Lanzarote Training Camp

Just returned from an excellent 2 week training camp in the town of Playa Blanca on the southern tip of Lanzarote. Truely warm weather as the ‘calima’ wind blew in high humidity and high temperatures (max 39deg) from Africa.

Stuck to my normal training plan but added in extra cycling and walking and as I had access to sauna and steam room did extra heat training as well. Was able to focus on rest and recovery, flexibility work etc.

All ready now for the Surgeres 48 hour race (the de-facto 48 Hour World Championships) in south west France on May 16-18th.

Major article now published

My first major article on “Endurance Nutrition Problems” has now been published on the myProtein web site read it here:

Gastro-Intestinal problems

in Endurance Training and Competition?

 

Possible Do-It-Yourself Solutions from an athlete’s perspective

Race updates

Athens 24Hour Race updates

27/03/08

15:36 - After 4 hours William is 2nd in the race - 43.75km (27 miles).

17:10 - William still 2nd with 65km (40.2 miles). Heat of the day has gone (23C) and darkness falls.

19:39 - After 8 hours William is 1st with 84km (52 miles). Dark and cool.

28/03/08

01:30 - After 14 hours William is 3rd with 127km (79 miles).

03:41 - After 16 hours William is 3rd with 137km (85 miles).

05:27 - After 18 hours William 3rd with 149km (92 miles).

07:24 - After 20 hours William is still in 3rd position with 163km (101 miles).

09:08 - After 22 hours William is in 3rd position with 176km (111 miles). Very heavy rain!

11:17 - After 24 hours William is in 3rd position with 190km (118 miles. Rain clears for the last hour.

Athens International Ultramarathon Festival

I’m off tomorrow morning for my season opening race in the above Festival.  The Festival includes both a 7 day race which is already underway and then my 24 Hour event which starts at 1pm (local time) on Thursday.

The race web site is http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/baxevani/index.html 

Race updates will be posted here on this blog during my 24 Hour race.  Thanks to Orcadia Design for this.

I’m in good form and looking forward to a good performance in Athens.

New PowerLung Sponsorship

I’m delighted to announce that my new Respiratory Training Device sponsor is to be PowerLung.  The PowerLung is a super device that trains both your inspiratory as well as your expiratory muscles.

Altitude training in Kenya off

With much regret I have been forced to cancel my long planned high altitude training trip to Kenya.  We were due to stay at the Lornah Kiplegat Camp in Iten, Rift Valley.  The camp currently remains closed and British Airways offered me the chance to cancel with a full refund which I have accepted.

I expect to return to Playa Blanca, Lanzarote for 2 weeks warm weather training from April 17th to May 1st instead.

Plans for 2008

It’s been difficult this year trying to plan the right mix of events. I’m planning to compete over the full range again from 24 Hours to six days. The events in September and October are only provisional at present.

 

March 27/28: Athens 24hr road race

April 17th-May 1st: Warm weather Training Camp, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

May 16th-18th : Surgeres 48hr , France - the “World Championships” of 48 hour running

June 29th-July 5th: Hamm Six Day track race, Germany

September 6th : Perth 100km , Scotland

October 18/19th: World 24hr Championships, Korea

2XU Sponsorship

I’m delighted to announce that I have signed up a new sponsor for 2008 - the innovative sports clothing company 2XU.

Mike Trees Uk distributor of 2XU is pleased to announce that he will be supporting William Sichel in 2008. The Ultra Distance Runner who is in his 50’s will benefit greatly from the compression range as it is widely known that recovery slows down with age. The 2XU graded compression helps to flush out lactic acid fom the muscles from training and racing and thus will not just aid the older runner but serious athletes to achieve their best performance possible (for more information see www.2XU.com).

We at 2XU wish William all the best with his endeavours in the coming season.

“From the elite athlete driving their body to its limits, to the driven business person, and everyone in between, 2XU provide the equipment you need to magnify your natural ability. They harness every part of your genetic composition and cloak you in a layer of performance. Every product is designed and re-designed for tangible benefit.
Triathlon Consultants Ltd distribute 2XU products within the UK and Ireland. It is our aim to up hold the brand values and through excellent quality of service, we aim to deliver the 2XU range of sporting goods to the British sports market. “

Honorary membership of UNIX Budapest

I am honoured to have been enrolled as an honorary member of the Hungarian athletics club UNIX Budapest.  They have a number of world class ultra runners as members and just one other non-Hungarian member.

myRace Feature

Had a marvellous six page feature in the January/February edition of myRace magazine “The Running Magazine for Scotland”.  The feature is accompanied by a great range of photos by Alan Young.

The article resulted from an interview I gave the editor, just after the Spartathlon,  in early October.