Living the High Life

Not much more than six years ago it looked as if I was set to become the master of my own downfall, or as my wife reminds me occasionally, “you were either going to kill yourself or I might have done it for you.”

It might sound a little exaggerated but it’s closer to fact than fiction.  

How life has taken me from that low ebb to now finding myself on a three week long, high altitude training visit to the Swiss Alps is a tale that this blog probably doesn’t allow scope for. How and ever, over the course of weekly updates during my time here in St. Moritz I hope to chronicle some of the people, places and things that have helped get me this far.                           

Whether it be my involvement in football from a young age, any of my varied musical interests or indeed, my fondness for burning the midnight oil, I have approached a lot of life with an all or nothing, sometimes obsessional view. I don’t know why that is. I know that I am not the only person this could be said about. But that is me and it probably won’t change.

At least now, any intense focus is channelled down more positives avenues than before. 

Soon after ending my relationship with alcohol, I found a new love in running. Quickly, I realised that I had discovered a passion, as I do, for something that would help me replace the thrill I had hitherto tried to find though boozing and late nights. 

The nice thing about running it seemed, was the absence of any hangover. You could, within reason, run as much as you like, feel good as a result of it and not have to deal with any obvious negatives.

The more I got into it the more I enjoyed it. Unlike team sports that I had long given up on, running was, and is, very much a solo pursuit. You do the work and you normally get a good result, you slack off and it’s reflected in the outcome. There is no one else to blame if it goes wrong and when it works out you can take pride in your own effort. 

So, with about eight months running under my feet, I took on my first marathon in 2014, clocking a creditable 3.07 in Dublin. The following year I went one better, ducking in under the three hour mark with a 2.57 in Amsterdam, where I returned to last year and registered my current personal best of 2.48. 

The gradual progression of my efforts over the marathon distance is in no small part down to the guidance of my coach Emmett Dunleavy, who has programmed my training for the majority of my time running. Because of the distance between our locations we don’t see much of each other in person but regular email and phone contact helps bridge the gap.

Having secured an entry for this years Berlin Marathon through their hugely over subscribed lottery process and knowing that improvement on last years effort in the Dutch capital would require an increased effort in terms of preparation, the idea of travelling to altitude to train this summer was one that was put in front of the board (solely consisting of one member, whose identity you can probably guess!) just before Christmas. Surprisingly, the proposal was given approval. 

The plan seemed to fall into place fairly seamlessly. Flying to Zurich from Dublin last Sunday afternoon allowed me to race the Irish National Half-Marathon Championship the same morning, where I was happy to finish in the top 30 with a PB of 76mins. Following this up with three weeks training in an oxygen depleted environment would accelerate my fitness before I returned to Ireland to complete my final preparations ahead of my September 29th appointment in Germany.

And so the adventure really got under way last Monday with a spectacular train journey south to St. Moritz. Inhabited by a population of just 5,000, this luxury Alpine resort town has twice hosted the Winter Olympics and has more recently become a hugely popular destination for endurance athletes of all levels. 

Bumping into some of the most talented and best known athletes in the world before you have even left your accommodation is not a unusual thing around these parts. I’m fortunate to have a perfect view of the famous four lane track where the likes of Norway’s trio of Ingebrigtsen brothers and European half marathon record holder (59.13), Julien Wanders have been regularly working out over the last week.

Distinguished guests of Residenz am See

Recovering from last weekend’s Rock N Roll half marathon while settling into the new conditions here at altitude were first week targets that complemented each other. To adapt to the reduced oxygen at 1,800m above sea level, I would need to take a very conservative approach to the first 7-10 days training. Heavy legs from those hills in the Phoenix Park didn’t argue with that idea.

A relatively low load week in terms of intensity allowed me to settle into my new surroundings without any trouble. Striking up a connection with Team New Balance Manchester marathoners Andrew Davies (PB 2.15) and Jonny Mellor (2.12) helped ensure I wasn’t lonely for long! I’m normally happy to run on my own but maintaining those solo efforts and coming back to an empty apartment every evening can lose its appeal quicker than you might think, regardless of where you are in the world. The lads are much faster than me so I tag along for some of their easier efforts and we’ve taken a trip up to one of the great glaciers together, as well as a slightly less exciting outing to Aldi this afternoon! 

Andy & Jonny of Team NBMCR - both loyal Liverpool Reds!

Two long runs, a 15 and 17miler, spread over the last three days has helped to transition into the slightly heavier couple of weeks training that will see out my time here in the beautiful Engadine Valley. Words wouldn’t go close to describing the beauty of this place but maybe the pictures will help give some impression of the spectacular setting I am lucky to find myself in for three weeks that I could hardly have imagined not too long ago.

                                      

At this point I should raise a toast to the previously mentioned Chairperson of The Board, cheers Victoria! 

I would not be here without you.

Lej da Staz

                                  

Keep up to date with Trevor's journey to September's Berlin Marathon by following @TrainWithTrevor across all social media

Why do we run?

People often rightly find wonder in the dedication of those who take on the marathon challenge. Training day by day, week after week, in preparation for the task of running twenty six miles, three hundred and eighty five yards when the big day comes. It surely is a big undertaking but one that people only ever really get involved in if they want to. 

We run, because we can - not because we have to.

Others less fortunate, have little in terms of decision about the greatest challenge they must face in life. Sadly, cancer is something that nearly everyone of us has an unwanted connection with and our family is no different. Watching our loved one (and my father-in-law) Philip John Collins, dealing with the everyday battle of a disease that eventually took his life in July of this year has helped put a lot of things in perspective.

He, like so many of the other courageous cancer fighters, took on treatment, exercise, rest, nutrition and more because his very life depended on it. If he adhered to what the medical specialists advised then he might have a greater chance of living longer and maybe even overcoming a challenge that he probably never imagined having to deal with so soon after his fiftieth birthday. 

The mental and physical struggle that Phil and others go through to try and stay alive is not something that I can truly understand but from a distance, and only through observation, I know that fight is something that goes far beyond what I will ever face when preparing for a marathon. It is this thought that has occupied my mind a lot in the recent weeks of training for next months Amsterdam Marathon. 

Wherever the road has taken me, whatever the situation with the quality of my training or the condition of my body, I am just most grateful for the chance to run. To do something that maybe one day, sooner or later, I won’t be able to do anymore. Keeping the body and mind in tune while enjoying the beautiful world around us feels to me like the best thing I can do to make each day as fulfilled as the last. Always chasing the miles but in many ways, chasing life as well. Running everyday like it might be the last. 

Last weekends performance at the Boston Scientific Clonmel AC half-marathon (81.30) suggests that we are not too far away from top form but as Coach Emmett of perfectpacing.com rightly reminds me, we have to move up another gear if we are to find improvement on my current PB of 2.57.36 which I ran in Amsterdam back in October 2015. Regardless of your own knowledge or experience, having a good coach to point you in the right direction is key if your are focused on improving. Knowing when to hold back a little and knowing when to push on is always easier with a second set of eyes looking in on all the facts and figures.

Keeping this in mind, the last week has been mainly designed around recovery from last Sunday’s half-marathon and no better place to re-energise than in the sun-kissed Algarve region of southern Portugal. Lots of easy running around the dust trails of Parque Ambiental Vilamoura have been interspersed with longer periods of rest and recovery time spent pool-side at the wonderful Longevity Cegonha Country Club

Training and recovering in a low stress environment (yes, our two children stayed at home!) is usually reserved only for elite athletes but it certainly has benefits for all levels of sportspeople. Parenting, personal relationships, career commitments and much more are often over-looked stresses that the recreational athlete must juggle along with their training load. This is why the champions, in my eyes at least, are all around us. Taking on the challenge of life while also pushing themselves to be better in every sense. It’s also the grounds on which I will be asking my good wife for a week in The Algarve every year here after!

On returning to Ireland, the week ahead will see a slight increase in training load (as well as external stress!). Next Saturday evening presents the final suitable opportunity to toe the start line ahead of the marathon and I’m looking forward to again taking part in the John Buckley Sports 10miler organised by St. Finbarr’s Athletic Club. Following another week of post race recovery work, we then begin the final stages of preparation. The midweek sessions begin to crank up a notch in terms of intensity and volume, the weekend long runs get another few quality miles thrown on for good measure and the rubber in the training shoes starts to wear thin. We're heading for boiling point. 

You look forward to this work in anticipation and maybe sometimes a little uncertainty and then when the moment arrives, you realise….

We run, because we can - not because we have to.

I will run the 43rd edition of the Amsterdam Marathon on October 21st while raising funds for two very deserving charities. All donations will be very gratefully received by using the links below.

MERCY HOSPITAL (CORK)

www.idonate.ie/helptrevorruncanceroutoftown

NORTH LONDON HOSPICE (FINCHLEY)

http://www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/helptrevorruncanceroutoftown

The Long and Winding Road

Reverting to the tried and tested is often a wise option when faced with a familiar challenge. So, with that in mind, I return, for the next few months at least, to the habit of a regular blog, a practice that definitely added value to the mental preparations for my last marathon attempt in 2015.

Being somewhat a creature of habit, it's not just the blog that I'm calling upon to add a degree of familiarity. Sticking to what I know, in almost every sense, I'll return in late October to the pancake flat Amsterdam course seeking to improve on the 2.57 recorded there three years ago. 

The race weekend itinerary nearly looks after itself by now. Arrive on Friday, and do little aside from collecting my race number and resting before taking in a short, final run around the wonderful Vondelpark early on Saturday and then an afternoon catch up with some Dutch based friends ahead of the main event on Sunday morning. Oh, and a great big feast of an Indian meal to celebrate later that night, which will probably be enjoyed in Tandoor on Lange Leidsedwarsstraat, unless I feel very adventurous and try somewhere totally different! I wouldn't bet on a change of venue though, it's not in my nature!

If you can remove as much uncertainty from any situation, there is less likely to go wrong, or so my thinking goes anyway! Of course, you can never rule out the unexpected either so while I’m confident I have a solid game plan, I know it must be open to being flexible when the need arises.

Ask any sportsperson about confidence and nearly all will say that it comes from no greater source than your own preparation. If the work is done, boxes ticked, miles clocked, you know you are ready when the call goes up for showtime. 

With 16 weeks to go, I’m still very much in the build phase of training but there is a nice feeling of momentum gathering with seven of the last eight weeks seeing me exceed the 50mile mark. A mixture of good training partners for company and the feel good factor of this unforgettably hot summer combining nicely to add fuel to the training fire. 

Next Thursday’s Streets Of Youghal 5k offers another opportunity to update a personal best, which is more than a little overdue at this stage. Recent race efforts at John Buckley Sports 5k (17.18) and Dublin Athletics Graded League 3,000m (10.07) suggest that form is finally coming back to a similar level as 2015. While I could analyse forever more what held up my progress for the best part of three years, I’m just really happy and grateful to be feeling strong again.

I look forward to keeping you updated on my progress over the next few months and encourage anyone with marathon related questions to drop a comment below and I can hopefully respond to some of these in future blogs.

Nearly time for another run, until next time...

Back on Track

Regular followers of this blog might have noticed an absence of recent updates, so it's probably a good time for me to take a quick look back over a busy last few months before we hit the go faster button once again!

Following last years marathon in Amsterdam, I shifted focus to continuing my education and worked on attaining a European-wide recognised qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training, which I secured at the start of this year.

Weekends spent studying at The Mardyke in UCC were not always family friendly in terms of time spent away from home but short term sacrifice is often the first step to a long term gain and with a very understanding partner in Victoria, the work got done...on both sides of the fence!

Since the turn of the year, I have been adding some real world experience to the information digested from within the classroom environment. With the fast paced nature of the health and fitness industry meaning science and research are always throwing up new suggestions, you realise quickly that to stand still is to fall behind. 

Balancing the challenge of setting up your own business, fulfilling your duties in a Monday-Friday office role, making sure your own training gets done while helping others with theirs and the occasional nappy change for a highly charged one or two year old is a bit similar to the act of plate spinning that you might have seen when you last went to the circus.

The juggler at the circus has plenty of experience and it wouldn't be a good show if he failed to keep everything moving in the right direction! However, when you are new, you can often get the balance wrong and the inevitable happens. Something slips!

So, after a slow start to my own racing year, I'm really excited about getting back in the groove with a summer planned around an inaugural track season before dipping my toe in the muddy waters of the cross country world come Autumn time.

Dropping back to the shorter distances of 1,500m-5km will allow me to really work on developing speed endurance over the next year or two, while at the same time sparing the body from the higher mileage training required for the longer events.  

When the time comes to go back to the marathon, I want to be reasonably confident of a 2.45-2.50 finish to ensure a significant improvement on my current PB of 2.57.

Big goals require small steps to follow one after another. The first one is over a mile next Wednesday evening at the opening meet of the John Buckley Sports Graded League.

Let's go!

The Good, The Bad And The Bubbly

Following the recent Amsterdam Marathon, rest and recovery was well overdue and as much as the body needed a break, so too did the keyboard. To help bridge the gap, guest blogger and old friend Eric Brannigan takes over, for one blog only!


Now I’m not much of a blogger (unlike Trevor Cummins) but here goes!

My older sister Ger likes to recall every now and then how Trevor used to call to our house on West View and look innocently up at whoever answered the door and ask “is Eric comin out?” He could barely reach the knocker but reach it he did. More often than not it was my mother who answered the door. Now I was Sheila’s only boy and not everyone who called to the door for me was deemed suitable company for yours truly but shur she couldn’t say no to Trevor, innocent as could be. He had her at hello! Inevitably in those days “out” meant crossing the road to a bobbly, nettle-infested patch of grass known locally as “The Plant”. It has since become a park for tourists to listen to the Bells of the Cathedral (and now and again for local young ones & young fellas to have a few cans and have the odd shift!)

Back then we had as little interest in the young ones and cans as we did in the bells! Now, bobbly and nettle-infested The Plant may have been but for us it was literally a field of dreams. It was Anfield, Old Trafford, Colmans Park and even Selhurst Park (Cummins fancied himself as the next Vinnie Jones – he hid those qualities well from my Ma!). It was in the Plant that we lived out fantasies of FA Cup Finals, World Cups and played the most intense games of ‘nods & volleys’ imaginable…so intense in fact that one poor young lad got knocked clean out when he was on the receiving end of a particularly sweet volley…a story for another day. 

It was in those games that Trevor’s competitiveness first came to the fore. He was though a bit of a Mammy's boy (ahem…Pot/Kettle!). Trevor was a bit fond of running round the corner to Mammy Phil on Midleton Street when he was on the receiving end of a  bit of stick! None the less there was a crew of us there including myself, Trevor and Aaron Mansworth and really sport brought us together, we just loved it, despite the drama it caused! In spite of the age gap we all got on, Trevor was very enthusiastic in those days, infectiously enthusiastic, particularly about sport. I was a few years older than Trevor so we never played competitive sport together growing up but I remember well watching him play soccer with Springfield. He came up with a group of very good young players including Graham Wilshaw, Shane Brennan, Shane Cronin and Barrie Hastings. Trevor wasn’t as talented as those guys back then but he got on just fine….why? Enthusiasm, dedication and hard work…. watch this space.

As the years went on Trev  and I did our own thing but always remained friends. I remember in or around the early ‘00’s I started playing a bit of soccer with Cobh Wanderers Junior team. They were being managed by Jamie Cullimore at the time and coached by Mossie Mahony,  an excellent physical trainer with a no nonsense attitude. Mossie's sessions were tough but very enjoyable. Two things stand out for me about those sessions, the first was Trevor's attitude, he absolutely tore into it. The second is how his approach brought on my fitness levels no end, he was a great training partner. 

I remember well one session in particular, Mossie had us doing these squares… Jog, Run, Sprint, building in intensity, it was tough going but great training. At that time Derek Barret was on the Cork Senior Hurling team and he was playing a bit of ball with us in the off-season to keep fit and fit he was. Barrett's a sound man but competitive…very competitive, I learned that from playing Gaelic football with him for years. Anyway this session was going on and it was the type of stuff that would sort the fit lads from the not so fit fairly quick. Towards the end of the session I was just about holding on to the front group with Trevor and Derek setting the pace. I clearly recall coming round a corner on the last set and Derek was in between myself and Cummins. 

As I said, Derek was competitive and he gave myself and Trevor a friendly ‘nudge’ just at the corner, this was enough to knock me off my stride and that was it…I was gone, not Cummins though, not a hope. Trevor just upped the gear and caught up with Derek in time to finish neck and neck, serious going given Derek's fitness level. The grit was there along with the intensity and no fear of hard work, he was flying. Not long after Trevor was in the Wanderers Senior first team and rightly so. There were better players than him up there but very few had a better attitude, intensity, hard work and enthusiasm were his key attributes.

Eric, Trevor + Aaron - Photo by Larry Cummins, Evening Echo

Now before I get too carried away, he’s far from perfect! Trevor spent a few years where he was a bit too fond of the beer! During that time Trev developed an intense disregard for your personal space… he could scourge you….Jesus, could he scourge you! Trevor could burn your ear off, regardless of your level of interest. The subjects were as wide ranging as Chelsea, Jose Mourinho (he does a good impersonation), German Industrial Techno, David Bowie, any fuckin racehorse you care to mention, even the GAA….! I found that one the hardest, Trevor waxing lyrical to me about the GAA! 

I have to admit there were one or two nights I met Trev after a few pints when I felt a little uncomfortable. It definitely was intense and as for the hard work, well he was hard work at times I can tell you!! About two years ago or thereabouts Trevor made a decision to change his lifestyle. I’ve no doubt meeting and settling down with his partner Vicki and the arrival of their first son Alfie had a role to play but it was ultimately Trevor's decision. He decided to return to what he loved…competitive sport, not just sport, the competitive aspect is key. It has to be intense there has to be a challenge.

Trevor's commitment to his decision is quite simply inspirational. He has achieved so much in such a short space of time through sheer dedication and hard-work, needless to say he was fairly intense when it came to doing the work. The last twelve months in particular has seen Trevor rub shoulders with seasoned athletes all over Munster on both track and road. Trevor performed  admirably along the way including a near podium finish in the 5,000m county final this summer. Trevor has made many friends and attracted many admirers along the way, non more so than the great Sonia O’Sullivan who can no doubt easily recognise his work ethic and commitment to his goals. On Sunday 18th October 2015 Trevor towed the start line of the Amsterdam Marathon. 

The goal was straightforward, no ambiguity… go round the course in under 3 hrs. A little under 2 hours and 58 minutes later he crossed the line,  Job done. I know Trevor was very proud to wear the Ballymore Cobh AC colours on the day, in turn the club should be very proud of having amongst their number a man of the calibre of Trevor Cummins. Not because he runs good times but because he sticks to his goals, he doesn’t take the easy option, he does the work and backs himself on the day. Very few will run sub 3 hour marathons, anyone can work as hard as they can and commit to a goal, that’s Trevor's legacy, that’s why he’s so valuable to his club. I’m sure Trevor was a very proud man crossing the line in Amsterdam. I’d wager he was proud of his club, his family, his coaches, friends and fellow athletes for their help and support along the way.

Most of all I hope he was proud of himself. He utterly deserved his result; I know I was very proud of him. The intensity, hard work and enthusiasm Trevor displayed all those years ago over in “The Plant” stood him in good stead after all & long may it last. I know for a fact that Trevor employed a positive selfishness in his preparation for this marathon. On that note a massive mention should be given to his ever patient partner Vicki for putting up with him along the way, behind every man & all that craic….!!! I might call round to his house during the week and ask Vicki if Trevor is allowed “out” for a game of nods and volleys! I better leave him win, if I don’t he might go running round the corner to Mammy Phil and rat me out & I could just do without that grief at my age!!

Well done Trevor, onwards and upwards.

A Mexican, A Marathon and Me

Double Olympian and two-time New York City marathon winner German Silva is not the calibre of athlete you expect to be exchanging pleasantries with when you are a few kilometres from home in your second marathon having starting running less than two years previously.

However, this was the unusual but rather pleasing situation I found myself in last weekend when partaking in the 40th edition of the Amsterdam marathon where damp but calm conditions greeted the 16,000 or so athletes who took on the pancake flat course which welcomes runners from all over the world, many in pursuit of a fast time or personal best.

A more calculated approach to preparation had given me every confidence that I could break through the three-hour barrier which had firmly stopped me in my tracks last October when running in the Dublin City marathon. Diet, strength, conditioning, speed work, mentality and marathon specific sessions had all stepped on a level since last year, yet no one could be certain that a cat would not be thrown among the pigeons when the time came to deliver. It is often said that getting to the start line of a marathon is an achievement in itself, given the demands placed on the body during the often-arduous training undertaken in advance of the big day.

Soaking in the pre-race atmosphere while limbering up inside the Olympic Stadium, host to the 1928 games, allowed me to appreciate the idea that I was carrying the club colours of Ballymore Cobh a little further than I had ever went before in them. A similar sense of pride had struck me a couple of days beforehand when I noticed the tricolour amongst the many flags of the competing nations which flew from atop of the old red brick venue where the iconic Olympic Flame was first lit.

Once the race got underway, it was evident that the three-hour pacing team were not hanging about and were actually travelling quicker than the normally expected speed. After 10k, I made a decision to let them off out of sight and instead concentrated on settling myself into a nice, steady, even-paced rhythm. For most of the section where we ran out and back along the River Amstel, I had like-minded company in the form of Nikki Gibson, a Scottish athlete representing Edinburgh AC. Through occasional chatting and encouragement we pulled each other through close to 10 of the 42.2km course. Working together, rolling along.

Getting to the 32k mark on track for sub three-hours (4.15min per km or 6.50min per mile) was the plan, with permission granted to gently increase the pace thereafter provided I was feeling strong enough to push on for home. As we passed the many bands of drummers, whose rhythm you simply could not ignore, their sounds and the noise of the encouraging crowds almost carried me along on a cloud as we continued our advance back towards the city centre.  It was at this point the realization began to strike me that the great challenge was finally being overcome.

The many months of early morning rises for pre-work runs, the gym sessions on Bank Holiday Monday's, the two, sometimes closer to three hour Saturday morning sessions up and down the Old Blackrock Railway line, the strict treat-free diet and everything else that went with putting my life and soul into my goal, it was all being justified in those moments and it was becoming very clear that the marathon nor the three-hour milestone longer held any power over me. I was gone through the 32k mark and it honestly felt like I had been dropped there by taxi. This was proving easier than I had anticipated, and I wasn't complaining!

Although sympathetic to the sight of those suffering as we went into the closing stages of the race, the confidence you get from passing people, one after another, just fills you with more belief. Even German and his three-hour pacing group got the slip as we worked our way back towards the stadium. That was until the diminutive Mexican reappeared on my shoulder a short time later to enquire about how I was feeling.  “Very well”, said I!

Nicknamed 'Wrong-Way Silva' after an unexpected detour in one of his NYC marathon victories saw him having to overcome a forty yard advantage he temporarily conceded to his fellow countryman and eventual second placed Benjamin Paredes, there is little doubt that the man with a marathon personal best of 2.08.56 had plenty in hand as we cruised through the beautiful Vondelpark. So, when he's asked how I was feeling with only a few kilometres left and the reply was a positive one, he didn't need anymore encouragement to step on the pedal. "2.58. Let's do it, let's break 2.58. Come with me."

It was now clearly a case of by how much, and no longer a question of if we were going to clear the target. Slight cramping in my hamstrings tempered the adrenaline that at this stage must have been nearly set to go into overdrive. Victoria and our two boys were set to be inside the main stand of the stadium but might not have been expecting me back so soon! The sight of the Olympic Rings above the tunnel which led us back onto the track was another spine-tingling moment on a day I will cherish for a while yet.

Rounding the bend for home, roared on by the crowd, I spotted my most loyal supporter. Although well known as a rightly proud British lady, the moment must have overcome her too as she was now waving the green,white and gold while shouting those final words of encouragement before I hit the line in 2.57.36

A season that had delivered plenty already, had now been rounded off in perfect style. The guidance of my run coach Emmett Dunleavy of PerfectPacing, strength coach Katie O'Shea of Bestlife, along with the unyielding support of my extraordinary parents and the ever-faithful Victoria were all instrumental in helping me achieve my goal.

Above all else, I'm proud to say my hard work did not leave me down.

A lot done, with plenty more to do!

Ready, Steady, Go

Not long to go before the 40th running of the Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday, October 18th, with just enough time for an update on the final preparations for my attempt at stopping the clock within three hours.

The checklist is nearly complete with little, if anything, left to chance.

The new adidas boost racing shoes have the advised fifty or so miles in them and are now back in the box awaiting the call to battle.

The raceday breakfast and in-race fuel plan have both been rehearsed enough times for each to be considered safe and reliable while socks, shorts and the black and yellow singlet of Ballymore Cobh AC have each been worn in varied conditions and stood up to all and a sundry.

This is my second attempt at the distance and the benefit of last years experience in Dublin (3.06.48) does allow me to be a little more relaxed. It's like you know what is ahead of you. The pain, the suffering and, all going well, the glory. Like any other race, you just need to make sure you are there on the start line in the best shape possible and I am confident that is exactly how I will line up.

The overseas journey will add an extra element of adventure to proceedings and I will be lucky to have the company and support of my partner Victoria and our two boys, Alfie and Charlie.

In time to come I'm sure the little men will hardly remember the weekend they got dragged to the Dutch capital for their father to go running loose around the famously liberal city, but I'll have them in my mind when the going gets tough and will be doing everything possible to ensure they can look back on my efforts and be proud to say they were part of a great weekend.

I've worked hard since returning to training after last autumn’s effort in Dublin and a single day has not passed without me thinking about a goal I set at the end of spring 2014.

Judging by recent half-marathon times, and barring any surprises on the day, we are firmly on track to hit the target.

It’s time to burn.

Follow the journey through:

iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tcs-amsterdam-marathon-2015/id694100992?mt=8

Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tcs.amsterdam.amsterdam2013