As I sit here writing this blog, it is my final day warm weather training in Portugal.  I’ve got in some fantastic training out here and feel as fit as I’ve ever felt.  It’s been great staying with five other runners (Martin Williams, Steve Sharp, Ian Rawlinson, Mick Hill and Jason Ward) and having people to go running with every day, in glorious weather, but we’re all now at that stage where the environment is starting to get a bit suffocating.   We’ve led an extremely disciplined lifestyle out here, spending our time in between runs pretty much doing nothing other than rest and our diets have been very good.  This can surely only be good for your running, but in the absence of work, non-running friends, family, etc, it has felt like there is nothing else in life other than running. 

We’ve seen quite a few other Brits while out here.  Steve Scullion was out here in a group led by Nick Anderson and Bud Baldaro.  Ricky Stevenson is out here with a group of 12 runners.  There were a large group of Scots on the track on Tuesday, yesterday we bumped into a big group from Loughborough while out running and more athletes are arriving today from Birmingham, Preston and Blackburn with groups from Kendal, Trafford, Norwich, Westbury, Vale Royal  and many many more due to come out here over the next few weeks.  It’s relatively cheap and easy to get here, the running is great, facilities are very good, and for those inclined there are nightlife options.  It’s easy to see why so many groups are coming out here.

We are all running at the 12 stage road relays this weekend, where I expect Tipton to be in the top 3 – if you can afford to put somebody who was 22^nd in this years National in your B team you have a good team!  I expect Sharpy and his Belgrave team to possibly be in front after 6 legs as they have a very strong first 6 but then it does fall away and they may struggle to make the top 6 at close of play.  I’m not even sure if we have a full team at the moment until I get home but will be running on the first leg, it will be good to have a run out before London next week.

Hopefully see some of you at the relays on Saturday, best of luck to those competing in the Brighton Marathon this weekend

Keep training hard
Cheers
Dave