With 3 weeks already into 2018 where some talented riders/athletes will start to think about training for the upcoming season, I have to realise that it’s hard work from late October that will hopefully put me in good stead for this year.
I know of several riders who haven’t even stopped from 2017 – now that’s commitment! I need time out, I need that rest, I need that focus on rest for a couple of weeks just to keep me fresh for the following year. I tried it a couple of years back and just burnt out by March and didn’t enjoy that season at all. Some people can do it and remain focused but it’s not for me.
Instead I went out to Majorca to watch Suzy compete in Paguera Half Ironman. Hired a bike and rode round that part of the island for a few days – if there’s a place for enjoyable weather, food, company and great roads then this island is definitely it. Late-October was kind of “active recovery” with no plans to do anything particular for quite a few weeks.
The Challenge Paguera was inspiring, the atmosphere, the crowds, the music, the setting, everything. Its helped that half of the Beccles Tri club came out to either compete or just cheer on those who were – something that the cycling fraternity should take note of. This pushed me into one of the best (or worst – we’ll see) decisions of my life – to take on an Ironman event. The Mediterranean backdrop was very appealing so Barcelona 2018 was entered – right there, right then. No going back now I suppose!
I’d taken into account it was in October so I could still enjoy my cycling season and then transfer my fitness across to the other disciplines.
In 2015 I tried Triathlon with Joe Skipper helping me along the way in the winter – his Pro commitments at Texas Ironman meant he wasn’t really at-hand to help me write a consistent program and my lack of experience in writing Tri programs meant I was left to “just train a bit” and hope for the best. Looking back it was clear that Sprint Tri’s were always going to be good for the cyclists as they were 50%+ of the event. If I could be in the top 3 in the bike split I was almost guaranteed a top-10 result and maybe an age-group win. Olympic distance events were never going to be good for me as the swimmers would take 10 minutes out of me before I got on the bike…..and i’d never get that back! Even if I did they’d then run away from me at the end as I wasn’t a good runner. If only I knew that then!
Waveney Spring Sprint Tri saw me bag a Top-10 and things were good. And at Stradbroke Sprint I got an Age Group Win. Beccles Tri saw a good result too on a dreadful day. Fritton Olympic was the worst day of my life….for that year at least. Only for me to do Norwich Olympic only a few weeks later and do a little better. But still down in lowly 50th(ish) place – this was not a position I was used to and I mentally quit triathlon on the day of that race. I think I did Waveney Autumn Sprint, Victory Sprint (Age Group Win) and Pinewoods Sprint (Top 10) later in the year but never really enjoyed them because of the Olympic results. Harsh I know but that’s me.
This return, but to remain very clearly away from Olympic events, to Triathlon was a decision off the back of not having the ability to stay with the cycling youngsters – explained my last blog “The Reality”. Being an “Age-Grouper” has it’s appeal – I can race against my own age group and hopefully with a good bike split be a little more competitive overall. The fact Suzy is a swim coach does help too (my worst discipline by far). The running – well i’ll mix up advice from Leigh Butcher – a decent runner in the Rock Estate club, Paul Lyons – a sub 3hr marathon runner, some guy called Fink (apparently a god in the triathlon world) and a few others’ having an opinion. I’m sure i’ll find out some home-truths on the way but that’s part of the fun!
Anyway….lots of turbo trainer sessions in November. A chest infection in early December and then again in early January sees me being out on the road three times since October. Swim sessions are going “ok”. At the end of the day they’re only 600-700 metres at the moment but that’s because I’m still getting used to breathing in the water and feeling comfortable…which lets be honest – i’m not. The sooner I get out of the water the sooner i’ll enjoy Barcelona. The running has been up & down due to the chest infections but I’m now finding a groove where I’ll do a bit of distance early in the week, a brick run off the bike on a Thursday and Park Run with Suzy and my son who’s 13 years old a fairly unfit on Saturday morning.
This week for example has seen me riding 6hrs, running just under 2hrs & swimming 1400 metres. And a couple of strength & conditioning sessions thrown in too – just to make sure I’m sufficiently fatigued!
Suzy has been an absolute dream in writing my swim, bike & run plans through to Barcelona. Taking in East Coast Tri, Waveny Tri, Challenge Geraardsbergen 70.3, Monster Middle (maybe) and Barcelona in the far but clear distance.
I think I may have volunteered for being part of a relay team in the Adnams Southwold Tri in September. And the relay bike leg in Paguera Half two weeks after Barcelona as well as having a go at Majorca Long Course weekend in late October!
Oh and Majorca training camp in March and a conversation today about doing double-Dunwich Dynamo (250 miles) in July. From a cyclist who races every weekend and mid-week throughout the summer this is still not enough events….I’m sure my life coach coach will tell me otherwise!