Polarised training, World championship build up and Bulmers bash!

This past 5 weeks I have been working hard to maximize the polarized training model, this model tries to maximize the hard/fast sessions and minimize the effort at that middle training zone. When you go fast you go FAST and when you go slow you…..well you understand. The training model suggests that working at the middle ground will not increase benefits at a fast race, but if you go hard when it counts this will increase speed and endurance levels. When I have been recovering I have been going very slow, ticking along and trying to minimize the stress levels on my body. Then when I have been training with a group, or having to push during training I have been pushing hard and fast, and working at 80+ percent of my HR. The first two weeks I felt like my legs could fall off and I was shattered but once the third and the fourth week sessions started to sink in and I felt much stronger, now into the fifth and final week I can feel the benefit and am having to slightly rain it in because I have to think about the bigger picture, the world championship race. I did however hit a stumbling block, during the second week on was diagnosed with another chest issue, this time is was only a chest infection but this meant another bout of anti biotics. I trained through and am now out of the other side and feeling strong again! This week I have been making sure I train hard and recover from sessions well, making sure I eat correctly and prepare the best I can. I have been continuing with the polarized training model and now I am more rested it has paid dividend, I am running and cycling faster and been putting some good times in training. Fingers crossed I can have a solid race at the worlds.

World Championships:

I have had a nightmare sorting accommodation for the world championship race, but all has been arranged, tickets, stay, travel, entry, and transfers are all sorted…to a degree. I am looking forward to the challenge of the race and can’t wait to get to Spain and soak in the atmosphere of the race environment. I will be arriving in Spain the Wednesday before the race so I can get used to the surroundings and become familiar with the course and the race venue. I will be able to enjoy meeting up with the other GB athletes and have plenty of time for final prep.

Kit has arrived from my wonderful sponsors at PWR+ 

Bulmers Bash: 18.5.14

This race was only into its 3^rd year, it was a local race and the venue was in the actual fields that the bulmers apples are grown. It was a 6.5 HILLY course with a record of 42.29, which I was unaware of before starting the race. The day hot and beautiful, although more of a day for drinking the cider and not running in the fields its made. I started the race a little steady because it actually began just before a hill and this was the common theme of the day, hill after hill. I was in second place for most of the race and was struggling to stay with 1^st, it was hot and the hills were taxing. From nowhere a female runner (skinny and lean as anything) can past me on a hill and eased herself past the 1^st place running son after. I worked hard to stay with them as we approached the last 2k and the last couple of hills, and at this point I was actually gaining a little on second place. We started the last two climbs and I was really gaining on first, and actually overtook him on the last hill and kicked with everything I had to make sure he didn’t come with me, it killed me but it was the best thing to do. I maintained the second position to the finish and was about 40 seconds from the female in first place. I was happy with 1^st male back because I felt legy before the race without any kind of taper at all and it being a tough day at the office!