In November 2004 I was searching the www and stumbled across Ultraman Canada. The event captured my imagination and I thought would be a good way to exorcise a few demons from a poor season. I also thought it would be a good way to test a few training ideas about ultra running as one of my coached athletes had previously expressed an interest in running the London to Brighton road run. I therefore submitted a potted history of my ‘racing’ history and requested an entry. This was agreed and was the start of an interesting journey.

The event itself takes place over three days in the Okanagan/ Similkameen regions of British Columbia. The event HQ is in Penticton, the home of Ironman Canada. Day 1 involves a 10k point-to-point lake swim and a 150k bike. Day 2 a 273.5k bike, and Day 3 a mere double marathon, yes, 84.3k of running.

The distances were daunting in November but I figured I’d plenty of time to train and started to prepare a training schedule to take me to Ultraman Canada.

Despite the best of intentions this plan only got visited during December, January and February to revise the start date and adjust the following weeks accordingly. The real kick- start to my training occurred on Sunday March 6th 2005. I spent the best part of an hour being dragged round a 2 up time trial course by my good friend Neil (Keirsy). I think I may have spent 30 seconds on the front, but I may be being optimistic there. I hurt, had no power, no speed and was truly in a bad way.

In the following months I became reacquainted with my bike and treated myself to several cycling breaks in Spain and Portugal in order to ride some proper hills and enjoy riding with the sun on my back. Thanks to these trips I developed some great cyclists tan lines and began to get a bit of form on my bike. These trips were supplemented by a number of audax rides.

On the running front I began to develop the length of my long runs and entered a couple of off road marathons to act as a guide to how my form was progressing. These suggested I was in some of the best running form of recent years and gave me a good morale boost as Ultraman approached. A marathon is still a lot shorter than a double marathon (exactly half way in fact) but I was feeling positive about my running.

As for my swimming.. I joined a gym that had a lovely, quiet 25m pool. I visited the gym regularly. Why wouldn’t I? It had a Starbucks franchise, a lovely steam room. The steam room was to prove a bit of a problem as to reach the pool you had to turn right, the steam room was a left turn. Far too many times I got my left and right confused and enjoyed a relaxing steam in preference to swimming endless lengths and doing those drill type things. I would NOT recommend this practice but it is a great steam room.

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