Protecting My Recovery

I hadn't realised how much this season of racing had taken out of me. I get it, this is like the fourth post about this season, but I was looking forward to a couple of weeks off to relax a little and recoup, and nearly two weeks in

Supporting Strangers

It's crazy to me that people I know will support total strangers and not their own family and friends. They watch hours of videos made by millionaires, they like, share and subscribe to total and complete strangers, and some will even give them money in support when they

Stupid Things On My Birthday

I ran a half marathon on my birthday for the second year in a row and nobody in my family was surprised. They are used to it by now, and me doing something stupid to mark the day has become a bit of a running joke in our extended family.

Buying Speed

You can buy a faster bike. Deep section wheels, a tri bar, a helmet shaped like an egg, and you will go quicker on the same legs. You can buy carbon plated shoes and take minutes off a run. Even fitness is something you can buy, in a sense. Put

Base Is Boring

Next week my two weeks 'off' come to an end and base training starts. Three months of zone 2 running, long slow Sundays building up to three hours, and a whole winter sat on the Zwift Ride, all to get me ready for the six 70.3s I

The Bloke Who Is Tired

I am one week into two weeks off and I am bored out of my mind. I wrote in Never Satisfied that I don't know how to be a person who isn't in training, that I am just a bloke who is tired and I don&

Old Man Personal Best

I called my Robin Hood time an OPB and didn't really explain it. It stands for Old Man Personal Best. When I turned 40 I deleted every personal best I had, wiped everything off Strava, and started counting again from zero. I've not regretted it once.

Ready Is A Decision

Harsh Patel, writing on Medium about waiting to feel ready: Readiness is not a feeling at all. It is a decision. The rest of the post is the usual self-help stuff, put a hand on your chest, feel your heartbeat, you are allowed to begin scared. I very nearly

Never Satisfied

I wrote last week that my post-race blues after the 70.3 came from not being pushed to my limit. I have been thinking about it since and I don't think that's true. I am never satisfied. I have never celebrated a single thing I