Super 1s 100 Challenge Diary
As part of the Super 1s 100 challenge - where players and staff from all four England disability cricket squads are aiming to cover the distance between the eight venues hosting Hundred matches to raise vital funds.
The man behind the idea, ECB Disability Cricket Competition Manager, Richard Hill, has been keeping a challenge diary. Read on to hear about his brilliant efforts over the past month.
5 July - Today I have added a further 49 lengths of my local swimming bath to my total! In distance terms, my local pool is 33 metres in length so that’s 1,617 meters, which in old money is one mile!
The fantastic team of England Disability players that I have helping me with this challenge have set off and at the end of this week we will provide an update as to where we are on our 500-mile journey.
For me personally as an old bloke, who is a wheelchair user, my contribution is being made in the pool. My personal target is to swim the equivalent of crossing the channel (which at its narrowest point is 21 miles).
Adding today’s miles to the sessions that I did on Thursday (42 lengths) and Friday (48 lengths) last week. I have roughly indicated in the below image where I am in terms of my crossing - 2.85 miles!
6 July – another 50 lengths completed today, takes my overall distance up by 1,650 metres which is another mile – 3.86 miles.
7 July – 50 more lengths today! I’m almost up to five miles now, that’s nearly a quarter of the way across.
8 July – 42 lengths this morning, that’s a distance of 0.86 miles making my cumulative total so far to 4.19 miles.
9 July – Today, the pool was almost empty, that meant that I could do a few more lengths. I tired at 52 lengths today, that’s a distance of 1.08 miles. Cumulative total is now 5.27 miles.
11 July – This is the first time during the challenge I have taken to the pool on a weekend. I usually keep it to weekdays but in order to achieve my personal goal, I ned to ensure I stay on target – today was 50 lengths which equates to 1.03 miles, making the cumulative 6.3 miles.
12 July – Today the pool was really quiet. I wonder if its due to football blues! – 48 lengths today, that is 0.98 miles taking the total to 7.28. I am quietly confident that I will have reached the halfway point by the end of this week. That puts me right on schedule.
13 July – Today and for the rest of the week I need to do 50 lengths a day so that I am able to meet my own target by the end of the month - 50 lengths achieved, that’s 1.03 miles.
14 July – Determined at the start to make the 50 lengths today, surprisingly it seemed a little easier today and that is another mile ticked off!
15 July – Todays 50 could not have been more difficult, as smooth as it was yesterday, todays was really hard work. However, 50 done and I now think I am well into the second half of this challenge, being virtually, in the middle of the channel.
16 July – Due to work, I had to stay out last night, but the hotel I am in has a pool. Its much smaller than the pool I use daily, and my calculations mean that I need to deliver 100 lengths today.
100 lengths completed within the time slot given, so all is well.
19 July – Today felt better and the 50 lengths were easily achieved.
20 July – Getting out of bed this morning was hard work. My body felt particularly heavy and lethargic today. It may be the hot weather. It was reflected in the pool with just 30 lengths today, that’s 0.6 of a mile, but I guess it all counts...
21st July - Feeling a bit easier than yesterday, it was quite a nice swim today, not too much ‘traffic;’ so I was able to do my 50 lengths. That 1.03 miles
22nd July - Another good session today, the achiness of my body has got easier, and I definitely feel a whole lot better when I’m in the water! – 50 lengths - 1.03 miles
23rd July - I’m a little annoyed at myself today. I was set to swim another fifty lengths but lost count – I might have done 50, but I can’t be sure, so I’ve settled for 48, that’s 0.98 miles
Final week of the challenge coming up. I’ve calculated that I need to swim 50 lengths everyday this week to ensure I reach the virtual shore! – no excuses, its just got to be done.
26th July – Easy finish today. Now that the government restrictions have eased, I am able to spend longer in the pool. That means I don’t have to force the pace to get done within an allotted time (which has been the case up until now) – 50 lengths done!
27th July – The finish of this personal challenge is proving to be a lot easier than I thought it wood. The fact that I don’t have to rush has made it much more manageable – 50 more done!
28th July – Any easy run in. I am starting to feel a bit like the marathon runner that has a huge advantage on his nearest rival. It allowed me to ease the pace
29th July – I actually thin today I might reach the shore! 50 more done. I think I’ve now done 22 miles !! – actually no, I’ve done 21.5 miles in total – I recon a half mile tomorrow will do it,
30th July – Just to be sure, I’m going to swim the normal 50 lengths today. By doing to I definitely know ill be lying on sand by the end of it! – 50 done, really enjoyed this challenge (not sure Id have enjoyed it as much if I was really crossing the channel, however.
This is just a snapshot of the lengths everyone involved in the challenge are going to, to raise funds and awareness for national disability cricket programme Super 1s.
If you’d like to support the team as they bring the challenge to a close this week, please click here and get behind their brilliant efforts.
