Life is complicated, sports are simple........

Bike - Life is Complicated. Sport is Simple from howies on Vimeo.

Getting my head straight…..

It’s been a big change, the whole lot, work, riding, relationships and relaxation…






The writing is clear on the bathroom wall...




After the manic months of city life...


Then the tranquillity of working from home...


Trying to hold onto racing when my heart just wasn’t really in it anymore


And enjoying doing the things I haven’t done in a while



A recent trip and a change of routine have given a new perspective on what’s important to me now. Realizing the things I miss in life and truly can’t function without, what holds most importance at this stage, it was a great chance to think about where things are going, after all no one gets any younger.
For all of us the quest for ultimate happiness is a long one and some times it becomes a goal that simply can’t ever truly be reached. But for now it serves perfectly as something to aim at. After all, if winning, money or power are your only priority, then I guess you are largely missing the point. “The journey often out weights the destination” There is a massive world out there and its not just one for looking at. Why partake in artificial stimulation, when the real deal is sat there for the taking.




Several months ago, I started my trail centre project, ride all the UK trail centre loops or “red runs” in one year!!!
Well it’s, gone fairly well so far with 14 already done, during the last 5months and plenty more lined up for the next few weeks.




Riding these trails has been putting a massive smile on my face and has been a far cry from the pain and pressure, I felt whenever ive ridden a bike before. Also with relocation to the hills, my riding style has changed massively. The flat bars, shaven legs and energy gels, have been replaced with long travel folks, baggy shorts, tea and cake. The term “all mountain” is normally used to describe a bike with a “go anywhere and do anything attitude”, more fitting perhaps to the type of rider I have recently become, rather than the bike I now ride.



So with a new attitude both on and off the bike, it feels like life is rolling along quite well at the minute. I know this post has been a long time coming, (well for those that read it. Maybe no does and it’s just a lost page in cyberspace???) But to be honest, recently I been living in it rather than, writing about it……………………

On the move....

Followers of my twitter feed will have no doubt gathered that in a weeks time I will have left the big city for pastures new....

Every time I've been down the M5 motorway, since as young an age as I can remember, the shadow of the Malvern hills has always had me transfixed..........


And this time next week, I will be living there!
The Malvern Hills are made up of approximately 45km2 of rounded hills criss-crossed with bridleways and the foot of which will be less than 100yards from my new front door,(result!) Now to some folks that may not sound big enough for an all-day epic ride or the perfect location for an endurance-head but what they lack in square kilometres they make up for in vertical per mile. So having visited a couple of times and done my home work a can say, riding here is generally pretty tough, well, its nails to be honest and pretty much the best place i could think of to live within 2hrs of the office...... Climbing up from my front door by bike to summit takes anything up to 30mins depending on which way you go and rewards you with a whole amount of pain, you didn't really bargain for..(I've not even ran there yet!) But once up there the singletrack varies from flat out ridge lines, to steep switch-back wooded descents.(complete with what I found to be nasty techie, off camber roots combined with rocky steps and gullies! ebay search:body armor)
As for conditions on the hills, being just a bunch of great big rocks, means it is an all weather area and when other areas are laced with deep,shitty mud the Malverns almost remain a veritable haven of dry trails... (this just gets better) So this could maybe even see the end of the one-ride brake pad days???? (unless I get bored and go back to riding Cannock in the wet, narrrrrrrrrrrr)
So in all, as you may gather I'm quite excited about all this, OK so I'm renting and living at my financial limit (just for a change) but once again, I'm into my inevitable search to find the ultimate balance...........


If your still not convinced,
then check out this video of the route from the top down to my new front door, well, almost:

"I went down to the woods today & got a big surprise!......."

After a long week of late night, mega miles driven and less than 3hrs of exercise. I had no idea if I would even be able to start the Mud & Mayhem duathlon this morning...........

but I had a job to do and even though the 6am alarm was the rudest of awakenings Ive ever had. I didn't egnor it. So arrived in plenty of time, to set about branding the event..............














once id got the banners and flags up and the car park had began to fill, I could feel the event callin out to me " macca,,, Macca,,, MACCA, Come out to play!!!"













As i sit here tonight in my board shorts and tee, still hot from the bath, the cuts and scratches on my legs sting, the bruise on my thigh hurts and together they all remind me what Ive been missing. I'm sure walking down the stairs tomorrow morning will be the icing on this slice of post race cake.... Hummm and how beautiful it tastes,,,,,,
Today's result isn't even that important, yes a podium is nice place to be, yes 2nd is one step from victory. But for me, it is all about how I got there and how I felt about it and more importantly how I feel about it now..
The first 5k run was a baptism of fire,to not only the lungs and legs but also the brain. Having not ran at pace since a random track session early last month, coming into T1 in 5th was a way better position than Id thought possible.
A swift transition and an effort to keep my cool it was on with my new Bloc shades and time to see if id got anything to give during the bike.....





I took a solid position in the saddle, remained calm and used a combination of skill and power, rather than my usual explosive anger, to real in the guys in front... Disbite a tumble in the second section of single track, I kept my head and worked up to the front of the field.
Leading out of T2 felt great, "I not going to lie to you, I was buzzin,,,HARD!" 400meters further down the course and my body reminded me, that im not in any kind of condition to race flat out to the line (ATM).
Even wearing the Worlds number one multi functional headwear, didn't stop me losing my cool, when super road duathleite, turned off road specialist: Jez Cox, came a hunting for his first win of 2010. Within another few 100meters he was past and gone...
A few desperate looks over my shoulders and digging alot deeper than I have had to in a long time, the last 3km's seemed to go on forever. Finally i crossed the line,,,and in 2nd!



So for now, im going to enjoy my new trophy and bask in the phrase

"your only as good as your last race.."

1007 words on how its going..........

great days but on to pastures new,,,,,,,

Droppin in at the Peaks,,,,,

The open 5 event in the Peaks went well and was the perfect place to show off the new 2011 VOtwo team kit and sponsors................................ (My self and Claire managed 2nd in mixed pairs, a best mixed pair result to date!!)

To the peaks and beyond............

Ok, so time to try again for a season opener. Its the open adventure 5hr event this Sunday in Bakewell, with adventure race partner Maria away in the USA, I will be teaming up with last minute replacement old pal and super fast Ironwoman - Claire Shea-Simonds








From the event its straight back to work, well as much as you can call it work, I'm off to the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, to check things out and get Buff/Sueme lined up for an appearance next year, from the video it looks like its going to go off....................

at all becomes a blur,,,,,,,,,,,,

" Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller

Its been a couple of months of shows-miles-staff trainin and party's. Now with races looming and the waistline expanding, its time to kick into gear and re discover what ive been missing.... First port of call will be a Welsh road trip at the end of the month where Im planning to hit 8 trail centres in 5days, plus hook with a climbing buddy and knock off a couple of routes that have been put on the back burner for far far to long........................ (so until the next time, pour a glass and check out this guy..... "he know's a thing or two about enjoying himself")

Clinton Johns Hayle Session from Craig Vanstone on Vimeo.

Funny friends:

Bloody hell.... they have specifically banned drop bar fixies in one of my local parks....

Out of large respect for my man Charlie the bikemonger,ive shared with you a typical moment from his ever wondering mind. So if your down with that kind of jive talk and scence of fun, check him out, he's a good cat and a purveyor of damned fine bicycle produce.........


On the other hand........................


If you want to see/hear about what happened to this guy, when a couple of Lance Armstong novels, a lots of miles and a dose of OCD were added to the mix, then check this it will probably be the motavation you need next time you question, if something is possible.............


finally.....................................





"workin hard? or hardly workin?"
which ever way you look at it, we at SueMe get the work done and have fun along the way click here to join the ride.....

The Howling Howgills

The first race of the year is always a tough one for me, last year I got a double puncture down in Pipingford the year before I manged to get a wheel change but it didn't really help!! And this year......................







Unlike this person,, the flooding and cold wind took me down and my AR race partner and I were forced to withdraw from the Open5 as I was getting hypothermic... Looks like another false start to another season.







Still every things not all dull, thanks to my new eye wear sponsor, Bloc!
Lots more to follow, where the weather picks up and with a surfin trip already planned for the end of March I'm sure they will get plenty of use both on and off the trails this year...

It sneaks up far to quickly......

Like my friend here,the enemy has been sneaking upon me undetected, well until now!

Over the last ten days, ive covered alot of distance with work, the van and I have eaten up the miles, visiting stores and training staff in the ways of all things buff! But whats a road trip without alittle adventure, and thats where it became apparent the enemy in upon me...
Having recently bought a copy of the UK mountain bike trail center guide and having customers who need to see me dotted all over the place, it didnt take long to come up with a little project of my own to run alongside my workload...
With 63 trail centers dotted across our fair land and a company van big enough to always take a bike and sleeping bag, no matter how much stock I have to carry, its a no brainer.
So 10days in and 4 trail centers have been ridden n rated, but not so much ripped n shreded?
Thats the thing, ive been focused on work and adjusting to living a different lifestyle, for over 2 months now but its only this last couple of weeks, ive noticed the drop in fitness and the extra few pounds im carrying....

So, you takin to me? You takin to me?? YOU TAKIN TO ME! cus there ain't no one else here, time to pull my finger out,

to be cont........................

finding more than your looking for...

Sometimes you think that you have a good idea what your going to find, only to discover a wall...................

and sometimes, you get to find exactly what you were looking for..............

just once in a while, not that often, you get more than you had hoped for.....

Thanks to all at USN for there support in 2011. Macca's now fuelled up and ready to go.........

Time away,,,,,

So onto the coming weeks, a house move - a trip over seas - riding/running with a new group - days out and nights in - a race or two- plenty of fun - So much to look forward too and nothing to lose...... its a Buff life, but someones got to do it!

Better late than never..............

After a pretty full-on week, I hit the forest as the light was fading, I-tunes and head-torch make a great combo..........

Thoughts for the days..............

Having almost come to the end of my trip to the valley, a few thoughts have been floating in old macca's head, in case you haddnt realized its now 2011! New years eve has come and gone, hang over shaken off and the first steps of the new year taken, will it be a re-run of 2010 or will this be the year? Will you make it your year?





What are you going to do different?

What are you going to give up?

What will be your new challenge?

What new thing are you going to start?

What cause will you fight?

What will be the life changing moment?

What bad habit will you break?

What dreams will you make true?

What plans have you been brewing for too long that you will action?

You only have 361 days or less left.

Tick tock, my friends........................



What ever you do, Do something!!!

Put it off this year and you will be 1year older next time....

Cold and Flu have left me indoors over the Christmas break so far, feelin on the mend now, so should be able to hit the mt's before its time to get back to work....

Pic Macca on Cannon Rock 2005

rollin on...........................................

When the time comes to leave, just walk away quietly and don't make a fuss.
BANKSY




This is one of my favorate peaces of art and right now it seems to fit the bill, nicely. You see, ive always had my views, voiced them clearly, followed my chosen path over the hills and far away. Never once regretting a single moment, (well maybe one or two)living my dream on a day to day basis, travel, endurance sports, extreme situations and above all having a blast!!! At the end of last month, I took a leap of faith, not from a bungee tower or over a set of doubles down the woods. But a leap into the system, the system of work, career and planning a future. With a season goal for 2011 of buying a house in the summer and not of winning races or qualifying for some sort of championships, some may think, "whats happened to the old Macca?"


Well take a look at this. Im driving into the office, not exactly stressin about things really? Yes, London traffic blows, everything is a few quid more expensive down here.. but when you work for a company of like minded individuals, who also have a massive drive inside each of them, to cut loose and get radical at every given opportunitie, life is far from boring and the system seem miles away..





With alittle less time to get out and enjoy the trails, im driven out there no matter what the weather, instead of perhaps hanging back waiting for a break in the rain or forced indoor during ice and with no strict 'pro' game plan for the coming year, its no longer about sets of 100's off of a stop watch or watchin heart rates, its more about getting out enjoying it, living it and staying fit enough to do whatever comes along..







having had some great times as an adventure racer in the past and doing events that called upon not only the 3 core triathlon skills but also my interests of paddling, treking and rope work, I see them fitting this new balance well and have already entered into some events. Teaming with old friends and visiting new places, 2011 will be an adventurous time..





as well as steppin forward-taking this leap of faith, ive recently also stepped back in time alittle... Having not ridden a skateboard for over 20years, its nice to find a session after hours on the office ramp, can bring a smile to my face and get the heart pumping, like back in the day. Ok so its only "kick turns" and "rock n rolls", but its all about having fun and finding some flow..





So, after a few weeks of work, skate and snowboard sessions and a few trailquest events to keep the competitive edge there (it will never die), im feelin more alive than I have in a long while, but like Frank said, "Regrets I've had a few, but then again too few to mention, I did what I had to do, And saw it through without exemption. I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway,and more, much more than this.........I did it my way!
And always will,
MACCA

first week of change.............

So that's it, my first week is done in my new job at Buff,got to say ive noticed a few changes,

Ive had to say goodbye to my local mornings on the trails for the time being........



and "hello" to London mornings among the traffic.....



Mind you im far from complaining, when im rollin out on 22's! "The notorious T-I-M in da place...."



its not all work and no play though, there's even a skate ramp in the office... (strictly for after hrs of course)









and I think due to the weather coming in, I will be far from getting board this weekend.....




















Macca Out.................

one door closes and another opens.......

Having never been one, to chase the buck, but like everyone, I have always enjoyed the occasional feel of green, its time to move on.

new job,heaps of opportunities, more money, better lifestyle, same old Macca

magic monday,,,,,

what better way to celebrate turning 34 years young, than a nice steady run in and rain and mud????
nothing more than a way of life.....