Conquor the world
At Lucky2bhere HQ we have come up with the ambitious plan to try and do an event in every country of the world. Could you get the running shoes on for us. Or maybe you could take the plundge and do a swim. Or what about getting on your bike. Or it could be conquering a mountain. Whatever the challenge, big or small, we would love to hear from you. Raise a few pounds for Lucky2bhere and get your event on our map.
Gobi Desert,Mongolia
In July 2010, Robert Holding and Donnie Nicolson took part in the Gobi desert challenge in aid of, lucky2Bhere. Over the period of two weeks they covered nearly 600miles.This included a cycle of 450miles and then running 140 miles while carrying thier food, provisions and mandatory safety gear. The Mongolian Gobi is a land of extremes. Its imposing sand dunes, towering mountains and seemingly endless sun-baked desert plains are home to wolves, bears, vultures and nomadic goat herders. One of the least forgiving environments on earth, temperatures soared above 40C in summer and plummet to below freezing through winter. In doing so they raised over £15,000 for Lucky2bhere.
Germany. Berlin
Running the Berlin marathon last month was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! The months of solitary runs around Dunvegan were a far cry from that hot Sunday morning (temperatures reached 27 degrees, I believe) when I joined 35,034 other runners pounding the streets of the German capital. The atmosphere was electric! The support from the spectators lining every metre of the way, was fantastic - noisy, enthusiastic and without a doubt in the last difficult 2k it was their encouragement that kept me going. Such was the volume of participants it took me exactly 20 minutes to get through the start line.Although I had no specific plan in mind for the run I can still hardly believe that I am able to say that apart from the water stops, I actually ran the whole way! At the half way stage I felt good and was running well, and despite beginning to tire between 35-40 k my speed remained pretty constant.The big struggle was to get my legs running again at the very last water stop. Sheer determination only prevented me from giving in and walking. That, and the crowds willing each and every one of us on towards the finish. I can never describe the feeling of elation I felt as I ran towards, and through the Brandenberg gate to the finish line in 4hours 41Minutes 40seconds.
Wasn`t feeling quite so smart for the next hour though! - in fact I felt quite ill due to the heat and exhaustion, and quite vehement in saying that NEVER, EVER, EVER would I run another marathon.
My only disappointment was that my sister was unable to participate this year along with me, but she was with me as my support team, and maybe I will get the chance to reciprocate some day. We had a wonderful time in Berlin,and think we walked as many miles as I had run sight seeing.
This was such a well organised marathon, and we were so impressed with the efficiency of the clear up operation - 24 hours later the sea of tents, barricades and (the awful!) portaloos had all gone, and not a discarded paper cup was to be seen on the streets.
Just like to say that 6 weeks down the line, NEVER, EVER,EVER is still being said, but just a little less vehemently!! Will I never learn!
Morag MacDonald
Dunvegan
Isle of Skye
Afghanistan
In March 2011 as part of 45 commando Royal Marines, I was deployed to Afghanistan to a small checkpoint called Tanoor in the south of the country. I was stationed there with 16 other marines and patrolled daily to help secure the area .After hearing about the conquer the world lucky 2 b here challenge we had the opportunity to get Afghan ticked off the map and had to decide what challenge or event we could hold in our checkpoint. With no space to run or no exercise machines we decided to hold a strongest marine challenge. The event would take place in our state of the art gym and consisted of pull ups, press ups, bench press, dips and shoulder press.
The week before we decided to hold it the banter between the lads started and it was getting competitive and there was a week of last minute training. The competition started with 7 competitors, one of which was our afghan interpreter. With a points system in place for the amount of reps done we got started the first exercise was the bench press (don’t know what weight it was because it was empty ammo containers filled with sand) then press-ups and shoulder press, there was plenty banter and abuse between the lads as thing were getting more and more competitive. After the first 3 events Big Smudge, Scouse Dave and Stevie were in the lead but “pea head” Rory from Dornoch reckoned his events were still to come, the pull ups and dips, but he was wrong even with his dodgy reps on the dips it wasn’t enough. Dave banged out 32 pull ups and 50 dips which no one could compete with and was already in the lead, so was crowned the winner of Tanoor strong man competition much to his delight and we didn’t hear the end of this for the rest of the tour as Dave strutted about in his new lucky2bhere vest!
Cpl Iain Urquhart
Mortar Troop
Support Commany
45 commando
Royal Marines
Also Skeabost Bridge, Isle of Skye
La Plagne
Tony Gilmour is one of very few people in the UK to have completed Ultra races in the seven continents of the world. These include the Antarctic marathon, a 26miles trail route with a glacier accent. The Jungle Marathon, which is 125miles over 6 days in depths of Brazilian rain forest. The 6633 ultra, pulling a sledge 125miles up the Dempster highway, crossing over the Arctic Circle in the Canadian Arctic. The Marathon Des Sables, 140miles over 6 days, running through the Sahara desert. The Tour de Mount-Blanc. A single stage ultra that is 101miles, and has to be completed in 46hours. The route passes through France, Switzerland, and Italy, with the trail reaching a height of 2000 metres. The Gobi Challenge with Robert and Donnie. A 400mile bike ride followed by a 140mile run through the Gobi Desert in Southern Mongolia. And the last one to complete the seven was the Kepler Challenge in New Zealand. A 37mile ultra over steep mountain inclines, alpine ridges and deep forests. Tony has now helped Lucky2bhere conquer the world by bagging the French Alps. Sporting his new t-shirt he hit the slopes in La Plagne.
Falkland Islands
