It has been a few years since I wrote a blog. Partly because I got disillusioned by the process, feeling that my blogs were not being read and therefore feeling I could more usefully contribute to the world in other ways. Recently, however I have had some positive feedback relating to other people’s blogs and feel it is worth another go. I have just returned from a training camp/get together near Banyoles in Spain, where I was providing support as a coach via workshops and one to one sessions. I did the same last year and so this marks a year of formal association with the Adventure Syndicate an amazing group of women who have been kind enough to involve me in their work.
The camp was hosted by Girona Cycling at their base, Hotel Mas Pelegri, which is a really good location for both road and off-road cycling camps. Gareth and Fiona can provide hire bikes, suggested routes, guiding and even a rescue service if you get into difficulty. They certainly go beyond the norm in their support of their guests.
At the end of the camp last year I started working with some of the athletes that had attended, things developed really well with three of the riders and I continued to work with them throughout the year. Karen Tosteefinished 3rd woman in the Trans Continental Race, her first ever bikepacking event; Paula Regener finished 4th in the same race and lead the Transatlantic Way Race in Ireland until injury forced her to retire; and Jenny Graham finished equal first woman in the Arizona 750, first overall in the Cairngorm Loop and 1st woman in the Highland Trail 500, beating the women’s record in the process. As you can imagine, it has been an amazing experience working with these women. I have also worked with a few men along the way and it has been a pleasure to share in their successes.
In other news I have bought a small house in a Pyrenean village near Prades, about an hour from Perpignan. The idea is to run small bespoke camps from here that focus on athletes’ needs, taking the form of workshops and one to one coaching sessions as much as providing a training base. We will be running a small workshop in early March to iron out the details and hopefully have some camps going over the summer and Autumn.
Camps will be mainly focused on cycling and running but there is a pool and open water nearby so triathletes will be more than welcome.
Things in the Pyrenees will have to be put on hold for a short while though. I am leaving for Mallorca where I will be running a small training camp with Karen Darke. The camp is part of her Quest 79 initiative but also something we hope to make an annual event. Karen is an athlete and adventurer who I have coached to Paralympic medals in London and Rio, an amazing person who has become a very close and valued friend. Among many things, Karen is qualified in sports psychology so our camp will be focused on both the physical and psychological with workshops and one to ones, again making it athlete focused with learning and development a key element.
In future blogs I hope to explore more detailed ideas and write about some of my findings as a coach and athlete that I hope will be helpful in someway as you work towards your personal goals, adventures and challenges.
Please get in touch and let me know what you think and what you would like to read about.