Been a while..

It's been a while since the last post, things a bit busy at work with all of our exciting projects taking shape for 2011.. must try harder. One of the most inspirational is working with a group of injured servicemen who are competing in Ironman UK this year.. take a closer look: http://www.truespirit.org.uk/

Other than that things have been driving forwards as usual at endurance central here in sunny St Helens. We have a new member to the team, Joss is a springer / collie cross and will be seen at the majority of events and open water swim sessions from now onwards.. She will be a vital part of the team's fell run training and is due to soon start her lessons in how to run alongside a mountain bike and stay clear of the wheels!

Here endeth the endurance blog..

Merry Christmas..

The Endurance Coach Team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and we made a short film starring the coaching team Marc, Paul, Matt, Nick and Rich..

GO HERE TO VIEW THE TEAM'S CHRISTMAS VIDEO

Here endeth the endurance blog..

Another fine mess..

How quicky do the years pass?? Is it just me or does everyone else feel as though the season has flown by.. perhaps I didn't do enough, I think I'm just peaking now..

I think I actually prefer winter to summer, although I may not have the same view in a few months time. On the plus, there's christmas and new year and the obvious festivities. Aside from that there's cross country, mountain biking, cyclo cross, Sunday rides, autumn colours and then cold, clear days coupled with a bit of snow!

It only seems 5 minutes ago I was writing this same blog for 2009 and looking ahead to 2010..

So just to get this in now before it arrives.. happy christmas and happy new year, I know it's early but if Jan-Oct are anything to go by, the festivities will have passed by the time you're read this. Is it really Base Camp time again?

Next year will be the year.. 38 isn't too old, that Brownlee lad's gonna meet his match.. where are my trunks?

Here endeth theenduranceblog..

Inter Regional Championships

Great weekend with the North West IRC youngsters and Parc Bryn Bach 18-19th September. Their performances were outstanding and it was amazing to witness my first IRC race and the standards at which the youngsters performed!! Triathlon is on the up for youngsters in the North West and it's great to be a part of it as academy coach. Clubs are popping up around the region and the events are filling fast. There's been a real increase in participation and my hope is that we can turn that into performance and success..

I've had one full year as reginal academy coach and it's been a great learning experience for me, October 31st 2010 is the first session back working towards the 2011 season.. I can't wait!

Here endeth theenduranceblog..

Helvellyn.. again!

What a day.. a tough swim in choppy water resulted in my slowest ever swim time and then unable to get moving on the bike. By half way round the cycle course I'd settled for 'one of those days'.. I dragged my sorry backside up the struggle and was momentarily lifted by the shouts and cheers of friends who were sat on the banking. A few smiles then I descended a bit too quickly down the pass but made some great time..

Onto the run, starting well outside the top 10 I trudged up the first climb and just didn't have the heart to even attempt a run.. I started to enjoy the day, met more friends and chatted to those I passed.. slowly.. ever so slowly.. I started edging my way through the field..

I spotted Nick Riding of Warrington tri up the path ans shouted to him that it was purely a matter of time.. he responded with equal verbal abuse..

By the summit I was in 5th.. suddenly it wasn't fun anymore as 4th and 3rd were only a few minutes down the track! With 2 miles to go I could see 4th ahead but Steve Worthington in 3rd was clear and safe.. a last minute push to the line secured 4th and I was really happy..

A quick check of the results and the awesome Julian Hatcher had destroyed the field to win in a time which was out of this world.. ah well.. maybe if I train harder?? For now, I'll settle for a week off, beer and a chippy tea.

Here endeth the endurance blog..

Insain Bolt..

So here we are again, 2 more weekly open water swims, a couple more races and then pretty much the season is over. Another year older and another step towards the next age category.. Helvellyn triathlon is the final race for the year and after 5 months of dealing with a running injury I'm hoping that taking enough anti-inflammatory drugs to floor a small horse will keep the aches at bay..

Autumn will soon be here and I am looking forwards to some mountainbiking and fell running as the bracken turns brown, what a great time of year. Yet again, next year will be the year when things come together.. next year will be the year I beat Brownlee and cruise to ITU glory.. I do think that perhaps my swimming needs a little attention bfore that happens.

My most recent new training technique is swimming in the river Lune just West of the Dales, I had a crazy idea that the river could work as an endless pool.. to some extent the idea worked until I got hit on the head by a floating branch. The session involved swimming 100 upstream like a demented salmon and this took approx 5 minutes (pretty good by all accounts), before turning round, putting my feet out to deflect rocks and flying back down to the start position just above a small set of rapids.. you can see the fatal error in this plan.. health and safety would not think that i'm too clever..

The Endurance Coach does not advice this activity in any way and ANSI standard hard shell helmets shoud be compulsory at all times..

Here endeth the endurance blog..

You climb all day and finish at the bottom..

Today I rode the course for the Yorkshire Dales Triathlon, a race with a long history originally organised by Harry Waugh from Dearne Valley Tri if my memory serves me right.. I think Harry (a famous character) went to live in Southern Scotland.. The event has been remapped slightly by Kudu Bikes to keep much of the old bike course but the run now climbs Shunner Fell rather than tackling Pen Y Ghent as in the old days..

The bike course is a killer with 4 big climbs including Buttertubs Pass and Garsdale Head to Dent.. the weather was mixed today and as I packed my pockest with nutrition, I remembered the last time I rode the course 12 years ago as a younger athlete with a single plan.. go hard from the start until I can't go any further..

My nutrition included a packet of jelly babies, 2 chorley cakes and a bottle of Kia Ora (I'll be your dog), a second bottle was handed up by my dad on the climb from Garsdale head.. I believe that is outside assistance and a 2 minute penalty now? So sue me..

The run headed down the road for a couple of miles before the long drag up Pen Y Ghent, followed by the bridle way descent and final tarmac of death back to Horton in Ribblesdale..

After the ride today, I quite fancy another go at the course, revisiting old territory.. Today was wet and quiet, I passed a few parked cars on the long climbs with the rain running down my cape sleeves and my glasses. I got a wiff of coffee through the partially opened windows and a glimpse of tartan travel blanket.. people peering through the glass with a 'what are you doing' look on their faces as I ploughed onwards..

perhaps if I competed this year the multiple gels and isotonic mixtures should give way to chorley cakes and Kia Ora for the purposes of remembrance.. maybe I could ride a bike which requires me to move my hands from the bars and reach for the down tube to change gear.. remember those?? Nearly sticking your fingers in the front wheel every time you wanted to change to the big ring?? How did we manage..

Here endeth theenduranceblog..