Row around Britain

[Stu Merckx Man]

Hey old cycling friends!
Some of you won't know me, I used to race and train at Acc as a junior. (The TG shaped my life!)
On June 1st at 8am I will commence a non stop off shore Row around Britain in a team of 4 ,"Team Hallin" on board the ocean rowing boat ' Hallin Marine II' with the aim of breaking the world record.
It is a race , with about 8 other crews taking part, which should make it all a bit more exciting.
It is approximately 2000 miles, and the record stands at 26 and three quarter days. We will be rowing in pairs, 2 hours on 2 hours off for the whole trip.

I have been training very hard for the last year, helped by Paul Hone and Richard Hosking, who some of you will know and remember. The training has involved many long hours sculling on the river Thames all winter in all weathers, and long boring sessions of the rowing machine including a 24hr session , doing 2 hours on 2 hours off...it made a 2x20 on the turbo trainer seem like an exciting sprint . Of course I have not forgotten my first love [cycling] and have also spent a lot of time in the saddle to mix up the training.

We are rowing in aid of the charity Combat stress and are hoping to raise as much money as possible. In 2010/11 I served a 6 month operational tour in Afghanistan with the Parachute regiment and have a couple of close friends who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), but I am sure I have more who would never make it public out of embarrassment and shame , but rely on charities like Combat Stress for confidential support. So I have seen first hand the negative effect it has on their lives, and the daily mental battles they go through.

You can follow the race here http://www.gbrowchallenge.com/
And visit our team website here http://www.teamhallin.co.uk/wp/ to find out more about the team and its members, (and donate if you wish!)

Cheers,
Stu.

[Andrew G]

Good to here what you've been up to Stu, I wondered what you'd been up to since your Tour. Good luck with this immense challenge, under some Honeberg's guidance your rowing will certainly be up to scratch.

[Sylv]

Are you going to have recovery days during the row Stu, like in Frejus?

Best of luck for June

[Stu Merckx Man]

Cheers Andrew.
No, no recovery days unfortunately Sylv. But I think Frejus will be remain harder !!

[Antloony]

Good luck Stu, will be following your progress with interest and donate a few quid.

Like the pics of your trip down The Thames

[Dombo]

Best of luck Stu.
Note to everyone, a lot of big companies, like my employer, have a facility for donating via payroll whereby the charity gets ALL the tax back on your donation, not just Gift Aid. Usually they just need the charity name and number. Combat Stress charity number is 206002.

[George]

wow 12 hours rowing each day for a month

GO STU!!

[Toks]

Go Stu, still a strong man I see - brilliant cause too

[MJ_1993]

This is sick Stu! Mad ratings!

[Rogan]

Epic Challenge Stu and very worthy cause for which I will gladly make a donation.

Good luck! I hope it's not too gruelling

[Stu Merckx Man]

Cheers people. Not long now. I hope it gets a bit warmer !!

[Phil H]

Looks like Stu & crew are in second place at the moment. [url=http://www.gbrowchallenge.com/tracker]Tracker[/url]

[Dombo]

Doesn't look good :
http://www.gbrowchallenge.com/race-update-1800-june-06

[Phil H]

Yes. Retired with a mechanical. I've been tempted to pull that one before.

Seriously though, it's a shame as they were going well.

As it was, they were four men going backwards as fast as possible with no directional control. Sounds like most British management.

[Andrew G]

Gutted, so much training and preparation.