A Happy New Year to you.
First of all; my apologies for the lack of writing. It has
been hibernation time for me.
Since we last spoke at the end of the season not much has
changed. Still studying away and training hard. It was time to take a
well-earned rest after a long 2014 season.
A huge thank you must go to all my supporters, without
which, I wouldn’t have been able to compete at the level in which I did.
Furthermore enjoy it as much as I did.
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| World Triathlon Championships 2014 |
End of Season
So I took a break! It was that time where I could do
nothing. Strange. It felt weird to not do anything, but it was fantastic. I
planned a couple of weeks off post World Championships to take stock of a great
season.
I woke up each day, not feeling the need to do anything, but
still wanting too. Instead of strict alarms and precise training times, I
jumped on the bike when I felt like it, with the thought of just going and
doing what I wanted. Enjoying myself. I rode for the love of cycling, not for
the feeling of ‘having too’.
I ran to relieve boredom, not because I had a ‘session’.
Often without a watch. Time or mileage was irrelevant.
It was an awesome feeling. But so is routine. Something my
training allowed me. Soon enough it was time to get back to training.
Time to settle in and prepare for Winter training.
Winter's Coming
North of England & National 6 Stage Road Relays
Not long rested and the winter races started to creep up. To
me these are generally seen as training runs. This isn’t to say they are taken
any easier and thought about lightly. However this winter season, I had
highlighted a few races in which I wanted to perform well at.
So the training started again. The first race to negotiate
was the North of England 6 Stage Road Relays. This came around fast. It was
only three weeks after my race in Canada, with two of them spent in rest.
It was a demanding race, one I wasn’t fully prepared for; 6
legs of 6km. Nonetheless, I ran; albeit
rusty. I was satisfied as to my time and further more with the team; finishing
well in the overall order.
This was followed two weeks later, by the National 6 Stage
Road Relays; a big step up from the Northern qualifier. It was faster; harder
and the level of competition, as expected, that much greater. It was another
run out, another race and more importantly more experience.
BUCS Hill Climb
A new experience to me; a hill climb. 1.60km long with a
total ascent of 180m. It was harsh. I’ve not got the natural build to be
a climber, nonetheless I raced; endured a ridiculous amount of pain; and well
and truly entered pain town.
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| BUCS Hill Climb 2014 |
I really did enjoy this one afterwards, came in with low
expectations. Nothing more than putting myself in the mix and seeing what I
could do. I finished in a time of 6:37.3 and placed 83rd. Happy.
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| BUCS Hill Climb 2014 |
Onto the Country
National Cross
Country Relays 2014
That time again. Cross country! I have a fondness for the
mixed terrain. The first race up was the National Cross Country Relays in
Mansfield. My spikes had been left to rot in the bottom of a plastic bag since
March; horrific isn’t the word. It was much worse. You get the idea.
Spikes, cleaned and spotless, it was time to undo all my
(Vanish®) hard work. A very twisting and technical course with short, but
steep, inclines and descents. Two laps, totalling 5km. Pain. I was very happy
with the result and quicker than the previous year.
A Brief Run on the
Road
English Athletics 10k
Championships – Age UK Leeds Abbey Dash
This would be the first of my two targeted races for the
winter. This, the first, came mid-November. It was a late decision. I had
previously only run one flat 10k before. It would be a test. One I felt strong
enough for having come of the back of a productive season, as well as being
able to have a break in between.
I was nervous. With a personal best heading into the race of
34:32, I had reasonable expectations to equal this time, or even better,
improve it. I wanted to run between 34:00 and 34:30.
Lining up on the start line in a very heavily stacked field,
I hoped I could pace well and remain strong. It was a simple out and back, with
a small incline before half way and a further incline on the return with about
600m to run.
Having started comfortably, I found myself in the midst of
the biggest running pack I had ever seen. Almost 10,000 people had entered. I
worked well with a small group and managed to work through to the back of the
group in front. I came into the final kilometre, and could see the finish
clock. A final burst and it was finished. One of, if not the hardest race I had
ever run, but yet one of the most enjoyable. Finishing in a time of 32:56. Taking 1:36 off my previous best. Elated. An awful lot of hard work had gone into that race, starting from the
previous year.
Back to the Cross Country
North Eastern Cross
Country Championships
This was the second of those targets. I wasn’t sure how I
was feeling about this. It was a familiar course. Newcastle Town Moor. Three
laps, each consisting of 4km. Horrific.
As with the Abbey dash, I was nervous. Even more so. I set
the target of placing higher than 2013, where I finished in 33rd.
The first 100m was fast. I settled in and worked my way on
to the back of a small group. Lying in about 30th place three
quarters of the way through lap one. It was tough. Two steep ascents and
descents. One after another. Lap two begun and the pace was increased. I worked
steadily through the lap, trying to increase my effort as the lap went on. On
to the third and I knew there wasn’t far to go. The field had strung out and
the gaps between runners grew bigger. I managed to gain a further few places
and finished with nothing left. I was relieved. It was over. A hard race, in
which I knew I had ran well. Finishing in 16th. I was ecstatic with
the result.
Christmas! Time to head home to the Isle of Man. Heating,
home cooked food and some general TLC. Bring it on.
Home Time - Isle of Man
SCS Cross Country
Relays
It was nice to be able to squeeze in a race when I was at
home. It was sandwiched somewhere between the endless amounts of University
work, catching up with friends and family, training and a nice bit of recovery.
A great course, with a relay format of 10km, 2 x 5km and the
last leg (which was mine) of 10km. I was looking forward to it. The other three
members of the team had ran extremely well. Mid-way through the first of my two
laps it being to hail. Great. It was freezing. Luckily, I didn’t have much time
to think about it.
Unfortunately it wasn’t the win this time but it was a
fantastic race by the team. I finished with the second fastest 10km split of
the day and the fifth fastest ever. Can’t complain with that. A great day spent
catching up with some old faces; loved it. I had a ball.
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| SCS Relay 2014 - Mother & I |
The Season's Approaching
It was soon time to head back to Newcastle. Lots to come
through January, which I will fill you in on next time.
News
I would like to thank Zone3 for supporting myself as part
TriPackRT for the upcoming season. The lads and I are really looking forward to
working together with Zone3 this season.
Also, I would like to pass on my thanks to Beet-IT for the
support they are also providing me.
Check them both out!
Thank You
A huge thank you all, as always, for your continued support. It really does help. Feedback would be fantastic, get in touch. Anything I can change or do, anything you’d like to see, just let me know.
Cheers,
Sam
To keep up to date, follow me here:
Twitter - @samnbrand
Instagram - samuelnealbrand
