Very proud to competing for GB again this year!

Quite a few people in recent weeks have been asking me if I am competing for GB again this year so I thought its time to write a blog about this as it has been a while since my last. Firstly thank you for the support over the recent years and I am proud to announce that after a fantastic season last year and finishing 6th at the World Championships in my age group last summer in Penticton (Canada), I therefore have gained qualification to the World and European Aquathlon Championships and I will be competing in those races this year. Just in case you don’t know what an Aquathlon is, it is like a Triathlon but without the bike part. Normally consists of a 1000 metre swim, followed by a 5k run.

I am honoured and very privileged to be able to represent GB the past few years and again this year. I am very proud of my achievements in just a few years which as seen a European medal and two National medals. I am very much excited and looking forward to competing again. Working for NHS has allowed me to train well due to the flexi time, where I am able to train after work something I am very grateful of.

I started increasing my training since start of the year, it is hard work balancing training around work and trying to make sure I get some time to enjoy other things etc. A few of you have asked what kind of training I do, so here is a bit of an insight into my training. Straight after work I start my training around 4.45pm and I am normally home around 7.30pm most evenings, I prefer to have Saturday off training normally so I can do things with my wife and family. So my training for a typical week consists of the following 2 Strength training sessions in the gym, 4 runs a week, with around 30-40 miles per week. 4 swim sessions a week and a normal session consists of around 3500 metres and a bike session with at least one full days rest per week, sometimes two. Its pretty hard to maintain it and keep it up, cant wait for October as I will take a full month off.

I do believe that you don’t have to be talented but working hard and being determined will pay off. Listening to your body is vital so if you get any niggles I then I back off. I always like reading peoples backgrounds and how they have got into running etc. I know a few in the Trust have taken running up in recent months which is inspiring as we all have to start somewhere. I only started running in 2012 as I was inspired by the London Olympics with no real background to sport and took up swimming just over 6 years ago and looking back now I couldn’t swim so if you are taking up sport, keep at it as you will get the benefits in years to come. I took up running to keep fit but nowadays I think its more because I like food too much. If anyone is looking for advice with their training, just drop me an email. I am always happy to help.

Anyway the countdown begins and first stop is the World Championships.  The World Championships this year is in Denmark in a place called Middlefart in July. So my training prep is all tailored for this event at the moment. I am hoping to target the top 10 this year and if I can place higher even better, but most importantly I just do it as I enjoy it and love the experience. I then will be competing at the National Championships in Peterborough which is only 10 days later. This does not give me much time to recover and training wont be ideal as I will only be back in the country for a few days before. In regards on targets for this race, 2016 was a Bronze medal, 2017 was a Silver medal so maybe there is a trend….I will try and target the podium again. If I did get another medal I would be over the moon. After the Nationals I have the European Aquathlon Championships in Ibiza which is at the end of October. Which is quite late and means it’s a long season ahead, but I have decided after this to take some time off all exercise for a few weeks to a month and decide if I want to continue this journey.  Anyway my target for this race will be to try and get into the top 10 in this race.

What I have learnt over the years is that experience in any race/training session is so important. I do get very nervous when these races come up and I get phantom pains/niggles, but I have learnt to keep a positive mind and try to relax. I do get very excited when these races come up and I like meeting athletes and sharing stories from different places around the world. But remind myself that this is just a hobby.