25/08/2026
Fantastic afternoon down at with Scott Fraser, Jamie Kleiman & Andrew Goodlad getting some practice in for Official Scotland’s Strongest Man ™️ in under 4 weeks time.
1. 5 reps at comp weight on Viking Press - need to get the legs going
2. Block press - still anxious leaning back too far after my ab injury....hence it looks very messy!
3. Dragon Egg - thankfully got a great coach in Callum Crozier who will help iron out the issues.
4. 150kg block - loading to about 1m.
5. 370kg for 25m thanks to Suzzi Mac getting her lines mixed up!
So good to train with these guys. They are at a high, high level, but incredibly generous with help & advice for a still relative newcomer.
I can't wait for the 19th. Lots still to do & nerves starting to kick in. But massively excited.
19/08/2026
🔥SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT🔥
This is Brian, the founder & owner of Ragin Apparel - whom I have been sponsored by since the build up to the British Masters earlier this year.
Brian was one of the first people to speak to me when I started training at Hostile, and he continues to help out whenever he can, even if that's just shouting a bit of encouragement.
Strongman, especially at the higher levels, is demanding on the time & finances (travel/kit/fees etc) of its athletes, so support - in the form of help with kit or financial - is vital. Thanks to Brian & the Ragin brand, some of the burden of buying more kit has been lifted, and I'm very grateful for that.
Go see him at Official Scotland’s Strongest Man ™️ in a few weeks time, or buy online: CODE nick10 for a wee discount 👊👊
15/08/2026
A quality events session over at Victory Bespoke Fitness Gym this morning. Such a great gym: if you're in the area, get yourself in 💪
First time on the replica 100kg block & feeling pretty good.
First time ever on a Dragon Egg. Only the 120kg one, but after a bit of figuring it out (aka watching videos of other people doing it!) I started to get there.
Yoke I was happy with - 380kg for 20m which I'm happy with.
Also did husafell sandbag 120kg into 130kg bag load x3 but no video.
Stones were disappointing but I was pretty tired by then. But need some definite work...
5 weeks out from Official Scotland’s Strongest Man ™️ & it's easy to see how others are going and let the doubts creep in. I need to stay in my lane, keep working as hard as I can, and embrace this journey as a 44 year old rookie who still has a hell of a lot of ambition in this sport...
Coach: Cal
Gym: Martin Lennox
Sponsor: Ragin Apparel
25/07/2026
Cracking early morning hitting events Martin Lennox
1. 150kg in plates on viking press, into a 120kg x20 backoff set
2. Final set of 2 on the block, finishing with 90kg
3. 350kg yoke. Not the quickest, but felt good & strong
4. 120kg husafell - working on a quick pick & foot speed. Need a higher pick...
5. 110kg bag to shoulder - had to be multiple movements, not one motion
Tired now, but a great end to a solid week. Was great training alongside clewis.strength as the preps for Natural Strongman 🌍 worlds.
Coach: Cal
Sponsor: Ragin Apparel
Gym: Martin Lennox
11/07/2026
This is a special picture, sent to me by my dad, of my daughters standing in front of one of my framed England Rugby U21 shirts alongside a New Zealand, Ireland & Argentina shirt that I exchanged for after we played them; and on the right my Scottish Rugby Club International shirt from the match against Ireland in 2012.
These shirts were earned before the girls were born, and yet they were still so excited to be able to go & see them while they're staying with my parents. It's also a reminder to me that these stories & memories, distant as they are to me, are still worth telling & remembering with the girls- maybe they'll give a bit of inspiration to them in whatever they want to go after in life.
11/07/2026