new training schedule, new sponsor

First of all I'd like to say a big 'thank you' to FitnessFootwear.com for supplying me with more shoes, this time for off-road training.  About twelve months ago they provided me with a pair of New Balance MR1062 but now they've let me have some North Face Hedgehogs.  They'll be very useful as I plan to train off-road more often in the future as it does lead to less injuries than road running.

Thanks also to Tom Meldrum for all his encouragement this year ... and for the comment on my report from the Commonwealth Championships (see previous post).  I'm not sure about being described as a hero though. I hope he has a good race at Tooting Bec this weekend - and that his ankle holds up well.  The webite indicates that there will be regular updates throughout the race.  The address is http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/ultras/24hour_09/home09

I now have a training schedule in place taking me up to May next year and, hopefully, the World 24 hr Challenge in Brive, France.  After evaluating this year's training I've decided that a couple of things could do with improving: nutrition/diet and recovery between training sessions.

For the nutrition/diet element I know that the main thing is to increase the amount of fruit and veg I eat and also to cut down on the number of croissants [that will be difficult - but worth it next May].

For recovery I need to a proper post training plan in place which will include hydration, nutrition, rest, etc

I'm also re reading the articles by Frank Horwill and trying very hard to implement the nutritional advice he gives.

slight changes

Hello all. Recently been in contact with Tom Meldrum (a few times actually) over the past month or two. He came first in the recent Crawley 12 hr race with 75.8 miles and he has a very good blog which I've added to the list entitled 'Other Blogs I Like' over on the left.

I've also done a minor update to the Help & Advice page.

Also, all the best to Richie Cunningham and Phil Robertson who are running The Highland Fling Race at the weekend - 53 miles on The West Highland Way in Scotland. And also to the Otley AC runners in the London Marathon on Sunday ... running 26 miles with over 30,000 other folk isn't my idea of fun but some people are apparently very good at it.

Crawley 12 hr

Apologies to Tom Meldrum but I should really have included this in yesterday's post.

Well done to him on winning the Crawley A.I.M. 12 hr track race at the weekend with 78.5 miles (whilst I was racing 2.36 miles !!!). I know he's entered the Tooting 24 hr race in October and this is a good stepping stone for him in his first track ultra.