Camp draws to an end

I only have the weekend left of the training camp now and whilst it's gone really well and I have enjoyed my time with the group I'm really looking forward to getting home and seeing Teresa and Thomas. I'm also looking forward to an easy week of training next week too ! the volume of training starting to catch up on me now so I see the light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a rest day on Monday!

I have missed being around the family the past two weeks, it's longest I've been away from home since Thomas was born but I think it was particular hard as the training camp came immediately after spending a week together as a family in Tenerife. I'd like to think my wife is looking forward to me coming home too and that Thomas hasn't forgotten what I look like! Teresa has been performing a juggling act, while working fulltime and having a busy time of it she has been looking after Thomas, attending study days for her banking exams and still getting her own sporting activities in too. I have a lot to thank her for and without her support I wouldn't have managed to achieve what I've done so far this year.

In terms of training this week Tuesday was a soid track session with a good of us working together to complete the session in target times in what was hottest day of the trip so far...





I've spared you the horror of my rib cage! by being tucked in behind Nick McCormark (in the blue cap & yellow vest). In the session we had the girls joining us for a couple of the reps so another good size group for what was long session on the track.










(from L to R... Helen Clitheroe, me (just), Nick, Ryan McCloud, Steve Sharp, Andy Vernon (tucked in behind Steve)

Below is another pic from last Saturday out on the Cross country Course that mentioned in my last post. It was very humid day that day as there was a lot of cloud about. I kept my shirt on for this one though!




Just a weekend of training left to complete before heading home now. Right, off to bed now as earlier start to training tomorrow.
Cheers

Lee

More from Portugal...

After a couple days of rain the sun was out again for our long run this morning. I'm not too fussed about the weather to be honest as long as it doesn't effect training as my main reasons for coming out here were to train hard in a group and have the extra recovery time, any good weather is a bonus though!



Today is the end of heavy week of training, with some 100miles in bank, some tough workouts under my belt as well as the strength and conditioning workouts, to say i'm tired today would be an understatement.



We went on the XC course for a grass session yesterday, a tough workout and still feel like I'm finding my feet after the world xc champs but overall the session still went pretty well and it's great to be doing a session as part of very competitive group with similar targets.



The xc course was apparently the course used for the World XC champs in the 80's, 's pretty nive venue in an area called Alburfeira which is only a few miles run from accommodation in Vilamoura. There's a few nice trails around to locations for running, which also run past the venue for 2000 World XC Champs, unfortunately that course is no longer used.

Currently enjoying my afternoon off watching the football on tv with Gaz (Gareth Balch... he wanted a mentioned!) and D (Damien Moss) both are 800m runners staying with a group down the road. Have know these guys for a long time, as we used to have the same coach from my days of racing the shorter distances.

All for now.

laters

Portugal latest...

Settled in to my accommodation now after being here a few days now, i'm sharing a place with Andy Vernon. We are a short walk from the Old Village within the Vilamoura complex which is wear the Loughborough crowd are staying, approx a 10min walk away. I must admit I'm quite jealous of their places in the old village as our appartment is fairly basic one bedroom which is ment to sleep 4 adults! (two pull out beds in the lounge) but we don't need much to be honest and we are eating with the others in the evenings at their place now.

We paid a visit to the local supermarkets yesterday and stocked up on food for next week or so, you tend to eat a lot on a training camp! all good nutritional food though. However I did enjoy a chocolate ice cream crepe the other night but for 7 euro's I won't be eating too many! Supermarket food isn't too badly priced considering the exchange rate isn't in our favour these day but oranges are a bargin. They sell them road side... 2 euro's for 25 large organges and they taste great. There's a number of orange groves (if that's what you call them) nearby.

In terms of training things are starting to tick along nicely now, I did my first track session this morning, my first since the Aldershot training camp over 3 weeks ago. I felt I lacked a bit of spring in my step but that's to be expected after an illness and mostly steady running until today. All in all it went well though and i'm looking forward to running again later with seemingly no stiffness from the session. The only thing i need to look after is a slight achilles niggle, I wore my racing flats rather than spikes this morning and my calves feel ok at the moment. Weather has been mixed today, it rained for the first time when we were having breakfast but during the track session it was hot and sunny. Most of us finished covered in mud though! as the water on the track plus I guess the usually dusty conditions made the water quite dirty, and with something like 20-30 athletes on in the group at various points it ment a lot of water being flicked up.

Anyhow that's all for now, hope the athletes back home in Guernsey enjoyed the Easter races, sorry I missed them.

Cheers

Lee

The travelling continues...

It's been a while since my last update and lots has been going on, unfortunately not as much running as I would have liked though, after returning to Guernsey after the world xc i came down with a virus. This explains a few things, perhaps why I was struggling in Jordan a little. After a few days of feeling like I had man flu I had to unpack and re-pack as it was only a few days at home before headign off to Tenerife with the family and friends. Its was Thomas' first international trip and he was good as good as gold on holiday, even slept in every morning - what a star. Holiday was good and it was nice sharing with another couple (Tricky and Sharon) who also have a baby (Lauren). I got my first run in on the Saturday a week after the world x which didnt feel too good but I managed to run morning & evening most days, I'm still coughing a bit off the back of the virus but I feel on the mend, just bored of airports now! Im currently in Gatwick waiting for my flight to Faro, Portugal where I will be training for 2 weeks. Looking forward to the trip but not sure I will enjoy being away from Thomas for that long, it was nice spending a full week with him in Tenerife, we took him swimming for the first time.

Next time I write will be from Portugal. Oh someone remind me to tell you about my two nightmares while travelling! one was on the way back from World x one was yesterday! They should be amusing for others if nothing else. Right better dash.

Cheers

Lee