This weather we are having is definitely not condusive to training using a wheelchair. For so many put there, myself included, the cold and for me, especially the low cloud, is a trigger for my nerve and crps pain. So, at the moment, I’m waking up 10 + times a night to get heat packs and take painkillers. Not ideal! The nerve pain I had surgery for post London Marathon is in full swing as well. It kind of feels like a knife stabbing you, which then sets off the crps. So things are a little tricky. The fibro is also acting up at the moment. The pain side of this isn’t a huge bother because the crps pain is so extreme that it kind of masks it (little win there!). But I di get the lethargy, migranes and insomnia. So, in short, training for an endurance event is tough. But I don’t give up easily. So it’s about training on days I can. I know when the weather improves, then my condition will improve with it. So I look forward to that 🙂
Otherwise, things are plodding along. I had a bout of a few donations to my JustGiving page for the Aaron Lewis foundation, but these have tapered off again. So I’m working hard every day I can, plugging away about the event. So, in case you don’t know, on the 21st of August, I will be attempting to become the 1st female to travel the greatest distance in 12 hours using a standard non-sport wheelchair. I will be doing this at Exeter Arena. It is not going to be easy. Have you ever tried wheeling in a standard wheelchair? It’s hard in comparison to the sports versions, who are lightweight and aerodynamic and made for speed and endurance. Your everyday non-sport wheelchair is not! But what would be the point making things easier for myself and doing things an easy way? No one would sponsor me for that! On that subject, there is something I’ve noticed in the media. There is a huge disparity between the nationals putting out stories of men vs. women. I have followed some extraordinary women for years who are doing amazing things, and for some reason, they never make it onto the main news. Yet any male who does anything seems to get there fine. Don’t believe me? Look back at the stories. It is not due to a lack of participation.
Anyway, I’m still plodding along. 3 marathons since Christmas using my everyday non-sport wheelchair (in training). With training ramping up at the end of March, I can only hope the weather behaves 🙏 But if it doesn’t, I will carry on regardless.
Official event poster
I have had some amazing support from well wishers as I’m out and about training. It really is amazing to me that anyone knows who I am at all. 😊 I’m just a person who found themselves with a few chronic pain conditions, who still wants to keep exercising. So why not do it for some wonderful charities?
So, back to training. Prep today for a marathon tomorrow. Cross fingers that there will be no rain and minimal head wind 🙏
Life has been quite a whirlwind of ups and downs since leaving hospital. I managed to get a complete package of backing for this year’s venture, which included everything I need to make it happen. Then, unfortunately the wonderful chap became unwell & now that has gone. So everything with regards to this year’s big events are up in the air. I can’t complete a venture like lands end to John O’groates without support, and I can’t plan it all on my own whilst training the amount I need to in order to complete this. But I am ever hopeful that someone will come along on a white horse and rescue this venture. It would be absolutely amazing if I can make it happen. It will be a world first and a new world record. But I also have a plan B, which is the wheel for 24 hours straight using my everyday non-sport wheelchair. This would also be a world 1st and world record. But even though it would be physically extremely demanding for me, it doesn’t feel like a big enough challenge to raise the kind of funds I’d so love to raise for charity. So at the moment I am training as much as I can, and prepping myself for the London marathon again. But it is awful being in limbo, and completely up in the air with plans. One minute everything was set & now, it has gone. Its pretty hard to take. (Although I do completely understand, and absolutely adore the lovely chap who was going to help me). But it is still very difficult not to be thoroughly disappointed.
Training in the rain!
So I continue to train in the wain and sodden ground, which makes every km feel like 10. I’ve had to adapt things and shorten my sessions, but bring them closer together! It’s the only way to keep going! Those of you with CRPS will testify that this kind of weather is awful for crps. It sets off numerous flare ups of that and then the fibro rears its ugly head to get in the way of things! But I still try my level best to carry on. Making plans for both events, just incase. Of course lands end is preferable, even if it isn’t this year, but next, I still really want to make it happen. It would really put the Aaron Lewis foundation charity on the map, and give me the chance to get CRPS out there. The plan was to complete a warts and all documentary along the way, where I would show exactly what living with crps and fibromyalgia is like. Plus training to a high level with both. As you know on social media it is pretty difficult to show exactly what things are truly like. So it would be great to show everything. To expel some of the myths. Like the favoured question by most of us “you don’t look like your in that much pain!” What is that? It’s such a stupid thing to say! My reply is normally an explanation to try to educate, but often I’d just like to say in return “well, you don’t look that ignorant!” But I don’t. I would guess that none of us do! Anyway, so training continues, and the flares are rife with the rain and drops in atmospheric pressure, but that’s the way of things.
1st time wearing my London marathon t shirt!
I hope to get something concrete sorted soon. It is very tough attempting to train for two very different events. Both of which I need to ensure are accurately prepped for. My lovely wife, who is always brutally honest, thinks it may be best to do lands end next year now, and prep ourselves. But the amount of funds it would cost to complete this seem impossible to arrange. This was where the lovely chap came in. He knows all the right people who would help. But I never give up on anything. So I won’t give up on this! Hopefully I will have some concrete good news soon 🙏
So, you may have been wondering (or not) where I have been since the London marathon. Two weeks post marathon I had scheduled surgery for another nerve issue in my stump which was getting considerably worse throughout my training. I had another TMR surgery with muscle graft, which went really well. Unfortunately I had a nerve catheter in my leg for pain control post op. These work really well and really help with pain, but for me, they seem to cause infections. We diddnt know this trend until this point. I had the catheter removed after 4 days and was already very poorly with a huge infection. I ended up going back to theatre to have more surgery, and my leg was filled with puss. I was then put on very strong Intravenous antibiotics, but after another week the infection returned, and so this meant more surgery. More antibiotics, more cannulas and more pain. I felt pretty unwell. I lost about a stone in the month I spent in hospital. The saving grace was that my surgeons were phenomenal, and the nurses at East Grinstead hospital were amazing. They were so efficient and attentive. I can’t thank them enough for their care.
In hospital.
After a month, I was finally well enough to go home, but was still in a considerable amount of pain. But after a week more, I decided it was time to get back to training. Unfortunately I had lost quite a bit of muscle and strength, and so the marathon distance which I was used to wheeling, had become almost impossible, especially in the rain and freezing cold weather. But all hope is not lost. I am still out there training as before and building my way back up to marathon distance. My goal being to make it back to marathon before Christmas day. This will be weather depending, but I will do my very best to get there. I don’t give up easily, as you all know!
Out training.
I can’t wait to get back to where I was before. Some exciting news came when I was in hospital, I have been accepted for the London marathon again next year, so I will be entering and attempting to beat my own record. So this provides a huge incentive for me to get back there ASAP. Also, if all goes well, we are a go for attempting lands end to John O’groates using my everyday non-sport wheelchair, which will be another world record. We are hoping for August 2023. So this is another huge incentive. So it’s training, training, and more training for me. I am loving it, and hating the cold! It makes wheeling exceptionally tricky, which very slippy hands. But, it is all good strength work, and I can’t wait to reach some new goals. 😍🙏
So, incase you haven’t realised. I managed to set the world record for the fastest female using a non-sport wheelchair to complete a marathon, at the London Marathon. But before I talk about that. There was one other event a week before; the goodwood half marathon, which I did complete. It was a tough one. Very strong headwind with uphill section, which covered three quarters of the race track. I had to complete 5 laps. I was exhausted by the end. But it was the last one before the big one. Chichester was beautiful. Unfortunately for the third time, booking.com dis not place me in a disabled room, despite my asking for one. So it was a crawl up 2 flights of stairs. The room was beautiful though, and the owner was amazing. Booking.com are terrible for disabilities. You pop in your preferences, and they always say there are facilities for disabled, weather there are or not! But, despite this little set back, goodwood was great.
At goodwood.
So, now onto the biggie. The epic London Marathon was just incredible. The crowd, well let’s just say, all I heard was my name being called the whole way, with words of support. It was so phenomenal. I did get the world record, with half an hour to spare. It was adjudicated on the day by Guiness world records and they told me when I reached the finish line. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. The whole this was just wonderful.
Me with my world record.
What made it even more special, was the fact that I found out official that I’d got the record for the half marathon the day before. I was sat in out hotel at breakfast, ready to go to the excel to get me number and an email came through. Well, I burst into tears, in front of everyone. They all must have thought I’d recorvwd some bad news, or I was a nutter! But they were tears of elation. Then it was off to the excel. Where I managed to bump into the male record holder for the same record I now hold. A chap called Stephen Salmon. He is phenomenal. He has been beating his own record for years, and managed to again this year. We’ll, it was funny. When we were going into the excel, a photographer took a photo of us two together. It wasn’t until we got in that Cat pointed out, that if only he realised he had just got a photo of both record holders together! I wish I could have a copy of that photograph. Me being me, was so happy to have met him in person (we’ve been chatting on line for ages and speaking on the phone) but had not yet met in person. We are both very similar, and driven by very similar things. So that was the best bit. Then came the number bit. Which was such a relief. My start place had been moved from red to green, so that it could be official with Guiness. So I had lots of going backward and forwards with sorting that out.
At the excel with my number.
The start line was very tricky to find, and unfortunately the marshals sent my wife and I in the opposite direction twice! She must have ran miles pushing me as fast as she could to the line, running about all over the place, until we finally made it. The down side was the singular disabled toilet, which was covered in poo. No joke, it was all over the loo, the seat, the floor, and no loo roll. Not only that, it was the furthest from the start line. I had no choice but to hover, which was not fun! I did speak to the manager of the green zone, and his answer was ‘oh well!’. Not helpful at all! Then came the start, which was amazing. But I found the whole way round that I was fighting to get through people. I think I could have completed the marathon in possibly half an hour or more faster than I did, but just couldn’t get round some people. Some lovely runners stepped in and helped so much, which was amazing. Then I rolled over a massive blob of chewing gum, which got stuck to my wheel and I couldn’t get it off. I had no choice but to stop and try to do what I could. Then out of nowhere came an amazing lady who took off her own glove and used it to remove what she could. Then just ran off. I shouted ‘thankyou’. What a wonderful thing to do. This lady is my hero. It meant I could carry on much quicker and get that record.
Cleaning off the bubblegum!
As for the route. I don’t actually remember much of it. My poor wife and our friend, Kate, ran about London all day, trying to find a point where they could see me. Then they shouted furiously at mile 21 and of course I was in the zone and diddnt see them! I literally saw legs the whole way! But I have lots of photos with thanks to friends and people on the London Marathon Facebook page. Plus London marathon them selves.
Just a couple from the marathon.
I came over the finish line at 4:32:11. A new world record. So 2 new records in less than a month. To sat I am happy is an understatement. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m not sure when it will. I’m yet to receive my certificates. They can take 12 working days, so hopefully they will be here soon. 🙏 I did receive my half marathon one, but it had the wrong date and time on it, so I’ve had to ask for another one. According to this one I’m wonder woman, and I’ve set the half marathon record in the future! I thought they couldn’t possibly get it wrong. I was wrong! It is right on line though, which is the most important thing.
My half marathon record.
So hopefully by the time I’m out of hospital (which I go in for surgery again on the 18th October, for more nerve surgery on stumpey) I will have both Records waiting for me at home.
So what’s next… well, big things next year. Another new world record. This time I’m doing something that no one has ever attempted or achieved. I am hoping to become the first person to wheel from lands end to John O’groates using a standard non-sport wheelchair. It will take approximately 30-40 days. It is going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and a huge event. Pinnacle photography are organising the event and sponsorship, which is brilliant. I doubt I could do this one alone. In fact Pinnacle have been so incredibly supportive throughout my whole 7 events. They have been there at both Records taking photos and putting posts out. They are still helping now, and being amazing.
Back training already.
So keep checking in for updates of my epic challenge. We are hoping for August 2023, but the official date is yet to be set. So that’s it for now. Double world record holder, signing off! 💪😊
I have been rather hectic over the past few weeks. Prepping for challenges and training and getting over other challenges. We’ll, as you can gather from the title I did manage to set a new world record at the Bridgwater half marathon. Guiness world records set me a time of 2:30 for the half marathon, and I did it in 2:12:02. 18 minutes under the time set. So I broke and set a new world record for the fastest female using a non-sport wheelchair to complete a half marathon. This is, of course still pending official guiness adjudication. I broke the time, now its the paperwork, that I just hope I filled in correctly. I will know if there’s any problems in 2 days, and know if all is perfect in 5, so wish me luck. This wait is more nerve racking than the record itself.
After the record!
I arrived at Bridgewater rugby club nice and early. Then followed an amazing official announcement to all the runners and spectators of my challenge ahead. Then Phil form Pinnacle photo agency arrived, which I knew about, bit honestly didn’t expect him to come. He was there with cameras, and helped with making the day so special. The course itself was so well organised. Everyone was so friendly and encouraging. I don’t think one runner diddnt say words of encouragement when passing me. I really couldn’t have asked for a better environment. The course itself is advertised as flat. Lots of courses are! But to a person in a wheelchair, this is not the case. It is almost completely up hill. This was rather daunting, and left me pushing harder than I have ever done before. I had no idea if I could do it when the hills kept coming. There were 2 down hills but these led into a 90 degree turn, so I couldn’t get up any descent speed. But I put my head down and went for it, and coming over that line… well I had to hold back the tears! Not sure how I did that! It was an amazing feeling. All that training, and sleepless nights. Now the wait to see that it is all real! It is so difficult. But I have to trust in the system, and that I studied the guidelines thoroughly enough.
So where from here. Well on Saturday I will be off to Goodwood for the 2nd to last event. Then home for a couple of days before traveling to London for the last event and the biggest of all. The London marathon and another world record attempt. Where I hope also to become the fastest female using a non-sport wheelchair to complete a marathon. I have achieved this twice in training. But the marathon is a little tricky. Lots of people to fight my way through, so I only hope that I can navigate these as quickly as possible. I have 5 hours to do it. I have completed it in 4 hours 20, and that wasn’t at full pelt. So fingers crossed for the day. It will be very difficult. But all I can do is my very best. So it is here where I ask anyone who can to please donate to the charity which I am doing all of this for. A charity who have helped me so very much. Blesma limbless veterans. Thankyou ❤️
So, it has been a while since my last update. I have been rather busy. Training and preparing, so these next two updates will be in quick succession as I have so much to update. Let’s begin with my 4th event, which I finally managed, post covid. It took a while to get over covid, as I’m sure so many people can testify to. It really isn’t very nice. But after 10 days I managed to get back out there training. I had booked in kempton park as a precaution, as my other fall back was demoted to a 10km due to excessive heat. So it was the 3rd race I had booked to attempt to forfill my 4th event.
We made it to London the day before. I must say, I was feeling less that alright. Suffering with a Fibro flare, which for me means lethargy, migrane, muscle aiches and pains, and nausea. But stubbornness kicks in. We went out for some pasta the night before for some good fueling. I am very allergic to Gluten. Not only am I suspected as having coeliac disease (but can’t eat Gluten long enough to have a conclusive test), but if I eat it my whole body swells, and I feel very unwell. Unfortunately there was a mix up at the restaurant, and my wife and I ordered the same dish. I ended up being given the one with Gluten. Well, the next morning I awoke twice my size. Not only that but the fibro flare was still in full swing. But we had travelled all that way, I wasn’t going to let myself or anyone else down. So I just got on with it.
The day before, pre Gluten!
So the other difficultie of the day was set to be the temperature. I knew it was going to be hot, and I always find training tricky in intense heat. But it reached 36 degrees! I had to stop a few times to throw water over my head. The course itself was flat ish, as stated. But being a horse racing circuit, had periods of 50 metres and 150 metres of what I can only describe as a peet like substance, which I had to negotiate 8 times. It was like wheeling on dry sand. It stopped me dead and sapped every bit of strength I had. But I wasn’t going to not finish. So I carried on, and on and on… All 4 laps. I finally came over the finish line at 2:30:45. Actually just missing the world record by 45 seconds. Fortunately it was not the official attempt.
At the end…but v swollen!
It was a good event. Very exhausting. The toilets were very far from the start, and there were none on route, so I spent the whole way around with a full bladder! A but uncomfortable, but the people were nice and friendly. So post event, I unfortunately suffered with 2 days of heat stroke. I have never had this before. Not even when I worked in places like the Carribean or Bahamas. Needless to say, I was rather poorly. But glad I had finished the hardest event so far, and it seemed like the run of bad luck was over…. I was wrong.
After recovering, my footplate broke again. I called Invacare as always, who are responsible for wheelchair maintenance. Unfortunately the woman I dealt with was, I’m guessing having a bad month. She was very uncaring, to put it mildly. I eneded up with 17 days in total waiting for a footplate. Being told engineers would be coming out, so having to not train on those days, then they wouldn’t turn up. Being shouted at down the phone. It was truly despicable. By the time one eventually arrived, I had had to purchase one of my own, which was super heavy at 5kg, and was over £250 out of pocket. A footplate for me is not just somewhere I pop muly remaining foot, but it is where my stump board attaches. I cannot have my stump dangling at all or it sets off a crps flare. So needless to say, I suffered alot of flares, and considerable extra pain because of this. I had a footplate break in the past, and a man and replacement came out that very day! But not that time. But anyway, it worked out in the end as you will soon learn with my next post. Plus that big sponsor I said about… I am now very proud to be sponsored by Cartridges Law. A local law firm, who are incredible. They have been absolutely wonderful getting my challenges out there, and we have lots of plans in the coming months to do more.
My last event was scheduled to be 9 days after my last Triathlon. 2 days after my wife came down with what we thought was a cold. So I went out and purchased a covid test, just as a precaution. Unfortunately she tested positive. From that second we wore masks and she lived in the bedroom and I lived in the living room. Despite our precautions I still ended up with covid. I still felt awful the 2 days before the half marathon, and was still testing positive, so u had to make the difficult decision to cancel. So I then booked in another half marathon for 2 weeks later. It took a couple of weeks before I could wheel without feeling like I was breathing through a plastic bag. But I was back to it. I was left with no tastebuds or sense of smell, which is awful.
Covid test on the Friday!
I kept going, and kept training. Then came the weather warning, and an email from the event saying that if the temperatures were predicted to be over 30 degrees on the Sunday (17th) then the half marathon would be demoted to a 10k. As you know, all of my wheeling events are either half or full marathon distance. So a 10k was not far enough. So another difficult decision had to be made. We had a hotel booked as it was near London, and the predicted temperatures were above 30 degrees. So we had to cancel again! Such a nightmare. One thing after another! So now I have another event scheduled for the 13th of August at Kempston Park. Hopefully nothing else will go wrong 🙏 Surely that is it for the bad luck! Oh, amidst the chaos of covid and heat, my footplate on my wheelchair cracked as well! So that’s the 3 events of bad luck 🤞
Training in the heat!
So I am still working hard. I’ve had to reduce the milage in the past few days to accommodate for the heat. So instead I’ve increased days training. Being mindful of resting adequately and icing my shoulders regularly. In the heat I always wear a hat, and carry an electrolyte replacement drink, as well as energy gels for longer distances. I am now up to 30km distance, but have lots of km to add on. A marathon is 42km. But, I’m almost there. I hope to complete my first marathon in training in the next month.
As for the world records. These have been negotiated with guiness, who have set my times in accordance to the male record as no female records yet exist. This I find a little difficult to fathom. The male who set the record did not have a time to beat, he just set the record originally. Also, the current male record holder, is firstly male, so is naturally stronger than I could ever be. He is also massively taller with much longer limbs, which increased propulsion. So I argued this with guiness, who finally agreed on a more realistic, but still very difficult time for the half, but then now the battle is for the full marathon. They have given me an extra 45 minutes to complete a further half marathon to make it a full marathon, instead of taking the half marathon time set. It’s a little irritating, all the back and forth, and the lack of communication with each other, but hopefully they will get on top of it before London.
As all of you know, I am doing all these events for Blesma. For the support workers who help people like me and their families. The support workers, like mine, who is called Steve, are incredible. I have a set amount that I have to raise before the marathon of £2000. I am hoping to raise £5000 for all of my events and the world records. I have been told by corporate that I must raise £1000 by the 2nd of September and the full £2000 by the marathon or I will not be able to complete it. I need all the help I can get with this. Please share my twitter page @lexialyx and my Instagram page Lexi.alyx.chambers so that I may have a chance of reaching the target set. If I can’t do the marathon, then I can’t attempt the record.
I have some fantastic news coming of a new sponsor, who are incredibly supportive. So hopefully this is the breakthrough that I need for fundraising help. So I will keep you posted of the upcoming fundraising events planned. It is all very exciting.
Well, on the 25th of June I made it to event number 3, the Plymouth rehabilitation Triathlon. It was my 1st military event, and I was the only female veteran. It was brilliant. I have not felt that comradory in years. It was so much fun. It started with a bang, and an interview on ITV Westcountry, which I am still yet to see as it aired during my event. We arrived at 8am, but had to wait until 2pm for my wave in the event.
Being filmed for itv westcountry
When the event came, I have to say, I was suffering. I had a fibro flare that morning with a migrane to boot. But I said I was going to do it, and nothing was going to stop me. I felt absolutely awful. But as soon as I got in that water, there was no turning back. The swim was in a sea water outdoor pool, which was freezing cold. I got a mouthful of sea water on my 1st stroke, which completely put me off of putting my head near the water, so I swam the whole lot with my head up. Not easy, and not how I’m used to swimming, bit it was rather that than vomit in the pool!
The swim
Then after the swim came the bike. I was the only female in my category and against men who were using trikes with their legs. Some had battery assist on them (not strictly in the rules) but oh well. I was using my handbike. The course was 4 loops of a very tough downhill, then extremely steep, very long uphill section. It was killer by the 4th lap. But I did it. The crowd support was amazing.
On the bike
Then came the run part, which was with a difference. It was actually a row on a static rower. I chose to use one leg and row fully. It was very hot, and my arms were so tired by this point. But again the crowd and my awesome wife got me through.
The row
Then when it was all done, we all waited til the end of the day where the Royal Marines band played an amazing set. Then came the prize giving, and we all had no idea of how we had done, as there were over 125 competitors. I was gob smacked to hear my name called in the silver medal position for my category. I really didn’t expect that at all.
Receiving my medal from Colonel Chris Haw. A very proud moment.
All in all, it was an amazing day. I can’t thank my wife enough for supporting me all day. She was my cheering section and stood up all day. I am so lucky to have her.
Then a few days later came the crash as we both came down with covid. As a result I had to cancel my Cardiff half marathon, which was 9 days post Triathlon. I felt ready, then poorly. I’ve now had covid for 5 days and I feel terrible. I can barely sit up, and that’s not like me at all. I will work through most things, but I can’t work through this. I have rescheduled to another event which is at Dorney Lake on the 17th of July. I’m just hoping I can make that. I need time to train, and prep myself for the upcoming world record attempts, so this couldn’t be worse timing. I was also supposed to be going to the Aaron Lewis foundation rugby 10’s this weekend, which is now impossible. They have helped me so much. They bought me my handbike so I could compete in triathlons. So I am super gutted about this.
So for now, I am resting, and hoping that I get better soon. Trying the best I can to have a contingency plan just incase, but it is hard. I feel poorly. I have no tastebuds, which is my only vice (food!). I need to be training. Yet I know I can’t. It’s the worst thing for any athlete. But now I must listen to my body, and behave myself, and hope it goes soon.
Things have been a bit crazy over the past few weeks. With increasing distances, and juggling training with half marathon and Triathlon. Then the rest of my time is spent on fundraising. Sending hundreds of emails to hundreds of companies. But it is starting to pay off. I now have 2 official sponsors. Amazing companies as well. Rebel hr which is a small company run by an incredible lady who helps to make people’s workplaces better places, and Bar Venezia on Exeter quay where I live. We have been going in there for years. I was so extatic when the owner recognised me as a customer, and got behind me straight away. There is another on the horizon, but I’m yet to hear the official stance, and a possible other.
Training with the sponsorship logos
My training is always dependent upon how I am feeling that day. If my CRPS or fibromyalgia are flaring, then I have no choice but to listen. I am still learning how to judge things, but they are so unpredictable that it will never be possible to be accurate. But when all goes well, I wheel twice a week. I’m up to 15 miles now. Then the other session is usually around 16km of pure hills. The bigger the better. I am constantly making world record pace at the moment, but I am hoping to keep improving. Guiness have accepted me for the world record fornthe fastest female using a non-sport wheelchair to complete a half marathon. The time is set for 2 hours. Which is fast for a normal wheelchair. But I like a challenge.
I am also having swimming lessons, so that I can improve my technique with a great instructor. Then I use my handbike once a week, and the next Triathlon has rowing in it, so I’ve been doing that as well. I am lookong forward to concentrating on the wheeling after the next event, and trying to get my speed up further.
New tattoo for my 1st Triathlon
So, above is a new tattoo. I have dreamt of the day that I could complete a triathlon, and when it happened, I wanted to commemorate it, so chose this tattoo. I have my next one in under 2 weeks. Then another half marathon a week later. These are going to be tricky events for me. They sit at the point where I often have flares, so I am just going to have to see how I get on. Hopefully all will be well. The pain, I will push through if I have to, but the fibro flares render me almost comatose for a day or more. So I’m just hoping none of these rear their ugly heads.
If you want to keep an eye on progress or even sponsor me (no amount is too small) please pop a follow on my Instagram Lexi.alyx.chambers and follow my linktree in my bio for updates and articles etc.
So, in the past couple of weeks I have been making some good progress in training. I have also added another 2 events to the calendar. The Cardiff summer half marathon on the 3rd of July and The Rehabilitation Triathlon for amputee veterans in Plymouth on 23rd June. Both great events, and right in between the others. This brings the official total to 7 events, although there will be a number of virtual ones as well. On theat subject, I managed to complete the niagra falls conquer challenge yesterday, 113km in 29 days. I was very happy with this, as I’ve had to have almost 2 weeks off from training with various flares.
Out an about training.
So, I have had some questions about the gloves which I wear for wheeling. I purchase work gloves from ebay, which retail from £2-7 per pair depending on the thickness. The orange ones in the photo below are warm lined and waterproof, which is brilliant for the winter. The red ones come in various types, and you can bulk buy. They are great for warmer weather, and when it is very warm, I lop off the fingers and hey presto, perfect summer wheeling gloves which virtually eliminate blisters. They are all gripped with a form of latex which is perfect for wheeling.
As for post workout nutrition, I use a sports drink to replace lost electrolytes. Very important if you want to avoid cramp, or other more potential serious health problems caused by an imbalance of electrolytes. I use High 5 as it is gluten and sugar free. Food wise, I’m a bit of a sucker for midget gems, so normally have 50g of them, and some form of protein and carbs, such as a protein bar.
As mentioned, I have now finished my 4th challenge with #theconquerchallenges. They are great fun to do, and really keep that motivation up. I have also now included handcycling, swimming and weights at the gym to my weekly program. I do have a day off a week, and sometimes more when my body dictates it so. Probably the most annoying part of CRPS (next to the pain) is the how unpredictable it is. Also Fibromyalgia follows the same trend = completely unpredictable. Although I have found a couple of triggers, which are so important to identify. I have discovered that cigarette smoke, and pungent hair spray, as well as post menstrual hormone changes are a big trigger for me. These three put me out of training for a week at a time. With CRPS, my biggest trigger is sugar and stress. Also anything touching my leg. So I have to almost wrap myself in cotton wool, and behave, just so I can train. I have had to give up alot of other pursuits to complete this year’s challenges, but it will be worth it, and I’m hoping Blesma will reap the benefits of my labour.
Yesterdays wheel (above), & medals so far 😊
It’s 6 weeks before my first event. My lovely wife will be doing the first 2 with me (running), which will be wonderful. It will be the first time we have both started on the same start line, and her first ever events. I am so happy to be able to share this with her. So, off to do some more training today. Wish me luck!
Lexi's journey through life as an elective amputee for CRPS. 