I’m afraid there was no magic again for me in Kitzbuhel this weekend, it’s not been the best season, just a handful of races to be really proud of…I’ll get my excuses out now!

To be honest I’ve just been digging myself into a deeper hole as each race goes on and now I am more or less at rock bottom.

I haven’t been 100% for a good 2 months now really, I hate to admit it but it’s not going to happen this year…not at this level. I appreciate all the messages of encouragement from my friends but the remaining races of the season are not salvageable!  It’s not in my head, and it’s also not in my body.

My team and myself took a punt this winter and we got my training wrong.  It was no where near enough volume and way too much intensity.  To be honest I was ready in December to race at a high level.  I ran a super quick 4 miler that I am pretty sure I couldn’t run right now.  So I’m burnt out! I have no magic in the races hence no results.  You need magic in World Class races.  

It is frustrating because I know I can get to the top level, my session quality has been fantastic but unfortunately I deviated too far from the right formula this time.

My thoughts at the moment…

-I’m going to get a blood test when I get back (just to rule stuff out)

-I know for next year not to do this again! 

-I know I can get fast in just a few months

-I know I am an athlete that needs to do a lot of training.

-Running 3 sessions a week is a good way to burn yourself out.

-Go with your instincts

-An athlete of my age almost knows best…I should draw on my experience.

-Can we please go away somewhere hot this winter coach!?

-I’m not the only one… we’re all taking risks and pushing the limits in different ways, sometimes we get it wrong!

I learnt quite a bit this year, certainly a lot I can take into next year.  So I’m excited and there will be a lot of change in the winter of 2011. One thing is for sure…I won’t be spending the winter at home.

As for the rest of the year…1 more World Championships Series to salvage, I will be working the next 3 weeks with Rick Velati (Karate, Karate Velati, Velatius, Rockard, Rocky, Boss) Doing lots of miles and lots of hill running! To see if doing what I haven’t been doing will help make a difference.  A desperate plea to be honest! I don’t expect much in Budapest but if I can finish top 15 it will probably give me a World ranking which doesn’t look too shabby considering my season. I also have 2 races in a weekend to round off the season in La Baule for a French GP and National Champs.  Keep your head down for 3 more weeks Will.  If nothing else for pride and to make my wedding and holidays feel more special.

I did have a BLOODY good swim though!!!

Managed about 28 hrs a week, not loads but considering the amount of intensity, it certainly took its toll and I’m pretty tired today:) Going to absorb some of that work on the sofa today!

I’m excited for my first Cross Country race for few years in just over a week, the South of England.  It’s mental!!! 15K cross country on a really hard course! When I arrived back home yesterday I had a box from Adidas waiting for me with some XC spikes in…check them out! They’re beautiful! I feel in great run shape so hope to get a top 10.

Here’s a few other pictures from Lanzarote

You can’t lose much fitness but you could gain a bit in 2 weeks so thats what I have been doing ahead of the London World Championships Series.  I did 2 easy rides and 2 really hard rides including a chaingang and 6×5mins on the road.  4 easy swims and 6 runs.  Yesterday was a tough day (was sick at the end:) did 2hrs on the road including 6×5mins hard.  2hrs later I did a session on my kilometer loop of 12×1k, trying to spend time at 20kph.  I went 4 sets of (3:05, 2:58 and 2:55) with no standing rest, just a 200m jog recovery.  I thought that was good running considering the session in the morning.

I’m really looking forward to London World Champs series coming home.  It’s going to be amazing racing in the Olympic venue and have all the best guys in the world racing over in London.  I would have thought with where the sport is at right now, it would be the most exciting Triathlon ever seen in the UK.  So head over and give the Brits a cheer!  Or catch it on BBC.  Where I hear it will be live for the whole 2hrs!

Stu and I went swimming yesterday…pool was closed so we drove to the nearest lake…We got in 30mins but after 2 mins someone was shouting at us to get out! Why can’t we just be free to use the lakes in England! Going to do this more often I think!

Off to Wales tomorrow with Rick.

I’m looking forward to it I have to say, especially as I’m at Rick’s, I don’t have to do the washing up, laundry, cleaning and when I am not training its chill time…

We have 35hrs planned, I’ve got to say, I think I need it and I need to get away and refocus and get myself back on track.

I’ve had a few mental breakdowns this week…(sort of).  I hate these sort of weeks.  You’re a bit over raced, you don’t have the confidence from training sessions you need and when you want to push, you can’t because sometimes you are too tired from all the racing.  I did a lab test today…just to pick up some levels it’s just 7 lots of 4 minutes going 195, 225, 260, 295, 325, 365 and 400.  I struggled on the 325 Wattage , felt so tired and got off! Last time I cruised the 400! Not great for the head!

Tough times, it’s a good job that I have this camp to get myself back together and also tonight I’m heading to Solihul to race a 1500m and a 3000m.  It’s going to be stupidly fast…My friend Ryan Mcleod entered 7:52 target time for the 3k…See you at the end bro!!!

Will try to get some pics up tomorrow from my race tonight.

I cant wait to be honest, training has been going great, and although its only been a week, if that week goes well it gives you so much confidence! The week has been full of PB sessions including that Track session I wrote about, and yesterday a MAX 100m + 2×50m swim (Just the 4!) and a very hard Bike/Run session with Alistair and Johnny Brownlee.  Was great to mix it up with those boys.  The week was chaotic though with the inclusion of packing and meetings with the Olympics Podium Squad. 

I look forward to writing tomorrow hopefully with some good news from the FGP.  I have some great memories from this course. It’s a real fast run and I want to try to test out my legs to a accuarte 14:45 5k off the bike!

RaceZone3.com

I sort of helped him develop it (for 10mins) and tried it out quite a few times in the pool.  The wetsuit/race suits are fast, look great and the wetsuit comes off super quick due to the red pannels on the arms. 220 Triathlon Mag gave it a 9/10 in the latest issue.  One of my friends in France Pierre Dorez (ZEROD) developed a similar company and now everyone is wearing their stuff…

Check it out, I’m excited to see his company develop…Good luck bud! 

Wierd week

Been a wierd week this week.  Feel very sleepy after 3 races in 3 weeks and also feel like I might be fighting some illness off…which isn’t ideal but what can I do! I think I am ok now though after a good sleep last night and ready to rock and roll. 

It’s been ok though, other then the easy miles, I’ve got in some decent work this week including a couple of hard swims, 2 build runs and a hard bike ride in the hills for an hour.  Got a very hard day coming up today with a VO2 max swim 4x(5×100m), 2hr easy run (LLLLLOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG!) and maybe a 2hr ride that I missed yesterday (If I can and if it stops raining!)