My friends...the time has come. Back in May 2012, I quit my ridiculously well-paid, ridiculously easy job as a creative content writer for a global software company. I didn't leave for a new position elsewhere and I didn't even look for a new job; I just decided enough was enough, handed my notic...
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All in all, 2012 was a pretty good year for me. I tried to do at least one kickass thing for every month of the year. Here is what I managed: [gallery type="rectangular" ids="574,1181,932,894,850,1683,2235,1068,2238,1540,1333,981,1131"] Info: this year, I completed Tough Guy Winter 2012, won...
Continue reading ...We are still climbing! We seem to be improving too! Of course, we still screw up a lot: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OxGnkFOJzI&w=560&h=315] Spring is coming, however, and we must be ready to face THE ROCK!!...
Continue reading ...My friends. Somehow - I'm really not sure how - but 10,000 people have come across this blog in the last couple of years... I am fully aware of the diminutive status of this achievement in the grand scheme of blogs, or even the micro scheme of bad blogs. Still, it's a landmark that I never really ...
Continue reading ...Whether it be scaling a rock face to find a vantage point, descending into an abyss whilst hunting for treasure, or escaping up a tree or whilst being pursued by a wild boar, climbing is an invaluable skill for the freelance adventurer. Luckily for me, there are plenty of climbing walls within an ...
Continue reading ...[caption id="attachment_1323" align="alignleft" width="225"] In California, 2008[/caption] Like most things, exercise requires purpose. Sometimes, that purpose is generally looking and feeling good, other times it is a more direct goal like running a marathon or performing better at a certain sport...
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After all my ranting and raving about the disorganisation of Spartan Race, it turns out their photos had been uploaded all along. They simply didn't tell us. They also labelled them somewhat confusingly. Anyway, here are some of them: [gallery columns="4" type="square" ids="4905,4906,4908,4909,49...
Continue reading ...Having noticed my blog was getting a bit text-heavy, I decided to wait a while for the photos from the Super Spartan, before writing an update. However, is has now been nearly three weeks since we ran the course and not a single photo has surfaced. To be honest, this is entirely typical of the Sp...
Continue reading ...A long time ago, some people promised to take me out on the River Thames and give me lessons in the sport of rowing. Sadly, however, it never came to be. Luckily, I happened to be in the Lake District over the weekend, so I decided to rent a rowing boat and row Lake Windermere instead. Granted...
Continue reading ...As part of my Gold Challenge, I had to do some form of swimming. However, figuring that anybody could just walk down to their local pool, jump in and splash around for a bit, I wanted to do something a bit more interesting. So I decided to do some open water swimming - to brace myself against the...
Continue reading ...Back when I started this challenge, I decided to cycle 100 miles for the cycling element. How hard could it be, right? So, I made a plan: Stage 1: Borrow a bike Stage 2: Borrow a helmet Stage 3: Put both in the garage, and leave to mature for 12 months Stage 4: Cycle 100 miles Frankly, the plan was ...
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Being Guildmaster of the Guild of Adventurers isn't easy. I mean, if I'm not adventuring, who the hell is?! I am obliged, by the Gods of chaos, exploration and revelry, to pursue adventure as regularly as possible. This is a vow I have taken, by the light of the moon. So it must be - not matter wh...
Continue reading ...As part of my Gold Challenge, I am required to do a horse-based event. Given that I don't know how to ride a horse, however, that pretty much limits me to dressage...or something equally...well...y'know. Now, don't get me wrong here. Horse riding can damn cool. CAN BE damn cool. The stuff I see...
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At 08:30 we awoke, less magnificently than the day before, but still pretty magnificently, in the car. Having spent 8 hours driving 311 miles until 04:00, but failing to find anywhere to stay, we eventually pulled into a car park, reclined our seats and alternately frozen and boiled our way into the...
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At 08:30 we awoke, magnificently, in Truck Haven. After conquering Snowdon the night before, we had set out at midnight for Scafell Pike, covering 150 miles of our 216-mile drive before practically falling asleep at the wheel. Two enormous breakfasts later, we were back on the road, wending our w...
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Bored with the lack of adventure of everyday life, Simon and I decided to climb the three peaks. We also decided that, given our love for food, beer and epic bleak photography, we didn't want to rush up and down in 24 hours, as is traditional. Instead, we set out for a long weekend of conquering...
Continue reading ...As Champion of Murderbeers, my responsibilities are vast and never-ending. Quash a rebellion here, fend off the Ice Giants there; if it's not killing one thing, it's conquering another. So, when the Emperor looked out from Murder Mount and realised that England, Scotland and Wales ALL have tal...
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As I write is, I am standing just outside the Olympic Stadium for the London 2012 Games...waiting to walk inside and run the 100m. How exactly I have ended up here is unclear. I do, however, know it involved dozens of generous people, all of whom I can't thank enough for everything they have donate...
Continue reading ...We have two goals for my final day in Poland: 1. Visit Memento Park to see statues from communist Budapest. 2. Pilgrimage to the statue of a man punching a hydra. We get up early, ten litres of beer from the night before still sloshing around in our bodies. Matt has damaged his toe by stubbing ...
Continue reading ...The heat is ridiculous. Sweat pours down our bodies as we traipse across Budapest to our new hostel. By the time we arrive, we are sodden and exhausted. The hostel man greets us. What's that? The room we're staying is on the other side of the city? By the train station? Where we just walked...
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