Feeling HOT, HOT, HOT! – Dave’s training blog

Not sure how it happened but it did… it felt natural and comfortable and I could never have imagined it when we first met – after all it's only been 9 months.

So there we were, all hot and sweaty, naked and exhausted. We couldn't take any more – we got out of the SAUNA and had a shower… Come on, what did you think? You should know what my blogs are like by now!

So here we are, at the end of January and on the last leg of training. Where's the time gone?! Well I do know that we feel right on track and really positive about the challenge. Recently we discussed the route that Cenk had recalculated and feel so confident that we’re prepared.

We had our first ride of the new year a couple of weeks ago – a nice 65km to blow the cobwebs away. It was cold but the sun was shining, and not a cloud in the sky. We stopped half way for some caffeine and we both said how great it felt to be back in the saddle, just enjoying the fresh air and company. We also took some of Ben's mates out the other weekend – even Cenk agreed to go although he was puffing and panting just putting his helmet on! Fair play to him though, he did the 35km through gritted teeth. We had a serious hill climb and he did it.

The thing that touched me was Ben - without realising it, he’s such an inspiration. He comes across all bravado but he’s one of the nicest guys I've met – a real heart of gold. Honestly he literally pushed Cenk up a 750 metre hill climb; his hand on his back just pushing him up the hill. Ben wouldn't take no for an answer – Cenk was going up with him. That's the kind of guy he is and that's why I train with him, because I just love his character and attitude.

We've had a good week training. Ben's put some good sessions in the gym and did a real fast 50km on Tuesday. This weekend’s a biggy for us – we're back out on a 150km this Saturday to put some hard kilometers under our belts and then out again with friends on Sunday for some fun.

We’re back on the road, raring to go and like a coiled spring ready to go for it.

Oh and after that tender moment in the sauna we thought, sod it. We love being on the bike together and want to do something special together. You hear it here first; we're cycling from John O'Groats to Land’s End in late September. Who's up for that one with us!??

Yeah baby, yeah – Dave’s training blog

Brr brr, brr brr……….I picked up the phone! It was late last Saturday night, it was Ben – his tone soft but with authority: ’I’ve got my mojo back, it’s time! Tomorrow at 10.00’

* * * * *

The day came. I was hot, flushed and excited, yet had a tinge of embarrassment as the senorita, unstable on her knees, gazed up at me with my nuts in her hand. My BIKE nuts thank you, what were you thinking?
Ben was in fits of laughter, we’d only peddled for 1km and my pedal and crank completely came off the bike and was left dangling off the end of my shoe. I thanked the old lady for picking up my nuts and we ‘limped’ back to the garage for repairs. It took some time and Ben was getting agitated: ‘Come on Einstein’! He was bored and wanted to be back on the bike.

It’s been tough for Ben recently – not just the sheer heat and volume of work on top of the training schedule, but the realisation of the task ahead. I always knew this event was 50% about training the body, 50% training the mind. With an event with such a long lead in time you have to be mentally tough because it’s an emotional rollercoaster. Ben is strapped into a rollercoaster that keeps going round and round in a continuous loop. He’s done the first loop – reaching the top after the amazing buzz of completing the 312, in fact he went round about 15 exciting corkscrews with the press and adulation he received. But when that dies down and it all goes quiet, you’re on your own, peddling for hour after hour, sweat, discomfort and isolation. Think about it: it’s tough, it’s mentally very tough and this is one of the hardest parts of Ben’s ride. I don’t think anyone can begin to imagine, it is THE RIDE OF HIS LIFE.

Ben's re-found his Mojo!!

I was so happy to hear he felt his mojo had come back, good on yer fella! This month was a massive hurdle you jumped over without realising.

So, back to the cycling, the pressure’s been on to reach the volume of km’s to keep on track with the schedule and Ben’s put in some impressive rides recently. Last weekend he completed two strong 80km rides in consecutive days at a good pace – around the 20km an hour mark – our target for the actual event. I rode with Ben on Sunday for 23km, the first time since May. How things have changed as he was training me, giving me technical tips on big descents. He’s come a long way in a very short time, he’s learning everyday and loving the technology behind the training and sharing his new found knowledge. I know that’s a fantastic part of the experience for him.

We’re back in the gym this week working on lower body strength, a really gruelling session on Monday after those big weekend rides. The legs were sore but was he complaining? Not at all! He‘s a bit sadistic – if he feels no pain he doesn’t believe there’s any gain.

Here’s a bit of trivia for you – no pain, no gain is a well used gym motto and was used by Jane Fonda who was the first celebrity actress to promote fitness videos. For those that can remember she used to wear hot pants, figure hugging tops and a sweatband – very eighties! Has anyone noticed Ben’s current attire cycling around Mallorca…? Hmmm… at the least the sweatband’s not pink, well for now… yeah baby, yeah!

Claire's weekend challenge report!

Our ride from the top of Soller mountains back to Portals took us 3 hours, mainly due to the fact, I needed to take a few breaks and water my bits and pieces to calm the pain down, and its was 32.5 degrees in the shade!

Was given the chance to quit 3 times, and I refused each one! (And for the sceptics back in the UK, who think I just write this for fun and don't actually do it, here's the photographic evidence!)

Considering I only got back on a bike 2 weeks ago, I'm so delighted that I didn't give up and I will continue with my training when I get home with my own bike when I go and buy one!

What all this has done is put into perspective what Ben has achieved so far and trains daily to keep on achieving! Remember back in June Ben competed in the 312km Mallorca race? Considering he'd only bought his bike in January and that everyone was telling him he was insane to even attempt (let alone in agony), Ben did the impossible in extreme pain and blistering heat!

We did a tenth of that yesterday and did the first 4km down a mountain, not the first 100km up the Tramuntana mountains!!

We all got back to Mood, totally exhausted and elated! Ben had the biggest grin on his face because his big sis didn't give up! Dan and Dave both had a little soreness of the nether regions too and put me to shame! Woodhouse better look out when we get back, the bikes will be out on a regular basis and training will continue!

Return of the Mack – Dave’s training diary

Not sure if you remember that song, one of my favourites. Now there's two reasons for the title:

1. I've just returned to the island


2. the singer was a bit of a dodgy fella and always pointing guns at people... that's why Mark Morrison wasn't on the music scene for too long!

‘Hold on’, I hear you saying... 'what's this got to do with Ben and his training?' Well, when I was in the UK I recall a telephone conversation with Ben where he was telling me that this Swiss ball is easy: ‘I've been doing hundreds and can't feel it doing a thing!’

Roll on last Monday, our first session back in the gym. What Ben didn't realise was that my stopwatch was in my mind a gun... ‘Oh you bugger... ohhh you bugger... ohhh you bugger – arhhh!’ His face was purple, sweat dripping down his temple, pupils bulging, his bum was twitching (because he had a Swiss ball jammed between his knees!). He was in the firing line and he knew he was in trouble. ‘Now Ben, were you doing a hundred of these?’ I blew the barrel of the smoking gun... I mean stopwatch! We're back on track.

It's currently a tough time for our caped crusader; it is seriously hot and very, very tough to train. Ben is so hard on himself, it's tough for me to keep him pegged back and get him to realise just how far he has come. For me the hardest part is to keep him focused on today, taking small steps towards the ultimate goal - I'm sure if the team hadn't set the dates and built the website he would have quietly just snuck off already on his own!

Please feel for Laura, Ben’s lovely wife, this week. I can't tell you how much Ben was badgering me to go on a ride with him on Saturday – and I just couldn't. So it was poor Laura's turn to feel the pain!

She arrived at the gym on Saturday morning to collect her bike, looking all dainty in nice heeled shoes. I could sense she was a bike virgin... soon to be taken... taken to a beautiful place, ridden hard ‘til exhaustion, yet at the same time to feel exhilarated... to wake up on Sunday morning in the arms of the caped crusader knowing that she was safe... until the next time!

Ben's got bats in the...belfry - Dave's training diary

Well it's been a while since my last blog, mainly as Ben's a unique 'specimen' from a trainer’s angle. He doesn't need a Mr Motivator breathing down his neck, just give him a bit of direction, wind him up like a kids toy and he's off ten to the dozen!

Hold that thought – his energy & determination push him around training like a mad dog chasing his tail - get the picture now? Seriously it's like that, and he's like a big kid too – egging me on trying to prove a point. I'll give you an example telephone conversation:

‘So how did you do last night?’
‘75km’
‘Hold on, you were only supposed to do 50km!’
‘Well it means if you join me on Saturday then there's 25km less to do!'

So Ben's just had his head tucked down, following the plan and tapering the last week for the "312" which I'll tell you about in a mo.

Mind you he had a shock a couple of weeks ago that really made me laugh. Superman (recall the last blog?) was on a 100km evening ride. It was pitch black (apart from his meagre bike lights) and cycling through very quiet, wooded country lanes – and when I say mean quiet, you can literally hear a pin drop - that's a scary, lonely place to be!

All Ben heard was ‘Shwooooosh’ and he felt a warm sensation on his… let’s just call it his "neither regions"! He looked down and there was a large bat! You can imagine his surprise and shock as he took a few swipes to remove the winged menace!

His legs have never moved so fast - it was the best performance he has put in to date. So our superhero must now be re-named BATMAN. In Ben's interest (and in the name of health and safety) I checked the diet of this Mallorcan breed of Bat and apparently they only eat maggots… so you'll be ok won't you, Ben!

So let's get down to the 312 race from a trainer’s angle and let's pull no punches – there's no way he should have done it. 312km around the coastline of Mallorca, with the first 150km comprising huge mountain terrain. When I took on the challenge to train Ben he threw this in at the last minute – I just laughed because it just wasn’t realistic.

In those short weeks not only did he do it, he finished 30 out of 200 – with the other 170 not even finishing the punishing ride (and they were all fitter, stronger and better equipped than Ben) What they didn't have is Ben's massive heart – the heart of a Lion.

I spoke to Ben the night before and asked him how he felt. ‘A bit scared and excited, but I've decided that the most important thing is just to enjoy it’, he told me. We discussed breaking the race down into manageable chunks, focussing on sections of the race, achieving that, taking stock and moving onto the next section. We discussed that this was not a race, it was part of the journey – it's just part of the marathon training to get ready for the 6,000km challenge. It didn't matter whether he finished, I just wanted him to train hard and push himself to the limits – but safely.

Do you know what – I think he sort of listened to me… but he also had his own agenda! He was going to finish. He told me: ‘I don't care if it's midnight, I'm going to do it!’ I tried to keep his feet on the ground but when you have the heart of a lion..!

I waited at Palma Nova roundabout at the halfway mark, expecting him to be pushing hard but making up numbers at the back. Cenk texted to say he was on his way and I waited and waited, watching groups of hardened racers pass by. I waited for nearly 90 minutes and phoned Cenk who told me he’d passed Mood Beach over 20 minutes ago. Do you know I thought I’d seen him, head down, focused, in a small group of serious riders! Well, when you have the heart of a lion!

I underestimated him - more faith and I wouldn't have a big burnt nose!