Running Hard!!

Today it was good news about the fractured thumb. No surgery required so to celebrate it was time to hit the road for a nice run. Total time out on the road was about an hour with a nice warm up and warm down with a 4 mile tempo run sandwiched in the middle. A lovely route in ideal conditions in 27 minutes 26 seconds. Maximum heart rate 174 BPM with an average heart rate of 163 BPM. Weight 10st 8lbs. Sub 7 minute miling will suffice at the moment and gives me something to work on...............Time for more speed work with a good turbo session on the bike tomorrow and a 10 mile tempo run on friday! Then off to Portugal for a quality weeks marathon training.........................Love it.................................

What A Difference A Day Makes.......................

After a days forced rest due to the thumb it was time to get back on the bike! A full on turbo session that really did fuel the fire!! Fracture clinic tomorrow to see the extent of the damage then a nice frisky run to keep the home fire burning. A weeks warm weather training in Portugal to look forward to on saturday!! When you get injured it is just a case of making adjustments..............Never Stop.................

Riding Through The Night - Painful

Another midnight ride that was pure enjoymant as I travelled the empty roads gliding along and finding it really easy. Unfortunately towards the end of the ride I misjudged a post. Fractured right thumb, dead leg and a slightly damaged training bike! Impact at 25mph there was only going to be one winner! Fracture clinic wednesday but these things are sent to test our resolve. I thought something was wrong when the end of my thumb was hanging off. The remainder of the ride home was quite emotional with 1 arm.......Pain is only temporary.....................................Push through the tough times.....

Inside The Mind Of An Ultra distance Athlete

There is a certain mental approach required to want to suffer on a regular basis! The bike today was all about hills and pain and believe me it was made to be painful. Tomorrow I will join other runners to do an endurance 20, the longest run to date. Already clocking 100+ on the bike, 6000 metres in the water and 20 mile runs the foundations are laid to up the anti. From now on the mindset is simple! "Pain is inevitable - Suffering is optional" And it is my choice to suffer. Next year I will be "Unstoppable" DECAMAN 5th November 2012...............Bring It On...............................................

Back In The Water - Loving it!!

Something has to be said about swimming until 10pm on a friday evening. 100% dedication will bring success and taking short cuts results in mediocracy, a word that just does not exist. Gliding up and down tonight it was fantastic to be back in the water. 1 hour of complete satisfaction. This will be my minimum swim time building towards steady 6 hour endurance swims. Decaman is 24 miles so why moan about 1 hour..............................Believe To Achieve.................Tomorrow its the bike...................Sunday.............Run ...........................

Start Of A New Phase!

The Next month will see a variety of specific phases. The next week will see me supporting Al Macpherson in his final preparation before Ultraman UK. 1:1 training, support, nutritional and UM racing advice. Following this I will set my own benchmarks during September. I will be going scientific and monitoring my body weight, Resting Heart Rate, Average Training Heart Rates and using all the specific measurements provided during feedback from the Human Performance Unit while lab testing sports performance drinks last year. The aim is to be at my peak for Decaman during 2012!! Tomorrow will be a 1 hour maximum effort swim...................Pure pain....................

Back to it....................

After an overload week last week I decided to take a well earned break over the weekend to get the full benefit from the mileage. Refreshed I climbed back on the bike yesterday and how I loved it. A nice steady 1 hour tempo ride in glorious summer sunshine. It seemed so easy on fresh well rested legs today I will be riding through the night before a few hours rest and then back to pure endurance first thing in the morning! The next 2 weeks are going to all about mileage...................Love it!!

Swim/Bike/Run - Complete

Well like any triathlon, race or training it just has to finish with a run. In near perfect conditions I was joined by MC Hammer and The Bearded Norfolk Warrier for a meander around Alton Water. What a location for a nice easy relaxed run on a beautiful summers day! Average Heart Rate sitting pretty at 125 BPM and a maximum of 153 BPM chasing after a short stop it has to simply be the only way to finish 3 days of endurance!! The dream continues and tomorrow I return to the bike. Exactly where I want to be come rain or shine..............................

No Frills Just A Nuts And Raisins Session!!

Resting Heart Rate this morning 44 BPM. If you have ever swam at The Jesus Green Pool it is a hardcore location that is ideal for a tough session. Changing facility is a posh cattle shed, the pool is tepid with plenty of floating debris. A good solid 2 hour session followed by a shower that turned my hands blue. The last hour of the session spent swimming in the rain! This really is a "Nuts &Raisins" venue only for the not so fussy. Twinned with Sennybridge and the river Swale...................Ideal.................

Nice Day For A Swim!

Yesterday was all about the bike, today is all about open water swimming! DECAMAN starts with a 24 mile pool swim, mentally and physically very demanding start to the race. Today will see me start my preparation with a nice steady 2 hour swim in an open air pool, ideal venue that will eventualy see me doing weekly 6 hour endurance swims. Tomorrow, well thats just another day........its all about the art of running........................Be inspired!!

Perfect Wednesday!!

With near perfect weather conditions and a complete day to do what you love most of all it has to be the perfect day? 100 miles of steady riding building a good training base for next year. Out with big Al Mac as he winds down for the first Ultraman UK event and then linking up with club cyclists it was a perfect mix. Sometimes life is so good......................Lands End To John O Groats non stop in April is such an exciting prospect.............Just can't wait.......................

Life In Chains...............................

We live are life in chains, mostly governed by time. We live by appointments, meetings, pressure from work, family and other unavoidable scenarios. When I train I choose the time, the distance and the venue. I go out on the open road and I am free. No one can dictate the pace, duration or intensity. For once I call the shots. If I choose to suffer it is because I want to learn about myself, I want to push the limits of human endurance. Training time is thinking time. Tomorrow I will ride all day! Why? Simply because I can.......................................................................Live it..................

3 Days Of Pure Endurance......................

Double header over and now its time for Swim-Bike-Run, 3 days of pure endurance! Tomorrow will be a 8-10 km pool swim, wednesday 100-120 miles on the bike and then thursday I will run until I can run no more.................Pushing the limits and ideal conditioning in all 3 disciplines.............Smash it.........Live It and Love Your Sport!!

Start Of A Tough Phase............

Another double header on the bike starting this afternoon when I will just ride. Next week I will be teaming up with Al Mac as he carries out his final preparation for UMUK. Next week will see us complete a 8km swim - 120 mile bike and a nice tempo 10 mile run! No time to rest and if you sleep too long you might just miss something................Endurance is the key to success. Build now for success later......................The Dream Goes On..............

From Dark To Day.......................

There is something magical about riding in darkness and watching the world wake up. 0400 and clear open roads, in the distance the sky is orange gently turning blue as the world awakes! The roads are silent and open, not another locomotive to be seen or heard. The wheels turn and sweat drips from my forehead. I am alone, gliding silently, only my dreams to keep me company! after being awake for 22 hours and completing my second training session in 12 hours I think "Do I want To Be On The Bike Again"? The answer is simple! "Of Course I Do" "I LOVE IT"...............Push on.............fatigue is only a state of mind.................................

My Job Is To Inspire Others....

Someone asked me if my job interferes with my training and racing? My answer is simple! My job is to race and train and to hopefully inspire others. My other pastime pays for me to train and race some of the best endurance athletes in the world. This week will see me training twice a day, to up the anti and to create overload to improve. Tomorrow will involve 3 sessions...............................Live It..........

One Man One Bike One Dream!

Decaman is my dream! We all have them and we may sometimes play them over in our minds. Personally I am always seeking out new challenges to continue the exploration and adventure into unchartered territory. To push the limits of human endurance and move beyond physical exhaustion to the other side! What is waiting there for me I want to find out. To continue the journey at any cost............Today I will run long and I will run free................................

Its All In The Hills..............

Today I aim to suffer. On Sundays some people like to go long! One of my favourite sessions of the week is hill training because I like to suffer. The next 2 days are all about overload. This afternoon I will hit my favourite climb and complete a 1 hour session. Tomorrow I will run a 10 mile time trial to see where I am with speed. Then it is back to pure endurance................................Live it................

White Line Fever!

I had one of those runs this morning. Endless amounts of energy and a desire to suffer at the mercy of speed. Conditions were near perfect with clear skies and an unusually hot humid temperature. The decision was made to go for it. It felt strange at times because fatigue never arrived so arriving home at exactly 3am I was calmly satisfied that I need to run further...............The time has arrived to push on and push on I will............."Its Time To Suffer".........I am ready!!

Normal Is Boring...

I am drawn To Extremes, moderation bores me, I constantly seek challenges and adventure that loom on the outer edges. The path of least resistence is a route I will never take! If I can inspire one person to train then my job is done!! Anything is possible, you just have to make it............

The Lorries Rumble on.........

Double ride day over it was a scorcher at lunchtime and then couldn't be more contrasting riding through the night. Perfect conditions for both rides, a cyclists dream! Riding at midnight, warm conditions and clear open roads, just the rumble of passing lorries breaking the silence! It is most definitely my favourite time to train. Tonight I will be running through the night again. It seems like a long road to Mexico but with 2 marathons already booked for November there will be no let up!!! "Endurance never sleeps" "It is in my blood"..............

The Only One Who Can Tell You "You Can't" Is You! And You Don't Have To Listen....

Today I will ride. How far dosen't matter, how fast dosen't matter. Tomorrow I will run through the night.........Nothing can stop me..............."The Bold Don't Live Forever But The Timid Don't Live At All"

Overload Time.............

The next few days will see two sessions a day completed with an emphasis on the bike tomorrow. Ride 1 will see a steady 50 miles followed by a fast hours ride at midnight! Day time and night time riding with a break in between..............Its time to push on before my second run through the night............."Adversity introduces a man to himself".......