It has been a very busy last few weeks.
The main news is that I have been appointed as the Sports and Remedial Massage Therapist at Shepperton Chiropractic Clinic and join the team at the practice with immediate affect. I am replacing Lesley Bryant who is a very experienced massage therapist with a CV most therapists can only dream of. It is a big challenge for me and one I am relishing.
I am working at the Shepperton practice on Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons and evenings.
I will still be available at the Battersea and Woking practices Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday – so if you want to book in for an appointment at Battersea or Woking give me a call.
My training has stepped up with Challenge Henley not too far away now. I’m racing before that event in a few time trials on the bike – the first being the Southern Counties Cycling Union 100 mile in just under a fortnights time. I feel prepared for what is going to be a tough morning in the saddle after a good training ride of 90 miles on a hilly course in the Brecon Beacons last weekend – it was tough and I had to dig deep at mile 75 (in truth I wanted to climb off of the bike and call my girlfriend to see if she would come and pick me up but I carried on!!!).
My recovery time has obviously been spent watching this years edition of the Tour de France and what a race it has been so far – some great racing but a real shame to see some of the race favourites crashing on various stages and retiring from the race – including recently crowned British Road Race Champion, Bradley Wiggins who was hoping to finish the race on the podium.
It hasn’t even got to any of the mountain stages yet and the excitement has been great, normally the first week is decided with a bunch sprint and apart from the occasional break-away not that exciting, not this year though. Hopefully the rest of the race will continue to be as gripping.
Some fantastic ironman-distance triathlon performances over the last two weekends. Marino Vanhoenacker set a worlds best ironman distance time at Ironman Austria finishing in a staggering 7 hours, 45 minutes, 49 seconds only to see it beaten this weekend at Challenge Roth. Andreas Raelert finished in 7:41:33. The previous record held by Luc Van Lierde, also set in Roth had stood since 1997.
The amazing Chrissie Wellington broke her own world record (set the previous year at Challenge Roth) finishing in 8 hours, 18 minutes, 13 seconds. Chrissie has raced 12 ironman distance races and has won all 12 setting a new benchmark for women’s racing along the way – remarkable achievement.
For those of you racing Ironman Wales this year get yourself a copy of Cycling Weekly (dated 7th July) – there is a course report on the Wales Sportive ride which was held on the same course as the Ironman Wales bike course – well worth a read. If you can’t get hold of a copy it may be up on the Cycling Weekly website.
It has been very encouraging to hear from some of my clients over the last month who have put in some fine performances in the races/events/competitions they have entered – a few personal bests as well. Keep up the good work as it encourages me as both an athlete and therapist.
Cheers
Rich
