With only 2 days left before the start of the walk, the only thing left to do is pack and prepare. To start as a team and Finish as a team is our primary objective, and to acheive it we will need mental toughness, team spirit and the support of our crew. A last minute replacement for Jim has been found and the hours of training have strengthened our legs ready for the distance. All we need now is the self beleif that we will succeed and the support of each other. I am very confident that we wil all be stood on the finish line together on Sunday morning, and that it will be well worth all of the sacrifices we have made to get us there.

"The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is so often just simply that little word - extra. And for me, I had always grown up with the belief that if someone succeeds it is because they are brilliant or talented or just better than me…and the more of these words I heard the smaller I always felt! But the truth is often very different…and for me to learn that ordinary me can achieve something extra-ordinary by giving that little bit extra, when everyone else gives up, meant the world to me and I really clung to it…"

Bear Grylls

Just to keep you updated on the healing process, I had to "remove" my big toe nail on Tuesday night. The picture below shows my toe after the procedure. It was basically swollen with poisonous stuff so I cut it down both sides with some nail scissors then pulled it off. It feels a lot better now, but I'm pretty sure I won't be 100% healed by next Friday. I have cut out a cardboard replacement for my toenail, which reminds me that we now have 3 cardboard replacements coming along next week. Jim is unfortunately committed to staying in Spain so he won't be able to make it, I have made a cardboard replacement for him, which will be sitting next to cardboard Mike in the bus. Cardboard Mike is coming even though real Mike is also coming because for some reason some people just prefer the cardboard one.So, the only thing left to do now is carb load on the stella artois all week and pack plenty of bandages. It's time to Man up and walk, remembering that the pain is just the weakness leaving your body!

The final training walk took place last weekend. Three of us walked a total distance of 35 miles on Saturday 30th June across Cannock Chase. It took us from 0700 to 2100 including break times (some of which lasted longer than anticipated due to blister treatment). Mike was unfortunately unavailable for the walk, but we did take a cardboard cut out of him along, and found cardboard Mike was much more of a team player than the real thing! As you can see from the pictures below, the weather wasn't too good, and we did have a few navigating problems as usual, but the worst part was the blisters I managed to get on my heal. The first picture shows the damage on the day, and the second one was taken this morning. I have got 10 days to heal, which I'm sure is possible. Having completed just over half the distance we all feel very confident now, and are ready for the main event.

I weighed myself today and the results aren't good. I've put on 1/4 of a pound, tipping the scales at 14 stone 1.25 pounds. I followed the beer diet too. Loads of beer on Saturday, and a pizza, and a big bag of crisps, and doughnuts with custard in....but I still can't manage to lose any weight.

My attempt at cycling every morning has failed too. I tried once, but nearly fainted because I hadn't had anything to eat.

Oh well, when I'm walking for those long 30 hours I'll reget being such a greedy tw*t.

We have also sorted our final training walk routes. Myself, Marc and Matt will be walking 32 miles around Cannock chase this Saturday in preperation for the big one. If we do this I'll feel very confident come the 14th of July. Unfortunately, Mike won't be walking with us but he'll be in our hearts.

Note: *=i

Yet another sad bloke doing a blog, If you are a fit female reading the blogs on this site the size zero comment refers to my body fat not my mince n tatties.

Nothing wrong with the beer diet, as long as it's done with 12k runs chased by a rabid dog and 3 visits to the gym. Daz had in fact polished off fish, chips n mushy green stuff prior to the picture being taken so one visit to the powder room should sort it.

Mikey M

For those of you who are following the beer diet, please remember that good quality beer will get the best results. The picture below shows exactly why Stu isn't getting the results he should be, as this was found in his fridge.!!

If you would like to sponsor us, you may. Please click the link below to go to our group home page, from here you can choose who to sponsor and find out more information about this great cause.

CLICK ME!

At the time of posting we had raised just under £2000 for Oxfam, with Stu being bottom of the fundraising league table on just £150. So, if you do make a contribution please put it under Stuart's name(you don't have to if you don't want to, nobody else does). Thanks!

The fine specimen of a man you see below is Daz. He's one of our support team, and as you can see if we run out of food after only 5 miles there's enough meat on him to keep us going for the rest of the 55 miles!! But seriously I too need to loose a "few pounds" before the event. I'm not sure of my exact current weight because my "speak your weight" scales just keep saying "one at a time please" every time I get on. I'm guessing it must be quite a lot though because my beeper keeps going off every time I walk backwards!!! So I too will be weighing myself on a Monday, and I will be taking some scales to work to check Stu just in case he "forgets" his weight on the way to work and puts down a lower number on here by "accident" Is it me or is this whole thing getting queerer by the day?

Is this what you're aiming for???

Just a quick bit of advice for Stu, you could ask Mike if you can borrow his size zero diet book. Or you could follow the beer diet like meD