Rob's LeJog Challenge

Scroll down to read Rob's daily blog recording the highs and lows of his challenge!

I'm taking on this challenge of the 10-day, 95 miles a day, Lands End to John O'Groats (LeJog) to raise vital funds for 40tude - an innovative charity that is tackling colon (bowel) cancer.

Thank you for supporting me by making a donation to 40tude. The funds will be directed very carefully by 40tude to raise awareness and to support vital research that is already making a difference to curing colon cancer.

1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women are at risk of developing this type of cancer and if you're a non-smoker in the UK, colon cancer is the most likely cancer to kill you. However it is one of the easiest cancers to treat, if it is detected early. The really good news is that colon cancer is also preventable, through regular screening.

If you have a test to look for colon cancer and its precursor polyps are detected, these can be easily removed, significantly reducing the risk of developing this type of cancer. Find out more on 40tude's website at: https://www.40tude.org.uk/what-is-colon-cancer

Early diagnosis is crucial, it can save lives.  Please do:

- Know the symptoms and act immediately if you have ANY concerns
- Make sure that you, and those you love, get screened regularly from your mid 40s

The funds raised for 40tude also support ground-breaking research programmes targeted at transforming the early diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer.  Find out more at: https://www.40tude.org.uk

It’s a great cause, and your donation will make a real difference in helping to cure colon cancer. Donating is easy, quick and secure.

Please share this with your friends and family also. Together we can cure colon cancer.

Thank you.

Rob's Blog:

Day 10: Mission accomplished! 

Day 10: Lairg to John O’Groats, 95 miles 1,400 m elevation. We made it…..! 980 miles and 17,000 m of elevation in total and not one puncture or mechanical failure on my 10 year old aluminium Trek bike…..I couldn’t quite bring myself to chuck it in the sea on arrival yesterday. Instead I chucked myself in…..Lovely sunny days cycling along Loch Naver to Betty’s Hill where we were greeted by a sparkling North Sea and turned East to Jo’G via Thurso into a gentle headwind. A perfect end to a fantastic challenge.

Day 9 - 21 July 2023

Day 9: Grantown-on-Spey to Lairg. 91 miles and 1,100 m elevation. Much more civilised than yesterday with mostly dry weather and stunning scenery as we cycled through the Highlands via Inverness to Lairg in Sutherland. Cold morning though with just 7.5’ at one stage. I thought this was July…..! Passed along the Cromarty and Dornach Firths with a spectacular nature stop at Shin Falls watching salmon leap up the waterfall…..last day tomorrow looking like fine weather.

Day 8 - 20 July 2023

Day 8: Perth to Grantown-on-Spey over the Cairngorms. easily the toughest days cycling I’ve ever done. 95 miles and 2,500 m elevation but with multiple, brutal 20% gradient sections including The Lecht and Cock Bridge. Conditions were dry and fine until after lunch when the temperature dropped to just 9 degrees and the heavens opened again…..the route took us through Blairgowrie , Spittal of Glenshee, Braemar, Balmoral and Tomimtoul. Tomorrow we head to Lairg via Inverness.

Day 7 - 19 July 2023

Day 7: Moffat to Perth. 101 miles and 1750 m elevation (I had Strava recording problems so summary below is inaccurate). At last a dry, fine and mostly sunny day in the saddle! What a fabulous ride with stunning scenery. Long and steady 5 mile climb to get us on the Scenic Route to Edinburgh, thru the city, lunch along the waterfront. Across the Forth Road Bridge, thru Kelly and Kinross - skirting Loch Leven - to Perth-on-Tay. Best ride in terms of scenery and weather since Day 1 in Cornwall!

Day 6 - 18 July 2023

Day 6: Crossthwaite in Lake District to Moffat in Scottish Lowlands. 95 miles and 1,800m elevation. Very wet start to day but as we started the daunting Kirkstone Pass (4 miles constant climbing) from Windermere to Ullswater, the rain paused to allow us to enjoy the stunning scenery. Morning brew at Ullswater then onto Dalston, just south of Carlisle for lunch stop. Steady rain for rest of day: that’s why it’s called a ‘challenge’….Entered Scotland at Gretna Green, skirted Lockerbie and onto Moffat for overnight. Body and mind holding up so far.

Day 5 - 17 July 2023

Day 5: 95 miles and 2,485m of elevation. very wet first half of the day through conurbation of Leigh, Bolton and Blackburn before climbing up into and thru the stunning Forest of Bowland. Lunch at Puddleduck Cafe near the famous Inn at Whitewell. By then, the rain gave way to mostly sunny and dry weather. Including the renowned Cross of Greet climb….. fabulous views as we passed close to Carnforth and thru Levens on our way to our overnight in Crossthwaite, in the Lake District.

Day 4 - 16 July 2023 

Day 4: perfect cycling conditions today with a gentle following wind and mostly sunny and dry! From Bewdley we passed thru Bridgnorth, Ironbridge, ‘round the Wrekin’, and on thru the North Shropshire and Cheshire plains ( Wem, Malpas…). On our approach thru the Liverpool/ Manchester conurbation, we enjoyed lovely cycle paths around Runcorn. Warrington and St Helens before arriving at our hotel in Haydock, home of the famous Haydock Park racecourse. Tomorrow we set off for the Lake District via the Forest of Bowland.

           

Day 3 - 15th July 2023 

Day 3: the longest distance of 116 miles yesterday…..despite this, the ride was much more enjoyable than the washout of Friday! Mostly dry with occasional downpours. Strong winds but mostly from the W/SW. From Street thru Glastonbury and Wells over the Mendips and skirting around Bristol over the suspension bridge. Then a very hairy crossing of the Severn Bridge in very high winds. Lunch in Tintern and along the Wye Valley via Ledbury to Bewdley. Today we head for Haydock, 103 miles but a ‘flatter’ day. Weather similar to yesterday.

Day 2 - 14th July 2023 at 22:19

Day 2: Plymouth to Street in Somerset. 99 miles and 2,000 m of elevation. For the first 70 miles, I can only liken it to being inside a washing machine with torrential rain and 40 mph gusts. Good news is twofold:: 1. the wind was mostly behind us or coming sideways at us. 2. It can’t get any worse than that….cycling over Dartmoor made me think of Dartmoor Prison as an appealing refuge…. Thanks for all your wonderful support so far. Rob

Day 1 - 13th July 2023 at 22:41

Day 1 completed. 106 miles from Cape Cornwall via Lands End to Plymouth. Beautiful Cornish lanes along coast lines and estuaries. 3 ferry crossings including the famous King Harry ferry. Fair weather with a good following wind. However 2,300 meters of climbing those pesky Cornish hills. See Strava link below for details of the route. Will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we head up over Dartmoor to Exeter and finish in Street, Somerset. Forecast is heavy rain…..😳 wish us well….

D-Day -12th July 2023 at 11:21:

Onn train to Penzance. Managed to remember my bike 😎…. Day 1 tomorrow from Lands End to Plymouth . First 2 days thru Cornwall and Devon are described by our tour guide as ‘brutal’ with 95-100 miles each day and 2,000m+ of elevation each day…….weather forecast is equally brutal with strong winds and heavy rain…..but that can all change in a flash in Cornwall 🤞. At least the wind is mostly behind us so should blow us along……. Rob