Boot Camp last Saturday: what started as a gorgeous sunny May weekend – let’s do a junior Boot Camp – turned into snow. It actually snowed on Tiree. In May?? Anyway, it cleared up and a decent session was had doing some intervals on the beach looking at pacing for 100m and 400m. Good work everyone. Thanks for participating in the unplanned, or unannounced, photoshoot after.

Tiree Fitness client and Team Tiree Member, Gordon Scott, is just about to set off on his latest challenge: to trek across Scotland from west coast to east coast.

Gordon, aged 56, is taking part in The Great Outdoors Challenge 2012, an annual self-supported walking event across the Highlands of Scotland, west coast to east coast.  Gordon’s trek, a journey of 166 miles, will take him into the wilds of Scotland carrying everything he needs in his backpack.

“I first learned off the TGO Challenge while listening to The Outdoors Station podcast and always thought it was something I’d love to do,” said Gordon. “I’ve had to learn a lot of new skills, map reading and use of a compass in particular.”

Gordon first took up fitness in 2006 when he decided to run the first ever Tiree 10k.  Although he had previously completed both the West Highland and Great Glen Ways and completed a few long distance bicycle journeys, he admits he wasn’t really fit.

Since that first 10k, Gordon has not only run several more 10k’s but has also completed the Loch Ness Marathon.  “Hand on heart,” he goes on, “I can do things now in my mid-50s that I couldn’t do when I was less than half my age.  It’s never too late to get fit and achieve your ambitions in life.”

And just to underline this point, in 2009 Gordon, achieved a lifetime ambition when he successfully trekked to Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 17,500 feet above sea level.

“I expect to complete the Challenge in 10 days.  It will be fairly intensive, not only making demands on my physical endurance but also my mental resilience.”

Gordon begins his journey on Friday 11^th May.

Here’s a report on the Edinburgh Half Marathon – indeed the Rock n Roll Half Marathon – a live band every mile and a few mock rock stars donning the running shoes. But was it Paradise City or more like a Highway to Hell – boom boom; read on.

Three members of Team Tiree were running this event, along with support from Joe Kav and the Kav Clan, Lala, our friends/family in Edinburgh and of course the little guy Maurice.

For Anne Kavanagh this was to be the first Half Marathon and follows some dedicated training with a few runs pushing 14 miles as well as the weekly Team Tiree Brick session. We also did a block of hill work at the start of the year and more recently did some faster intervals on the beach.

A first time at this distance for Becky as well. Becky has been training at the circuit classes throughout the winter and has been clocking up increasing mileage around Tiree. Although she’s run the Tiree 10k before this represents a big step up for Becky, she’s so often stood on the other side of the fence while accompanying me to events, so it’s now her lining up on the start line, and it’s her turn to feel all those pre-race nerves.

The last half I ran was at the beginning of last season and everything else has been part of triathlon events. My half marathon PB was during a triathlon at the British Championships last year where I ran 1hr20. I was keen to see what fresh legs would yield.

Despite fears over not finishing, not being able to do it, coming last, etc etc, Becky ran the whole 13.1 miles and beat her target of 2½ hrs by finishing in 2hrs27. I was so proud of her and all that she has achieved. Becky is going on now to run the Tiree 10k later this month with her sights set on a new PB.

Anne’s hard training paid off. She was aiming at under 2hrs and managed a 1hr52 finish. The race had been a Christmas present from Joe so Happy Christmas Anne! She’s also running the Tiree 10k in a few weeks, Team Tiree is getting stronger and stronger.

I managed to stand right at the front for the start and stuck with the lead group of 5 most of the way round. A new experience for me as I usually let everyone go off the front and spend the rest of the race playing catch up. It seemed to work, I found the pace manageable and ran the first 10km in a PB of 35mins. Towards the end the eventual winner who was a female pro athlete from Portugal overtook me. I finished a minute off her time in 4^th place overall and 3^rd male. Delighted. Got prize money, a pair of Skechers shoes and entry to the VIP tent. How glam! Finishing time was 1hr17 so another PB and certainly bodes well for the coming season. The course was hilly so it’s got me thinking of a sub 1hr15…. If only we could be satisfied with what we’ve just done!

Great effort from Team Tiree. Onwards to the Tiree 10k on May 26^th.

Every triathlon magazine has numerous articles on what to eat, what supplements to take, gels, drinks, bars and electrolyte tabs. Is that not just a load of marketing hype based around products that we dont really need? Haven’t people been racing bikes for years just drinking water? Well I dont know, I figured I’d just do my own test and ride a few 100 milers using different fuel tactics and see what happened.

To see the results have a look at my new blog http://tireetriathlete.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks everyone who sponsored the cyclists going round Tiree for Odeta – you raised £386 which today was transferred to Odeta. She will need this more than ever now as she plans the next stage of seeing her children who are in Uganda. Humbling stuff. I’ll probably not post any more on here for her own privacy but feel free to contact me or Becky for updates on how she’s getting on.

Team Tiree training camps took place during the Easter holidays. A mix of visitors and local residents took part in the 3 day camp which focussed on mountain biking and running.

The final day saw the group tackle a cross country run followed by a short mountain bike skills course. This was put into a cyclocross/duathlon style event with everyone completing as many laps as they could in 20 minutes. Everyone worked flat out and posted good scores before collapsing in a heap.

Thanks to everyone who came along and we’ll hopefully hold some more sessions now that we’re into spring. Anyone who missed the camps please just drop me an email or give me a call and I’ll add your names to the team.

An invitation to join a impromptu cycle tomorrow – some of you may remember a couple of years ago the Tiree Baptist Church organized a Weekend of Sanctuary for refugees now living in Halifax – there were some remarkable people who had endured terrible hardships who came to Tiree and it was a privilege to meet them. Anyway, one of those people was Odeta, she is from Rwanda and now lives and works in Halifax. She lost her 3 children in horrible circumstances as she escaped to the UK, her children are alive but she hasn’t seen them for 10 years. To cut a long story short, the children have been found in Uganda and she has a hearing on Thursday this week where the courts will decide if she can bring her eldest daughter to the UK and be reunited with her. Becky and John are traveling down to Halifax today to appear as character witnesses and give their support to her.
The nursing home that Odeta works in has just closed down which adds to her difficulties so I figured a simple way we could help on the day of her hearing would be to do a sponsored cycle round the Tiree loop – £5 entry – all goes to help Odetta – I’ve got some prizes – you can start whenever/wherever you like, join up or do it on your own whatever you like. If you cant do it then sponsor someone else to do it. I’m raising the bar and getting up early in the morning to attempt to ride 100 miles on Tiree so if you’re looking for someone to do the work for you put your £5 on me. Hopefully I will see some of you out on your bikes. The hearing is at 10am tomorrow. Let me know if you’re in or if you want to sponsor.

Well done everyone who did the run on Sunday. Part of the lead up to the Tiree 10k in May means doing a 5km challenge every month. All the times are logged so in a few weeks we’re doing this again. Anyone who missed the run you’re welcome to post your own times. Just drop me an email. We’re seeing some encouraging results so keep up the good work everyone.

It’s been a challenging winter for getting out training. In fact getting out at all has been a struggle at times with winds reaching over 100mph and rain lashing the island and wreaking havoc with the roads. November and December were a write off but the last couple of months have been pretty solid. Anyway, race season is coming up so it’s a case of just getting on with it.

Last year started badly with my first DNF at the Belvoir Triathlon, but finished well with a 3rd place at the European Championships and a win at the Scottish Champs and the Off road Championship title. Plans for 2012 are to race the World Championships in Spain in July and then race Challenge Barcelona in September. My Ironman record is 10hrs35 which was a few years ago and under prepared, having done quite a bit since then it would be good to go back and try and smash that time. Becky and I are doing the Rock n Roll half marathon in April and there’s a whole bunch of UK events throughout the year leading up to the longer races.

On Tiree there seems to be more people than ever out running, monthly 5km challenges and the prospect of running the Tiree 10k in May seems to be working. The Tiree Sports Foundation, Team Tiree, has been in hibernation throughout the gales but is slowly emerging as spring approaches.

So if you’ve not been out yet perhaps it’s time to dust off the bike, even check it in for a service, pump up the tires, take a deep breath and get to it. I’ll see you on the road.

So far I’ve got times from 11 people, I know there’s more of you who have done this so can you let me know how you got on. It’s time for round 2 as we come towards the end of February so put your trainers back on and head out the door. Fortunately the weather has been stunning recently with plenty of rain and wind to keep us refreshed so no excuses please.

This weekend, Sunday 4th March at 3pm we will do another 5km route. As usual you can actually do this whenever you want and arrange your own groups if you like, Sunday afternoon is there if you want to join in with us, you’re very welcome.

The route: Sandaig – from the Gym run towards Heylipol Chruch. Turn around at the Loch just before the church and run back to the gym. Do 20 press ups if you dont improve your time.

The course is now open for business so get to it!