Now where do I begin? The accomplishments of 2019 or the events planned in 2020?
So much to look back on, I guess the starting point for 2019 was way back in October 2018 just after Ironman Barcelona. I sat down and decided I wouldn’t do a Full Distance race at all in 2019 and I would concentrate on “Project 5” for my 70.3 distance.
In the first few weeks of 2019 I took part in a Duathlon on the local Lotus Test Track near Norwich, full of hope and optimism considering the masses of training I had completed in those months up until the new year. That soon diminished into despair as my legs had deserted me, my mind quickly crumbled and I was almost back to Step #1 on the Triathlon trail wondering where to start. My first decision was a coach to oversee things to make sure I wasn’t over-training which looking back I clearly was!
The choices were varied, from some that charged 100’s of pounds for a complete lacking 1-2-1 service to those that charged a nominal fee for something that resembled a plan. I chose a local coach who had simply been there-done that and might shed some light on my mistakes. And there were some…!
The plan was good – to get me to my first 70.3 in the year, this one was in May in Majorca. The swimming was pretty non-existent and improvements were made almost immediately. Cycling was dialled down a bit and this love for two wheels was the reason we parted company later on in the year. The running was also quite slow and not as much as I felt I needed. The run had always let me down in every event I had completed in 2018 so I knew I needed to do more of it to get better – to be confident about coming off the bike knowing I could nail that discipline.
My fears were realised when I fell apart in Majorca at the 14k point and came in at an almost identical time to my 2017 performance at the Monster Middle in Ely. At this point my mindset was all over the place – I was asking friends randomly what should I do “extra” to give my plan some kind of a boost leading to the next target – Challenge Almere in September. A simple quote from one of my close friends was “if you’re going to do extra sessions on your plan and not tell the coach then why have one?”. That stuck in my mind for the next few weeks and the final straw was when Suzy and I sat down to discuss our marriage in 2020 and the financial implications – the luxuries of having a coach were out of the window and I decided to go alone again, just as I had for the previous few years – this time (hopefully) with a little more awareness and knowledge.
Into the next few months where I won the Fritton Relay Olympic alongside great friends Marcus Nichols and Marcus Sladden.
Also away to Bratislava with Danny Sayer (Swim) and Katie Garrity (Run) to compete in the Challenge Championships – what an experience, the top 6 athletes from every event around the world all in one place, one race. We came away with 4th and are definitely up for it in 2020.
The plan was executed, every session was completed and all sessions on my Training Peaks account were “Green”, from and OCD perspective you can imagine I was very happy!
Into Almere 70.3 and I did my best, focusing on each discipline at a time and the skills I had learnt on the way through the past several months, both with & without a coach. I didn’t even look at my watch until about 12k into the run and that was only to see how my run pace was going. I crossed the line to learn that I had missed “Project 5” by 5 minutes!!! Post-Race Suzy was amazed at my near 40-minute PB but I was a little more analytical about the event and knew I could’ve probably gone under 5 hours if I had done this, done that etc. etc. But looking back I’m happy with the result.
Not keen on sitting still I decided to go for Long Course Weekend in October, despite promising not to do a full distance event in 2019. I thought “I’ll just do this for fun”. I mean, why else do we do this to ourselves?!?!?!
This I did. With an injured Achilles after upping the miles too quickly after Almere and I managed to shave a couple of hours off that distance too. The Triathlon snobs seemed humoured a LCW is over a weekend and not on the same day but mentally I think it was tougher, to wake up each day, aching from the previous day’s efforts, pull your socks up and getting on with it…..again! I’d prefer they’d just say “well-done” and be on their way rather than making a point of trying to be superior in some way. But I can’t control that so I just remember who said it and move on with my next project 🙂
So, 2020…..
There’s a small issue of Challenge Roth in early July, just another full distance event – as you do. I’ve signed up to Outlaw Half in Nottingham in mid-May to get into the throws of endurance triathlon and make my mistakes there instead of in Roth. Bratislava with Danny & Katie again to get on that podium Of course). The rest of the year I have yet to decide – maybe a return to Almere, to do Aquabike as a GB Age Grouper (if I qualify) or maybe Challenge Majorca 70.3 in Paguera in October alongside Suzy or maybe I’ll just watch.
I might try and do a few Road Races again as a 3rd cat, doing a few hours each time at Race Pace to get the confidence of going that fast for that long. Getting back to training with the DAP guys regularly each week when I can instead of doing the miles on my own. Maybe a few TT’s as training and a few running races – the Bungay Half in April as prep to my Nottingham Half, those 10k races over in Bungay in the summer with a little more determination rather than walking at 9k! Depends if being a married man slows me down! 😉
Oh, did I mention I’ll be getting married in March? That might halt proceedings a bit although I am tempted to take my swim & running gear with me! I’m sure Suzy will allow it, as she’ll be taking her kit too as she’s going long (again) at Outlaw Full in late July. We’re mad – I know. But it’s better than sitting on the couch I guess – although I feel that’s a good option after the festive period and trying to get back into some kind of structured schedule.
Credits:
Suzy Knights (naturally) – put simply for everything.
Beccles Triathlon Club for team spirit at whatever level in any event.
DAP Cycling Club for continued sponsorship, great training effect and support at local races.
Cheryl Goymer (Suzy’s mum) for just being Mumma Hair – the greatest supporter I know.
Kirstie Cooper – for patching me up and understanding my “I’ll do it with a broken leg” attitude.
Steven Grant “Tandem Steve” for mechanical assistance and loan of Bike Boxes.
Marcus Nichols for assisting me with my swim plan.
Marcus Sladden for assistance with my running throughout the year.
Simon Brierley for putting up with me in early 2019.
Danny & Michelle Sayer for being our travelling companions throughout the year.
Katie Garrity for her determination in that Bratislava heat.
Steve & Janine Halliley for impressive roadside support in Majorca.
Mark “Titch” Richards for keeping me grounded when I needed it (even though I don’t show it).
Clive Julian (DAP Boss) for his generosity both on & off the bike.
My son William for keeping me amused at the weekends and running Park Run with me even though I know he hates it!
Ollie Gardiner for his comments when It mattered most.
And finally….
The critics.
The ones who wish you well but don’t want you to perform as wll as them.
The haters.
The bullies.
The snobs.
I’m still here, still competing, being the best I can be. Cheers! 🙂