It all adds up

 27 watts.  Doesn’t sound like much, does it? 


That’s the difference in my power output between riding the Etape Loch Ness two years ago, in 2023, and riding it this year, 2025. But my Heart Rate- identical. 

So for the same cardiovascular work, I produced 27 watts more power on average. But that’s 27 watts more than 122… 


22% more.


Two years ago I was pretty pleased with my ride: I’d done what I set out to do, and only paused a couple of times. I was riding my aluminium Liv Avail back then, training for the Celtman Solo Point Five. For where I was at then, it was a great ride. 

This year… Different bike, different weather conditions. But I didn’t stop at all, didn’t even pause or stop for a wee; and I rode the course 50 minutes faster. 

But the real teller is that absolute number: a 22% increase in average power output for an identical average heart rate. 




I've worked so hard over the last ten months, and it can be hard day-to-day to see progress.  The early starts before day shifts, the cold sessions in rain & snow through the winter... you just have to keep going, and trust that it will all add up in the end.  

With an average of 10 hours training per week, every week since last July, I feel like I've managed a good level of consistency in my training, particularly given that includes working around shifts.  

Each time I've had annual leave in that time, we've treated it as a 'Training camp' at home.  But in the last couple of weeks I managed a warm-weather training camp, in Mallorca: a haven for cycling.  I managed to spend nearly 20 hours on my bike that week, along with swimming and running. Combined with the Etape Loch Ness on my return, and a ride on the hilliest section of the Celtman bike course, the last two weeks have added up to 500km of riding, with 7500+ metres of climbing.  

And at last, after all that hard work, I'm seeing real, concrete improvements in times, and paces.  I'm feeling stronger, recovering better.  My tactics for managing my energy during long rides have changed: holding back on climbs, pushing on the downs.  

But perhaps most importantly, my psychology has changed.  Something has switched in the last week or so, and I've started to really believe that I CAN complete Celtman on June 14th.  

Of course, nothing is guaranteed.  We still have 6 weeks to go, and a lot can happen in that time.  On race day, all I can do is plan for as many eventualities as I can envisage, be meticulously organised, and then do my absolute best to make it to T2A and then cross the finish line within the allowed cut-off times.  

But as things stand... I'm starting to really look forward to standing in Sheep Shit Field at 5am. 


GAME ON. 









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