September 2019
So it is back to school and back to structured fitness after the summer holidays! The perfect time to update you on everything that has been happening and what's to come as we set our sights firmly on our next goals.
It is important to relish time with family and friends and not beat yourself up if your training has taken a hit. Balance is vital for maintaining long term vision. It takes about a week for most people to get back into a routine after a small break and if you have abstained from exercise for a period of 2-3 weeks then it will depend on previous activity level, age (takes a bit longer than a week if over 45 ) and then prioritising time to get back to full fitness.
The new school year means preparing for the whole year in terms of planning holidays, after school activities for some and activity & training too as well as choosing events and setting up basic training schedules for it. Idem ditto for our job(s).
Fail to plan, plan to fail so get setting those SMART goals. Create 2-3 dates apart from each other in the diary for which you want to work towards being in top form and adjust your schedules accordingly. Macro and micro planning! Anyway, as ever I am always here to help.
Some people thought I was nuts to do a skydive - even for charity, but for me it was the right thing to do. It was about time to give back,and give back in this appropriate way for Help for Heroes Charity who promote and protect the health of those who have been wounded, (mentally) sick or injured whilst providing Army related services. This was mainly for the 2 guys I know personally who have PTSD - unfortunately all too common and Help For Heroes does amazing work helping access support and rehabilitation for them and to assist their affected loved ones. It was also to celebrate a milestone birthday and to find out for myself if those square parachute canopies one jumps with nowadays are easier to operate than the round ones I had experience jumping with (by day, night and full pack) 28 years ago.
For several years now, the Special Forces unit I was at, are able to perform the free fall too (and with oxygen tank if needed) so I thought a milder version was a good goal to have. To do a skydive is statistically safer than riding a bicycle in The UK. The AFF 1 solo free fall is safe as 5 things are in place to prevent worst case scenario. There are 2 instructors and you (3), the main parachute has an automatic opening device set at a certain altitude just in case it doesn't open in time (4) and there's a reserve parachute too (5) which can be pulled. To get a used to the speed of the free fall a bit I went to do a basic indoor skydive which I did with my children in Milton Keynes, top fun for all, flying with an instructor up to 90 m/ph.
On the 10th August I took part in the ground school accelerated free-fall (AFF) solo skydive day course at Sibson Airfield east of Peterborough which was organised through Skyline Events and held by UK Parachuting. This intense course is packed with all kinds of possible scenario's and numerous repetition of drills which need to be carried out from start to finish during the skydive experience. Due to high winds the jump didn't go ahead that day, nor did it on the 15th due to the same reason and low clouds but it did take place on the 22nd at borderline 15 m/ph winds. Free-fall from about 13.500 feet (4km) to 6000 feet takes about 48 sec which is about 2.2 sec fall each 100m, a fall at an average speed of 125 m/ph. At 6000 feet you deploy your parachute and the rest was pretty much old school with fond army memories back to the correct landing zone. I landed under a flat and level canopy.
All in all an amazing experience I won't forget with these 4 A's for me: awesome, adrenaline, adventure and addictive. I passed the criteria set for AFF level 1 to go onto level 2. The sport is time consuming and a little pricey but if anyone is thinking of doing a skydive I would definitely want to join and share the experience again. For further details and what to expect please ask, I recommend it to most people. Anyway, I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to support this incredible charity.
The above picture shows the most important thing to do: The moment you deploy your parachute at the correct altitude in a stable body position!
Here is a brief video of the jump!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL3Mq7bnJKM&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3X7gxSVSM-xjj-DDtu347dW3QYwwAnRdxBlmK8RnbiXXAxSiR-UuOTgbA
I want to thank everyone who donated and supported me. On behalf of myself and all the soldiers helped by this fantastic charity - A massive thank you!!!!!
Why not set one of these as your next target?
Some events coming up during the next month:
-Rat Race Coast to Coast, 14/9+15/9
-Tough Mudder London South, 21/9+22/9
-Moor Park 10K and Junior Fun Runs, 29/9
-OCR World Championships open event (7km), 13/10
Make your next goal your best yet.
The next FFA Team O.C.R. Event will be at The O.C.R. World Championships in Brentwood, Essex.
This is a unique opportunity to earn a World Championship medal. The World Championships won't take place in The U.K. next year or in the foreseeable future, this is the year to take part! This event is called the "7km Individual Open" and will take place on Sunday 13th October at 1pm. Come and be part of team FFA, so we can assist each other over the obstacles and have some fun. No qualification needed for this OPEN individual event! Expect quality and difficult world class obstacles on a muddy course which will take you about 2 hours to complete. Are you up for it? So far 3 people have paid and signed up for it. It is going to be awesome! Please contact Roel for further details.
For those already entered don't forget your FFA jersey which can be ordered through Legendborne - this needs to be done by next week at the latest for it to arrive on time.
https://www.legendborne.com/fit-for-anything/
As ever, I look forward to continuing to work with you to keep you on track to achieve your goals.
You can be(come) Fit For Anything!
Roel