Back On The Bike!!

After receiving the good news that we were the Team Winners at the Wye Valley 50 miler it was business as usual and back to the bike. In perfect sunny and warm conditions it was a delight to get out for a swift hour. Legs nicely recovered it is now time to start developing a core base of cycling mileage. This will now become the focus with the odd 20-30 mile run thrown in for good measure. Next Monday the swim phase will start to commence a programme that involves all 3 disciplines. Training is going very well after a tough winter!! Today back on the bike!!

Rest Period Over!!

Tomorrow back to the bike after a nice rest period that has left me feeling refreshed and ready to start building a bike base. Content with my running development having found a tough 50 relitively easy it is now time to introduce the swim and to focus on the bike. The variety that triathlon training brings prevents me from losing any interest in volume training! I will now start to work towards 6 hour endurance swims and 200+ mile rides...................

Nothing Until Thursday!!

"Rest Is Best" will continue to be my theory because sometimes it is too easy to rush back! After a long day on saturday it is now time to sit back and give the overload time to repair so that I can gain the full benefit of the run. After creating stress it is important to allow a sufficient period of rehabilitation to minimise the risk of injury. So now I will sit back and chill until I ease back onto the bike later in the week............Time to eat and drink..........now I know that 50 miles is easily achievable I will start to focus on the 24 hour run in May!! The next phase begins on thursday.............Target - 100 miles and beyond......

3 Men & No Cake!!! - The Wye Valley 50 Mile Ultra

Valley? What valley I ask!! 50 Miles with only 60 athletes speaks volumes about a brutal ultra course. If you mention brecon then you will know what I mean. No city slickers here with racing flat shoes and designer labels, this is all about relentless climbs, ankle deep mud, river crossings and descents that cause nothing but pain and suffering! Runners are self sufficient, rules state that no support is allowed and the well marshalled check points offer you nothing but cheery support and water. No food and definitely no glory. A cold start and straight into a pretty arduous climb, the first half is certainly undulating. Close encounters with welsh breed horses & bulls but the weather was perfect!! The mad professor and Basher were controlling the pace at the front and doing a majestic job, war stories of past military experiences were a plenty! The lantern was swinging!! We tactically shrugged off the challengre from the Brigadier who attempted to tell better stories to all who would listen! After 6 miles we never saw him again? As we pushed on there were a few incidents of note. Firstly Al spotted a runner who had clealry made a navigational error and instead of shouting "This Way" Al said "Sshhh"............we watched as he disappeared over the distant horizon!! Next a brush with the Powys forestry authorities as Al was caught blantently Fly Tipping a "Log"!! Lastly the athlete we had abandoned in his moment of need overtook us yet again!! This resulted in a 5 mile sprint between 45-50 miles as Mad Al & Basher showed their ruthless streak! There was only 1 outcome as we dispatched him to the rear..........The game was over!! It started in the cold light of day and finished in the dark!! As we stumbled to the pub for a debrief it was short and sweet! 50 miles endured and we were HAPPY!! Job done......................

Wye Valley 50 Miles Weekend

This week has been more about the bike than the run! As the 50 mile ultra approaches this saturday I have been riding the bike as a nice relaxing alternative! Yesterdays ride was an interesting one after taking a wrong turn in my greed for speed. Strong winds and some nice undulating rural roads I arrived home in the dark some 27 miles later. Must admit to feeling good and strong, todays ride to work will be completed in glorious sunshine. Tomorrow will be spent travelling to Wales south of Hereford for an early start on saturday and 50 miles of suffering. When you suffer you learn so bring it on!!!

Rest Is Best!! Sometimes..............

After a double session of Run/Bike on thursday I took a nice rest day yesterday. I firmly believe in taking 1 day off a week. Today I will be hitting the road, pounding the streets this evening for a frisky 10 mile run. I will increase the tempo tonight to put the system under a slight bit of pressure. Tomorrow morning I will be out with the club cycling for a good endurance session. Updates and stats to follow!! Current weight has dropped to 10st 6 lbs so feeling quite fit and lean at the moment!! Loving training!!!!!

Cycling In Paradise!!

In glorious tropical sunshine on the first day in March the bike just had to come out! And believe me I was very reluctant to put it away. Cycling around rural suffolk it was like a mid summers day with little wind, the fresh smell of countryside and a cafe stop in a quaint cafe in Clare. 50+ undulating miles at a leisurely average speed of 17+ mph the wheels just kept on turning....
Fuelled by Orbana and a working heart rate of 130 BPM it is days like today that make riding on the open roads a delight. At 7pm tonight I will run with Jack Southgate as we aim to keep the memory of his brother Luke well and truly alive!! A perfect day!!