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What I've Been Up To

Latest News

Life Changing?

I have received a written report following my check-up with a Gold Medalist physician. It turns out he recommends I stop doing everything that makes me who I am, including drinking beer and lifting things. I response, I went to the gym...and deadlifted the biggest thing I have ever lifted. It weigh...

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Quick Update

I have hit something of a wall. It turns out that people are very keen to offer their help and training services, in the name of charity. When it comes to it, however, nearly everybody drops out at the last minute. Although I entirely understand their situation, it is also starting to get rathe...

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On the Radio!

I was lucky enough to have a nice chat on BBC Three Counties Radio this evening, with Olympic Silver Medalist, Gail Emms. Check it out at 46 minutes here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00k88j4/Gail_Emms_26_09_2011/...

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Power2Podium

Excitingly, I have been invited to head into London this week, for extended testing as part of the UK Sport Power2Podium project. Power2Podium is a search for athletes who could potentially train to be medallists at the Rio 2016 summer Olympics or Pyeongchang winter Olympics in 2018. Needless to s...

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Got Bike?

I have finally picked up the road bike, upon which I shall cycle 100 miles. I have so far cycled 200 metres. It wasn't easy. This is not going to be an enjoyable challenge... In other training news, I am back at the gym and lifting the biggest things I possibly can. I have been very slack in re...

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The 200kg Deadlift

Having been ill for a couple of days, I went back to the gym with one thing on my mind - lifting the biggest possible thing I could. In other words, deadlifting again. After a short warm-up (too short) and a few lifts at 60, 80 and 100kg, I loaded the bar heavier than I had ever loaded it before. ...

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Faaaaail

Having spent last night deadlifting, I had no intention of returning to the gym today. However, by a strange series of events, I wound up back at the gym anyway. I decided to spend my time hitting a punching bag, then doing various kinds of biceps curl, in an attempt to avoid working anything I ha...

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Starting from Scratch…Again

Having done very little training recently, I have to get back to the gym and the various sports I need to complete. Last week, I managed to fit in a couple of days of training. Tuesday 23rd Legs day: squats at 90kg and front squats at 60kg Wednesday 24th Back: pull-ups, chin-ups with 20kg and b...

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Day Fourteen: Punching a Hydra

We have two goals for my final day in Poland: 1. Visit Memento Park to see statues from communist Budapest. 2. Pilgrimage to the statue of a man punching a hydra. We get up early, ten litres of beer from the night before still sloshing around in our bodies. Matt has damaged his toe by stubbing ...

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Day Thirteen: Rocktogon

The heat is ridiculous. Sweat pours down our bodies as we traipse across Budapest to our new hostel. By the time we arrive, we are sodden and exhausted. The hostel man greets us. What's that? The room we're staying is on the other side of the city? By the train station? Where we just walked...

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Day Twelve: The Baths

We leave Hostel Relax three hours earlier than the day before and head straight for the baths. The underground changing rooms are a teeming, squirming mass of humanity. We deposit our things in one of the rows upon row of lockers, linked by slippery walkways, and push our way up the stairs. Summo...

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Day Eleven: The White Bridge

We wake up late, groggy from dreams. Damn this shaman tobacco! Hostel Relax is deserted, apart from the owner. She gives us a tour - all the way to the local shop and back. We need to get to the city, urgently. First, however, we must cross the White Bridge. Rusting and unloved, the white ...

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Day Ten: Hostel Relax

Our bus pulls into Budapest at 23:00. The bus station is a sea of blue and red lights. Riot police are everywhere. We have no money, no map and no idea where our hostel is. Football fans flood the streets. Gods, what have we done? We abandoned Simon in Krakow, as he flies home tomorr...

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Day Nine: The Green Faerie.

We awake in linen shirts, our heads pounding from wine and song. We break out fast on preaches, plums and pastries. Yoghurt with honey compliments strong coffee. We mope and despair. We are bohemians. Heading to the park, we read and continue to criticise one another's artwork. Before long, ...

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Day Eight: Clothed in Linen

Breakfast involves a waffle covered in jam and punching the machine. I still fail to break 900. My wrist feels shattered. Arriving back in Krakow, we make a big decision. To be bohemians. Lunch involves 2 litres of red wine and lots of cigarettes. We criticise one another's operas. Especi...

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Day Seven: Feats of Strength

My eyes creak open and the world spins. My wrist throbs with a dull pain, born of over-punching. After showering, we stalk the streets with one thing on our minds: feats of strength. There is only one problem...the night before. A bottle of vodka and fifteen litres of beer may not have been the ...

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Simon comments:

I am in Zakopane, fighting mountains. Their size and tranquility offends me. This mountain thought itself my better, but I have trampled its heights beneath my feet. I have stood upon its pinnacle and cavorted like an ape, furious and triumphant. I have looked upon its rocky soul, and it knew its m...

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Day Six: Punching, Singing and Mountain Climbing

Four hours after I head to bed, I wake up.  My throat burns.  The thirst is outrageous.  The drinking will likely kill me. Feverish sleep reclaims me. I dream of punching. Punching 900. Suddenly, Matt is awake.  Chaos descends.  Next thing I know, my blade is in hand and I am swinging it ab...

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