New addition to the household...

Okay - so I don't know what possessed us - but Nath and I would like to welcome a new addition to our family. Duffy (pictured - named after the beer in the Simpsons - not the singer!!) is a new member of the household, and so far seems to be enjoying life in Helston. We're hoping she'll be joining us on numerous training runs in the near future! Although she will have to stop waking us up at midnight crying to come upstairs!

Training is going well, and I'm looking forward to racing in Spain this time next week - although nerves are starting to show as well - first major race in a while and the start list looks pretty big. Went down to the track yesterday to do my session and ended up coming straight back home again as the Cornwall County AAA Championhips were being held. Looks like a session for today instead when I finally manage to get my trainers on - nice reps of 200m at pace! Nath and I are taking it in turns at the moment to puppy sit, so while he's out doing a 25mile TT on the bike, I get to play with the puppy....hard life!

Just need to hopefully get my bike sorted now - at Cycle Logic at the moment being prepped for Race season - thanks guys. Although apparently there's quite a bit of work to do...anyone know of any decent race bikes going for free then please let me know!

First sea swim thankfully out of the way, and blo*dy hell I've never been so cold in my life! It got to the point after about 15 minutes that I thought I had cramp in my foot - but they were so numb I couldn't actually tell. Not only that but when I finally got out I couldn't actually speak without slurring my words - sounded like I'd been on a really good night out....not fun! Took about 4 hours to finally warm up. And Kay telling me about all the things she'd seen on the bottom really didn't help. Not that I have anything against crabs...but I really don't want to know that they're only half a metre away from nipping at my feet!

It's Flora Day in Helston today - so everything closes, and the pubs open at 6.30am....needless to say I will probably just stick at home! Helston looked great last night though as all the town decorate their houses/shops etc with flowers and greenery - so today it's just up to all the local people to dance down the high street to the Furry Dance....a bit weird to a non-local, but people are obviously very proud to be part of it. Only problem is trying to find a way round the town as all the roads are closed and it is heaving! Not only that but Liberation day in Guernsey tomorrow...still haven't found any fellow Guerns near me to celebrate with!! Happy Liberation Day tomorrow guys!

Ok....now this life of an elite athlete isn't all it's cracked up to be you know. A day off work, and what have I done? Gone swimming, worked for an hour, waited at home for a nice man to fix my washing machine (haven't been able to wash my training kit now for 5 days - nice!), and am now waiting in for the even nicer man from the TNT delivery company to deliver my new bike bag - the third time of asking seeing as I haven't been here on the previous two occassions (why can't they phone to let me know of a delivery time - or better still give a delivery time that narrows it down to 1 hour as opposed to "sometime in the morning...or afternoon"!)

Training going ok, and produced some good times in the pool this morning. Legs aching a little from the weekend and I think I took my easy run a little hard last night as aching this morning. Looking forward to a track set tomorrow - trying to persuade someone to join me in the "joy" of track running but everyone seems to be busy - ah well, a test for the motivation anyway! And don't laugh - but off for a sea swim tonight - although I think the spectators may get wetter than us! Nothing like the good old Cornish summer weather...I have it on good authority that it is extremely cold - but thought it may be a good idea to test the wetsuit out before racing in Spain next week...it has been residing under the bed (I think!) for the winter months so hopefully the moths haven't taken a fancy to it...

New Technology + Sam Herridge = Major Confusion!

Well - this seemed like an easier way to keep everyone up to date with what's going on...although it's taken me most of the Bank Holiday Monday to figure this out! That and figuring out how to download my new toy - a PowerTap. Why is it I now suddenly feel very old and out of touch with technology?!

Anyhow the news is that I have sponsors for this year! Welcome on board for another year La Grande Mare Hotel in Guernsey, Vets4Pets, Cycle Logic - and a new one for this year - Kay Kershaw at At-Your-Pace specialist run shop in Helston. Cheers guys - most grateful. Will try my best to do you proud!

Just travelled back from Steyning last night after competing in the Steyning sprint as a warm up for Pontevedra in a couple of weeks time. Good race, and fantastic organisation from the guys at Raw Pursuit. Good race, apart from the fact that I still can't mount a bike and turn at the same time!!! But there's still time...! Oh yeah - did I tell you that getting on and off the bike quickly and staying in one piece was actually one of my aims for this year. Nath has already threatened to take me out on a mountain bike....which could end up with me being a gibbering bloody mess on the floor - but hey I'm up for a laugh...I think!

Training this week should be interesting - starting to up the pace a little in prep for racing and throughly enjoying the challenge. Just needing to race now - got to that point where I need race to make it all worthwhile. Just keeping the fingers crossed for an injury free year...