My computer has been getting fixed by the ‘Genius’s’ in the Apple store! They can’t be that great, it took them long enough to realise whats wrong with it…

Everything is going well, I am back training for 3 weeks now.  I’m really enjoying training under Team Dillon.  Michelle is a great coach and Stu Hayes is a GREAT training partner.  It’s really cool doing exactly the same training as someone who is equally as motivated and at a similar level to you.  When you are tired you know they are as well.  When you are flying they are up there with you.  He’s annoying to train with on the run…he sticks to you the whole way round and is really hard to drop! I will be doing the same on the swim to him though.  I’m learning a lot from these two who have a good 6-10 years more experience then me!

I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised that it’s not taken me long at all to get fit.  I have struggled with the swim but thats kind of standard! My biking and running has been fine though and i’ve been able to jump straight back in the deep end.  In future I wont be scared to take a long break at the end of the year if 10 weeks did no harm!  Other then that, not much to report, business as usual in Loughborough however when I get to Oz i’ll post some more interesting pictures up!

My leg is healing up…very slowly though! Now I am on big training weeks it over granulates most days so slows down the healing process.

I can’t wait to get to Australia, it’s tough getting out the door sometimes here and that’s not what you need when your trying to train hard! I had no real problems doing the work here in the past.  People who go away over the winter always comment, “don’t know how you do it”! I am aware that when I get back from Oz I’m going to be saying the same thing.  I’m already soft and i’ve not even got there yet.

One question though…The people who say on a rainy, cold ride “It makes you tough”, does it really make you tough? Or are they trying to make themselves feel better? I personally think that getting into a motivating environment with nice weather that enables you to do your job more effectively therefore being able to back up more sessions at a faster pace makes you tough!

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!!!

I have been cracking in the miles running doing a fair bit with Adam Bowden or Ryan Mcleod.  Guys who are quicker which is nice! Certainly pushes you on.  We had a fun run at the weekend, a clean 2hrs and 28k’s, Deano led the way and it was an interesting route to say the least!  I did the last 30mins with Lola and was able to push on, the poor dog got dropped so that was a nice confidence booster!

The swimming and biking have also been ramping up and the winter is shaping up nicely.

Here are some pics from the past week.

One of our new sessions in the lab, I am riding with Aaron Harris on a treadmill that goes up to 15% and 60KPH

Lola watching over the Boardman.  She likes to give high5’s

With JD for a Retul session in Milton Keynes, bike set up

The last bit especially was a good, we had lots of fireworks.  It got a big boring towards the end so we began sending various items up in the sky with it…like a slice of bread:)