stroke.  Last time I tried an ultra distance I nearly died from dehydration.  Seriously I was an idiot and ill prepared.  Please don’t try this at home without proper preparation and build up.  It isn’t easy or safe for beginners.  

Some FAQs:

What happens if I give more than £6? 

If you sponsor me more than £6 I will split the money with some other participants in this order:

Windy Joe’s 306,000 Ladder Steps - 50% of the extra sponsorship

http://www.tyrersorrel.co.uk/plusten/pages/store/CV_productlisting.asp?pid=73

Joe was with me when I started to rehab my calf.  He would see me limp out at 8am and return at 3pm every Friday.  He has a route in Ashton where I train and he has brightened up many a training session with talk of UFC, health programmes, Pink concerts and parking wars.

Baby Moolicious at Rice Lane City Farm  - 50% of the extra sponsorship

http://www.tyrersorrel.co.uk/plusten/pages/store/CV_productlisting.asp?pid=66

Baby Moolicious is a baby calf at Rice Lane City Farm.  Rice Lane City Farm is supported by MPAC.  She doesn’t have a name.  When I saw her she was 2 weeks old and couldn’t walk properly.  Just like me in 2005.  She is so cute.  If you sponsor me and Baby Moolicious I will send you a special photo of her as a thank you.  

Why am I asking?

My 153 Mile Challenge is part of a charity event I have been holding to celebrate reaching 6000 miles since injuring my calf muscle in 2005.

http://6000miles.tsconnected.com/

As part of this event a number of people, including myself, are each walking 153 miles and raising £153 for the nominated charity – Merseyside Play Action Council (REG NO: 1048263).  I don’t receive any payment for this event.

Merseyside Play Action Council is a resource centre which has supported and developed activities for children and young people in Liverpool since 1974.  MPAC is based in a fully accessible building in Liverpool City Centre.  MPAC IS A ONE STOP SHOP THAT CAN PROVIDE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROJECTS.

Merseyside Play Action Council really needs our support at this time because they are seeing a large number of their member charities/groups close their doors due to the difficult financial times.  Rice Lane City Farm, home to Baby Moolicious, have even said “without MPAC we wouldn’t exist now”.  Your money will help MPAC continue to support creative and community activity for children in Liverpool.   

http://www.merseyplay.com/

Notes:

Original Blog at www.silentfullback.co.uk | Category: 153 Mile Challenge

http://markbryce.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=cat%3d153%2520Mile%2520Challenge

Been a ‘normal’ week, went ballistic at our pedometer printers who sent me two proofs for the same item, followed by realising what I have achieved on the first phase of Tyrer Sorrel and punctuated by being patronised and worrying about having no money in December.  The joys of being a small business :)

Ballistic – I could have gone to China myself the saga these pedometers have turned into.

Realisation – I watched part of a BBC TV show about bankers going into businesses and ‘helping them’.  Anyone who saw the tears in the farmer’s eyes at laying his staff off will understand what small business is really all about.  In the show there was an old lady who was talking to the banker about his year off.  I have never seriously thought about what it meant when I took a “year off” (it was more like 18 months) till I heard her words.  I now realise what that means to people.  Sorry to everyone who kept trying to tell me but I didn’t get it.  It was just numbers to me, another plan and perfectly normal.  But I realise it wasn’t now.  I realised how hard I have worked, why I needed time off and what I have achieved.  I realise who helped me and who actively didn’t.  This is why I keep saying thank you to everyone.  I am sure it is getting boring but here’s a few more thank-yous anyway.  Myself and Kirst would never swap PC Bryce (it’s obvious by the way that you are both doing a great job); ‘Sneaky Crisps, Shots & Quiz Machines’; ‘Quavers & Abramovich’; ‘Mel and The Ashton Triangle’ (now who should I get to play them?); ‘Tom’s Thumbs Up’; ‘Every Black Mini’; Sean; Joe; ‘the finest coffee shop in town’.  I am glad I did it, even if it is much harder and more scary now.  Putting it in the past also helps me detach from the first phase and move on with Tyrer Sorrel to a bigger place.                

Patronisation – I am developing another Challenge (the £553 Start Up Challenge, to go along side the 153 Mile Challenge).  The working title is ‘Homeless to Millionaire’.  As part of this challenge we will be following the stories of Social Entrepreneurs, firstly Homeless Social Entrepreneurs as they grow or restart their own businesses.

http://www.tyrersorrel.co.uk/plusenterprise/socialentrepreneurs/welcome.asp

To develop the challenge I am blogging about my own business (hence these posts) and learning ‘What do I want to say?’; What don’t I want to say?’; ‘What do I forget if I don’t post quickly?’.  I am also learning what it is like to be a start up all over again – I am living our future challenge and starting 153 Mile with £553.  Difficult but what I am realising more than anything (I probably missed it the first time) is that start ups are constantly patronised and treated like second class businesses.  Kirst told me about a story on BBC news once.  A man with his own boating business had been trading for 20 years or something and was turning over £17m a year and was treated like an idiot by his bank.  Maybe I am more sensitive to it, who knows.  It’s something I need to explore for the £553 Start Up Challenge.       

Notes:

Original Blog at www.silentfullback.co.uk | Category: Tyrer Sorrel.

http://markbryce.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=cat%3dTyrer%2520Sorrel

Just had a call from printing.com to say thank you for the post:

http://markbryce.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!A705FACC80DB2936!371.entry

Apparently we made our first order on 10th June 2002 and it was weirdly for 2 sets of business cards.  Now that’s a good omen.  If we are saying the same thing in seven years time I will be more than happy for both of us.

Notes:

Original Blog at www.silentfullback.co.uk | Category: Tyrer Sorrel.

http://markbryce.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=cat%3dTyrer%2520Sorrel

As I merge the things I do for fun and the things I do for business I need to answer the question “who is this Tyrer Sorrel fella then?”.  Tyrer Sorrel is my trading name.  I have been trading for 8 years (since 2001).  I am proud to be a Sole Trader.  In fact the most problems I have had is with big companies who don’t have to take responsibility.  I don’t sell tyres.  We run events and manage the data and media around them.  I tried explaining it to a taxi driver once so I won’t even try here.  Basically think Direct Mail (we don’t send junk and we don’t sell your name without consent, ever!).  I have outlived the majority of my Preferred Suppliers (probably all the comparable ones in fact) and paid every invoice at least 10 days before a due date (it’s a TS Rule).  I have had some great times and some really awful times.  Burnley BS, now there’s a story for another day.  “Love It, Hate It”, it’s the curse of business.  In fact two weeks ago I didn’t want to write this.  Enough was enough for me.  Ready to call it a day.  Closest I have ever been.  I had taken “18 months off” to do other stuff (the business continued) and I had found I was back in the same old world when I “came back”.  I couldn’t do that for another 5 years.  Absolutely no way.  No amount of money was worth that.  I was sick of taking Kirst across crevasse fields too.  See my recent James Cracknell Post:

http://markbryce.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!A705FACC80DB2936!353.entry

I woke up Monday morning and decided to give it one more day, see what happened in just 24 hours.  Dump the stuff that we don’t want to do and fully commit to the stuff we do want (or quit).  No more limbo-land.  Hence the 153 Mile Challenge.  Me & Kirst have fully committed, it’s like our first event all over again.  We are just like a start up again, and have not been happier.  So what’s the problem?  Well, I have gone from £800 a day to nothing.  Tough one to square that but we will find a way through this period.

http://www.my153miles.co.uk or http://6000miles.tsconnected.com

That’s were the rope metaphor comes in.  When I used to go climbing regularly (before my calf injury) I had this weird fear.  I knew it wasn’t heights.  I realised I got tense near the top because of the knot.  Found out that’s common afterwards.  Well there’s just one solution to that isn’t there.  Take the rope off.  No protection and a really big fall.  (It’s the landing you have to fear though).  I have a vivid memory of a little kid pointing up (don’t copy me kid, it’s an extremely stupid idea) and then Dave turning round to shout at me.  I waited till he was belaying JB because I knew he wouldn’t let me do it!  Anyways, the ropes off now with Tyrer Sorrel.  It’s either a really, really bad landing or success.  No middle ground.  But that’s the risk of business.  That’s what I love.  Or is it hate?

Photo:  Picking up the first mini promo cards for the 153 Mile Challenge.  To quote Guy - “Happy Days”.

Whilst we are on the subject of the photo let me tell you about printing.com (Manchester Central) - Fiona, Tony and Kelly-Ann.  This isn’t an advert, this is my personal recommendation.  I don’t make them lightly and they don’t know I am saying this.  Printing.com have been with me from about Year 2.  They were there through my calf injury (when I ran the business for 3 months from my laptop in bed).  It took me 5 years to find them.  They have made me money because of increased sales and saved me loads of money with low costs.  I would never change them.  Anyone that has experience of print buying knows that some printers are like bad plumbers.  They will huff and puff and try and baffle you with TIFFs and EPS.  They will try and tell you printing a business card takes 4 weeks.  Complete nonsense and never with printing.com.  I swear I have had cards printed in 24 hours but the maximum you will wait is 3 days on business cards.  If you have a business or print buying responsibility try them out for your next job.  You will be astounded by the difference and you may want to change suppliers.  Please don’t blame me though for saving you 5 years of searching and loads of money.  You should know that printing.com are franchises.  They are all good but Manchester Central is the original flagship store (only the best for Tyrer Sorrel) and I think Fiona coached the other stores anyway.  Just go to the best and don’t waste your time.  Call them on 0161 833 2734 (tell them Mark Bryce or Tyrer Sorrel sent you.  I don’t get commission but it will keep me at the top of their favourite customer list).  See them online at: http://www.manchester-printing.com/

Find out more about Tyrer Sorrel at http://www.tyrersorrel.co.uk

Original Blog at www.silentfullback.co.uk | Category: Tyrer Sorrel.

http://markbryce.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=cat%3dTyrer%2520Sorrel