It has been a while since I posted a blog so there’s a bit to catch up on.

Firstly, the MH Survival of the Fittest a week or so ago was much harder than I thought it would be. The knee was a major problem and I dislocated the right shoulder 6 times throughout the event. And I got stuck in an bouncy castle…. embarrasing.

Good fun in retrospect though. I recommend the event for anyone who fancies something a little bit silly. I’ve since been to see Corina the Masseuse from Optimal Fitness in Edinburgh (link to the left). She had a real go at my ITB and my shoulder so both are feeling much better.

Training cycle last night ended up with a puncture so I had to walk home the final bit to avoid wrecking my wheel rim. Annoying.

All sorts of stuff ordered now. New helmet and knee braces are due to arrive this week. I just need some Kriega bits and gloves and the kit is all but done. The bike is with Crawford at CCA Designs getting some graphics made up – big Saltire and the Shepherd and Wedderburn logo. I’ve just approved the mock up and think it will look great.

I’m planning a day off training this evening then some swimming tomorrow morning before work.

In the London office for a couple of days. More reasons to avoid training. I’m just off the phone to Duncan Tweedy, a fellow Dakar rider who is also with Team Desert Rose. He’s been away buying spares.

I seem to be having a difficult week with training. Running the day before the 10k in Inverness seemed to aggravate my knee and although the 10k itself was ok my right knee really suffered afterwards. I had a quiet week training last week but went up a Munroe (big-ish hill in Scotland for those not in the know) last Sunday and the knee was really painful coming down the very rocky path.

I’m not very worried as it doesn’t affect me on the bike but it could impact my training so I need to go see someone to try to get it fixed.

I’m entered in another 10k race this Sunday – only this one has obstacles -the MH Survival of the Fittest race in central Edinburgh. Should be fun if the knee holds up. Might try to get in some mountain biking at Glentress or Innerleithen on Saturday.

Congratulations to my colleague Alison Struthers on passing her CBT – welcome to the two wheeled world – tis all downhill from this point…

 Have Fun

 PC

The bike progresses. Finally got it out for a run today. Still leaking a little oil from the output shaft seal so I’ll need to get Tony to sort that. I’ve changed the seal about 10 times but it still leaks. No idea why.She does have some grunt though. I’d kind of forgotten how much torque there is off the bottom end. I’d slightly also forgotten how noisy she is with the open can. Apologies to the guy trying to tee off out side Biggar. I think I gave him a fright (although he probably heard me coming).

The 10k in Inverness went well. 43:46 I was very pleased with. The training run the day before was awful so I think I was annoyed with myself which helped.

 This week should see me finishing off the bike and getting back into a proper training regime after a couple of weeks of adventure races, riding in Spain and work trips which were all good but kind of interrupted the flow of regular training. I reckon I’m still doing the right stuff but I start to worry when I’m not in a training routine.

The next event is the Edinburgh “Survival of the Fittest” in about 10 days time. Apparently this is a 10k run through the centre of Edinburgh with obstacles along the way. Alison had a couple of glasses of wine one evening and while checking her e-mails on my computer accidentally entered us in the event. Hey ho.

 I also need to sort out the final procurement of bits and pieces for Dakar. I was going to have a helmet painted up with the Saltire but can’t really afford it so have decided against that. I’ll post the total kit list at some point so everyone can see what I think you need to take to the Dakar (and hopefully someone will point out the obvious omissions).

Have Fun

Charlie Mackenzie (webmaster of www.scottishenduros.co.uk) has been doing a fantastic job in setting me up this web-site. This is me trying out the blog feature for the first time so hopefully it works.

In training for the Dakar, I’ve had a number of firsts this year. I’ve done my first triathlons and my first adventure race (the Wan Day 8 hour race in the Pentlands outside Edinburgh – highly recommended for those who like getting muddy). This weekend sees me entered in my first competitive running event – the River Ness 10k in Inverness.

 The Landrover is loaded up with running gear (and mountain bikes and walking gear and swimming gear – Alison likes to be prepared for any breaks in the weather) and we’re off to Inverness after work today. If there’s anything left of me after the weekend the next post will update as to how I get on.

 Have Fun – Paul