Friday, December 14, 2012

Just going for it

Ideas like let’s run from the top to the very bottom of New Zealand. Oh and try and do it in record breaking time.....

It’s one of those ideas that probably starts with a kid and a map of the world.

But to actually do it - well that’s something else. Jez Braggs is running from the very top to the very bottom of New Zealand. Really just on that traditional principle of because it is there. But he is also going to try and do it in the fastest time - some 50 days of running in diverse terrain of over 1,800 miles.

As well as the exhilarating run along the Te Araroa (The long Pathway) he will also be taking a canoe interlude with an 80-mile canoe trip down the Whanganui river, halfway down the North island, and a paddle across the demanding 17-mile Cook Strait expedition. It helps that Jez is one of those ultra-runners so should be fit and experienced enough to actually be able to do it. As he says “in training for the big trail races, I noticed that the parts where I had the most fun was when I was on long runs in remote places; I really enjoyed losing myself in the runs where the journey was more the point than the destination”

The greatest thing about such expeditions is just the sheer boy-hood (you can replace that with girl-hood if you prefer) adventure of it. It’s just one of those things you wish you could do yourself. Next best thing is to read Jez’s adventures about it. Enjoy!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Looking forward and looking good for cycling

So we had the immense highs of the Tour de France with Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, aka Wiggo and Cav. Then the wonder of the Olympics and especially the British track team. Only to be followed by the lows of Lance Armstrong being stripped of his cycling achievements and the incessant arguments and counter arguments over whether it was true or not. Then Wiggo, Cav and the British Cycling coach Shane Sutton all had crashes in separate incidents. A real post-Olympic low.

Changes are underway and Wiggo, Cav and Shane are all back on their bikes and the GB cycling team are already back and competing. On the track Britain's Olympic champion Laura Trott has won omnium gold at the Track World Cup, held at what is now the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow. Welsh cyclist Becky James partnered with Jess Varnish to win gold in the team sprint. Importantly, Dave Brailsford, Britain's performance director, who many view as the mastermind behind British cycling success announced he would lead the cycling team at the 2016 Olympics. Brailsford is excited about another crop of talented youngsters and described 18-year-old Elinor Barker's World Cup debut as "outstanding". While Brailsford may have had lots of other opportunities open to him he says “You stop, assess things, work out what you want to do. That's a natural thing to do. It was the same after Beijing - you get a bit of success and people are interested, keen to know how you do it. If I wasn't enthusiastic I'd stop, because I don't need to do this. The moment I stop enjoying it I won't do it.". UK sport, the governing body and responsible for Britain’s coaching development policy, are implementing changes for sustained progress and that does mean there are changes among the existing crop of coaches.

The head coach of GB’s track and field events is to depart his role. Charles van Commenee has guided the likes of Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford at the London Olympics and has chosen to step down. The British athletic team had a medal target of between five and eight for London 2012, but Van Commenee set the bar at eight and said he would walk away if it was not achieved. Despite finishing with six, four of which were gold, he has decided to leave the team. He commentated "Success can be measured in many different ways. And I would say that if you look at all the factors from every angle it was a success. But the thing is I have been very clear, throughout these four years, about what targets mean and the difference between a target and an expectation, and a prediction and an ambition. I could easily have answered all the time: 'If it doesn't happen, we will look into the reasons why we didn't hit the target. Then we will make changes and adjustments.' Which is fair. That's what happens 99 out of 100 times. But I wanted to make a clear statement about these things because it helped – and still helps – the new culture of no excuses and sanctions. In other words, accountability is important, and I wanted to put my credibility and my destiny on the line, saying, 'Guys, this is a serious business. We need to change here. And I will lead'."

What an inspiration. There is no doubt Van Commenee set the scene for the athletic team success, the same as Brailsford has brought real sustained success and progress to British Cycling. Their efforts outshine sports like football where managers and coaches seem to be replaced on a whim. Maybe this is a new era for cycling and the drug cheats can truly be on the sidelines of sport, as they so justly deserve to be. And maybe this should be a model for some of our other “high achievers” – the politicians and bankers and other movers and shakers. Maybe they should measure themselves against these coaches to see if they are more the Lance Armstrong/Ferrari type or more the Brailsford and Van Commenee. If the latter we salute you!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Nice building, shame about the architecture!

With six building being shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling prize including the Olympic stadium it was a bit of a surprise that the £82m plant research centre at the University of Cambridge won the UK's most prestigious architecture award. Recently the Sainsbury Laboratory was named best new building by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The two-storey building, set in the University of Cambridge's botanic gardens, includes high security laboratories, growing areas and the university's seed store. Images of the building make it resemble some sort of eastern bloc monolith, albeit trendy and modern. Their website has all the appeal of a council-operated site.

Also short-listed was the Hepworth Wakefield art gallery. According to the BBC their director says the winner “isn't a building that excites me". Writing on his blog, he continues "I want to be a gracious loser with regard to the Stirling Prize, but it was especially hard to lose to a building with an enormous budget (dwarfing ours) in an extremely privileged city, and a project to which the public barely have access”. It would be nice to think that access and interesting social use of a building may have an impact on award decision making. Maybe the public test will be this - they both have café’s. Which one will we end up in?

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Olympian Speeds

Straight after the success of the Olympics and the latest news is that us Brits are going for the land-speed record - again. Currently at over 760mph Andy Green and the team are aiming for 1K mph, the Bloodhound rocket project aims to hit 1,000mph in about 45 seconds.

As well as being an outsanding feat it will also showcase design and engineering and hopefully, much like the olympics legacy, inspire the next generation. Sharing in a speed bid is another UK team trying for the electric car land speed record of over 137mph, with a possible top speed of about 200mph.

While meanwhile the current generation are capable of inspiring feats still - a group of diabetic pilots attempt a celebration flight after their successful campaign.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Inland See

There shouldn’t really be much boat-y business going on in Milton Keynes, one of the most inland places in England! But this summer a fabulous boat arrived inland - a boat built from donated pieces of wood; wood that's played a part in the lives of thousands of people. Arriving during the fabulous IF festival as part of a unique project for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the Lone Boat project was a great experience and a true pleasure to marvel over – Seen up close and out of the water it was possible to enjoy the fabulous designs and incredible woodwork – Great idea, great work and well worth a visit.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Allez Wiggo!

Like buses, cycling success comes along in three’s – nothing for ages and then suddenly Bradley Wiggins (Wiggo) wins the Tour de France, Chris Froome from the Sky team gets second place on the podium, and Mark Cavendish (Cav) wins the final sprint on the Champs Elysees.

It was truly stunning and a wonderful three weeks of exciting cycling and sterling demonstration of team work. Maybe it will impact cycling in the UK, more will get out on their bikes and there will be improved cycling conditions. Meanwhile the Olympics are nearly here and Wiggo and Cav will be racing again, this time for Olympic gold.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Tour de Olympics

Wimbledon is on, it’s raining in England and so it must be nearly time for the Tour de France. In this Olympic year it’s looking particularly good for the British, with Team Sky having Mark Cavendish looking strong if not unbeatable in the sprints, and Bradley Wiggins competing for the overall leader. In fact some rate Bradley more highly than last year’s winner Cadel Evans. It’s always ominous when British competitors look good, we are normally so much better taking the underdog approach. But today athletes train so much harder and have so much assistance (from diet to coaching) that measure their performance, and help them peak when they should. So the fact that these two great athletes are recognised is just a reflection that they really are ready to race for these accolades.

And of course, keep a bit in store so that they can compete in the Olympics and win as well. But with one of their main competitors, Andy Schleck, out through a recent cycling accident, it is three weeks of tension and nerves. Once again ideal preparation for the Olympics happening in London in just over a month. Happy days.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

A little running is a dangerous thing

Every so often there’s a debate about whether running, from jogging for the bus, to ultra-marathons onwards, are good or bad for your health. there is no doubt that running can be hazardous while in central park, new york there’s disputes about who should be using the dirt path undulating around the Central Park reservoir known as the “runners’ track”, which now even has one-way signs posted to keep order.

In no doubt though is that running shoes have improved. Back in the days when I moved from doing football training to running there was a choice of plimsolls, football trainers (adidias) or Dunlop green flash. Soon came along trendy, fashionable, garish and expensive hi-tecs, and a few more years after that the start of proper running shoes from Nike and everyone else. I’ve since run in great shoes from new balance, brooks, saucony and asics; all a great improvement on the old-fashioned sports shoes. So things do improve with age.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Earthquake proof table

The design museum have recently announced the overall winner for their designs of the year 2012, which turns out to be the Olympic torch. The annual event is always an interesting and stimulating opportunity to see what’s been included and what is happening. With seven categories there tends to be something for everyone – and of course it always raises a debate (why is that there!). The Olympic torch which you would think would be a no brainer has taken criticism, with daily telegraph readers voting it looked more like a cheese grater than a torch – but is that a bad thing?

There are lots of gems in there – I particularly liked the flying cycles bike parking, although I’m not sure if it goes around at the speed of the London eye or at a fast flowing windmill. It would be interesting to know. Is the bike hanger that practical - probably not – but it does make me smile. Something quite practical and a bit jaw dropping the first time you see it is the incredible Hovding invisible helmet. You simply have to watch the demo – not sure whether I was watching this to be impressed by the product or in endless fascination as a poor old cyclist keeps getting repeatedly mashed.

Wandering around exploring the nominations I was taken with the moses bridge in the architecture section as well as with the category winner the Olympic velodrome. I also liked the late night chameleon café or maybe I just liked the photography, its hard to tell. There is an earthquake proof table in there somewhere, although I'm not sure if it comes with terms & conditions - replace after use maybe? Fascinating stuff.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Level 2 Training

Having completed my L2 training in February, in harsh winter conditions where the air temperature went from -12 to -14 while I was driving there, and where day two meant chopping thru ice to get on the water,it was great to actually get back on the water recently and do some proper paddling.

Just got back from two days on the lovely river wye, paddling a canadian which was great experience in paddling a different craft for me, for a sustained period rather than my usual quick jaunt on the lake. The weather was great too, warm and bright and so the club spent an idyllic two days out on the water just paddling. And I got my first experience of white water in a canadian doing solo on the yat which was also great fun. The season is just about to start so now need to sort out my training plans to get thru my level two. Happy days!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Places for people

Some companies are synonymous with a location, so what happens when that company goes bust as happened with Kodak based in Rochester, NY. Often time the model is one of sustained decline, as the big car manufacturers have declined in Detroit, so has the city. Well a recent NYT article suggest that all is not lost in Rochester and reveals that certain criteria; things like policy making, entrepreneurship, a strong academic, cultural and public sector can all help drive growth and promote business activity.

While such change can be seismic, and distinctive - the next generation will not recognise Rochester as Kodak city anymore - Surely that is better than the alternative, that like the early pioneers, those who can just up and leave and find better ground. And while the change can impact hard, it can also impact well. Hidden away in beautiful countryside what was once the tired and dreary Xerox training/conference centre is now the transformed National Conference Centre, an investment in change which helped transform and sustain Leesburg, Virginia.

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Of't South Pole

Some people just like to over commit themselves on new year’s resolutions. So it is that Helen Skelton, the Blue Peter children’s presenter is about to launch a 500 mile journey to the South Pole. It’s an extreme endeavour especially for someone who has chosen to cycle the route! Well at least cycle part of the way.

It would be easy to dismiss this as a Captain Scott type endeavour, but then this is the same person who completed a record-breaking 2,000 mile voyage by kayak down the length of the Amazon. Depending upon all sorts of things they hope get to the south pole within 3 weeks – though it could take a lot longer! Apparently they have been there a while acclimatising – my version of that would be sitting in front of a log fire for as long as possible! The CBBC website will let you keep track of their adventures. Remarkable.