foundation. You cannot leap out into the world from a weak base - you
stumble and fall. Nor can you be motivated deeply by trying to move
away from something - real motivation comes from going toward a goal.
I am lucky. The team I have around me now create such a phenomenally
strong base that will enable my team and I to tackle all the hardships
of Antarctica knowing we start from a truly solid and focused
foundation. David and Tim, Catalyst, my commercial partners are doing
a remarkable job as you will shortly hear. Gary Savage, my Technical
Director, is awesome - just google him!! Charles Pedlar and his team
at the Centre for Health and Applied Sports Exercise Science at St
Mary's are working hard so our "fitness foundation" is strong. There
are so many other really important characters ensuring all will be
well - Simon Morice of iCatching Movies, Matt Price working on ice
training with NLP - great skills. Primal PR keeping us in front of the
media. My team egging each other on and helping me prepare our
training and logistics. Our current sponsors and supporters
particularly Speedyhire, Catskis, Fortnum & Mason and Chewton Glen all
enable us to prepare both mentally and physically. You, our Facebook
and Blogging friends and supporters - knowing you are behind us has a
massive impact on our confidence to succeed.
But today, Valentine's Day, I want to say a particular "thank you" to
my wife and my family. It goes back to the "rock solid foundation" I
mentioned earlier. With Kate's support and love and that of my
fantastic family Frey (8) and Arabella (6) I feel I can take on the
world and win. Don't get me wrong, I do not get unqualified support
from my wife! Kate helps enormously on keeping my feet on the ground -
she has a far more pragmatic approach to life than me and helps
channel my enthusiasm to far greater effect than if it were to follow
its own blind path. I love her deeply and consider my self incredibly
lucky to have her love and support too! Hurrah!
The concept of "family" is deep within the team and is important to us
all - we all need to work to look after our "foundation" and bring our
families with us. To show the point; David on telling me that we are
now incredibly close to securing our title sponsor suggested the best
way to celebrate would be dinner for the wider team with our wives and
partners! We love them all.
Hurrah
Manley
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