"Thanks to Graeme and Neil for the most amazing running week - gorgeous, scenic runs, delicious food (& plenty of it!), beautiful villa and fantastic company and banter - 10/10 for everything!!! Can't wait to go back again :-)))".

"The running, the beautiful scenery and villa, the amazing food, the amazing hosting - it honestly could not have been better. I felt really looked after and supported. Thank you so much. I think you were both brilliant hosts and your laid back style worked so well for this trip. I honestly loved it all and am gutted to be back in dreary London! Thank you to you both and keep up the great work!".

"I enjoyed the variety of runs and completion of the long run on Friday and the trail run on the Sunday. An enjoyable week, which has set me on my training for my first marathon in April".

"Thanks guys you were fab. Met some great people who have kept in touch with since returning to uk and hopefully got inspired into starting Southend park runs. I learned an awful lot and really started to understand the passion people have for running which has certainly rubbed off".

"I really enjoyed the training sessions (yes, all of them), it was great to get out running in such beautiful locations with people who enjoy it as much as I do. It reminded me of why I love running and it didn't actually feel like "training" at all. It made me realise how spoilt we were, when I didn't get home from work tonight until 6.30pm, had to get dinner started and then go out for a 16 km run (finishing with 5 x 400m reps) in the dark and the cold! How I wanted to be back in Lagos".

"I liked the hill session - 3* 2 mile loop - which was a tough one. Enjoyed the bike ride to monchique on the quiet roads. Also liked the challenge - was good having to plan a strategy. Was great to be able to get the schedule tailored to the club and incl the bikes, I think sometimes though as it is a big group we just need to be told what to do! Will def be booking again :)!".

"Thank you for a great week. I never thought that I could run and cycle so much in one week, but I enjoyed it all and came home feeling refreshed, relaxed and much fitter. Every aspect of the holiday was very well organised and you both went out of your way to look after us".

"Just to say a big "Thank You". The villa - the food- the people were great and I have come home energised and with much more confidence about my running. Even embracing the hills now!! The atmosphere and ambiance of the whole holiday. This is down to both of you and your professional but also easy manner. Nothing was too much trouble even when I threw you a "curve ball" with the allergy!".

"Guys, I had a great week...again and, although I didn't think it would be the same second time round I actually think it was better! The runs (that I was able to do!) were great fun, the villa is still brilliant, the people were great and you two go out your way to make sure everyone is catered for (not just in the food sense of the word!). After years of saying I will never do a triathlon I'm actually contemplating it now...what have you done to me!?!".

"A top week, hosted by two very well organised guys, who are clearly very passionate about the sports they partake in and that in turn feeds through to the business that they clearly enjoy running. All in all that passion and enjoyment makes for a great training camp. Thanks for a great week."

"The itinerary was really well thought out--I liked the variety of the runs, going to different places every day. I also thought it was great how the training could be as easy or as hard as one wanted it to be and there was no pressure to do more than I felt like doing. Oh, and of course I was totally stoked that you guys bought me sparkling wine and cake for my birthday! ;-P".

"The week exceeded all my expectations and I had a fantastic time. It goes without saying that the villa was lovely, and I was thoroughly impressed by Graeme and Neil's cooking skills. We had a lovely, friendly group who made the week really good fun. I loved the coastal run from Luz to Burgao - I really enjoyed all the runs. They were so varied and well thought out with great scenery. It was great to do some trail running, and also some hill training (and what a hill!). Getting up for a sunrise ocean swim was pretty special too".

"Thanks to you both for a great week, it was just what the doctor ordered and I feel energised (and slightly orange!). You clearly love what you do and your energy is infectious. That and you're both amazing cooks made for a truly memorable holiday. See you in 2012 for my 30th Birthday week!
Aside from all of the running, the Friday night out was great fun and thank you for making my Birthday one to remember - my liver has finally recovered".

"Thanks guys for another awesome week - couldn't fault the range and organisation of the training and your own efforts and dedication was impressive and hugely appreciated. Can't pick out a highlight - just a thoroughly enjoyable and productive week from start to finish".

"The Coastal runs where great but also liked the challenge of the hill reps!! :-). Just to say thanks for giving me such an enjoyable holiday which I will not forget! great runs, great food and not forgetting wonderful company!! :-)".

"Run routes were excellent, good coverage of different terraine. Great holidays guys, not sure how you can raise the bar any higher".

"From a training perspective, the variety within the programme of runs was great. Even though I found it the toughest at the time, retrospectively I think the run I got the most out of was the coastal run. I also loved the boardwalk and après-run at PortoMao (sp??). On a more general note, it was so lovely spending time with like-minded people who 'get' the running thing!!".

"Swimming as the sun came up, riding a bike through the gorgeous countryside and the hill runs! I hate hills but I've come home and been out running up the biggest hill near where I live. I'll never be the best runner but I feel proud of all the running I did in one week. Thank you for giving me a new found confidence in my running. I had an amazing week. Thank you".

"Thanks again Graeme and Neil for organising a most unique holiday in a fantastic setting, and giving us some great runs to get stuck in to. Staying in excellent accommodation, with great crowd of fellow runners, eating good food, running in fun locations, and being inspired by the rest of the team. Was very happy with my half marathon run".

"The highlight of my holiday was the realization very early on in the week that it was what I had hoped it would be. I was slightly apprehensive going into the holiday as I was travelling on my own and had concerns about my running ability. These fears were allied very early on by the excellent atmosphere and sense of camaraderie within the group, Neil and Graeme are very skilled at creating a feel good factor during the runs and in general around the villa during the down times".

"Enjoyed all of it... the races were well organised in great locations, and having the rest of the day to chill out made for a relaxing holiday too. The food was great and the company excellent. Good stuff all round!".

"Lots of variety in the runs; lots of time for chilling out; fun games; meeting cool new people... it was all great".

"It was a great week. It was really chilled which suited me perfect and the races were really well organised. Really great camp. I will recommend it on".

"A fantastic week of climbs and descents! It has been a great way to kick start my cycle fitness ahead of the tri season especially with the 70.3 in July fast approaching. Will definitely be recommending this trip to other club members".

"Not just some of the best training I have done, but one of the best holidays I have been on in a wee while, the group, the views, the food, the accomodation, the sense of achievement, the comradery, the hot tub, the surrounding countryside, and the personal and flexible approach of Neil and Graeme all combined to make it memorable. Oh and the Tourmalet".

"Fab trip guys, you were brilliant at all aspects, not just the cycling but the support, the food, how you took care of us. You've obviously put a lot of thought and expertise into the organisation and it really shows. Especially when things went wrong and you were able to handle them, meant that we could all just relax and concentrate on getting up the cols!!".

"Very well organised and thought through. Thorooughly enjoyed the trip, although my legs are still recovering! Lovely location, ideal for a cycling holiday, great to have accomplished so many different climbs in one week.
Cheers guys".

"Absolutely loved the climbing, descending and rolling flat tarmac of Pyreneean France. Will spend some time over the next few days thinking back to the Col D'Aspin, that gravelly 20% short climb, the 18.6km slog up Tourmalet, the crazy never ending descents, the beautiful views, the lovely food. Company was great, and Neil and Graeme were incredible hosts and guides. Count me in for next year too!"

"Just wanted to say great holiday. Neil/Graeme you have a great setup there, count me in for next year. Also thanks to my fellow chasers for making it a great trip and the best sports holiday I have ever had. Car Back.".

"Tourmalet day was epic. I think the mix of rides was well judged as well as the timing of the rest days. Well done guys. Some great memories that I'll treasure for years. What more can you ask for?"

"Just a quick note to say a BIG THANK YOU for a great week. Neil – the whole week ran like clock work, the food (and shopping) was great, there was no waiting around and for me the balance was right between training 3-6 hours a day and having the time to chill / recover. Graeme – awesome support, that Col will live with me forever, the swim tips will allow me to swim longer, faster with less effort".

"The trip totally exceeded my expectations. The cycle routes were great and at the right level so that although they were tough in sections we had plenty of time to recover on the flatter bits. Food was always good and was particulary impressed with the range of salads produced daily and the skills on the BBQ. Looking forward to the next Embrace trip already!!!"

"Reaching the top of Tourmalet, to the congrats from the rest of the crew - self satisfaction doubled through team spirit. Awesome! The flexible, relaxed, personal approach that you create works really well I thought, so try and keep that no matter how much bigger you grow! ;-)".

"Absolutly fab holiday - Turbo charged my cycling and much more confident on finishing Ironman! Reaching the top of the Tourmalet was the highlight... Amazing views on the way up!"

"In general, the cycling. Taking in 2 historic Tour climbs was very satisfying - once the summits were reached! :-) But I've ben wanting to to do road / hill biking abroad for some time, so it was great, and being lead with leaders who had "sat nav" was good, as it didn't involve stopping to look at maps.".

"Thank you again for an amazing week. I'm a training camp groupie, and yours was the best overall experience I've had so far. I genuinely hope you continue to expand, and I'll keep you guys in mind when planning next year's adventure. I will be comparing all future camps to yours, and you've set a very high standard."

"It was a very nice and interesting week, thank you!! Both of you (Neil and Graeme) were very endeavored and professional! In the villa we seemed to be a big family - nice atmosphere (regardless of language-problems)".

"Some great routes and swims... mentally effortless training. To knock out 23+ hours trainging in a week was great. Loved swimming in the sea and some of the fast rides. Nice bunch of people and enjoyed the fact that Neil and Graeme were out there doing the same and putting the work in too. Brilliant break - good honest group motivated training and well orchastrated by the Embrace team!"

"We have had a fab week with the boys, great rides, great runs and great swims. We will all be back next year. Thanks so much".

"Thank you, thank you, thank you - def would recommend to oppos in RN/RM Tri club - good opportunity to really kick start season training in ernest. Really enjoyed the week and would look to book again."

"Where do I start, the entire week's holiday was simply amazing. From the variety of terrains for our runs; Woodland Trails, Beach Runs, Clifftop and Town to the wonderful food and drink and to top it all a great social group of runners. Thanks to your help guys the long run around Lagos at the end has nicely made me revise what may be possible for my marathon. I'm still buzzing now!".

"I enjoyed the trip so much that it's been hard trying to explain to non-runners!! (They all think that I'm mad!). There's nothing better than having a holiday which makes you feel really good about yourself and show you what you can achieve with a bit of coercing and encouragement! I will definitely plan to come back as soon as possible!
Thanks so much for giving me my confidence back".

"Despite getting injured on the first day i thought that the whole holiday was amazing. Great training, great people, great villa, great food and great beer. I was impressed by the relaxed atmosphere and the way in which advice and motivation was given. A quiet word over a beer or dinner or a comment as Graeme sped past me! My running mindset has changed in a very positive way....be back next year!".

"Thanks for a great trip. My running club friends were complaining on tuesday that I was leaving them behind!!!!!!!!!! Another first. Never hapened before so obviously some magic has come back. Hope it lasts until 18th April. Looking forward to reunion sometime. I will make an effort if I know when."

"Having spent a week having some average and poor runs, to blast the 10 miles pace setting with Kate & Tilly showed me something I'd never done before: eye opening! Oh yes, and learning that standing thigh deep in an ice cold swimming pool can be fun: I'd never have believed it a week before!!". A fantastic week, Team Mosquito is planning to return in September.

"Graeme, Neil and Andy, can't thank you enough for the killer time I had in Embrace's company last week, at the pre-Mrathon Running camp, in the Algarve. The confidence your sessions and overall encouragement gave my running were just what I had hoped for, and just when I needed it... muito obrigado!"

"There wasn't a specific highlight for me. It was; all round, most satisfactory -the organisation, itinerary, and personalities of the trip leaders.".

"I didn't know if coming on a second trip would match my memories of the first but I think it probably exceeded it!
I felt more confident in the group and was really pumped to see how much better my times were.
Am planning to return for the hat trick!"

I liked the easygoing/informal nature of the holiday despite having done at least 2x my usual weekly mileage and the different training sessions like beach/woodland/road etc.
Also the social aspect was fab and everyone being supportive/spurring each other on.

"The incredible group of people out there... the fantastic runs (particularly the Woodland Trail and the 10k that went up along the cliffs and then back through the golf course)... your enthusiasm and the fact that you guys obviously just love what you're doing... the good mix of training and socialising... and the bake off, of course!"

"The highlight was the Tour de Algarve Ride - Great day where you really got a buzz for cycling. Looking forward to France!"

"I really enjoyed my week with you guys and i flew to work on my bike this morning but it was only 6 miles but i still felt a 100% better than i did the previous week. it has really focused my training and i would recommend you both to anyone".

"Running in the sun, food, cycling (even though it was a running holiday!), the company, the villa, the relaxed, easy going atmosphere while still managing to run lots of miles, my room with ensuite bath and shower, in fact ..... EVERYTHING. Just a big THANK YOU to both Graeme and Neil for a brilliant running holiday - great value for money, excellent runs, accommodation, villa and company".

"Brilliant week! I think the way you planned the runs was really thoughtful, taking into account runners of different abilities and speeds. The occasional cafe stop was a definite added bonus. Superb catering and great company also! Thanks".

"A nice variety of run routes kept it interesting, and in particular not having to worry about logistics etc. Also, although it was a running holiday I did love the sea swims and cycling- even when i couldn't keep up. It was a great week which I really enjoyed. Wished I could have stayed for the following week to get a bit more swimming and cycling in!"

"I loved the beach run, also the coastal runs, the challenge was really funny, lying by the pool was bliss, the villa, the barby’s & the food. Last but not least, everyone there. I feel a lot more confident about pushing myself and am really keen to sign up for a few races and work on building up the speed which I must admit I had never really tried before. I’ve already had a new pb since I got back :-)".

“It was a really relaxed & fun week - we had the core sessions where we worked hard but also plenty of time to just chill out. I've never run 60 miles in a week before but the variety of sessions kept me motivated. Beforehand I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy being in the villa as last year I'd loved Club La Santa & the crowds but this was perfect, was great to be able to come & go as we pleased, grab a drink & bite to eat etc.”

“I thought Graeme and Neil did an amazing job. There was never a time where I felt things needed to be improved. I thoroughly enjoyed the track sessions as we don't do them at all. I loved the coastal runs, the morning swim and the aquathon.”

"I hadn't cycled in a big group before and really enjoyed working as a team. Both the climb up and rollercoaster down Monchique were equally epic. I really enjoyed the ocean swimming, it has given me a lot of confidence that Barcelona will be ok. The coastal runs were great, and seemed to fly by."

"I was really nervous just before going a) cos I am not very confident in my running ability and b) cos I am quite shy. But my fears were forgotten and I had the BEST time from day 1 :) Lots of "1sts" for me - 1st off road run, 1st track session, 1st beach run and my longest run so far. I really enjoyed the relaxed and friendly set up of the holiday and I hope that the next one lives up to it...!"

"In the words of Albert Einstein, "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". This week proved to me that I'm pretty insane -I've been training in the same way for years and been surprised I've not improved. Graeme has highlighted the need to record my training sessions and to have a proper training schedule. Approaching 40 is not an excuse for not running PBs!" Joanne Ling, Essex

“Was great to get the opportunity to try new things and be pushed. The accommodation was brilliant and had a really nice and friendly atmosphere. Was amazed at how many sessions were fitted in and all really well organised. Best bit was beating the triathletes up the hill on the bike ride!! Loved the cycling generally!”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the week. You guys have done a tremendous job in getting a great holiday idea together. The sessions were amazing, particular highlights were the trail runs and the swims”

Graeme and Neil's knowledge of the Algarve is second to none and you will never get bored with the variety of training sessions they have planned. Everyday is a new challenge that you will look forward to immensely"

"I can't recommend a week's training with Embrace Sports highly enough! Just back from my second trip and already planning the next. Graeme and Neil have put together a training plan that caters for all abilities that is varied, challenging and fun! The Algarve is the perfect setting and you'll come home with a real sense of achievement, motivation to keep pushing yourself and a great tan too!"

“A really good days training!!! Thanks guys for putting on a really enjoyable open water day. Lunch, 3 hours of private lake use, drill and a race all for £45 was great value for money!! A great day out!!!”

“Many thanks to Neil and Graeme for the Open Water Swim Day on Sat, had a great time. Swimming in a lake isn't so bad after all! Particularly liked the bit on the sighting and transition tips, if only half of them I could remember. Anyhow, this will see me through the first triathlon. Thanks for making it an enjoyable and fun day, yet still a good workout!”

“Ditto... it was a fab weekend! Just what we had both been hoping for, and more! Good luck everyone and thank you Neil and Graeme, hopefully see you both again at the cc sometime soon.”

“Thanks guys for such a great weekend, you looked after us so well and the food was awesome! Thanks for all the great advice and encouragement I feel much more confident with my training now. Great to spend a weekend with a lovely group of people who love running too! Hope to see you all again. Good luck! Kathyx”

“Great weekend, really varied runs, great company and super food. Thanks guy's..” Mike Taylor, Portsmouth

“Excellent value. Lots of effort put into it by Neil & Graeme. They went out of their way to look after us and take us out etc to make it a perfect holiday. The worst part was going home!”

“GREAT week in Lagos. Thanks to Neil, Graeme and Eric for superior triathlon coaching and a lot of fun. This was a perfect balance of training, R&R and fun. These guys really know how to put on a camp. Unforgettable... :-)”

“Monchique cycle was fantastic! Open water swimming and all the cycles were excellent, good routes, great roads and plenty of coffee stops. Have never done that much training before, was great to push myself and know I can still do plenty more!”

“Pretty much everything was covered... great runs, good food, great company, knowledgable host, great villa and not to mention... hot weather. Beautiful run routes of varying distances. Completing most of these gave me more confidence as the week progressed. Can't wait for next year!!!”

“Hey Guys. Thanks for what was a great week in the Algarve. Fantastic group of people, top weather, food, drink and feeling super fit from all the training sessions. The villa was spot on and the area is an ideal challenge for both runners and the tri folk. Just not the same back here in damp, overcast Blighty.”

“Calling all fellow triathletes... this trip is a great way of taking time out to properly train and not just grab an hour here or there following a stressful day at work! The running and cycling routes are certainly both challenging and inspiring and the local 50 metre outside pool (yes outside!) is jaw dropping... it even convinced a reluctant swimmer (me!) to head there for a few extra sessions”

“It was an absolutely superb week! I’m fitter, more relaxed, motivated and ready to set some personal bests! (Oh yes – and very tanned!) – I couldn’t have asked for anything more!”

“It was a brilliant holiday- I never knew I could run, swim, volleyball, drink and eat so much in one week. Such a beautiful location, and running was only a part of it. Thanks for the experience!”

“Hello Embrace people and runners out there, I went for a week training in Portugal last month and improved my half marathon PB by 3.5 minutes yesterday. The training was a lot of fun although I didn't think so then running up the hills!! But it definitely worked for me. Shame i lost my tan :( (but not my stamina!!) Thanks!!”

“Can't recommend these guys highly enough. Our training holiday last autumn was simply fabulous. From the enormous villa with two swimming pools, which would not have been out of place in the Hollywood hills, to the food which was barbecued nightly with enormous expertise & the great running or biking on quiet roads / trails in the woods & overlooking the sea.”