2006 Season - 2 Man Race

The first race of the season was in Igls, Austria. All the GB teams would have a tough draw as the results from the previous season determine where you start the following season.

This would also be the first race for a lot of the new brakemen that had been recruited this season. The new brakemen were hyped up all week long going into there first race week of the season. Training in the previous weeks had gone well but the true test was to come.

The training runs through the week had gone well, all the brakemen pushing well and stopping the sleds in the relatively short braking straight that this track had to offer, none of the crews had any problems. The drivers were all swapping driving tips and advice as they walked the track. Pete Gunn the Senior Ice Coach was on the track watching all of us and giving us feed back. Two of the crew that were spare were on the track with video camera's videoing our own teams and then one or two of the other nations top drivers so we could compare driving lines. This has turned out to be valuable feedback through the first half of the season.

The day of the race and Ryan who was pushing Martin, was bouncing of the walls, far to much Red Bull for the little man. The sled was ready to go, the runners on and polished to the max. There was nothing left to do except warm up and push like a pair of demon's. We warmed up along side each other, although we both did our own separate warm up routine we were still there for one another. we kept an eye on the sleds and when there were 5 to go we moved indoors ready for the final preparations.

The sled was on the block and we ready to go, the steam was pouring off our bodies as we stripped down to our race suits. I remained focused and relaxed and knew this was the first race of the season and that i had a job to do. I gave the final commands to Ryan and we were off. The start time was in the 30's so I was happy. The run was good and when we got to the bottom of the track we were lying in 17th place with a time of 54.10 my best time on this track. I was a bit gutted not to be in the top 15 but for my first season in the front seat I was pleased. The second run and we started 3 hundredth's slower than the first run, our down time was 54.74 we had held 17th place.....top 20 for the first race of the season, I was pleased but knew that next season 17th wouldn't be acceptable if I want to stamp authority on the world Cup circuit.

Hours and hours of weight training is just a small part of Martins fitness programme.   

2006 Season - Konigsee, Germany - 2 Man Race

We now moved to Konigsee in Germany for the second race of the season.

Things would change for this race. I know had the chance to use one of the best brakemen in the country and the best sled that we had.......
I was using Allyn Condon a British sprinter who has a gold medal from the 1998 4 x 100m European Championships. Allyns PB for the 100m is 10.21 and the 200m 20.63.

So i knew i could start with the top starters and if you can do this and have the drive to match it you will normally be in the top of the pack at the end of the day.

On Monday I took one run with Ryan and one with Allyn. I had my fastest start ever in training with Allyn a 5.15 and i knew if given the chance I wanted to race with him. That night i had a chat with Lee and Pete on what i would like for the race. Lee said why not use him he's there so give him a run out. Pete was happy as well I just had to make sure that Allyn was happy. Allyn said he wanted to push in the race and that he would push on Tuesday and have Wednesday off before the race on Thursday. I was happy with this.

Tuesday's training session and i took Allyn down for both runs. We gave the sled a good start but both knew there was more in the tank for race day, the down times for both runs had us in 7th and 8th place. I was really excited and looking forward to race day on Thursday. Wednesday I took down Jack one of the Navy lads who was new to the sport. The start time was 5.71 but the bottom time was 52.00, i was well impressed with the down time and Jack said it felt "bloody good". I walked back up the track past the coaches, its funny because you get told by one coach that your line was good and then your own national coach says your to low or to high. So you have to take on board what you hear and adapt it to suit your driving ability. The next run was with Richard Sharman, another good brakeman who has good leg speed. The start with Richard was a 5.15 and at the bottom 52.26. The down time was a bit slower but after 80 sleds the track has some wear and tear.

That night we prepared the runners for the race, Allyn was great brought out cups of coffee as we started "Top Man" We finished the runners in about 2 hours and had them wrapped up and put away, then as we started sled polishing Allyn excells yet again with another cup of coffee.

Race Day. I walked the track as usual on my own looking at the bends and mentally going through the track. When I got to the top we started to put the race runners on as this would give us more time to warm up. The runners were on and ready for the race, they were gleaming.
I went outside and began my warm up for the race, Allyn was there as well doing his warm up. It was weird warming up as myself and Allyn never spoke but both knew it was the way we prepared mentally and we both knew on the block we would both perform and give 100%.
We stood on the block ready to start our run. 5.02 fantastic start time as far as i was concerned and 50.93 we were in 6th place after the first run. Allyn came up to me between the runs we can go faster we can go sub 5 seconds. I loved Allyn's attitude and it really motivates you, we began our warm up again as we were in the top 15 we would be off rather soon. Could I catch the sleds in front, that was my focus not the sleds behind us.
On the block for the second run, all the spares and helpers shouting at us........We were ready the sled was in the spurs. I hit the handle as hard as I could and ran calm and relaxed, Allyn's legs pumping like pistons. 5.00 we had started even faster than the first run. This was fantastic for us. The run was smoother and Allyn even mentioned it at the bottom. We were still in 6th place but we had put pressure onto the Canadian Team because our 2nd run was a 50.83 a tenth faster than the first run. We watched the clocks the Canadian's were losing time, at the bottom they clocked 51.04 they had thrown away 12 hundredths from the first run and were now 9 m hundredths behind us. 5th Place we were on the podium, I was ecstatic inside my first year in the front and i was on the podium.
We went down to the medal presentation 6th place 5th place and so on all the way to 1st place. I know so many people on the circuit and it was good to hear the cheers as we went to get our medals. Peter Hell the President of the Europa Cup shook our hands and said "The surprise Team".
I hope this is the start of things to come i know it will get harder as we got to the World Cup but now I am hungry......

My First podium..............hooray!!