I’ve never been to the Arab Emirates but next month they are holding what is set to be one of the largest long coarse races in the world over a new and interesting distance 3/200/20 and 1500/100/10  for anyone who is’nt quite game enough to tackle the big one. This is going to be my longest race by far and should also back up as a great training base for the rest of my year in Europe and hopefully my first Ironman next December. Obviously the race is suited to guys that can ride well on the flat and have the ability to get their nutrition plan right- two things I really need to work on and could improve alot. So training the past couple of months has been about trying different things while building up some strength to go the distance. I don’t really know much about the country apart from they have alot of oil and its very flat and hot so it will be a good chance to be a tourist after the race!

Although the training intensity has been easier, the longer days and consistency really takes alot out of me and I’m learning my limits and the effects of training/recovery very quickly. After racing shorter coarse for so many years its taking me a while to get my head around some of the concepts with long coarse such as the nutrition and recovery but I’m enjoying it while learning alot.

After Abu Dhabi I have a handfull of shorter races left around Australia, one in outback QLD and another in New Caledonia before heading back to Germany for the Euro season.