Now the training is getting serious and there are only two words to describe it……Long & Hard. Each session is typically 2hrs plus with a total weekly hours approaching 14hrs. As we move into spring and the clocks have gone forward which means less time on the turbo trainer and more time out on the road. This is great news as I have exhausted watching all the DVDs possible while burning the hours on the turbo trainer. Spring also presents a new challenge in NZ, the equinox winds! Wellington is famous for being the windy city with regular gusts typically around 30-40kmh and regardless of my bike route there always seems to be a headwind when I am on the bike…..its good training I keep reminding myself….yeah right
While the focus is on the three disciplines: swim, bike and run, the more I hear and read it is really about the "other" disciplines….nutrition, stretching and the mental approach. With the increased amount of hours in training, the mental aspect of training is now coming into play. The body seems to be constantly aching, the training relentless and now I really have to mentally focus for each training session. As part of the mental preparation I draw upon a variety of motivational sources….ranging from images, favorite music tracks, Make-a-Wish foundation and a few friends that provide motivation and inspiration. One person Piripi Rangihaeata, who I have named "The Maori Motivator " provides regular Facebook updates at the very early hours of the morning with his latest amazing challenge……always ending with a "BOOM" which is always inspiring and motivating.
To add to the anxiety of doing "am I doing enough training", Make-a-wish and NZ Triathlon & Multisport magazine teamed up together to write an article for the magazine which highlights the challenges of fundraising, training and maintaining a work/life and family balance. It is a really nice article and fantastic that they are supporting me in raising the fund raising profile and motivation……there's no turning back now!
Along with all the mental preparation to keep me motivated, there is one motivator that cannot be beaten…..New Zealand's great outdoors! Here's a little extract from my training log…."Just had a awesome long run along the Wellington skyline……I look ahead and see the sunrise and Mt KauKau, I look to my right and see Wellington's beautiful harbour, I look to my left and see the Tasman Sea and the snow capped Kaikoura Mountain ranges…..I look around me and I am the only one around on the hills……I just kept on going for 2.5 hours…there are days like these which are just magical !!!!!
My running continues to progress well. Last weekend was the Wairarapa Country Marathon where the weather conditions were great for running……cool, overcast and occasional mist, my support crew had a slightly different view of the weather. This was my first proper marathon and I was mentally ready for the "wall"; for those who are not familiar to the term, the wall is the point in a marathon where all your strored energy (glycogen) in your muscles run out and force you to slow down considerably to the point of walking. As the race was a little early in my training program me I waited and waited for the wall to come and yet it did not materialise. My nutrition plan with gels and liquids worked really well and ran the second half quicker than the first finishing 4th in my age group and 10th overall with a time of 3hrs 19mins. This was a great confidence builder so early on….I just hope the bike is progressing as well which is my weakest of all 3 disciplines.
The next couple of weeks include some long swims (4km plus), long bikes (6 hours plus) and as you would expect….yes, long runs too. The Karipiro Half Ironman is only two weeks away and I am really looking forward to having a trip away with my support crew and also to test out the winters training.
For mini updates I am trying to update Twitter…if you interested for the occasional mini update follow me @IanRich
And now for the unedited viewpoint from Theresa and little Mia...
Support Crews view
Ian did an awesome job of his first marathon….I think he was motivated by Mia and I driving by and Mia shouting 'daddy daddy daddy'. Ian has seriously taken his training to new levels though, some are admirable and some are pure bonkers. I came home from the shops to find him on his bike on the turbo trainer in the BEDROOM watching the TV as he couldn't get a signal on his laptop to watch the ITU world championships. The man has gone mad.
Seriously though, his training is hitting new heights each week. Not really that many weeks left until the big event…..
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