Another year gone.

950. That's a pretty big number, one that means something to me. The number of hours of training i have logged on Training Peaks this year. When i think about it is hard to comprehend, where did i find the time, the energy and the motivation for all of that? And thats when i started reflecting on this year.

I'm going to keep this short but 2015 has been an incredible year for me. It started with living in Spain and training full time, an opportunity that was incredible and really helped me understand myself, my sport and my training much better. Off the back of training full time my race season began very early and ended very late.

15 races or so this year and in May i raced every weekend, (one weekend the Saturday and Sunday!) Im very proud of all of my results this year, i won't list them all they can be found on this blog but i really felt i reached my fitness potential and every race went pretty well. The Europeans were an incredible opportunity for me in Switzerland as were the Worlds in Chicago. But i have left them both hungry for more, hungry for a podium and to finish higher up the field.

I also tested my legs at longer distance both in Spain and in Scotland and as i think about 2016 more this seems to be where my goals may take me. It's not decided yet, i am still trying to find what will motivate me but i don't want to rush this.

I think because this year was so long and hard and had some incredible lows and highs it's still taking time to decide where i want to focus and go in 2016. I have a rough idea, but i'm keeping that close to my heart at the moment. All i know is that it's going to take a lot of training, a lot of hard work and trying out some new training styles.

There won't be any living abroad this winter as i have landed an incredible job at Triathlon Scotland as an apprentice performance coach. This for me has been massive, a 3 year position in a sport i love and working alongside the best triathletes in Scotland and the UK is a very inspiring day job. It has also meant my new training ground is Stirling and i'm training with some top athletes. Stirling has produced some incredible athletes over the years so it's not Edinburgh but i'm enjoying the training ground around there!

I said i was keeping it short and ill stick to my promise. 2015 has been a year of learning, of racing, of new cities, experiences and challenges. It's not all been good but i'm happy with the year, im excited to move forward and see what 2016 will bring.

Thank you everyone who has supported me this year, my family, my coach Graeme, my training partners and everyone else who has been following my progress.

The road to 2016 started a few months ago but tomorrow it really begins.

2015 World Championships Chicago - part 2

After the Sprint race i had a day to recover, get the feet up and start focusing on the next race the Olympic distance, for me my preferred distance and a race where i knew the field would be bigger if not stronger. I actually felt surprisingly good after the sprint, i feel i almost needed the hard hit out to get the travel and fatigue out my system!

Olympic race. Time: 2:00:1
9th (1st Brit + European)

If i wasn't nervous for the Sprint i certainly was for the Olympic i'm not sure if it was because i now felt i could be up there because of my result in the sprint or what it was! The swim course was slightly different, we were to go down the lake before doing a turnaround and swimming all the way back up, a strange swim map and it lead to a really tight starting pen.

The start of my swim was a disaster, i was completely caught up at the back, being battered, pulled along and someone even made a grab for my timing chip. I just didn't have time before the horn to get in a good position and i really suffered. The first 500m were just not going to plan, i couldn't swim at a hard pace and i was stuck between so many awful swimmers. Fortunately after a bit of a dig i managed to find clean water and start to pick up my pace and gain control of my race. The swim as it was in the Sprint was long and it felt that way, coming out the water i was quite dizzy from the waves and the battering but knew i had a lot of work to do.

The bike course was different again, still two laps but this course took us underground in tunnels around Chicago with some really technical corners and bends and some seriously fast sections. As there was no wind underground and it was warm air it was seriously fast on the bike. I had my good friend and fellow Brit Dan near me on the bike and we both pushed off this, hammering it hard and gaining a lot of places on the field. Again i was feeling very strong on the bike, my numbers were high but i knew i could keep it controlled and still run well. After the first lap i just decided to open up, hammer down the power and just go for it. I figured if i ran out of energy or couldn't handle it then so be it, but it was world champs and time to go.

Off the bike i thought i was up there again, maybe top 20 but i couldn't tell. I started the run in my usual style of going out hard. At the beginning of the run i was with a super tall American and a Canadian, both who were strong runners but who i soon dropped as they were putting me off my rhythm. I was then running with a really strong runner (Jordan a Brit) and a speedy Mexican and we began to really push the pace and chase the field. Coming into the dead turns i would sprint in and out of them to gain some time and not loose momentum. The second time i did this i was able to drop Jordan and it was just me and the Mexican. I soon came past my friend and who was first Brit Angus and then i just had to hold on for dear life. I had a lap to go and part of me felt good and the other part was exhausted. But it was now all or nothing, the last stretch and i let everything out on the course.

To finish 9th was massive for me, i really felt i had a solid race after the swim and did everything i could to lay it all out there. I was also the first Brit and that was also fantastic. I turned up to Chicago in the form of my life and was so happy to have two solid results after a long hard year. I worked very hard to get in that shape and even with my mid season blip im proud i managed to come back and get that result.

Thank you for your support and especially to my coach Graeme and parents.

2015 World Championships Chicago

Well i think after being home a week the jet lag is finally fading and i can muster up the energy to write my race report from the 2015 World Championships in Chicago!

As most people reading this probably know i decided to race both the Sprint and Olympic race as i knew i had the fitness to recover between and hit both very hard. So here is how i felt they went!

Sprint -
Time : 1:01
7th
So after arriving to Chicago on the Monday i had a few days to get over the travel and spin out the legs (after fixing my bike!) and on the Thursday the Sprint was the first race. The swim was a straight line up Lake Michigan and i knew i had to position myself well to avoid the chaos so I moved wide in the holding pen and found a good line. It was strange before the Sprint i wasn't feeling nervous like i usually would i just felt like it was another race and i was ready to go. I had a decent swim, it was nothing special but i was in a good position and feeling relatively fresh onto the bike.

The bike course was pan flat and two loops. At times the course narrowed and was a little technical but i really enjoyed it as you could constantly lay down the power and the speeds were seriously high. I set out to just ride as hard as possible, to keep the power high and work up the field. I knew i was having a really good race and was flying past people, on the second lap it became quite crowded and you had to be aware to avoid some riders and people sitting on your wheel (Brits included..) but i was off the bike in a fast time and ready to hit the run.

Transitions were really big but i used this to my advantage, as a strong runner i would run really hard through transition and i think this helped gain some advantage time. Coming out onto the run i was with one other runner but he set off at a pace i couldn't really hold after going so hard on the bike. So i set off alone and just wanted to really work hard up the field. Once again the run was an out and back and despite the 30 degree temperatures i was feeling really strong. I wasn't sure of my position at all but just kept fighting for more time and pushing hard, as i came into the finishing 800m an American decided to have a sprint finish with me, i knew he was in my age group so really pushed with everything i had to cross the line before him. It made some great photos!

To cross the line 7th felt incredible, the previous years Worlds i was 17th so to be up 10 spots was a good feeling. I was also second brit my 1 second, so that made me very hungry to be top Brit in the Olympic race!

British Championships.

After returning home from Switzerland i had a massive come down and suddenly became very unwell. For the first week back at home i was struggling to leave bed, keep my eyes open and was constantly in a dangerous state of dehydration. There was no motivation to train or do anything other than a very easy jog. When i tried to train i would feel sick and completely wiped out. I was a bit silly in the heat after the race with a long ride and believe i flushed my system of essential minerals and this led to me feeling this bad.

This sickness continued for two weeks and training was minimal and i was feeling nothing like i was pre Geneva and was worried i was almost completely burnt out. However with British championships coming up decisions were being made. To race, to rest or to take some time out. As you may know i am a little stubborn so i decided to try and train and that i would try and race. I ignored a lot of advice from people a lot smarter than me but i suppose it was always my decision.

So a couple of weekends ago i turned up at Liverpool, not feeling 100% at all and to race the British Championships for the second year.

Finish time - 2:02
1500m swim - 22:11
40km bike - 1:01
10km run  - 33:23
Position - 4th in AG 20th overall

The swim start was fast and pretty hectic from the beginning and i was struggling from the start. I felt very tired as soon as i started swinging my arms and just didn't feel very fit in the water, Im not sure if this was the sickness or the lack of training but the swim just felt a struggle. I came out the water later than i would have hoped and just prayed i had something for the bike and run.

Out onto the flat fast 4 lap bike course i was immediately flying, the legs just felt fantastic and like they were rested and ready to go. I was pretty surprised but just put the head down and enjoyed the feeling! I had a guy near me on the whole bike who i knew was a strong cyclist so my goal was to always keep ahead of him and just keep the power high. Occasionally he would get ahead but i pulled him back and just kept on the front hammering the power. I knew i was having a very strong bike and was going beyond my limit but after the weeks i had i wanted to give the race everything and really see what i could do. Once again there were a few instances of people sitting right on my wheel and drafting. Its becoming a bit of an issue now and if im burying myself to sit at 300watts and they are tucked in it is a joke.

Onto the run and i was feeling tired but good, if the bike had been much longer i would have blown up but i was ready to go on the run. I knew the course from last year and just set out the run as hard as possible, my parents and sister were being incredible with the support and i felt really strong on the run. I caught a few more guys and really pushed to finish as high as i could. With it being a 2 lap run i tried to negative split the second lap and leave everything out there.

I crossed the line 4th in age group and quite honestly couldn't believe it! After having such a horrific couple of weeks and not feeling up for the race this was a massive result, 10 spaces higher than last year. It is a shame though as i really think if I was at my fittest i would have made that podium, maybe a better swim would have put me there. But i can't dwell on that for me it was a massive result and the lift i needed after a post Geneva comedown!

So since the British Champs i have been preparing for this weekend which is the Scottish middle Distance champs in Aberfeldy. It's going to be a real test for me to see how i perform over the longer distance as this could be something i may focus more on next year. Training has been up and down but this week seems to be getting better. Im really motivated for this race and have nothing to loose so come Sunday i'll be a man on a mission.

Thanks for reading and all the support as ever.

European Championships write up!

European Championships July 12th Geneva.

Finish time: 2:02:48

1500m swim - 22:50

40km bike - 1:00

10km run - 36:01

So it's about time i should really give a race report of my latest events! Back in July i flew over to Switzerland to compete in my first European Championships. I arrived a few days before the race for enough time to get used to the heat, get some training in in the mountains and enjoy the atmosphere.

Race day came around soon enough and i was feeling ready to go out there and get the work done. I had scoped out the course a couple of times and knew the bike course would suit me with two pretty steep hills and the rest very flat and fast.

On raceday i was up at 5am to head to transition and set up, it was a strange feeling of nerves, excitement and sheer exhaustion. As the sun came up i got everything ready and did my usual 10 minute jog warm up before heading to the race start. At this point the nerves were really hitting hard, fortunately i had my parents there to keep me calm and bring a smile to things.

And then we were off. A slight run in from the beach into the lake and the race had begun. I don't have much to say about the swim, it was fine there was no fighting as the lake was so wide and i just got my head down and swam as hard as i could. The swim was an A-B which felt quite long and also against current so it did feel a little longer than usual but sighting with the sun rising on Mont Blanc and with the water a perfect temperature it was a fine swim.

Once i was out the water it was into the massive transition to find my bike and get to work. After some chats with my coach and training partner Fin the plan on the bike was to just go all out, give it everything on the flat and the climb and just constantly keep the power on. The Bike was two 20km loops with a short steep climb and the rest a flat fast effort around lake Geneva. As soon as i was into the bike i was feeling good, the speed was high and i was hitting good numbers,  i just focused on pushing hard and catching more guys. As the course was laps i was never sure of where i was position wise but i knew i was on for a good ride and the incredible crowd was pushing me hard. There was a fair amount of drafting going on the course especially by a small group of British guys. I'm not going to dwell on it but if you can't ride a hard 40km by yourself then why turn up to the big races? I made sure the whole course i was off to the side and wasn't near anyone.

Off the bike in an hour i knew i was on for a good race, the legs were there the heat was rising and i felt ready to run. The run course wasn't great if im honest. It was a load of small laps that were bendy with small hills and tight corners. A nice course but not great for holding speed at all! However i pushed on and tried to use my run as much as possible catching guys and holding anyone off. I must say the crowd was amazing, the shouts and screams of my name as i ran through was seriously inspiring and made me push even harder.

After a hard push to the final 1km with guys still in my sights i crossed the line 11th! A massive result for me and just as high as i had hoped for. It was a shame to be so close to the top 10 but it was a very competitive, close race and to be up there felt incredible. Another year fitter and stronger and i think i would be higher up again.

I left Geneva in a very happy place. I had a result i was very happy with and had worked hard for and i couldn't have done anything better in the race. Everything went well and that doesn't happen much so to have that was a true reflection of my performance.

Thank you to the Simmond Family for the kind hospitality in Geneva and to my parents for the incredible support!

Eyes on the Prize. Geneva time.

So on Tuesday i'll be flying out to Switzerland for the European championships, this has come around pretty fast and i thought it was time for an update of how i've got to this part of my season!

After Nottingham and Montrose i have Deva triathlon up next. This was a chance to qualify for Lisbon Europeans next year and was also the English champs so a race i knew where all the big boys would show up! The race started at 7 am and despite it being a really warm week the weather on race day was a bit cold for my liking. I found the swim tough, i was cold i hand't warmed up properly and i just didn't get going for a while. After the turnaround things started to feel better and i picked up the pace but i wouldn't say it was the best start! The bike course suited me, a couple of hills and some long flat sections, my legs didnt feel great on the bike, i was struggling with the cold and i just couldn't seem to get going. It was really frustrating not to get settled but i just pushed as hard as i could and kept my head focused. Onto the run course and i suddenly felt incredible, i felt light, fast and strong. I just ran as hard as i could and continually tried to build the pace. A slight mishap after lap two of three when i went down the finishing chute and then had to jump a barrier! I didn't quite know how many laps it was and so the final lap was an all out sprint and again i gained a lot more time and places. Coming into the finish line i was overtaking a guy and heard "Why always Andrew fucking Woodroffe" that made me smile anyway! A good result 6th for me and with a 34 minute 10km i was very happy! At first i was disappointed when i looked at the results but to only be under 2 minutes off the AG winner i think it is a great result.

After Deva it was time for the Scottish Sprint championships at Knockburn Loch. A chance to race on some home territory and to compete against Scotland's fastest guys! I was feeling pretty good for this race, my build up had gone well and i was in good form after the last few races. Having my parents drive me up meant i could fit in a really good warm up run and band work and so felt a lot better than at Deva. In the Loch i was sitting right behind the Roberts brothers and decided to just try and sit on their feet for as long as possible in the swim. Once it got going i just went full gas, i would say i stuck with them for about half the swim then felt like i was going to blow up! So i settled into my own rhythm and came out the water in the top 15. Once onto the bike again the plan was go as hard as possible, i had a really solid bike and kept up with a couple of guys i know are very strong so i was pleased with that. Onto the run i just used my strength and once again pushed as hard as possible gaining more positions and time. I crossed the line 6th senior and was really pleased. I wasn't far off some of these top boys who are in the triathlon Scotland squads so it's nice to mix it with the big guns!

Since Knockburn it's been some hard, focused training for me. Tomorrow i will fly out to Geneva and begin to prepare for the European Championships this Sunday. A race i have been thinking about and training for since i qualified last year. Training has gone well, it's been great to put in some longer miles and really push my swim and run. 6km swim sets are not my favorite! This week i was sick for a few days and lost quite a lot of motivation but i seem to be over that blip and back on track!

I'm really happy with this season, i am racing strong and i feel my results are reflecting my current form. It's all eyes on Geneva now, I'm really excited to get out and do my biggest race of the year so far. I have high hopes for the race and i'm going to be giving it everything i have. I have worked really hard to get where i am and now and I am continually improving,  it's time to see what i can do.

Special thanks to my Parents, my coach Graeme, Gamma Bike transportation, and everyone for your continued support. I'll report from Geneva! Let's do this!!

Mid Season catch up!

So it's been a while since i have updated things on my blog! Mostly because racing and training have been non stop and i have also been moving my life back to the Sunny shores of Scotland!

I left Mallorca after racing Mallorca Olympic triathlon, a draft legal fast and furious race. On the start line was some big names including Will Clarke so i knew it was going to be a very hard race! I had a really good swim and onto the bike i caught a large group to ride with, myself and another guy more or less controlled the bunch and just tried to make everyone work, unfortunately they were pretty lazy and just didn't want to work hard! I spent myself on the bike trying to ride as hard as possible and constantly trying to break away! Fortunately onto the run my legs were there i dropped the group and set off for a fast 10km! I was extremely surprised to cross the line 9th with such a strong field including a lot of fast German elites! First draft race, first Olympic of the season and a sub 2 hour success!

I more or less then left Mallorca to move back to Edinburgh for the UK race season and to pick up some money in the bike shop for Summer. My first race in the UK would be the Little beaver triathlon, a chance to qualify for the Worlds in Chicago and a time to see where i was at compared to the UK scene. I didn't really enjoy this race, the swim was stupidly and unnecessarily agressive with guys kicking punching ripping googles off etc. I don't understand why some guys delibratelly try and swim like this and it pisses me of. My goggles were ripped of twice and i got dunked under quite a lot. Somehow i survived the swim and just set out to hammer the bike. After one of my shoes coming off i had a really strong bike and the hills suited me. The run was 2 5km laps with a beast of a hill, again i set out to really push it and dually did so. I had given the race everything and was extremely happy to finish 3rd in age group meaning i had qualified for the worlds!! A massive thanks has to be said to my friend Will  who drove 3 hours to surprise me and watch the race. What a guy!

Onto the next was my first race in Scotland and actually the Scottish Olympic distance champs racing on the commonwealth games course! I was really excited or this race, a chance to compare myself to some of the top guys in Scotland and on a 7 lap hilly bike course, a dream for me!! The swim was good and no troubles there apart from it being stupidly cold! Onto the bike i knew i was in a good position so just tried to hit every lap very hard, its the kind of course you don't settle into you just give it what you can and see what happens! Onto the run i had a couple of guys i knew ahead of me so set out to catch them and try and drop some others. Onto the second lap of 5km i really pushed hard i had someone on my shoulder for a couple of km but wanted rid of him. I pushed again and was across the line 6th! A result i was over the moon at! A really good race for me and a strong performance.

A weekend later and it was another long drive to England for Nottingham sprint triathlon, a chance to qualify for the Sprint world champs along with the Europeans in Lisbon next year! This was a race i had done last year and knew it was fast, hectic and a risky course! It must be the English triathletes because the swim was again nuts, only a couple of seconds in and my face was kicked and lip burst, pretty painful at the time. A sprint is so fast and hectic that every second counts so i tried to limit my losses and pushed on and actually had a reasonable swim in the end. The bike course doesn't really suit me too much, 4 laps of a pan flat course but its a good course to just hammer and see what happens. It gets very crowded around the lake so you have to be very switched on and shout at people every so often! I had a reasonable bike, quite strong but i feel it could have been stronger had i not been so tired! The run was fantastic i felt really strong and my running has been great recently, i caught a few more guys on the run and was still catching guys right up to the finish line. I crossed the line sub an hour and 4th in age group. It was a great result and i made the qualification but i was disappointed not to podium! If the run was maybe a few more hundred meters i may have made the podium but thats a sprint! Fast, furious and every second counts!

After racing Nottigham on the Saturday i made a risky decision to race Montrose sprint triathlon on the Sunday. This was a local race just down the road from home and the organizers are keen to promote triathlon in Angus so i thought it would be good to race! When i woke up my legs did feel okay and all that was really putting me off was the pissing rain and howling wind! The triathlon was another sprint and a pool swim! Joy at least that meant no kicking or punching! I basically knew if i swam biked and ran as fast as i possibly could i had a strong chance of a win. And essentially thats what i did, i was in the fastest swim wave and a few of us did come out the water around the same time, but onto the bike i just hammered it trying to sit at some crazy watts! I couldn't see anyone behind me so i knew i was on for a good race, after quite a tough but great bike i just ran as hard as the legs still had and crossed the line first winning by 4 minutes! I was stoked, my first win!! My Mother was also there and that really meant a lot to me.

So apologies for such a long report but that's how things are looking at the moment! 7 races into the season and things are going really well. My form feels great and iv'e got some results i am really proud of as well as some big qualifications! This weekend i have a weekend off before heading back down to England next weekend! I'm building towards the Europeans in July and just hope to keep this form going. Thanks to my parents for their continued support, to Graeme for his coaching, to Angus Council for some funding and to everyone that is supporting and following my progress!

Ferrer Hotels 3/4 Triathlon

26th April- Ferrer Hotels 3/4 half race.

1.7km swim- 27:40
65km bike- 1:48
15km off road run- 1:00
Total - 3:18

5th overall 2nd U23

After Portocolom i was in Barcelona for a week training with coach Graeme and the G squad crew. I really needed and enjoyed this week. Although i am training full time it makes a massive difference to have so many like minded guys around you pushing you and to have my coach there all week makes a massive difference. I always find this group very focused, motivating and a lot of good banter so to have that for a week really helped me push myself and remind me that it's okay to relax and enjoy life a little more than just training!!

After Barcelona my good friend Imogen came to Mallorca for a few days and we had a really great time training and preparing for my race (and she will race 70.3 next weekend)! So it was really incredible to have people to train with for the two weeks leading up to my next race!

I decided to head to the North of the island the day before the race to stay in the Ferrer Hotel and just completely chill out before the race. It was a great thing to be able to get ready for the race in my Hotel room and transition was at the exit of the Hotel so this kept me relaxed.

The race was another small test for future half ironman exploits, a longer swim bike and run and we would see what would happen. Graeme had told me to go hard on the bike and see what happened on the run, so with this race tactic in mind i dived into the sea and set off with a strong swim.

The swim was a little messy if im honest, the organizers hadn't 100% made clear how we would swim around the course and when you are in the front pack this makes things interesting. But as long as we all swam the same course i was happy. I felt really great in the swim, I had had a solid open water session a couple of days before with Imo so this had filled me with confidence. I just stayed with the lead guys and sat in. Coming out of the water into transition i knew i was in the top spots and this felt new!

I won't lie, the start of the bike felt like crap. I can't quite explain but i just couldn't get the power i wanted or settle in. I felt quite jumpy on my bike and i was struggling to find rhythm, it could have been to do with the wind, the rolling hills or the amount of sea water i swallowed but it just didn't feel normal. I tried not to focus on this and pushed on and after around 30km i found a rhythm. The bike was rolling hills with 3 laps so at time you could really push with the tailwind and steady climbs. I knew i was in a strong position despite not feeling great and the laps mean you can figure out where you are in the field! I was very happy to come out of the water before Fabian Rahn a strong German Pro athlete but he came past me on the bike pushing some solid watts so i let him go!

Onto the run and i wanted to make up for not the greatest bike. Running is my strength and with 15km of it i knew i could do some damage. The run was 3km on road then the rest off road, hills, sand, climbing fences, descents it had it all! It was a little crazy but i just tried to run as hard as i could on whatever the surface. I caught a couple of guys near the start of the run and then the rest was mostly solo (at times thinking i was lost) but with around 2km to go i could see another two guys ahead of me. I decided to use them as some energy and pushed on to catch them. With about 1km to go i caught them pushed forward and headed for the finish line.

5th over the line and 2nd U23! Another really great result for me, the bike really wasn't easy and im still trying to figure out what happened but im really pleased with my run and i now know its in a great place coming into slightly shorter events! Podium places in my first two races of the season has really filled me with confidence and i know my training has been working!

The madness continues with the Mallorca draft legal Olympic tri this weekend, so for now its time to recover, train again and enjoy the weather!

Thank you for reading and the support!

Triathlon Portocolom

Portocolom Triathlon - 19th April

1km swim - 15:13
100km bike - 3:29
10km run - 38:23

Total time - 4:08
16th Overall, 2nd Under23

So my triathlon season well and truly kicked off two weeks ago with Portocolom triathlon 111 event, an incredible race attracting 800 athletes from all over the world and even around 10 pro athletes on the start line. After a long hard winter of training i was really excited to race again even with the thought of the brutal bike course!

The swim start can only be described as Spanish. We were to jump off a pier, swim to a buoy wait and then the whistle would go, but as soon as people had jumped in they just began swimming! So i had to loose my British mindset and just get stuck in. So not the ideal swim start but soon i was out of the mess and leading the chase pack behind the pro guys. The swim felt really comfortable, i have been spending a lot of time open water swimming and this is helping me massively. I now feel when i swim in races im swimming more naturally and not just doing anything to get through the water. It was a strange feeling being so far up in the swim but i enjoyed the clear water and hearing the large crowds from way out!

Into transition i felt in a great position and again i couldn't believe the size of the crowd as i ran to my bike. This gave me a massive boost and i was soon onto the bike. Before the race i knew the bike course would be tough, the main factor was climbing San Salvador twice, a 5km apline style climb with switchbacks and all. But as well as that most of the course was rolling hills with some technical areas and really nowhere where anyone could hide. This was the furthest i had raced on the bike and a lot of things were new to me, the nutrition, pacing, hydration and trying not to just chase any guy who came near me! The bike was two laps and after the first ascent of San Salvador i was feeling good, my descending wasn't great and i lost a fair bit of time there but overall things were going well. I kept a good eye on my power with an idea of numbers in my head and i tried to stick close to them. Riding around the second loop i was still feeling good, i really tried to put in some solid numbers on the second lap and i was riding well. After the second climb i was starting to feel a bit of fatigue but just knew to hold on to the finish.

Coming into transition I felt in control and ready to run, i knew i could hit a strong 10km off a long bike and set out to do so. On the run i felt great, i tried to push whatever pace i had and i managed to chase down a good few guys who dropped me on the descent. I was surprised with how good i felt running but i think being boxed in by the crowd also kept me going! A sprint to the finish in the last 1km and i was over the line!

A bloody tough long day out but an incredible result for me. I had been up there mixing it with some seriously strong athletes and i was very happy with how my legs felt on the run!

Unfortunately with a flight to Barcelona to catch i couldn't stick around to collect my trophy but as far as a start to the season goes i was very pleased and felt my form was solid!

Winter is Over.

Well it’s April already! This can really only mean one thing in a triathletes calendar, its race time! No longer is it winter training but now it’s race season, it’s time to step up the sessions find that last bit of speed from the winter and get ready to race.

For me I’ll be kicking off my season this Sunday with Triathlon Portocolum. It’s a 1km swim, 100km bike and a 10km run. The plan for me was always to start the season early, I’ve been training solid since last October and being in Mallorca means I can race a bit earlier than the UK scene.

This race is no doubt going to be a challenge to begin the year. The bike course ascends San Salvador twice, a brutal 5km climb with a very technical descent also! As well as this the remaining kms are pretty hard going and it’s the longest I will have raced on a bike. There will be no hiding on this course! Although there was an option to just do a 50km I I wanted to test myself, I believe I can climb well and my power on the bike has massively improved so hopefully I can show that on the course. It is also a good tester for looking at half ironman racing in the future.

Over the past couple of months I have had some really tough bike swim and run weeks where the intensity/volume of one of the disciplines increases. I have really enjoyed this, for me I feel strong and that I can push more power and speed on the bike and the run and my swim fitness seems to be in a great place.

I have worked really hard this winter and im very proud of what I have achieved day in and day out. I have trained as much as my mind body and coach have allowed me and I feel in a great place. I am of course nervous, the first race of the season is always a little daunting but I think that will fade soon after the swim start!

After the race on Sunday things will get a little hectic. I fly to Barcelona in the evening to join my coach and the G Squad group for a training camp in Callela. I’m really excited for this, although I train full time it’s going to be incredible to have a solid group of guys to push off and the have Graeme there every day. The fancy hotel, spa and buffet are also a nice treat!

After that im pretty much racing every weekend in May. I have a long course triathlon in Mallorca as well as the draft legal tri here at Best. Then it’s back to the UK to hit the age group scene and some national champ events but more on that later!

This week I will fine tune make sure everything is where it should be and get into the open water a fair bit. From the test sessions I have done I feel ready. Im hoping for a strong first race and that my legs will still be there on the run. I don’t think the distance is a challenge but staying mentally focused and keeping it controlled on the bike will be new to me.

Thanks for reading and the support across winter. A massive thank you to my parents and my coach Graeme. I couldn’t do any of this without your support. It’s been a long hard winter and im ready to see what I can do.

A few photos from around the island!

Tales from the island life.

Something i have realised over the last couple of months is that the full time athlete life is very lonely, it's demanding and it's tough but it can feel very alone. Now this isn't anything new to me, i'm used to training alone, long rides with just the bike or spending all your day out on two feet. But when you begin to train day in and day out 7 days a week it can start to hurt and draw you into darker places. You don't have a team to train with or to kick the ball around with its just you and the road, the pool or the trails. In this sense it can be very tough, the mind can draw you into places you would rather not be or you can completely loose focus on why you are doing this. Why you are putting yourself through a few hours on the bike alone into that wind.

For me two weeks ago i was getting to a strange place. The loneliness was becoming difficult and the focus was starting to fade. I would shout at the wind on the bike and have some serious words with myself during sessions.

But I have found that focus again, the hunger, the drive i suppose the reason i do this day in and day out and that is to race. To compete and test myself against other athletes all in pursuit of excellence.

The season is only around the corner but for some reason i had never set out my race calendar until now, i knew which races i might fancy but i never fully committed to a season and to races. But now i have, and now i feel a weight off my shoulders almost. A new motivation and drive to train.

My triathlon season will officially begin on April 11th in Mallorca with Triathlon Portcolum a 1km swim, 100km bike and 10km run an event im using as almost a fitness builder pre season but i believe with a shorter swim and long bike i may have a good shot at a result if i can hold my self together for the run. I will then race again in Mallorca with a half iron distance race before coming back to the UK for various races: Scottish Championships, British Championships, Age group World Championship qualifiers and i will have the European championships in July.

This season my focus will be on qualification and the World Champs in America but i am hoping for strong results at UK championship events and i hope to test myself in the half iron man distance to see how i fare with a longer bike and run.

Training is going a lot better, i feel focused,strong and i'm looking forward to testing myself with a couple of duathlons before the season really starts. It's going to be a big year for me, that was always the plan and the reason i came to Mallorca.

The hunger is back and im ready to race.