Hello again, I’ve been back in training now for just a week – after doing absolutely nothing for two weeks! This is the first time I’ve actually taken any time off and done NOTHING, and to be honest, I needed it!

I really enjoyed not having to get up early and being able to eat junk food (I loved my trip to the Chinese, Chippy and Pizza Hut) but I soon missed the training. A week and a half later, I started to crave the training but Michelle was strict on me and made sure I finished my full two weeks off – ready to get back into training again.

As some of you have probably know I had a small article in the 220 magazine, which was about me not being on the World Class Programme for the 2010 season. Whilst what was written in 220 was true, in that I am not part of the funded squads this coming year – my end of season review with British Triathlon went surprisingly well.

They were extremely pleased with how my season had gone and I have ONE person to thank for that – Michelle. The review also covered my coaching plans and again they were more than pleased with who I was working with, well how can they not? With the huge improvements I have made this season it’s a no brainer really, especially when you consider we haven’t even been together for a full 12 months.

Working with Michelle has changed me as an athlete and as a person. She has not only opened so many doors for me in triathlon but has done so much more for me on a personal front. The best coach and a friend rolled into one.

So although I’m obviously disappointed not to be on programme, I am confident that my decision has been supported by the BTF and I am more than confident of achieving what is needed for the up and coming season. The most difficult part is the obvious drop in the cash based funding, which will have a big impact on things – however we are working hard to try and put things in place to help support me over the coming season. Naturally this is extremely hard with the current way of the world, but I’m hopeful and grateful to the people that are looking to help me get through 2010.

I am really looking forward to the winter and the 2010 season ahead. Getting a full winter training schedule under Team Dillon – which I missed out on last year – will move me up a level for next year and Michelle keeps sniggering at some of “balls in the wheelie bin” sessions that she has got planned. . . . BRING IT ON!

Back into training this week saw me swimming like a brick, cycling like I had had a flat tyre and running like an elephant – which Bex and I were finding highly amusing. The swim sets we were doing together felt like we were at altitude, but we’re slowly starting to get some sort of fitness back and feeling a bit more human in training sessions as the week goes on.

I am looking forward to those “balls in the wheelie bin” sessions which at the moment, are just not coming soon enough. But as I am awaiting the hard stuff, Stuart still has one more race left – the 70.3 World Championships. I don’t know anyone who trains harder than Stu and he is more than deserving a cracking race, so. . .
GOOD LUCK FOR NEXT WEEKEND STU!