October 10 2012
On October 8th at precisely 9:24am, 33 days after leaving Fenway Park in Boston... I arrived in South Beach, Miami Florida. As I stood there on the corner of 5th and Ocean Drive soaking up Miami's tropical Monday morning downpour I looked around at where I was. There was no more getting out the iPhone to find the next turn or closest CVS to get a snack to take my anti-inflammatory with. I was here, Miami Florida, final destination...All change.
I wasn't jumping around like I thought I would, I felt numb, somewhat shocked yet full to the brim with all kinds of emotions. I had to sit it out at Fresh on Fifth, a deli-come-diner on... yes you guessed it, 5th street. I could barely order my Mango smoothie before the tears of accomplishment came pouring down my face. The waiter looked at me like I was some sort of wack job... I wanted to run back outside and disguise my tears with the rain which at this point had become torrential.
After years of giving in to my disease and giving up on things I had barely just started, I had finally finished something, got through a situation that best of all I put myself in, that I created. It hit me around the same time I finished the last drop of Mango smoothie on a patio overlooking Ocean Drive. I felt so overwhelmed by the responses flooding into my inbox and social networking sites from people all around the world who had been following me from Boston. Something I created had touched so many people's hearts and best of all motivated them to challenge themselves by challenging the disease... 
was accomplishing it's goal to 'empower.'
A lot of people are asking me where I go from here now that my journey has finished but for me I've only just entered the track. My short term goal with was to give the name some credibility, to create strong relationships with my followers by showing the world how true and passionate I am about what I do. I feel I have accomplished that.
My next goal? I'm working on a 'little something' right now which is a pretty big jump but it's achievable and will be announced in late 2012/early 2013 ... Apocalypse pending of course. In the meantime look out for the state-by-state blog posts coming very soon to .
WRISTBANDS OUT OF STOCK!
September 19 2012
Hey guys and girls, just a quick update to let you know that as of today I am out of stock of wristbands! The reaction to has been incredible out here in the US and I have been educating a lot of people along the way about AS, what I'm doing and how to get involved... Its humbling. So please do not order any wristbands just yet, When I return to the UK I will order more stock but until then I will refund anyone who accidentally purchases an wristband on/after September 19th 2012.
All the best and warmest regards always,
BOSTON 2 MIAMI LIVE!
August 21 2012
Photography by Samit Tailor (@MrPixel)
Boston 2 Miami is now live! I will be away from my laptop for the next few days so the website will be idle for a while. My website package requires Flash to update... I'll be taking my iPad and everyone knows iPads are not Flash compatible....epic Apple fail!
However, I will be posting updates regularly on Twitter @iamONEorguk and on my facebook page iamONEJourney... So please follow and 'like' me to get updates on my route; including pictures and video 'check ins'.
Also VERY IMPORTANTLY please be aware that as I will be out of the country I will not be able to dispatch any wristbands so please understand that if you do order one on or after 22/08/2012 I will not be able to process the order : (
However if you really desire one please drop me an email before processing an order at mail@iamONE.org.uk and I will do my very best to dispatch one while on the road!
So on that note I'd like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement - It really has inspired me to chase my greatness and create something special. I hope that the Boston2Miami encourages you guys just as much as your kind words over the past few months have inspired me.
Check in with me regularly on Facebook and Twitter and I hope you enjoy the journey!
Signing out for now.
BE THE ENGINE
August 18 2012
If one day you were told that you could not lift weights or run again, that the discs in your vertebrae would start fusing together one by one, that you would be in excruciating pain every day for the rest of your life and that there was no cure... what would you do?
Boston to Miami, 2,200 miles, 10 weeks, 2 wheels, no CO2.
BE THE ENGINE...
AT THE 35 MILE SUFFOLK COAST BIKE RIDE
August 5 2012
What an epic day today was... Me and my bro-in-law loaded up the car at the crack of dawn and headed north to compete in the Suffolk Coast 35 mile bike ride in association with RSPB. It was the perfect preparation for the Boston 2 Miami event kicking off in just over a fortnight with 35 miles being my intended daily minimum mileage.
It was a great route, some parts challenging - the extra weight work I've been doing in the gym concentrating on my lower strength and explosiveness did help in those gradual climbs. I did feel the lactic acid in my quads a few times at parts so I'll have to keep working on my conditioning as well as my strength training.
It was a typical ride, I dodged the road kill, ate some flies and had a sissy fit when I found a spider climbing in through the gasket on my WX Gravity's ... I did my best to style it out...I don't think my rep took too much of a hit!
But most importantly I learnt a hell of a lot about what I would and wouldn't need to take with me to the US - it was a great practice run. I've always believed that if you want to learn something throw yourself into the situation and learn from it.
We finished the 35 miles in just over 2 hours (take off 30 minutes for tinkle breaks) keeping a 15/17mph pace which was pretty decent. We were finished by noon and had the rest of the day to check out the place, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the day - just what I'll be doing in a few weeks in the US; it was a great run through.
It was also the first time I got to try out my WX Gravity's on a long distance run and just as I expected they didn't disappoint. They were snug to my frame, did not tremble on bumps and man did they block out the kamikaze flies aiming for my retinas. The WX Gravity's are going to be priority packed in the luggage for sure (along with the snug lycra.)
On a side note I want to thank Seven Seas for sending me 6 months of their top selling multivitamin Multibionta Active to help me with my training regime and ride out in the USA. The package came over the weekend and I look forward to incorporating them into my breakfasts!
With almost 2 weeks to go until I leave for Boston expect updates to come thick and fast to !
AT THE HOME OF THE GUNNERS!
July 29 2012
Today I visited the Emirates Stadium in North London, (kitted out in my new gear!) the home of my team; Arsenal Football Club. I have been there a few times on match days but never have I been given the great privilege of having access to all areas of places you could only imagine. I got goose-pimples walking through the player's tunnel out onto the greatest playing surface in the EPL. Furthermore I met Charlie George, an ex arsenal player from the 1960's and true legend of the club. The place is awesome and just reeks of prestige. Check out iamONEpix for more pics from a truly memorable day.
A GIANT THANK YOU TO
CYCLING WORLD BOSTON!
July 27 2012
is officially 6 months old this week and I am still incredibly humbled by the gratuity the cause has received. From my sponsors WileyX® to the immense support the Spondylitis Association of America have given me and now proudly; 
Cycling World - Boston.
I emailed Cycling World - Boston a little over 3 weeks ago to get the 411 on bikes and equipment for the 2,200 mile journey. Since day one I have received numerous and incredibly helpful emails from Seth Samson, the retail operations manager of Cycling World - Boston.
My ride this summer - The Giant ROAM 2 - A road/mountain hybrid
I'm proud to say that Cycling World - Boston are gearing me up for the Boston to Miami event next month with everything from the bike down to the padded (and modest) biking shorts. I wanted to say a very big thank you to Seth for his enthusiasm and incredible act of benevolence by offering a considerable concession for .
I've been a bike owner all my life. My first bike was a and I currently own a Boulder 500 Mountain bike, it's my baby, my reliable run around. I've always had a so it only seems right to take one on this epic journey.
Thank you Cycling World - Boston!
LIFTING OLYMPIC GOLD! 
July 22 2012
Today I got to carry the Olympic torch in Twickenham, London courtesy of BMW. It was a great experience and I was surprised by how light the torch was. It was a truly humbling experience, thanks BMW! Check out iamONEpix for more pictures from the day's events.
NEW FEATURE TO
July 6 2012
Hey guys! There is so much to do between now and the big journey next month. I have been wrestling with a to-do list the size of Andre the Giant and feel that I have deserted the website for a while.
But I am pleased to announce a new feature to the site called 
- a section dedicated to showing my appreciation to all of my followers/friends/family who have purchased an wristband.
is a concept that I have been brainstorming for some time now and is finally live. The section features a map showing where the bands are around the world and pictures of my followers wearing them.
So if you have recently purchased an band and have taken a picture - you are more than likely going to be featured on !
If you would like to be featured please purchase a band here, take a picture of you wearing it, upload it to Twitter hashtagging #showyourpurple and send the message to @orguk.
The section will be updated regularly so check back soon for updates!
#ShowYourPurple!
SEVEN SEAS SUPPORTS
June 7 2012
It sure is an exciting period for with the news that Seven Seas® the UK's leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements are the latest company to show their support of .
After reading my story they offered to send me 6 months worth of multivitamins to help with my training regime leading up to the Boston to Miami event later this year.
It's an honour to have Seven Seas® on board as I have been a consumer of their multivitamins and fish oil capsules for some years now and have found that their products have helped my rehabilitation with AS immensely.
Thank you Seven Seas®!
SPONSORED BY WILEY X!
June 4 2012
The very exciting news that I have been hyping up all over social networks in the past few days is the partnership has established with WileyX®. WileyX® are "the leading providers of protective eye wear and ballistic products for the U.S. military, outdoor sports enthusiasts and the safety and shooting industries."
I am now officially sponsored by WileyX® and it's great that they have chosen to support and have shown faith in my dedication to become the best athlete that I can be in order to complete the Boston to Miami bike ride later this year.
It's an honour to have WileyX® on board and I sincerely look forward to rocking their gear in training for the big event this summer to raise awareness of Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Its exciting times for and the journey is only just getting started...
FIRST EVENT ANNOUNCED!
May 18 2012
After nearly 2 ½ months of anticipation I can finally announce the first event taking place later this year!
This August I will be cycling from Boston Massachusetts to Miami Florida to raise awareness of Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS] in association with ! The journey spans over 2,200 miles of the east coast of America, will take approximately 60/65 days to complete and will take me through 13 states! The journey will not only raise awareness of AS but also promote a healthy lifestyle among those living with chronic conditions.
I often say if you're going to do something, you got to do it big. Mix that mentality with my spontaneous 'anything is possible' personality and you've got an Atlantic coast USA bike journey on your hands!
Find out more here or alternatively check out the links below for more information!
Do you dare to live?
