This year you had a crack at your first European track season, what did you learn from that experience?

First thing is that "Speeclous" spread on bread is one of the tastiest things ever (thanks to Malcolm Hicks for introducing me) and also that I'm really lucky to get to spend 3months per year is such an incredible/diverse place. Another thing is that next year will be better to travel with a group of like minded athletes rather than by myself, as its just more fun with all the banter that way!

How would you rate your European season overall? Did you achieve the goals you set leading in?

In retrospect it was a bit of disaster and I was quite disappointed with it...I ran no faster over there than I had in some races in NZ (sometimes on my own even) and that was very frustrating. Though looking back I probably overcooked it a bit in training before leaving NZ, which led to blips along the way in terms of sickness/injury once I arrived in Europe. But whatever, I will work to turn that around for next time.

What did you do once you arrived back in NZ - did you take a break at all?

First thing was to give my coach (piloneeee) a lot of crap about the warriors making the grand final (it was a bitter week for the old bastard). Nah really I basically had fun for a few weeks (lots of Madden playing with Shane Rhode on the PS3) and then got into some running again in time for the NZRR. Amazingly I also got a job and am due to continue my studies over summer school as well (bit of catching up to do). Injury prevention and all the tiny things like regular massage/nutrition/good health etc have been a big focus as well too so that when I start the hard yards I am not waiting to break down again.

What is the plan for the upcoming season? Do you have any specific races planned out?

Will race a bit of domestic stuff (mostly 800m/1500m) and then head over to aussie in Feb/Mar for a couple of the bigger 1500's they have on over there.

What is training looking like for you at the moment?

Going terrible but I'm only just getting back into it so pretty relaxed about it for now.

Do you have any training partners right now? Where are your local stomping grounds?

I usually am hitting the hills around Cornwall Park and also drive out to Woodhills forest for most of my longer runs. The Auckland Domain is workout central for me and also go to the Millenium Institute alot for the gym/pool/alter-g sessions (i.e. recovery central!) I do most of my training on my own but hope to start getting out a bit more with Reid hunter, alex parlane, and aaron jackson as they're good positive guys to be around

Chris Pilone coaches you, do you have much input into your day-to-day training?

I'm lucky if Pilone actually makes it to a session, rather than getting lost or fiddling with his bloody bikes he loves to ride so much! I feel I'm pretty smart in myself as a runner so don't really need him there all the time. So he gives me a long leash and we go over things when need be. Mostly though we talk about things unrelated to running such as the obvious match-fixing going on between Aussie/South Africa in the test match at the moment!!!

Hayden trains in the New Balance 890. Check them out in the NB shop.

Hi Everyone,

Well it has been a good two weeks since arriving in Ede-Wageningen, Holland. My first week here was rather rough in trying to recover from the flight, but after some easy long running in the forests around here, things started to return to normal quite quickly.

Jeroen and Neeltje have shown me around all the local running routes, and introduced me to many nice people. I have truly been made to feel welcome here and I can’t thank them enough.

My days at the moment are spent quite relaxed. I wake up, train, spend the day watching movies or reading National Geographic (I can tell you all about the evolution of the feather later…) and then train again in the early evening. After that is a bit of dins dins and a beer with some locals who are always too willing to pay for it!

I was meant to run a 1500m in Nijmegen last week. However I decided to skip this and make my European debut in Lokeren, Belgium. Here I managed to solo an even 3:43.00 and win feeling relatively comfortable. This has at least given me the confidence that I am in shape to run fast and also that it is time to do so!

Next race is this weekend (4^th June) at the IFAM meeting in Oordegem, Belgium. It has a good strong field and the pace is set to be quick so looking forward to having a real good crack.

In other news… “Doo Doo” The Cat has stopped attacking me. This is not through some new friendship that we’ve formed though, but because it is my duty to feed her when Jeroen and Neeltje are not around!!! It seems she knows this!!!

I am also trying very hard to learn some Dutch… it is a bloody difficult language though but here is a small sample of things so far:

“Kikker is verliefed” = “The Frog is in love”

“Lekker” = I like… (with many different contexts)

“Snell” = Fast… (they got that one right with Peter Snell or Peter Fast)

Anyway hope everyone is happy down-under in winter time; fantastic weather here!

Hayden

Personal Bests:

800m: 1:50.5

1500m: 3:40.15

Mile: 3:57.78

5000m: 14:12

Coach: Chris Pilone

Agent Company: www.wafelsportsmanagement.com

Off To Europe!

Hi Folks,

This is my first time blogging, so thought I would get straight into it!

Since October 2010 all my training has been geared towards racing well over the upcoming European season. For the first time in two years I have finally been able to get a consistent buildup done without getting injured or sick, and so naturally I am looking forward to getting into some good fast races! I also have to quickly thank my coach, Chris Pilone, who I have been living with in Auckland for the past couple of months after the Christchurch earthquake. He has allowed me to just eat, sleep, and train without the pressure of having to work, although the constant barrage against Canterbury teams has been a bit unbearable at times!

The journey from NZ to Europe I must say is rather far. Despite one bag lost somewhere between Hong Kong and Amsterdam (it has since turned up) the travel was all done and dusted over the weekend and I have arrived at my “base” for the season in Ede-Wageningen, Holland (pronounced difficultly).  I am staying with a local coach here (Jeroen) and his partner Neeltje, who have been really awesome since I got here.  They are super friendly and love their athletics and unsurprisingly their football too. Last night in fact was the final match for the Netherlands league, between Ajax and FC Twente. This ended in a thrilling 3-1 victory by Ajax who were 1 point down on season total against top of the table FC Twente! Unreal, and oh yea…we watched that… Anyway, despite their cat “Doo Doo” which constantly attacks me, I have a great feeling about the next couple of months here. There are plenty of locals to meet up with for training runs and also, next door to the house is a track, pool and gym. A further 10mins down the road and there is a massive forest for keeping that mileage going. Just an all round mint location really!

Right now I am all about getting the body adjusted and recovered from the travel. Will get into some light training later today and then go from there.  First race at the moment is schedule to be a 1500m in Nijmegen, Holland on 25^th May so not long to go now!

Till next time.

Hayden