Hello, so I’m back in training!

Looking at my performance management chart, you can see the last six months of training. Each of those little blue dots represents a session. Recently, there haven’t been many, as I took time off for quiet reflection after years of consistent multi-day training. Sometimes, a change really is as good as a rest—or both at the same time!

I’ve been rethinking my goals after becoming a bit disillusioned with ultra cycling. My last big event, the Pan Celtic Race in 2022, wasn’t as enjoyable as I’d hoped. Life’s busy rhythm has made other dream events, such as the Transcontinental Race, a less than practical option for now.

Over the Christmas break, I shifted focus towards what I could do instead of what I couldn’t. I realised I miss the fast-paced thrill of pushing hard in the early days of ultras. With this in mind, I’ve signed up for the Pedalma Madrid to Barcelona Ultra—700km in under 50 hours. It’s intense but achievable, I did similar in about 37hrs in TAWR 2018. Plus, it gives me an exciting reason to visit Barcelona for the first time, spending time there afterward with my wife and possibly my daughters. Nice! No huge problems getting the time off from my busy work life either and plus the route and riding looks amazing. I do this for pleasure after all and there’s nothing that says I have to ride huge 2000k+ ultras if it doesn’t fit in with life or my ageing body.

Training has begun, and I feel rejuvenated. Last weekend, I rode out to Manosque and reconnected with Samuel Thompson, a top ultra cyclist and coach I first met in 2017 during TWAR 2017. It was a solid 250km ride on glorious roads over two days and a great way to kick things off.

I’m mixing things up this time—strength training and running are now part of my routine. I’ve realised my previous cycling-only focus has left me a bit unbalanced, physically speaking. Now, I’m working on rebuilding all-around strength while increasing my mileage.

As you can see from the performance management chart, the initial quiet phase of the last several months is over, and my training curve is now heading upwards. Over the coming weeks, I’ll share updates for anyone curious about my progress or seeking insights for their own training.

It feels good to be back and focused ahead. Feeling fit and frisky always beats lolling about drinking beer!