Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Back To The Bike!!

Today was all about getting out and working easy and relaxing. A nice steady ride ready for a full on long endurance weekend. In great conditions, slightly misty and cool it was a delight. This is the calm before the storm as I work towards a 100+ ride followed by a full marathon on sunday! In March I will be entering an eight week phase that will see me building towards a full on intense 6 month schedule beginning on May 1st!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Running For Luke Southgate

After yesterdays bike today I was training and running for a different reason. At 7pm I joined Luke's brother Jack who is running 10 kms on 16 consecutive days in the memory of his brother Luke who tragically lost his life in Afghanistan 2 years ago! Jack will run a total distance of 100 miles, I am merely supporting him and his friends on a few of the routes. Tomorrow it is back to the bike!!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Back On The Bike!!

This weeks training theory is to fully utilise my days off work to maximise time on the bike. Today was about warming up the week with a nice staedy monday. Out on an undulating course with gusting winds it was an easy ride out with an increase in pace on the return journey!! Orbana Healthy Energy have kindly provided me with the fuel required to keep me hydrated! Officially my new sponsor, they provide healthy drinks that I initially tried during a 33 mile ultra run and found it ideal!! From now on its ORBANA all the way!!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Long Endurance Week Ahead...............

Monday 27th will see the beginning of an overload week of pure endurance training. Tomorrow will start the week with a nice easy relaxed 50 mile ride in the morning to warm into the intensive week ahead. In the afternoon a gentle run out in the afternoon. I will provide daily updates on a period of planned and organised suffering........................................

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Perfect Midweek Run!!

If ever there was a day for a midweek endurance meander then today was that day! In more or less perfect conditions, sunshine, very little wind and undulating Suffolk countryside it was a runners paradise. A nice relaxed 2 hour run that will be the shortest run that I will complete, approximately 15-16 miles these shorter runs will now increase in tempo. The aim is to make this a slightly more testing outing while my endurance run will remain slower and longer!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Training Plan - Decatriathlon 2012!!

Everyone needs a plan? Between January - April I will be doing 16 weeks of run training! This will include regular marathons and double marathons over this 4 month period. At the beginning of May I will start to focus on Swim & Bike building towards 6 hour pool swims and regular 200-250 mile rides! In May my running will culminate with a 24 hour race to see what distance I can physically cover in 1 solitary day! To swim 24 miles - Ride 1120 miles and run 262 miles is no easy challenge so mental & physical preparation is key! From 1st May until November 5th November I will consume NO alcohol whatsoever! DECAMAN is now reality!! Bring It on......................Let the games begin............

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Endurance Run Over!

Post run to work from Bury St Edmunds to Haverhill and it was pretty much completed in ideal conditions! The only obstacle was the slight headwind but it was nothing to worry about. Majority of road through rural suffolk villages ending with a spell of muddy cross country it was a runners delight. After 3 hours and 36 minutes it was all over and at 4am after work I was ready for a nice long sleep? Well sort of anyway!! Feeling good and things are progressing well!!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Another Marathon Approaches

A nice easy day on the bike today ready for yet another marathon effort tomorrow! Now the weather is improving a quick return to my favourite activity, the bike! Todays session will be a nice relaxed endurance session before a swift return to marathon training tomorrow. A nice run to work approximately 23 miles against the clock! New sponsor on board, ORBANA Health & Fitness will be providing me with all my sports drink supplements between now and DECA in October. Already trialled during the 33 I can honestly say they taste lovely and will be used during all my training and racing!!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Moonlight Challenge - First Ultra 2012

On a freezing cold saturday at 6pm I stood in a field in Kent waiting for the start of the race. Listening to rugby on the car radio I watched as people huddled together to keep warm. It was baltic!! The moonlight challenge is a 32.75 off road race and it is not for the faint hearted. The snow was forecast for 11pm.
I set off and initially 2 of us set the early pace. I settled into a comfortable second place, the early leader was setting a frenetic pace, simply too hot to handle. Conditions under foot were poor, frozen hard ground resulted in very sore feet. Head torches lit up the countryside as we weaved our way around the course. At around 10pm the snow arrived and the containers at the water stops had frozen solid!! After 5 hours 11 minutes of running through a snow blizzard, with wet feet and frozen hands it was finally over!! My first and shortest ultra of the year was complete!! And I felt ok!!! Live it.................

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Endurance Wednesday!!

In cold and icy conditions it was perfect for a nice relaxed cross country run. Approximately 17 miles of pure endurance running at around 70% of maximum heart rate. Average being a low 128 average with a maximum of 147 BPM shows just how easy it was. This being a mid week run before my shortest race of the year at the weekend. Sometimes you just have to train slow to race fast!! The weekend looms large........bring it on.