Well, this has been quite a week of milestones, that's for sure. Following a 10 Km row on Monday morning, and a 10 Km run in the afternoon, I had just 10 Km remaining in order to complete my first challenge of 2100 Kms in 105 days.

Tuesday morning arrived, and as normal, I made my way to the gym on what was a cold, but dry six am. With so much distance behind me, I just wanted to finish so it was a steady row from start to finish. I think the time was around forty-three minutes. I had covered the distance equal to Lands End to John O'Groats and back to Dishforth, North Yorkshire. The only thing was I never did it in 105 days. I had actually finished in 102 days. For each of those days I had rowed, never missing a single day, and ran for 90 of them. The reason I had 12 days missing from the running side of things, was purely down to work. Some days starting at 0800, I would not finish until past 2200 Hrs. As I have worked every day, seven days a week since October last year, going running that late at night was not an option I wanted to take. I always maintained get to bed as soon as possible, after working late, and then I would still be able to rise at 0540 Hrs the next morning. This worked for me. Therefore, with no records broken, I remained intact and feeling good, which was just as well really. For I had already set out another challenge which was set for Wednesday, 1st Feb at 1030.

Wednesdays challenge had been publicised a bit around Camp Bastion. I had put up posters over the last couple of days, and so there was to be no backing out. I booked out the Concept2 from the gym and set up outside the main dining hall, ready to start at 1040, yes I was ten minutes late. However, this venue had been purposely chosen in order to catch the lunchtime 'trade' of people who would be heading in over the next three hours. I started my 'mad idea' of rowing 50 Kilometres in under four hours. Now let me tell you, sometimes it pays to think twice before saying out loud, 'What a good idea it would be if...' Straight away, I wondered what the heck I was attempting. However, nerves soon gave way to concentration and I was under way. A few lads from work had helped me set up ad I started pulling at 2.03Sec per 500m. It felt good, just about right I thought. As people started to walk by to lunch, they asked what I was doing, and started to put some dollars in the collecting bucket I had set up on a table just next to me. Basically, it was set so they had to walk between myself on the rower, on one side, and the table, with collection bucket and full details of my chosen charity bibic on the other. It rather formed a restriction to the footpath, into the dining hall. And it worked; people were stopping, looking, reading and donating. All I had to do was row. What could possibly go wrong?

Two hours and some 28 Kms covered, my hands started to really hurt. The top knuckle joint of my fingers had started to tenderise on the inside of the joint, and my rear was now aching. It did not help the seat kept jamming from time to time as I shuffled about, trying to give each buttock a rest in turn. The fun side to this was now over. People were instrumental in keeping my enthusiasm alive. Still people came into lunch, asking me what it was all about. Added into that the people coming out of the dining hall were interested to see if this Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer was ever looking like he would complete the distance, let alone within the time of four hours. I continued to pull at between 30 and 32 SPM and 2.07 Sec per 500 m had become my speed. By the time three hours arrived, I just wanted to stop, pack up, and head off into the distance. Colleagues from work kept drifting by, checking on just how well was I doing, anything I wanted etc. Even the gym staff brought out a couple of energy drinks for me. It was all really appreciated. My pace had now really started to suffer. I was conscious of the pace dropping to 2.15 Sec per 500 m and no matter how hard I tried, I could only reduce this for a few strokes before it dropped back again.

I really did ache from lower legs, calf muscles in particular, from constantly being squashed by the backs of my upper legs, all the way to my fingertips.
With friendly encouragement, I did continue to the end. Fifty kilometres clicked into view, then disappeared. The performance indicator had reset itself.

I looked in disbelief as the front main screen menu was all there was to see. I never thought, I had presumed, (never presume anything, especially in the military, I can tell you), that the monitor would of just kept going up. I had purposely not set it to count down, as when 50 Kms arrived, all I would of had is distance, zero, and a time. I wanted to see 50 Km and a time. Luckily, a few photos had been taken, and when recalling the built log the time and distance had been recorded. I know the year is wrong; I just failed to set this.50 Kilometres, in three hours, thirty-seven minutes and forty-three seconds. I was pleased, very pleased. I had completed a second challenge in aid of bibic and the best bit of it? The bucket was full. I mean really full! People had to push down on the dollars already in the bucket to add their donation. All I had to do now was get off.

After a day of aching, I felt better by Thursday evening, and, on Friday even went for a short run, and a 3 Km row, more to just see if I had any interest left, or energy really. My fingers had blistered and my backside was still very tender. However, I did feel good. I had rowed, in my first challenge a distance of 1236 Kilometres, over 102 days, never missing a single day, and included a New Years Day half marathon. I had run 864 kilometres over 90 days, and included a Midnight 5 Kilometre run in aid of supporting an American charity event. My second challenge was just 50 Kms in 3 Hrs, 37 Mins and 43 Secs.

Saturday saw me finally fly out of Afghanistan in the late evening. I, however still woke up far too early, (0630), decided to go to the gym one last time before packing the last of my kit and doing the rounds saying goodbye, and good luck to those who had flown out to take over from us. I immediately had the stroke rise to 32 SPM, pace of 1.56 per 500m. I just thought, let's go for it, and see what happens. Sure enough, I pressed on, 2 Km became 4, and soon 5 Km had passed, still below 2.00 Min per 500 m. I felt comfortable, in control and able to push to 10 Km, just to finish off. Sure enough, 10 Km came up in a time of 39 Mins and 29 Seconds. This was my personal best by a long chalk. This has been a memorable tour for me. I have undertaken all this for the charity bibic-Changing-Children's-lives charity. Their home page is www.bibc.org.uk Take a look; I have written just why I supported them during my time out here in Afghanistan.

Thank you to Sam and everyone at Concept2 for your support. It has been a breeze, (NOT!) I have learnt a lot, and will no doubt be back with another bright idea in the future. I shall think twice however, before publicising my next challenge, I just need to let my now, rather raw, rear recover first.

The very kindest of Regards.

Bernie Heaysman.

www.justgiving.com/bernie-heaysman