Right, just thought I'd nail now a race report for the Alpe d'Huez long course triathlon (http://www.alpetriathlon.com/en) while it was still fresh even though I'm sitting on a half finished season update blog which I'm sure you are all waiting for with baited breathe.

This is my 3rd attempt at what is perhaps the event which played the biggest part in attracting me to triathlon. Many years ago, in a former life as an electronic engineering student, I completed my Masters degree in Grenoble. Alpe d'Huez and the mountains around here where my cycling playground so a triathlon with a bike leg which took in those mountains is pretty much my dream event.

What back so soon? I hear you cry (or perhaps groan). Yes indeedy, it may be the sea air sparking my creativity or more likely the opportunity to point out (gloat?) I am in Spain and not enduring the 100 mph guests knocking riders off bikes in the UK.

I arrived a few days ago and have so far racked up 13 hours chammy time and that wasn't all spent sat in cafés! To be honest they are the first few normal days since my accident. It isn't to say I haven't had some great days in the past 8 months but I've always had the feeling that I'd be doing something different had I not broken my neck. Pedaling out of Denia in the January sunshine feels like a return to the norm and it has been like therapy.

We’re 4 days in and already 2015 is off to a frustrating start. Things were going swimmingly (no pun intended) until a day before I was due to set off driving to Spain when it became apparent that my van had some kind of serious issue involving the power steering. I was informed that I should not kid myself that things would be fine if it went wrong – I would not be able to steer the van if the power steering failed. Considering the near-fatal accidents I’ve already suffered in the last 12 months, I thought it prudent to deal with the issue now and come to terms with a 3 day delay to my journey rather than plummeting off the edge of a pass somewhere in France when my steering failed.

Holy smokes Batman, an actual race report! Hell yeh, I've actually been pinning a number on and getting an absolute kicking from my fellow athletes, what fun.

I decided to make a return to multi-sport racing at the 9Bar Whinlatter Duathlon. It is the first in the  High Terrain Events  winter duathlon series which always offer enjoyable relaxed racing in great locations.  Short off-road duathlons aren't exactly my forte and without anything but base work done so far expectations where not high. Don't fall, don't crash, don't hurt your back and finish with a smile were my heady objectives.

Ok ladies and gents here it is; The Official Progress Report July 2014.

I'm not in to race reports, they are dull. If you want results it isn't like they are hard to find and if you were that bothered about what a race was like you would probably have watched it or done it yourself. Fortunately I'm saved from this awkward situation for now as I haven't been racing. We are all friends (or at least loyal followers) here so I'm pretty sure you know why. If not check my last 5 blogs updates along with about 90% of my twitter content. In summary; I crashed, it hurt and now I am trying to rise phoenix like from the ashes.

Get this; the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) relies 100% on charitable donations! I had no idea and was frankly stunned when I found out. From what I understand for those of you not in the GNAAS service area the same applies to your air ambulance.  I think the Scottish Air Ambulance service receives national funding so kudos to the Scottish Parliament for that*.

Growing up in the heart of the Lake District I have seen the Air Ambulance Service helicopter many times, frequently passing directly over my house on route to Helvellyn. I never envisaged I would be making use of the service at any point and never really thought about its role.

Given the remote areas and narrow roads in much of the North there are few, if any, other alternatives if you have a serious accident. The helicopter reduces the response time - it took 18 minutes to get me from the A66 to Newcastle. Risk of further injury is also reduced, imagine being carried by stretcher off a fell with a spinal injury! It is a service which is genuinely saving lives. Daily.

It should be valued far more than it is, particularly to anyone involved in outdoor pursuits in the region. The people working there, both raising the funds required to run the service and operating the service in the form of paramedics and pilots, are fantastic. I personally owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their help on the day of my accident and for making sure the service is available at all.

While I hope to do some fundraising for them in the not too distant future (it would be rude to not at least cover the cost of my flight) I can't make firm plans until I know more about how my recovering is progressing. In the mean time they NEED your donations so they can be there when you NEED them! You can donate here.

I was lucky (in more than one way) to get to meet the folks from the GNAAS who helped me when I needed it. ITV Border News decided to come along and you can see the footage here.

*bit of an incentive for the North to go with Scotland if they vote for independence perhaps?