Welcome back endurance, we have missed you..

2 weeks of a revised and reduced training schedule, stretching, frictions and daily ultra sound treatment seem to paying off, i wouldn't go as far as a pain free but certainly heading in the right direction, on tonights run their was also a hint of the old endurance coming back......

Back to basics....

In an attempt to sort out my niggling injuries and enable me to put in a good showing at my next race i have decided not to do any races until the International Round Rotherman 50 miler in December. I have put together a training schedule focused towards the 50 mile event, come December i will re focus the training towards the 6633 Artic ultra......

Hard work

The last couple of weeks illness really have drained me of any energy anything but the shortest run has been hard work, I will take it easy for the next couple of weeks and see how we go.

A little unwell....

Just as i started to step up the training I'm hit for 6 with quite a severe bout of gastroenteritis, to be honest i don't think i have ever felt as unwell as i have done for the last 12 days or so, the good news is that I'm feeling alot better now and managed a short run this morning without any dramas.

Brecon Beacons

The Likeys boys and girls organised a training weekend up in the Brecon Beacons, it was a good excuse to get out in the hills and test my new tent.

Day 1: 20 miles or so, some very steep climbs, took it easy but felt fine

Day 2: 20 miles or so, some very steep climbs, felt good until the end of the last big climb when i became alarmingly tired and disorientated, really really struggled until a couple of miles from the end when i seemed to pick up a little. Hopefully the gastroenteritis that raised it head 2 days later will explain my sudden and dramatic decline.

Great weekend, good to catch up with the Likeys boys and girls and to have a nose round their store room, most of the attendies for training for the MDS and seemed very well prepared....

British Ultra

The British ultra, a six day, 130 mile race on the west coast of Scotland, organised by the Likeys boys and girls and Dave Scott.

What a week, Islay and Jura are simply stunning, of the 10 days we were on the islands only 1 day of rain!!! but boy did it rain!!!

Initially i had thought of running this but it was a little too soon after the arctic injury so i accepted the offer of a place on the support crew.....

Had great time, great bunch of people, it was hard work at times and some long days sat out on the side of a mountain or roadside layby, but I'm glad i did it, it just served as a reminder that as competitors we spend long hours training, but the race organisers equally spend long hours organising and running these event for us compete in.

For me crewing an event like this was a great experience, but i think you are more likely to see me racing than crewing in the future.

Can't talk about this event without mentioning the midges, probably the most annoying and pointless insect in the world, wreaked havoc on my arms/hands/neck/legs, tried industrial strength insect repellent, vitamin b tables, midges nets all to no avail, it a shame that such a stunning area is blighted by these ever so annoying insects.

Bike tyres and broken bottles dont' mix...

It's tipping it down with rain your in a bit of a hurry the last thing you need is 'another' puncture!!! this was a bit more than just a puncture though the tube and tyre had been almost completely sliced in two by the bottom of a broken wine bottle conveniently left on the narrow section of the tow path, i spotted it at the last minute and managed to miss it with the front tyre but the rear went straight over it......
I was too big a cut too repair so i ended running home the remaining 7 miles pushing the bike, the combination of pushing a bike, the wrong trainers for running, baggy wet shorts all made for a miserable trip home.