Wednesday, 14 September 2011 20:47

Day 3 of the Barclays Corporate - Relay for CHICKS.

You can donate to the Warwickshire and Leicestershire Team ...and read their blog to find out how they got on ...

First Leg - Leicester Office to Market Bosworth Country Park - 12 miles

The day started early with Dave, Sandra, Minie, Cheryl , Becky C and her dog Louis acting as official team mascot leaving our office at 7.00am.

Dave kept them all in order setting a fast pace !

Cheryl had her new trainers on, BIG mistake as the blisters appeared a short way in, luckily we were prepared with plenty of plasters.

8.15am and Colin and Greg left the office to run the first four miles to Desford Crossroads, despite putting in no training they covered the distance in good time, although Greg was heard saying that it was hard.

8.45am Kate and Keith met up with Colin & Greg at Desford to run the next four miles, a bit of rivalry here, Kate & Keith think they were quicker than the first set of runners and they definitely had a harder run!

When they ran up a big hill Keith told Kate it wasn't harder ...........just different.

9.30am Walkers met up with Kate & Keith, Kate was having such a great time she decided to continue and join in with the rest of the walk. At this point Anna & Kathy also joined as they had now finished the ref lists and could leave the office.

10.30am first stage finished, we arrived at Market Bosworth and waited for the cyclists to arrive, and waited, and waited. Several phone calls later and we found out that they had been waiting for Nicky to collect them from their meeting point in Wolverhampton. Nicky was driving them in a 17 seater minibus, apparently the paperwork took longer than expected at the rental office, we had thought it might have been her driving.

Colin and Phil our chauffeurs arrived spot on time, Phil what a great job ! you made sure we all got to our starting places on time and were there to take us back to work.

11.20am Cyclists finally arrived, Nicky was driving the bus and loving it !, Tom was heard to say that the hard part was over as he got out of the van- and he still had 35 miles to cycle.

After waving off Tom, Richard, Becky B, Lee & Rob we all made our way back to the office, by this time we were very cold and some were very tired with sore feet.

12.30pm first of quite a few phone calls from Nicky to the office, which road should I be on?, I am trying to catch up with the cyclists!

2.00pm update on cyclists progress, Nicky had caught up with them, they were all fed and watered and back on the road.

3.30pm cyclists arrived in Wolverhampton, ahead of Nicky in the minibus, Mr Chicks has been handed over to Black Country Team and is off for a nights rest in another location.

Well done Team !!! What seemed like mission impossible became possible.

Here are some of the teams comments:

Our 12 mile walk was very exhilarating with Dave Morgan setting a fast pace. It was very enjoyable walking down the country roads even though things got a bit 'hairy' at times with all the large lorries! – Sandra

A very enjoyable morning having a laugh with colleagues in the glorious sunshine. And all for a great cause!

This despite having a very large blister on my right foot!- Cheryl

Besides having slightly aching legs the walk was well worth it, great team spirit all the way – shame about the lack of toilets!! That has to be my achievement of the morning! Highlight would have to be little Louie being carried along by Becky – very cute!! – Minie

Well done, the day was timed to perfection:

My highs of today were – Reaching the end!

- Nicky driving the mini bus and seeing the West Midlands side of the team arrive at Market Bosworth with whiplash!

- Rivalry between the two running teams on their times (I definitely think we were quicker than Greg and Colin and had a harder run!!)

- Turning a complaint from a customer who couldn't get through to the office into a £100 donation! (£200 with £ 4 £)

- Eating chocolate all afternoon guilt free for once!

Lows – I don't think I have ever felt so cold when we finished, my hands turned blue!

The big hill we ran up which marathon runner Keith told me wasn't harder just different – yeah right! - Kate

Dave, Cheryl, Sandra, Minie, Becky C and the Warwickshire and Leicester team mascot, Louis, started off bright and breezy at 7am. Their stretch was a 12 mile walk from the office in Leicester to Market Bosworth. The sun was shining as we 'skipped' along the first stretch of road. The blisters started about 1 mile in! Great start! Becky C and Cheryl plastered up and soldiered on through the pain! Dave led the way, approximately half a mile ahead at all times and waited at every corner to ensure the 'young uns' weren't left behind. We think that the secret behind this was that he got a 5 min break within each mile while the stragglers caught up and got nothing!!! – Becky C

THANK YOU to all of you who took part, you have helped to raise a large sum of money for a very worthwhile cause.

Good luck to the Black Country team on Day 4 of the challenge .

Kathy McLauchlan
Associate Director, Warwickshire & Leicestershire Team