Disaster Diaries

Wait for the drop!
Here is a little background to my disaster diary, having recently moved to London and wanting to make a good impression, I entered myself and some of my athletes into a race up in my home territory of the North East of England. Some had never raced before, so it was important for me to show them how it is done. We jumped on the train to Newcastle and planned to do a pre-race recon of the course. Before that, having just received my first London weighting paycheck, I decided to treat myself to some new deep section racing wheels. As is often the case when you walk into a bike shop, I did not end up with deepsection racing wheels I went in for, but rather a brand new bike and a cushy long term repayment scheme…
Come race day, the nerves were high, the weather was on our side and we were all fresh and excited. The new bike had been tested during the recon and rode like a dream. We were happy with the course and knew where all the dodgy potholes were. After going through our race preparations with an ABC check (air, brake, chain), we signed on and there was nothing left to do but race.
At the start line, as Sean Kelly would say, ‘the sensations were good’. The race was 4 laps of a 25km loop with a few technical climbs and some furiously flat country roads, it was going to be a fun race. The starter gun went after 1km of neutral zone which cued the game face. As the race wore on, more and more people got spat out the back after various attacks pinged off the front. I closed down a few and was feeling really good. On the start of lap 3, the bunch had whittled down from around 60 to 20 cyclists, when I had a sudden onset of fatigue. Thinking this seemed a bit off, I had a gel and took a sip from my brand new (match-the-colour-of-my-bike) water bottle, which I then threw away, a true hubbard move. After just managing to stay with the group on the hills, we entered the fastest part of the race, a 60kph stretch along a nice straight bit of road.
BANG! Suddenly I had cramp everywhere, I hopped out of the saddle but by this point my legs were going into full rigamortus! I was flabbergasted, what was going on? I wasn’t hurting, my RPE was around 6/10. What had happened? I fought to stay in the group but eventually lost, I was spat out the back as I wasn’t able to turn the pedals. On sitting back down I realised my knees were almost hitting me in the chin. I stopped, looked down and realised my saddle had completely dropped! It must have been sliding down throughout the race until a pothole had really finished it off. Absolute nightmare! I then had to spend the next 30 minutes explaining to serveral friends that had come a long to watch, why they didnt see me on the final lap.
Moral of the story? Don’t just check your ABC’s before a bike race. Check everything! Especially if it’s a brand new bike!

ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean

Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.
.jpg)
Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
.jpg)
Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3

Wait for the drop!
Here is a little background to my disaster diary, having recently moved to London and wanting to make a good impression, I entered myself and some of my athletes into a race up in my home territory of the North East of England. Some had never raced before, so it was important for me to show them how it is done. We jumped on the train to Newcastle and planned to do a pre-race recon of the course. Before that, having just received my first London weighting paycheck, I decided to treat myself to some new deep section racing wheels. As is often the case when you walk into a bike shop, I did not end up with deepsection racing wheels I went in for, but rather a brand new bike and a cushy long term repayment scheme…
Come race day, the nerves were high, the weather was on our side and we were all fresh and excited. The new bike had been tested during the recon and rode like a dream. We were happy with the course and knew where all the dodgy potholes were. After going through our race preparations with an ABC check (air, brake, chain), we signed on and there was nothing left to do but race.
At the start line, as Sean Kelly would say, ‘the sensations were good’. The race was 4 laps of a 25km loop with a few technical climbs and some furiously flat country roads, it was going to be a fun race. The starter gun went after 1km of neutral zone which cued the game face. As the race wore on, more and more people got spat out the back after various attacks pinged off the front. I closed down a few and was feeling really good. On the start of lap 3, the bunch had whittled down from around 60 to 20 cyclists, when I had a sudden onset of fatigue. Thinking this seemed a bit off, I had a gel and took a sip from my brand new (match-the-colour-of-my-bike) water bottle, which I then threw away, a true hubbard move. After just managing to stay with the group on the hills, we entered the fastest part of the race, a 60kph stretch along a nice straight bit of road.
BANG! Suddenly I had cramp everywhere, I hopped out of the saddle but by this point my legs were going into full rigamortus! I was flabbergasted, what was going on? I wasn’t hurting, my RPE was around 6/10. What had happened? I fought to stay in the group but eventually lost, I was spat out the back as I wasn’t able to turn the pedals. On sitting back down I realised my knees were almost hitting me in the chin. I stopped, looked down and realised my saddle had completely dropped! It must have been sliding down throughout the race until a pothole had really finished it off. Absolute nightmare! I then had to spend the next 30 minutes explaining to serveral friends that had come a long to watch, why they didnt see me on the final lap.
Moral of the story? Don’t just check your ABC’s before a bike race. Check everything! Especially if it’s a brand new bike!

Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.
.jpg)
Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
.jpg)
Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3

ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean

Wait for the drop!
Here is a little background to my disaster diary, having recently moved to London and wanting to make a good impression, I entered myself and some of my athletes into a race up in my home territory of the North East of England. Some had never raced before, so it was important for me to show them how it is done. We jumped on the train to Newcastle and planned to do a pre-race recon of the course. Before that, having just received my first London weighting paycheck, I decided to treat myself to some new deep section racing wheels. As is often the case when you walk into a bike shop, I did not end up with deepsection racing wheels I went in for, but rather a brand new bike and a cushy long term repayment scheme…
Come race day, the nerves were high, the weather was on our side and we were all fresh and excited. The new bike had been tested during the recon and rode like a dream. We were happy with the course and knew where all the dodgy potholes were. After going through our race preparations with an ABC check (air, brake, chain), we signed on and there was nothing left to do but race.
At the start line, as Sean Kelly would say, ‘the sensations were good’. The race was 4 laps of a 25km loop with a few technical climbs and some furiously flat country roads, it was going to be a fun race. The starter gun went after 1km of neutral zone which cued the game face. As the race wore on, more and more people got spat out the back after various attacks pinged off the front. I closed down a few and was feeling really good. On the start of lap 3, the bunch had whittled down from around 60 to 20 cyclists, when I had a sudden onset of fatigue. Thinking this seemed a bit off, I had a gel and took a sip from my brand new (match-the-colour-of-my-bike) water bottle, which I then threw away, a true hubbard move. After just managing to stay with the group on the hills, we entered the fastest part of the race, a 60kph stretch along a nice straight bit of road.
BANG! Suddenly I had cramp everywhere, I hopped out of the saddle but by this point my legs were going into full rigamortus! I was flabbergasted, what was going on? I wasn’t hurting, my RPE was around 6/10. What had happened? I fought to stay in the group but eventually lost, I was spat out the back as I wasn’t able to turn the pedals. On sitting back down I realised my knees were almost hitting me in the chin. I stopped, looked down and realised my saddle had completely dropped! It must have been sliding down throughout the race until a pothole had really finished it off. Absolute nightmare! I then had to spend the next 30 minutes explaining to serveral friends that had come a long to watch, why they didnt see me on the final lap.
Moral of the story? Don’t just check your ABC’s before a bike race. Check everything! Especially if it’s a brand new bike!
.jpg)
Monday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. This week we will be running 600m repeats. Which will start at 5km pace and progress to 3km pace, so that the pace increases within each rep.
Wednesday
There is no in person session this week at LRC. Those who are Unlimited Members, your Training Peaks have been programmed still.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be running a negative split session, meaning that the second half is faster than the first. After 30 mins of easy running, lock into a 20 mins block of effort from 7 - 9 RPE.
Saturday
Time: 5:15am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 56km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
Sunday
Time: 6:00am
Location: Cape Town
Session: Two Oceans
Today the 21km runners will be taking on Two Oceans.
.jpg)
Eid Mubarak, we hope you all have a great long weekend! Class times are different this week, so please check the schedule on Mindbody! We have a great week lined up, so see you all on the gym floor!
Monday:
We start the week with an epic partner workout. Grab a partner, and let's start the week with a bang!
Conditioning:
40 min amrap in pairs
50 Cal Row
6 wall walks
50 CB Clean and Jerk
6 Wall Walks
50 Box Jump Overs
6 Wall Walks
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we have some push-and-pull work in our strength area, focused on overhead pressing, and then 2 12-minute AMRAPs for you to get stuck into.
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 Alt between
A: 8 Dual DB Z press
B: 20 Alt Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
12 min amrap
30 Wall balls
30/25 cal ski
30 Double Unders
Rest 3 Mins
12 min amrap
30/25 Sal Ass bike
20 V Ups
20 Russian KB Swings
Wednesday:
Wednesday, we are hitting some paused back squats in the strength, and then we get after a real grind of a WOD with some burpee pull-ups, front squats, and running.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 6 - 3/3/2/2/1/1 Tempo Back Squats @21X1
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time
5 Front Squats
Pool Run
5 burpee pull-ups
Thursday:
Thursday, snatch complex with some accessory, followed by the workout ACID BATH.
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 8 - 1 Snatch Pull + 1 hang Power Snatch +
1 Power snatch
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 3 - 5 Snatch Grip Deadlift
Conditioning:
For time
500m ski
500m row
1000m c2 bike
Friday:
FUF - Finishing the week with some push-pull work in the strength, before an all-in barbell workout to end the week! What Better!
Strength:
Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 push press
rest 3 mins
Every 2 mins x 4 complete 6 DB bench Press @ 30x1 + 3-5 strict pull ups
Conditioning:
5 min amrap
9 Deadlift
6 Hang Power Clean
3 STOH
Rest 3 mins x 3

ENGINE
Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’re focusing on pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping, and butterfly will appear, followed by lat and core supersets.
On Thursday evening, we’ll focus on handstand hold progressions before having some fun with handstand walks and finishing off the session with core and strength work.
HYROX
This is the Last Simulation before race week. We will lower the volume but keep the intensity high to make sure you are ready for race day!
ENGINE: Long EMOM with a mixture of machines and body weight exercises
MOBILITY
This week, we have the topic: Why are your calves and hamstrings always tight? What can we do to remedy this? Get yourself booked in, and I will show you! This is a great session for everyone, but it is extra beneficial to those runners out there!
PURE STRENGTH
This week's pure strength, we have a chance to progress our 20 RM RDL, followed by some heavy press and strict press cluster sets.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are focusing on the squat clean. With a fun complex followed by some pulls. Perfect technique session, working on the barbell timing and full depth in the clean

Monday Ride
A ride dedicated to group riding skills and some fitness. Coach Rob Foster leads this ride, if you'd like to join email Rob Foster.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Jebel Jais Ride
Today our weekly endurance ride is at Jebel Jais! If you're interested to join email us here.

Wait for the drop!
Here is a little background to my disaster diary, having recently moved to London and wanting to make a good impression, I entered myself and some of my athletes into a race up in my home territory of the North East of England. Some had never raced before, so it was important for me to show them how it is done. We jumped on the train to Newcastle and planned to do a pre-race recon of the course. Before that, having just received my first London weighting paycheck, I decided to treat myself to some new deep section racing wheels. As is often the case when you walk into a bike shop, I did not end up with deepsection racing wheels I went in for, but rather a brand new bike and a cushy long term repayment scheme…
Come race day, the nerves were high, the weather was on our side and we were all fresh and excited. The new bike had been tested during the recon and rode like a dream. We were happy with the course and knew where all the dodgy potholes were. After going through our race preparations with an ABC check (air, brake, chain), we signed on and there was nothing left to do but race.
At the start line, as Sean Kelly would say, ‘the sensations were good’. The race was 4 laps of a 25km loop with a few technical climbs and some furiously flat country roads, it was going to be a fun race. The starter gun went after 1km of neutral zone which cued the game face. As the race wore on, more and more people got spat out the back after various attacks pinged off the front. I closed down a few and was feeling really good. On the start of lap 3, the bunch had whittled down from around 60 to 20 cyclists, when I had a sudden onset of fatigue. Thinking this seemed a bit off, I had a gel and took a sip from my brand new (match-the-colour-of-my-bike) water bottle, which I then threw away, a true hubbard move. After just managing to stay with the group on the hills, we entered the fastest part of the race, a 60kph stretch along a nice straight bit of road.
BANG! Suddenly I had cramp everywhere, I hopped out of the saddle but by this point my legs were going into full rigamortus! I was flabbergasted, what was going on? I wasn’t hurting, my RPE was around 6/10. What had happened? I fought to stay in the group but eventually lost, I was spat out the back as I wasn’t able to turn the pedals. On sitting back down I realised my knees were almost hitting me in the chin. I stopped, looked down and realised my saddle had completely dropped! It must have been sliding down throughout the race until a pothole had really finished it off. Absolute nightmare! I then had to spend the next 30 minutes explaining to serveral friends that had come a long to watch, why they didnt see me on the final lap.
Moral of the story? Don’t just check your ABC’s before a bike race. Check everything! Especially if it’s a brand new bike!

Wait for the drop!
Here is a little background to my disaster diary, having recently moved to London and wanting to make a good impression, I entered myself and some of my athletes into a race up in my home territory of the North East of England. Some had never raced before, so it was important for me to show them how it is done. We jumped on the train to Newcastle and planned to do a pre-race recon of the course. Before that, having just received my first London weighting paycheck, I decided to treat myself to some new deep section racing wheels. As is often the case when you walk into a bike shop, I did not end up with deepsection racing wheels I went in for, but rather a brand new bike and a cushy long term repayment scheme…
Come race day, the nerves were high, the weather was on our side and we were all fresh and excited. The new bike had been tested during the recon and rode like a dream. We were happy with the course and knew where all the dodgy potholes were. After going through our race preparations with an ABC check (air, brake, chain), we signed on and there was nothing left to do but race.
At the start line, as Sean Kelly would say, ‘the sensations were good’. The race was 4 laps of a 25km loop with a few technical climbs and some furiously flat country roads, it was going to be a fun race. The starter gun went after 1km of neutral zone which cued the game face. As the race wore on, more and more people got spat out the back after various attacks pinged off the front. I closed down a few and was feeling really good. On the start of lap 3, the bunch had whittled down from around 60 to 20 cyclists, when I had a sudden onset of fatigue. Thinking this seemed a bit off, I had a gel and took a sip from my brand new (match-the-colour-of-my-bike) water bottle, which I then threw away, a true hubbard move. After just managing to stay with the group on the hills, we entered the fastest part of the race, a 60kph stretch along a nice straight bit of road.
BANG! Suddenly I had cramp everywhere, I hopped out of the saddle but by this point my legs were going into full rigamortus! I was flabbergasted, what was going on? I wasn’t hurting, my RPE was around 6/10. What had happened? I fought to stay in the group but eventually lost, I was spat out the back as I wasn’t able to turn the pedals. On sitting back down I realised my knees were almost hitting me in the chin. I stopped, looked down and realised my saddle had completely dropped! It must have been sliding down throughout the race until a pothole had really finished it off. Absolute nightmare! I then had to spend the next 30 minutes explaining to serveral friends that had come a long to watch, why they didnt see me on the final lap.
Moral of the story? Don’t just check your ABC’s before a bike race. Check everything! Especially if it’s a brand new bike!

One-Hour Workout: Revving Your Swim Engine
