December time, sun, sun and a bit of rain, but it's really cold in the UK

It's been a while since I posted on here and this has been for a number of reasons, firstly work has been super busy and life in Dubai has been just as! But I have to report that training has been going well, apart from a week where I had a touch man flu.

I'm fully entered into Ironman China on March 14th next year, training has been ramped up over the last month and I'm getting in some big sessions. Every Friday, I'm bagging at least 160kms on the bike and then I'm hitting the 4kms of swim sets on a Saturday down at the beach by JBR. My body is holding up pretty well, but I have started to pick up a couple of niggles esp in my foot and left calf, which I need to get looked at in the New Year.

I've raced a couple of times now with my new team. I came second in the first sprint and then first in the second. It felt great to have a big hit out and I felt strong. We also had a training camp near to Al Ain, it was good to get together with the team just before they all travelled out to either Phuket Triathlon or Ironman Western Australia. All the guys did super well, sep Roy who came second in his age group in Phuket and Carl who came 5th in his in Oz.

In the coming twos months I've got the Dubai 10km, Wadi Bi Race and the Saucony RAK half marathon, where I'm looking to go quite quick, around the 1hour 20 mark. In training I've running well, even though I'm been focusing on it. Last week in training I had 2 hour run set to do where I covered 34kms. This is great not only, because it's good for my racing, but also, because I've scored a sponsorship deal with Saucony U.A.E. Tony has been great supplying me with kit, trainers etc and I'm super looking forward to getting my new racing Saucony Fast Twitch 4 in the New Year for all my races in 2010.

Thanks Tony and Saucony, U.A.E.

Well, I think thats most of what I've been up. I'm in U.K. at the mo celebrating Christmas with family and family, oh my life it's cold. But it's really good to see our dog Jack, we really miss him and it's the best Xmas pressie in the world to spend some time him. I'm back home on the 5th Jan and looked forward to getting my teeth back into my biking and swimming as well as my running that I'm doing in the cold at the mo.

My New Year's resolution is to post on here more often, honest!

Take care in the snow or in the sun, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Train safe.

Ed

It's Kona time, October and it's still sunny here in Dubai.

Hello to everyone in the cheap seats - the UK that is. I've heard the weather has been great there of late, but I'm sure that over the next couple of weeks things will turn and those Sunday morning rides are going to harder and wetter. Here, it's just starting to get nice, it's cooling down, which means mid 30s during the day time, sweet.

I've got together with a group out here and I've been on a couple rides/sessions with them. The first was a nightmare, I blow BIG stylie. It was an easy 3 hours session and after 1 hour /I'd made the front pack and I rode hard, but not that bad if I'd been in better shape (6 weeks the Europeans and loads of enjoying life etc). Which we hit the last 10kms it was game on and racing, however I just fell of the back and my made my way back from doing 37kph on the front, to rolling home at 20kph! I learnt a HUGE lesson that day. Still, I made up for it two weeks later by killing them all and finishing of topping out at 50kph! Beautiful!

Well, this weekend it's Kona, Ironman World Championships. My new coach (who is good friends will Crowie) spoke to him last weekend, he's good shape and looking forward to it, however he's feeling the pressure what from sponsors etc. Whereas Macca is feeling cooling cool and he seems to be just enjoying it. It'll all come clean in the wash on Saturday, best of luck to everyone racing from Pros (esp Chrissie) and Age Groupers alike.

Hopefully next year I'll be there to race too.

Take care and train safe.

Ed and Sarah in the Desert

Hitting the hard stuff

Sarah and I have joined the Aviation Club in Dubai. It's beautiful to be honest, the gym is great loads of free weights and cardio machines. Downstairs there's swimming pool with real lanes, a steam room etc all the toys. It's great to go there after work, put in a big session and then chill and have a nice meal with friends.

I have never had this sort of treatment after training so hopefully it can some way to improving my performances during sessions and more importantly during races. We have joined it with some friends that we've made out here. It's always good to have people around you that you get on with and I believe it's even more important in a strange country.

Training has started well for the season after having some time off to move etc. I'm now concentrating on simply cardio stuff as I mentioned last time and light weight training in prep for last years Ironman China in March 2010, so it's game on, tampon!

Cheers all, peace.

Ed

It's Dubai baby! But it's hot, hot!

We out here in the sand and it's hot! Well, actually it's really hot over 40 everyday! I've been out running a number of times during the day time and it's meant that I'm now getting used to the heat when walking round, but I'll tell you it's hard work the train during it at the moment.

Sarah and I have started the new job and the guys we're working with seem really nice and I'm looking forward to having a good crack with them. The apartment is pretty cool too and we've been really lucky to be placed in one which has two bedrooms, nice. I'm hoping to make contact with a couple of guys reference to racing out here and esp bike training near Nal a Sherba.

It was great to see Gil and Nat last week on their way back to UK from Kenya and we had a wicked time at Wild Wadi. Some of the slides were cool and it was super fun.

All our boxes have arrived last night. It was great to see them again. I gave the bikes a quick over and they seem okay, even if one of the bike boxes have been damaged, so I think I'm going to claim for that. But the new Bike Box Alan stood up fine and I was pleased with it's performance.

It's Wednesday here today and that means that we've only got Thursday left before the weekend. It's going to be odd having a whole weekend off as well as finishing work at 2pm each day as it's Ramadan at the moment. I'm going to post some more pictures etc later on.

Right I've got to get on with some work.

Take care.

Ed

Team GB - Prague ETU Long Distance Triathlon Championships

It's been a funny month. We moved to Grimsby to stay with Sarah's Mum and Dad, then we popped across to Bolton to support some friends at Ironman UK (well done to Justine, Matt, Strewie, Dougie, Steve. Les and Toby) and saw what was possibly the best ever first ever Ironman start by Phil Graves.

Then we fly off to Prague to compete in the ETU Long Distance Champs Team GB, phew and on top of that almost everything we own was shipped out to our life in Dubai by Ian the DHL man! Apart from that it's been a normal month! With only 5 days to the BIG move I've start to appreciate things more than I have ever, time with Jack esp.

The race in Prague was a real eye opener it just goes to show just how looked after we are when we race WTC Ironman distance events. Quite a few of the aid stations ran out of water! The officials weren't really sure of the course that morning (two and a half laps or three?) and as for the ship that that cut through the swim during the race.......it was just not real I tell ya.

Still I was pleased on the whole with the race, but there still is much improvement to be made. My bike was the disappointing aspect this time, as I expected to go much faster. Still I made up for it in the run and while really I should be running faster, it was a hellish hot day (42C), so I was happy with my efforts. But what I was mostly happy with was my position in the team I came 6th out of 67 team members, I was over the moon so you could say that I am the officially the 6th fastest long distance athlete in the country as of this race - nice! I was 53rd overall too out of 390 athletes.

What was also really great was that we met up with so top guys, Andy, Steve, Tom and Donna. Donna I know from where we used to live back in Somerset and with the Wizards, but the other guys were all off tritalk.co.uk. It was great to meet up with them and we got on really well, they are all great guys and hopefully we'll meet up next year for the same event in Spain.

Cheers guys and stay safe over the winter in cold UK. ;-)

Ed

Grimsby, Bolton and Prague

I'm so sorry I haven't posted for awhile, but my access to the 'tinternet' has been limited, because Sarah, Jack and I are staying in Grimsby with my in-laws for a month or so until we make our journey to the Middle East for Dubai for a new life in the sands.

Training has been going well. I've got around 30 hours a week roughly and I've met some nice people in North East Lincolnshire to train with. One of them is doing Ironman UK this weekend in Bolton and his brother is the Double Ironman* on Staurday too - respect! While I'm on Ironman UK, I'm really looking forward to seeing the guys from the Wizards this weekend who are racing in Bolton,as we are going to travel across to give support big style. A big shout goes to Stevie G, Justine and Matt (who's had hamstring difficulties in the last week - fingers crossed for you pal).

It's also not long till I fly over to Prague to race for Team GB. I've got a mixure of nerves and excitment about the whole event, I just don't know what to expect at that level/distance - it'll be fun. Anyhow I'm now in taper for the event so training etc is winding down, then I've got to go and get my new bike box from Rotherham for the trip. I'll keep you posted reference that.

Oh lastly, and more importantly my best mate Gilbert and his wife Natasha are expecting their first Baby in Feb. What can I say but I'm so made up for them, take care guys, all three of you.

Night.

Ed

*Paul came an amazing 2nd overall!!!! A smashing result for a top bloke, just his double tri-weekend to go now this season good luck Paul, stay strong.

Hat trick - Bon Voyage!

A win is a win and considering I've had some time off training, well structured training it was not a bad result. It was also my last race in the UK before our move abroad to Dubai (bye bye to the UK race scene - I've loved every minute) and it was the first that I have used bunny in 'anger'. So scraping the win was a good win. If I sit back and think about it, this time threes years ago I would never have thought that I would win an event, so to put things in perspective I'm super happy to have No. 1 next to my name.

Over the coming weeks we move to Grimsby (with the In-Laws), continue to train and then make our way to Prague to race in the Europeans, so it's going to be a little bust to say the least, hopefully it's going to be straight forward.

Lastly, a huge WELL DONE to James Cunnama, team member of Team TBB and the brother of a friend of mine. He placed 2nd in Ironman Austria on Sunday, a top result for a super guy, who has worked really hard, plus he is young and has a great future in front of him.

Train hard, train safe, as always.

Ed

Crewkerne Sprint Triathlon

Tomorrow, I'm racing again. It's a super sprint, but I am looking forward to it, it'll be nice to use Bunny in anger. However, I've been bitten by a horse fly just above my knee and it bloody hurts! Unbloody believable, typical - fingers crossed it'll be ok!

I am now officially a free man, as I finished work yesterday for the Summer until we move out to Dubai in mid August - bring on the training. I'm really looking forward to getting to grips with my training since it's been hard over the last part of term. We move in a week and half to Grimsby to live Sarah's Mum and Dad for a month or so, so life is going pretty hectic, what with packing etc. Then we've got ETU Long Distance Champs in Prague in early August so life isn't as straight forward I we thought it was going to be.

Train safe.

Ed

I'd like to introduce Bunny, she's a beauty!

Here she is, in all her glory, Bunny. I picked her up this morning from Chantie who had the odd bits and bobs to sort on her. She is such a beauty and I was able to take her out for a spin later on that afternoon and I have to say - oh my life, she's fast! I averaged 26 mph for a sprint distance race I've got coming up. Sponsor logos on and Polar sensors sorted, I'm so looking forward to getting to know her over the coming few days ready for Crewkerne Sprint Tri this weekend and then the European Long Distance Champs in Prague in August.

Cranks, work and resting!?

It's not been this best of weeks since Ironman UK 70.3. It was Sarah's and mine birthday last Thursday, which was pretty pants to be honest as we just worked all day - 16hours! On the Wednesday my nice, new Planet X arrived, however the joy was short lived as it was minus a couple of key parts and the cranks thread was all wrong so it has had to be sent back. I really haven't enjoyed the last week of resting, I did do one run, which felt good, but really the week has been a waster quite simply, because I have been so damn bust with work. I am really looking forward to the move out to Dubai, where I can really put into action my plans to qualify for Kona.

Anyhow, back to the training this week thank goddness.

Ed

Ironman UK 70.3

Just over a week ago I was bedding down in my tent on the campsite at Wimbleball Lake in Exmoor National Park. The reason, to race Ironman UK 70.3. I really was not too sure how I was going to get on, as I don't think that I had really been able to prepare fully or as I would have liked to, not enough biking and brick/open water sessions.

We got to bed after a nice early evening walk with some friends, Matt and Justine, who we were camping with, they were also racing. The day started pretty early to be honest, as some of the race team were making a real noise, waking me up nice and early - too early! Once 4am had hit it was time to get some food inside me. Once I'd had breakie I popped into transition to sort the bike out ready for the off. Drinks on, tires pumped it was time to put the wetsuit on etc.

6am was coming around pretty damn fast and in the blink of an eye it was time to go to transition ready for the off at 6am. However, due to conditions a mist had formed on the lake and it was unsafe to enter the water. After an hour in transition and a couple pees for Matt and I, we wondered down to the lake's edge. I struggled to get into position ready for the start, as there were loads of athletes not moving from the start/finish chute.

Suddenly the gun went off and it was all start. It was quite a rough start to be honest, but I soon got into rhythm. I found some feet and worked hard throughout the swim, I got out thinking I had swam well, but a quick glance at my watch showed me that I had swam for 31 minutes! What? I couldn't believe it, all my hard work this year and I was slower that ever, I was gutted.

Anyhow, I made my way into T1, wetsuit off , bike stuff sorted and out onto the bike. I felt so much happier once I was sat on my saddle. The first hill was hard, but it was welcome and I soon found myself overtaking many who had finished the swim before me. Half way up and I passed a race mate/rival, Alan Ward from North Devon Triathlon Club much quicker than I thought I would. It was a nice confidence booster and from then on I just thought - right, game on, let's race! I rode with a group of riders for about 40 miles and it was only until the last 5 miles when I really opened up on the bike and went for it, breaking many of those who had ridden with me.

I when into T2 not sure how I would feel, but as I passed my race rig across to the helper and got my legs moving, I felt great and I was pleasantly surprised. Grasping my bag, I got my trainers/sun visor on and headed out onto run section for 13.1miles.

To be honest if I had seen Sarah on the first laps I might have given up, but I didn't and by half way into the second lap I was actually feeling quite good. However, I was cramping going onto the flats, but there weren't to many of them to be honest, so I just soldiered on. I finished the run by lapping a friend of mine and out sprinting a fellow racer who had just bared off ready to finish.

Overall it was a great race and I finished 37th overall, 31st male and 19th non-professional out of 1000 athletes. My finish time was 5.06:02 an 11 minute improvement on last year. I am pretty happy to be honest, I was hoping to go under the 5 hour, but if I'm honest my run time was 2 seconds faster than in Clearwater, the flat World Championships. I had qualified again to race there this year, but I turned the slot down, in preparation for Prague/the Europeans and our move to Dubai both in August.

On the whole a good day at the races, now I'm ready for week off training and the delivery of my age group kit and my new race bike - a Planet X Stealth!

Chill for now.

Ed

Not long to go now.

I've got about 3 days to go till race day. I hate tapering, I always feel like I am standing still, not getting better, not getting worst, well actually I do feel like I'll getting worse, but I know in the great scheme of things I have to taper, but it doesn't mean I enjoy it. 

I just want to get on with it now. My race wheel still isn't back from the doctor so I'm pretty much sold on the idea that I'm going to be racing on my training on Sunday, which is a shame, as the same thing happened last year. I'm hoping to go around the 5 hour mark, but I just don't know really. I don't think I have training hard enough at race pace and at the right length of workouts due mainly to time issues from work.

We are going to travel down on Saturday morning get the bags and bike racked then go for wonder around the small expo they have there, have some food and chillax with friends at the camp site. Sarah, Jack and I are looking forward to the break from school, last year we had a great time and it was just superb hanging out with like minded people. 

Then I'll have a week off training, enjoy Sarah's and mine birthday a week today. Then it's back into training for the European Long Distance Champs in Prague in August. I'm not too sure how I feel about training for a long distance event again. It's a lot of hard work and time, but it is worth it? Mmmm yes I think so! 

Anyhoo, one thing I am really looking forward to using my new BLUE SEVENTY HELIX wetsuit which was sent over from the states for me. I got it yesterday, I haven't worn it yet, but I think I will this evening for a quick session in the pool just to get the arms going.

Not long to go now till Sunday 7.00am.......

Cheers 

Ed

I can't get no sleep - Faithless

Well, it's past midnight and I'm really struggling to get any sleep. I'm tired, but for some reason whether it's work on my mind, tapering or whatever I am really struggling to get some sleep, so I thought I'd add an entry into my blog.

A week today I will have raced at Wimbleball in the Ironman UK 70.3 in Exmoor. I'm starting to get quite excited about it now and I'm really looking forward to it. Mainly, I think as it's a good bench mark to see how far I've come (or not) over the past year in my training. This last week has been a little odd, due to the cut in training from tapering, which is probably the reason why I'm not sleeping also. The bike has come back from Ian and it's now not making music from the seat area, however the wheel is still with him and hopefully that'll be sorted over the next day or so, if not then I think I'll just use the training wheels at the weekend.

I have recently been looking at the Planet X bikes - the Stealth Pro in fact. It seems amazing value and I am very tempted to buy one for racing to tell you the truth in Prague at the European Champs in August. I think it would be a great investment, as would another road/sportif bike. Which due to the cost of each of them I could get for the cost of the Felt DA, which I was interested in, so it might make good sense really.

Blue Seventy sent some more stuff through last week and I've been really impressed with the goggles I've been using from them. They are really comfortable and hopefully they should flow the new Helix wetsuit through to me ready for next Sunday. If not then I will have to use the older one, which is no big stress to be honest.

I went on great ride with my mate Paul this morning, out to Glastonbury, we stopped for coffee and then came back. The weather was great, right up until I got home then the heavens opened. I didn't do much for the rest for the day, a couple of reports for school etc all a tad boring to be honest. Well for the rest of the week it's all taper, taper, taper - not much else to be honest, a bit boring. I'm not a great fan of it, ever though I know it has to been done. You go through loads of different feelings when tapering from feeling fat to worrying that you've not done enough training, but then you great up on race morning, feeling great and ready to rumble.

Here's to tapering madness :-$

Enjoy your sleep, I wish I could get some.

Ed  

TOW done, broken spokes and Wimbleball

The Tour of Wessex is in the bag and I really enjoyed taking some time out with my mate Paul. However, it did mean that I was struggling for the rest of the week and on an hours run on the Wednesday, in the first 200m my heart rate was 180 and I just could not breathe for toffee! 

I have to admit I was a tad worried. I did work through it and I came out the other side, thankfully. By the end of the week I was running hard and I bagged another 60 miles with friends, out to Shearwater and back, it was good. I defo felt the tour on the climbs, I felt strong, hitting most of the climbs in the big ring, something the other riders could not do.

However, on the Tuesday I needed to go out and ride an hour, but ping! Yes one of front spokes jumped out of the ring - NO! It meant a long walk home and a phone call to Ian Chard, the bike doctor. I spent an evening in a bad mood and then a ride in car to Ian on the Wednesday for him to sort it for me. 'No worries, it'll be fine' he said - I hope so, I trust him with the life on my bike, but the same thing happened this time last and I ended up riding my training wheels at Wimbleball.

Talking of Wimbleball, it's only a week and a half till my 'B' race of the season. I'm looking forward to it. I was asked to play cricket this evening, but I turned it down. If I picked up an injury, like I did playing Hockey in January for the staff, I'd feel so bad for my sponsors and I just can not justify my action to them. The faith that they have put in me, it just would not be fair to let them down like that.

I'm looking forward to Wimbers, it'll be fun. It's not long now, I'm in a tapering madness, I say.

Train hard, taper softly.

Ed     

Tour of Wessex 2009

l'm half way through, well two thirds of the way through the Tour. The last two days haven't been easy and to be honest I was pretty ready to throw the towel in this evening after I finished, I was hanging. Still I had a great day with Paul and Dave and it was great to catch up with other friends yesterday and today, who were also riding. 

The weather has been super and forecast is for tomorrow. Yesterday we went to Cheddar and all over, then today we went down to the coast - Lulworth. I also had the pleasure meeting the Tour organizer Nick Bourne, he seems a nice guy and I really happy for him to have some weather,as the years gone by have been pretty pants. I was introduced to him by my mate Paul, who I was riding with all day. Paul's a real warrior when on the bike and he always pushes me to ride hard if it's by the way he rides or the things he says, positive and negative. 

Tomorrow we are riding out to Exmoor and doing some of the Ironman UK 70.3 coarse , it's a long to finish with on the last day, but it should be a good day again.

Ride safe, as always.

Ed

Handing out the prizes!!!

Well today was a funny one. It was half term for the school I work in, but more than that I was asked by my best mate to give out the prizes at his school sports day - Salisbury Cathedal School. It was great, it always amazes me how much effort the children put into performing during such events. If I remember back to when I was a kid I loved those days, the competition, the racing everything about it was tops. I love the ones who really aren't going to win anything yet they still turn up and try their hardest, it's really inspiring, I love it. 

However the best news was that during the day I was approached about a possible sponsorship with a large international company and also some of my Blue Seventy stuff arrived, Tees, Hoodies and loads of goggles, I mean loads of them - ah, it was like Christmas, thank you!

So I'm now on half term holiday and I've got the Tour of Wessex starting tomorrow morning. I'm really looking forward to it. 320 miles and it's great training ready for Ironman UK 70.3 and the European Long Distance Championships in Prague this summer. I'm going to ride there and get in either a run or a swim each evening afterwards. What's also cool about the weekend is that during the course of it, I'm going to get some riding in with friends who are doing the odd day throughout. I'll take some photos and post them over the weekend.

Train safe.

Ed    

Back to the boring stuff

Well, it's the Wednesday after the Sunday and life goes on as normal. A couple of the guys from work asked and were made up for me and I've had a couple of people contact me via facebook etc. I've got straight back into training with a couple of big run, bike and swim sessions, but I've managed to tear the material on my Newtons, so I think I'll give them a bell tomorrow as I've only had them a month or so, well running on them for a month.

On Friday I'm off to be a guest of honour at Salisbury Catherdal School Sports Day! Well my best mate, Gil is the Director of Sport there and they needed someone to 'do' their thing so he asked me! Ha Ha, I'm not overly sure about it to be honest, but if it gives my sponsors a little coverage then that's great.

Talking of sponsors, I've had Blue Seventy on the phone/email a couple times sorting out some stuff for me which will be cool (some cool new goggles and a transition bag, wetsuit/speedsuit to follow when it arrives in this country) and I've got the Tour of Wessex this weekend - 320miles on the bike over three days, nice I'm looking forward to it, even if my arse isn't. I write a little more about it before and maybe put a map up etc, but I'll defo post some photos next week.

Train safe

Ed

A win's a win!

Taunton Deane Sprint Tri - 400m Swim, 22km Bike & a 5km Run

Well, what can I say, the conditions today were pretty poor to tell the truth, windy and very, very rainy. Still Sarah, Jack and I got to Wellington for the Taunton Deane Sprint Triathlon a little late due to my poor directions on the way there - sorry! After getting my race number sorted etc I then popped my bike into transition and made my way to the pool after after a wet warm up in the gym, while watching all the big guns get themselves sorted in the leisure centre gym (why didn't I get to go in there?). The swim was pretty chilled to be honest, the water was really salty and I took it steady coming out of the pool around 5 minuntes 50. I know I can go faster, but I just wanted it in the bag at this stage. 

Out onto the bike after a quickish T1 (i could be so much faster in all transitions, but I do seem to relax - why?). It was wet and windy. I didn't really like the corners and had to slow on many of them due to it being quite a techy course, however I finished around 35 minutes(ish) and then went straight out onto the run. 

The run was great and while I felt like I pushed it, I still felt that I held something back just in case, my overall time was around 18 minutes, so there's defo something more to give.

I ended up with a finishing time of 1hour 1minute and 53seconds, bagging the win by around 2 minutes I believe!!!!

Unbelievable, but I am now the Taunton Deane Sprint Triathlon Champion 2009, bonkers  - it sits quite nicely thank you on my shoulders. Enough celebrating and back to training now, however I might just spend my winnings on a Blue Seventy Zero +3 Speed Speed Suit - nice.

Be Safe and well done to all took part today esp the guys from Wessex Wizards, you rock!

Ed   

Taunton Sprint Triathlon 2009

Tomorrow is my second triathlon race of 2009. I raced earlier in the year in the Mad March Sprint Tri (250m swim, 10mile bike and a 3mile run) which I won. I have also taken part in a half marathon (1hour 22minutes) and a 10km (37minutes), so I'm looking forward to getting out and going as hard as I can.

The weather forecast is pretty poor to be honest - 70% chance of rain and winds of up to 25mph, so it might work into may hands, but the proof will be in the pudding come tomorrow afternoon around 1.40pmish. My start time is 12.40pm which is one of the quicker starts. In my wave are Alan Ward from North Devon Tri (he's pretty handy) and the 'world famous' Joe Beer of www.jbst.co.uk (he's won a couple of years ago), along with other strong racers from the South West. 

I'm hoping for a top 5 finish after finish 8th last year, hopefully there'll just be improvement to show I'm moving in the right direction. There's also there's loads of guys from my club racing, so it should be a great laugh - go Wizards!

The bike's packed and as is all my race gear with my sponsors kit etc, so it's game on tampon! It's a great race, super atmosphere and very slick, fingers crossed I can a good race.  

Every great journey starts with one step.........

Kona - my dream.

Welcome to my blog. I'm going document my journey to qualify for Kona, the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. It may take me a year, it may take me a life time, but it's something I truly believe that I can achieve, so jump on and enjoy the ride.

Happy training, 

Ed