Another week has passed and another few boxes ticked off. Two more swimming sessions, three more run sessions, a couple of weights sessions at the gym and five bike rides. For the “Geeks” out there it’s 1800m swim, 270km bike & 18.3km run. “Training Peaks” figures were TSS total of the week at 739, fatigue of 97, form at -33 and fitness not quite where it should be!
And not to mention the FTP test….
It’s weird but by new-found lack of employment, albeit temporary has made me focus on what’s actually important recently. My environment – the people who I spend time with, who I compete with and the people I work with. Looking back only a couple of weeks ago I saw things that were happening as quite disastrous. It’s been quite a revelation in fairness to the person I was becoming, which let’s be fair was quite a shell of a person. In the last few weeks I’ve got my life back. I’m enjoying training again, I’m being more sociable, i’m reconnecting to those friends who I literally had no time for as I was working 12-hour days and commuting 3-hours and apparently I’m smiling more (rare I know)!
In a very drunken state (he’ll hate me for saying this) but a very good friend of mine said last Saturday night at my team’s awards night that my input into his training, life and general worries has got him to where he is right now – picking up trophies and being a great rider. I suppose it’s that doubt in our minds that is always there – “can I actually do this”, “am I doing too much” & “why can’t I turn this form into winning form”. Having that person you can text, talk or email to answer these doubts or these questions is priceless and I actually like to be that person to my friends and team/club mates if I can. I suppose it answers that question in my own mind (in my first blog) why I’d prefer to ride for my team-mates instead of going for the win myself. It’s quite humbling when someone acknowledges you for your help, I didn’t know what to say really, he was drunk anyway so I could’ve said anything as he wouldn’t remember anything in the morning anyway! I don’t do it for the praise, I do it because I see potential in people and I want them to achieve things they never thought possible….
The big event is IMB2018 – for myself. So I find myself in a weird situation – to have people who can answer those doubts and questions for me – instead of me doing it myself.
I’m quite methodical, I’ll plough through the training that has been set before me by numerous people and I’ll hit the numbers…if my body allows me to. I’ll eat well and I’ll try & sleep well too. I have a massage therapist I’ve known for over 20 years who’ll attempt to repair me. My partner in crime – Suzy, will guide me, support me and motivate me when those days will come (and I know they’ll come) that will try and make me stay in bed instead of get out there and tick those boxes. She’ll advise me on adaptations to my training to suit my working week. This is the thing – no athlete does it completely alone, I was watching the Australian Open Final Highlights today and the commentator said that no win is completely unaided – these athletes have technique coaches, fitness coaches, agents, sponsors, physios, psychiatrists…you name it, they have it to get them to these events. Amateur athletes need the same, most aren’t paid for their services though.
So I’m going to say this…. in advance……to those involved in the next few months….
THANK YOU!