Final Block…

Into the final block of training until Challenge Almere 70.3 and “fingers crossed” everything seems to be going in the right direction. A couple of events over recent weeks — a couple of 100-mile rides and a triathlon but other than that things have been quiet so I’m always wondering what can go wrong in this last phase.

During this “quiet” phase it’s been hard not to overthink some issues and lead me to certain decisions…

After my Road Race appearance for this last time in 2019 some weeks ago it’s become clear that although road racing was a major part of my life there has been some transition in recent months and there’s now serious contemplation in  not renewing my racing licence for 2020. I have always looked back fondly on my Road Racing career and the dozens of friends through the experiences in the regional peleton I’ve made it’s hard to close the door on this part of my life but I think the refocus on Triathlon in 2018 and the lack of understanding from certain directions & the need to protect my mental health from certain individuals and circumstances means that the road racing scene may not be for me anymore. “Never say never” I hear you say – we’ll see.

Mental Health is never discussed fully as people don’t really understand it, in fact I would go as far to say that people don’t want to understand it as it may open up a few issues of your own. We all have good times and bad times but living with anxiety and depression has seen me go through some dark times. I’d love to “snap out of it” but things don’t work like that. All I can do is control my thoughts as far as possible and distract myself with a ridiculous triathlon training schedules perhaps!
On a serious note sport or a health & fitness regime is definitely one way of distraction – if your body allows it, but it is not for everyone. I know several people who I am privileged to call my friends, even before social media allowed me to be their friends, who suffer from mental health issues on a day-to-day basis and all I can do is be there, at arm’s length/reach until they need me. All I can do is be there and most of all let them know I’m there.

My personal situation has changed over the past two years massively and without these new people in my life I’m supposing that I would still be banging my head against those old walls, getting nowhere. It goes without saying that Suzy has made a tremendous impact on my wellbeing as she understands the complexities of “me” without judgement despite probably infuriating her from time-to-time. Thank You.

A slight tangent to what this blog was about but mental health is not a priority in many people’s life and I’m beginning to understand it is THE PRIORITY. With this, moving back to my original theme, is why my journey continues in this direction – In my direction.

A few weeks back I managed to get in the London 100 Ride, a balloted entry along with Suzy. We had already agreed that I was going to ride at my own pace and she at her own pace so we would both enjoy it. We managed, god knows how, to get the same pen and start time – 6:24am so we could at least enjoy the startline together. Once we were off I was searching for some good wheels to follow and settle into a nice pace. I found one guy in my pen start who seemed like he was going around my pace so I attached myself to his wheel. Within 5 miles there was a group of 15 riders all keen on hitting a reasonable tempo. We were passing slower riders on their right hand side pretty quickly and before I knew it we had clocked the first hour with 26 miles under our belt. The 2nd hour didn’t change much but I could feel the pace ramping up a little on the inclines and I was beginning to think about tailing off and enjoying the rest of the ride. Soon enough my choice was made for me and we hit the Surry Hills – a climb of at least 10% and I clicked through my gears and settled into a slower paces whilst this grouped headed off into the distance. A quick wee stop at 60 miles and then I hit the two major climbs of the ride – Leigh Hill and Box Hill, major Iconic climbs from the 2012 Olympics which the professionals would attack a few times later in the day. I stuck to a nice tempo and enjoyed the route before hurtling back into London and 30+mph to finish with a time of 4:32hrs – I’ll take that for a century 🙂
I kicked back in the finishing area, with a few Amstel beers before Suzy came in about an hour later and we spent the afternoon just taking in the atmosphere in & around Buckingham Palace until we made our train connection later in the day.

A week later I was in action in my first Triathlon for several weeks, at the St Eds Triathlon in Bury St. Edmunds. It was an Olympic event as far as bike and run were concerned but as it was pool-based it was only a 600m swim. The bike was slightly long too which suited me down to the ground.

This event was a bit of a tryout for a new bike position and some nutritional changes and all-in-all it worked out quite well.
My swim was as expected – just under that 2min per 100 that I seem to have been doing lately. The 2-lap bike course was challenging due to it being very hilly and some strong crosswinds – maybe I should not have used my disc wheel 🙁

 

The run was a lot better that last years’ event with me hitting my 5-min k’s consistently even with a quick drink stop every 2.5k.

 

Somehow I managed a 5th place overall with my bike split being 2nd to the eventual winner. Beccles Tri Clubs Carl Prewer scored a 2nd place overall too – his run was nearly 10 minutes better than mine! With my 5th place I got the Age-Group win although Haver Sports (again) failed to organise a proverbial p##s up in a brewery and had no prizes for this – I’m guessing the last time I enter one of their events. I’ve now entered 4 of their events and each time there is a complete lack of organisational skills and indeed learning from their mistakes in the past.

This Sunday (yesterday) I rode another century ride – this time the “Tour De Broads” 100 round my local area, in fact near enough passing my house at 70 miles. The event set at Whitlingham Broad near Norwich was perfect and somehow the weather stayed (mostly) bright for the day despite a nasty headwind in the last hour of riding.
Unsure of how I was going to ride this I heard that Jim Keeble and Ray Knights of Rock Estate were on the startlist so I contacted them the night before to see if I could tag along. On the day Keith Wink (VCB) and his friend along with Phil Goffin from Beccles Tri Club added to our group. We set off, with the wind behind us into the North Norfolk Broads and into the mid-way feed stop in under 2.5hrs. A quick rain shower later and we were slowed considerably going through Caister and Gt Yarmouth with the usual holiday traffic. I’m guessing by adding a few 100 cyclists into this mix made things slightly worse! Once out of Yarmouth we were into the countryside to complete the last hour of riding towards Norwich, the inclines planned for us in the last 10 miles saw a few of us drop off the pace but we all finished within 5 minutes of each other and we all sat on the grass taking in the atmosphere whilst drinking beer – the way it’s meant to be.
Just over an hour later Suzy and her group of Beccles Tri girls came in just after a few other Beccles Tri guys and we all had another drink to celebrate – let’s just say I didn’t drive home! A definite “feel good” day out with some old friends – note to one’s self – must do more of this 🙂

So here I am, into that last phase of training for Almere 70.3. Legs feel ok although I do feel slightly jaded now – I guess the culminative fatigue is there and now it’s about the “cherry on top” and ensuring my rest & recovery is there to give me the best chance of doing that sub-5 I talked about earlier in the campaign.

I’m swimming with Suzy on Monday evenings whilst she is moving towards her 3800 distance before her long course (140.6) at Almere.

Tuesdays are all about a hard bike in the morning and then a long recovery run in the evening.

Wednesdays are fairly easy – a strength & conditioning session in the morning before work followed but a long swim in the pool straight after work.

Thursdays all about a tempo bike and then a fast-paced interval brick session to get me used to that run after the bike.

Fridays are sometimes a day off but sometimes I try to squeeze a interval swim session in there, but if Thursdays are tiring I won’t do anything.

Saturdays are all about the long run which incorporates Park Run – i’m currently at about 65 Park Runs – nothing compared to some who are now in the 250 club – that’s over 5 years!

And Sundays are a bike ride – getting back to enjoying the bike rather than the anxieties creeping in about how well I’ll go, who’ll be there and what will they say about me 🙁

 

Oh, and then there’s that Ironman distance event in late October!