Cough and Sneeze !!!

The countdown towards January 19th seems to drawing closer and closer at an exceedingly alarming rate, the anxiety that seems to hit to the majority of triathletes preparing for a big race has started….."I need to do more training, more time on the bike, pool and on the road" seems to be a repeating mantra. A couple of bouts of the winter colds along with whatever little Mia brings home from the nursery doesn't help the training so at the moment it's 3 steps forwards and 1 back. 

The last couple of weeks have been focusing on increasing the time and distance on the run which has comprised of four or five runs a week all greater that 90 minutes plus. The end of the week finale has been a 2 1/2hr run around the bays. The endurance base training over the last 4 months seems to be paying off as I am now able to continue training the day after a long run; previously I would have needed to have at least 2 days off to recover.  To aid my recovery I now have a foam roller to help out my back, hips, thighs and IT band (The iliotibial band is a tough group of fibers that run along the outside of the thigh and is a common and often persistent injury for runners and cyclists causing pain mainly on the side of the knee.) I could never understand what everyone was doing with a foam roller in the gym and was warned that with the amount of running I would need to undertake I needed to look after my IT band as it would be continuously sore. The foam roller has been a savior and while I am not sure Theresa appreciates me and Mia " playing" on the floor with a piece of foam it has definitely helped me avoiding feeling too old.

With the amount of running and hours on the road my iPod has taken some abuse and there is a real risk of overkill from my favourite motivational tracks. I have started to listen to triathlon podcasts; coach Jeff http://www.coachjeff.com.au and Ironman legends http://www.legendsoftriathlon.com as they provide great advice and motivation as I am running, plus, it beats me talking to myself after a couple of hours on the road. On the Ironman legends podcasts they interview the "legends" of triathlon such as Scott Molina, Spencer Smith and Greg Welch.  I use to follow these are the guys some 20 years ago when I started in triathlon racing in my budgie smugglers....not a pretty sight ;0)

As we move into Spring the triathlon season is not far away so I have now planned and entered a series of "preparation" races as part of my build up to the big one. While some are to build up my competition endurance, others are focusing on speed on a specific discipline or getting use to transitions and testing out my nutrition.

Below is my race plan…

14th Oct 2012     Wairarapa Country Marathon 

(A little bit early in the season for a full on marathon race, but I thought I would test the legs out)

28th Oct 2012     Martinborough Fun ride (115Km)  

(A practice time trial while still having some fun, I am not sure how the "roadies" will feel having a triathlon bike there?")

3rd Nov 2012      Karapiro Half Ironman 

(The first real test of the season to see how well the winter training has paid off)

11th Nov 2012     Scorcher (Sprint) 

(A small sprint race to keep the speed in my legs)

2nd Dec 2012      Scorcher (Olympic) 

(Another speed race)

15th Dec 2012     Rotorua Half Ironman 

(Any lessons learned from Karapiro should be sorted in this race and the final race before the big one)

19th Jan 2013      The Big One - Challenge Wanaka !!!!!

(No turning back now, all the training should be done along with all the sponsorship possible achieved.....let's hope the weather is on our side)

After each race or event I will give everyone an update..with all the trails and tribulations that goes with them.

If training, nutrition, podcasts, foam rollers and stretching with little Mia was not enough I have started to read Chrissie Wellington's autobiography "Life without limits". 

In one chapter she talks about one of her hero's and the story of John Blais who was the first ironman finisher with ALS. John Blais was a self proclaimed ALS poet warrior and wrote the poem Westward Bound...I thought I would share it with you:

Westward Bound

Live…

More than your neighbours.

Unleash yourself upon the world and go places.

Go now.

Giggle, no, laugh.

No…stay out past dark,

And bark at the moon like a wild dog that you are.

Understand that this is not a dress rehearsal.

This is it…your life

Face your fears and live your dreams.

Take it in.

Yes, every chance you get…

come close.

And by all means, what ever you…

Get it on film.

And with that in mind…onto the next training session…"Just Keep Going" :o)

Support Crew's view

So we have been a sickly household in the last month….Ian has had to spend a few days without exercising and has been getting under my feet!!!  He is right that Mia brings all the bugs home from nursery for us….teaching her how to share.

Ian continues to push the limits and I dropped him off out of town today so he could cycle back and he comes home telling me he hit 80kph…now there's a worry!!!  We are planning on going circuit training in the park next weekend (weather permitting or he is on his own), I might just make sure he can do as much as he says :-D  Run Ian Run!!!!