SportsShoes Blog

Afternoon everyone,

I had the weekend off as it was my girlfriends birthday and we back to her home town where i ate a ridiculous amount. Does anyone else find that when there is a BBQ and you aren’t cooking and food keeps on getting cooked and put down on a table you never stop eating untill the BBQ goes off? This is what i did, and i must have packed away a whole cow and pig with the amount i ate!

Anyway, i was discusing with someone the other day how Stuart from big brother ( i knwow i shouldn’t watch it but i can’t help it, i am blame my missus ). Anyway, we discussed how he is still looking in good shape after this time in the house without a serious gym, i don’t go for 2 days and feel like i lose shape!

I also aid that if i could get in shape like him for my hols i would be quite happy, and i’m sure my girlfriend would be happy as well! Here is a pic if you don’t know what i am talking about …

Got quite a bit of work to fit in these last 3 weeks, been 2 days in a row now and going again tonight,

Right, off to eat my 3rd pitta bread and tuna of the day.

Well it’s Borrowdale Fell race on Saturday - one of the toughest races in the fell running calendar.

I’ve done it before in 05 and can remember quite a bit of it but unforunately, it’s always the bits that you can’t remember that are the worst.

I’ve been feeling pretty rubbish lately and struggling to get that floaty feeling when I’m out training. Went out for an hour on the bike Saturday - very steady with my son - then 30 mins run on Monday evening and a harder 1 hour run tonight. The weather was very warm which doesn’t suit me but I actually felt OK today. I’ll be resting up now to Saturday with probably a short spin on the bike tomorrow and a steady jog on Thursday.

There’s a big shin-dig after the race on Saturday and a few of us are camping so it should be a hoot. At least the thought of cold beer and live music should help to pull me round the 17 mile course and up and down Bessy Boot, Scafell, Great Gable and Dale Head.

Poor Yorkshire, it’s not been a good week for them. After getting throught to the quarter-final against Durham the match was called off after the ECB found out Yorkshire had fielded an ineligible player in one of the earlier group games against Nottinghamshire. The player was 16 year old Azeem Rafiq, a right arm off spinner,  who is tipped as a future England prospect. It was his full county debut.

Now understandably Durham who would have been Yorkshire’s opponents in the quarters are asking for a bye straight into the semi finals. But Nottinghamshire, whom Rafiq played against, are also kicking up a fuss as they believe the game should be replayed to decide the proper outcome.

Not written for a while, been racing and training so much! My latest race was Colne GP last night where I was in the 3rd and 4th support race. It went well and I can definitely feel myself getting fitter! I had some track time in Manchester last week where I was team pursuiting with Jo Rowsell, Katie Colclough and Lizzie Armitstead, all members of the GB programme, and Jo, a World Champion at the discipline.  I’m looking forward to going to Belgium soon to compete in a few kermesses and crits over there, as the competition is always good and better quality than in the UK. After that my training will all be geared towards the Junior Europeans so sharpening up with lots of 100% efforts!

Just got back from Italy where I’ve been training in the warm weather It was fairly near Florence but thankfully I didn’t have to make use of too many of the surrounding hills as my preparation for the Track Nationals and hopefully the Track Europeans has begun! I found a nice falt stretch of about 7km where I did some standing starts, zone 3 efforts and high cadence efforts. I go to Belgium tomorrow with the Olympic Development programme where I’ll be doing some racing and some more training as there is an outdoor track near to where we’re staying.  My legs are starting to feel good now and I’m looking forward to the next few weeks!

I’ve more or less fully recovered from my hamstring strain. Last few  weeks have been pretty tedious with rehab etc… but mentally refreshed and super keen to get my summer training back on track! Be in the full swing of things come Monday hopefully.

Well I was all set to do the Oldfield race today but my training partner Jamie texted me last night to say he fancied a long run in the morning instead so I decided to join him. With Borrowdale just around the corner this was probably a good idea.

We went over Ilkely Moor and did 2 hours 10 mins at quite a reasonable pace.

After feeling rough earlier in the week I was quite pleased with my performance. The weather helped - it was a perfect running day - nice and cool with high cloud and great viz - the tracks were still V wet though.

Got back and tried some Powerbar Recovery milkshake (that I brought back from the yacht race)- can’t say it tasted too good but let’s see if it works….

Another week of training ahead then a rest week before Borrowdale.

Can’t help but feel I need to spend more time on my bike with the 3 Peaks Cyclocross looming!!

Steady week this week.

Ran early mornings Monday and Tuesday - just 25 mins / session around Shipley Glen - it’s nice to get out first thing especially when the weather’s good.

Didn’t do anything Wednesday then ran with Bingley Harriers Thursday evening. Tough session (for me) as the fast boys were out. 1 hour 15 around Cottingly, Harden Moor and St Ives.

Friday morning out again around Shipley Glen for a quick trot.

It’s my wife’s 40th this weekend and her party was last night so I’m feeling a bit sluggish today - will try and get out for an hour a bit later though - got to keep things ticking over. 

Friday evening - quick trot up Hope Hill and back.

Very wet but also very warm - I did what I always do and chose my gear based on what the weather looks like rather than the actual temperature. This meant I was way too hot and finshed the 35 min session looking like I’d just been in a Sauna!!

Ipod track of session - Whitesnake - Slow and Easy

Saturday - decided to race tomorrow at Oldfield. This is a nice little local fell race - just 5.5miles and 550ft of climb. Oldfield’s just about 8 miles from home so I’m going to cycle over to the race, run it, then cycle back - should be a decent training session.

As I’m racing tomorrow I just did a steady 40 mins this morning - similar route to yesterday but in reverse.

I’d left my trainers out all night so they were nice and squishy when I put them on this morning - didn’t notice after first field crossing!!