Dan: There seems to be a bit of a pattern starting to form, and not in a good way (see picture). A year on from last years big race and I have managed to catch a similar virus to the one I did 2 weeks prior to Nice. This time though its taken me a good 2 weeks of unproductive coughing and hospital visits to begin any kind of worthwhile training. The virus managed to directly attack my asthma and as a result has meant that I’ve missed 2 races, countless planned training sessions and gone relatively insane due to the lack of physical activity.

It took me a good week to accept I needed to do absolutely nothing to get better, which, if you are like me, you would know how physically hard that is to follow through with, particularly when your body feels fine. I only really accepted it after trying a few relatively slow 20k cycles which were swiftly met by coughing fits and shortness of breath. Not fun.

Anyway, after a number of tantrums and productive chats with various willing sources (they had no choice), it seems as though I’ve finally begun to come out the other side this weekend. I was able to do some light cardio sessions coupled with some weight circuit sessions which were on the whole fairly positive. Judging from the the aches this morning, it definitely succeeding in giving my body the shock it needed to get back into a decent 2 weeks of training before race week. Going into work on a Sunday (Monday) morning just isn’t the same when you’re not aching from head to toe! Its just not right…

So, in short, I am not going to be where I’d planned to be fitness wise at the end of last year but I’ve now accepted that. In fact, there is an argument to say that I never will be as fit as I’d like to be for a race as there will always be doubts and questions you will ask yourself about what you could have done or should of tried. What’s most important, particularly for this race, is getting to the start line fit and ready to enjoy it as that’s what its really all about at the end of the day.

I don’t think I’d be far off assuming that the excitement level is starting to creep up between all the squad and everyone is eager to put their bodies to the test. This of course will be met by the usual pre race anxiety a day or two out (some more than others) and then before you know it we’ll be across the line, and in the bar discussing next years location.

3 weeks to go… and I intend to enjoy every second of it!