If you know me well, a lot of you will know that one of my favourite races from last season was London Hyde Park. The noise the UK crowd makes, screaming “GO STIMPSON” around the run course gives me goose pimples just thinking about it. The lift I got from the supporting crowd I cannot explain, it was awesome. This is probably why I am so excited about racing there again on the 24th July (only 14 days away). Can you tell I am just a bit excited about the race?!
Training has been going great after I got back from Des Monies, it has been the hardest block of training I think I have ever done. The easy days were I am trying to recover for the next “Balls in the Wheelie Bin” sessions have seemed like my legs just don’t want to work at all and by the time you get to the “Ball Bashing” session you are thinking “Oh my god this is going to be tough” but its amazing how powerful your mental strength can be if you really think “it’s all mind over matter”.
You can have some of your best sessions and when you start thinking you are going to really struggle but push through it’s such a fantastic feeling.
Usually it’s me, Michelle and Stuart that I train with up at Loughborough in the week but recently Nick Beer and Chris (also part of Team Dillon) have also been training with me the past two weeks which is great and has really pushed the pace of the sessions.
It’s two other strong guys that I am trying to hold on to on the bike, so that makes it four very strong cyclists (including the mean machine Dillon) I am trying to hold on to. When it comes to the run, I am trying to give as good as I get with the lads, which is easier said than done, but I’m not complaining when I have these three guys to chase and it’s been the same in the pool, pushing all the way racing in the hard sessions.
It’s been great swimming in a pool where I don’t have to weave in and out of the public (no offence guys, but I got a job to do) and being able to just concentrate on the sessions. I have to say this is mainly down to Stuart knowing when a pool is at it quietest time and we are able give 100% in the sessions with no worries.
Apart from training going well I have also had great news of new support and it comes in the form of Martin Connelen from Bromsgrove Coblers! Martin is my best friend’s step dad and has kindly joined my support team and bought me a Pilates Reformer! WOW!
This is a vital piece of equipment to keep me on the path to 2012 and will help keep me training and racing. This will make a huge difference to my Strength and Conditioning (S&C) sessions and I am extremely grateful and appreciative to have Martin on my team and following my journey to London 2012 and beyond.
This weekend (Sunday 18 July) I am racing with my new FGP team Poissy which will be my first time racing in France this year, so I am looking forward to that, but am of course fully focused on the 24th.
I hope to see the course packed with support as it was last year, Good luck to everyone who is racing that weekend!!! Let’s show the world what GB has to offer!!!
Just a little note to say good luck to everyone who is taking part in the race for life 5k run, especially Carli Hayes and Jay Handley, go girls!
xxx
