So the big day is almost upon me.
Months of training over, recent crisis of confidence over, Kit check list checked, smelly trainers packed, bike checked, double checked and triple checked, nutrition eaten, more nutrition bought .... and eaten, then bought and packed. I will have forgotten something, but my list should overcome my absentmindedness (I hope). Planning is all important for me to tri (!) and keep the stress levels down. I didn't even get stressed at work this week.... just strolled through the week.
The past two Taper weeks have gone well enough. The expected onset of poor enthusiasm, feeling devoid of energy, (slight) worry that I haven't done enough and the realisation that I probably have but I'll only find out on race day are all emotions that I've read up about over the last months. I didn't experience anything like this last year for the long MTB race of Half Distance, but then I didn't have the training plan to stick to or the self-imposed expectations of the Creme de la creme of Tri distances.
I can't do any more now, so although I have done the odd training session (mainly bike at weekends and a few mid-distance runs (getting shorter) I've made a conscious effort to place myself under absolutely NO pressure with achieving times or distances. I even had a crap swim on Wednesday!! I'm still left in a really good place mentally, so I'm confident that I'll finish at least ...... that reminds me, I've only checked the bike over twice!
Any quality time I've had has been focused on relax and visualise, trying to place yourself in the day and imagine everything working smoothly. No panic in the pool (big pool!) and tagging on to a blindingly fast set of feet. Constant tail-wind on the bike would be perfect thanks. Twinkle-toes on the run with plenty of Light Blue cheers.
Yep, that's exactly how its gonna be :)
The really big think over the final week has been controlling the emotions. One minute its SHIIIIIIIT!!!! and the next its BAH, only a longer tri!! Now, I think that I'm quite a steady type of guy. Maybe I should give the keyboard over to the Missus to respond to that one! so coping with the constant ups and downs has been a bit weird to say the least.
The strangest feeling was on Monday morning this past week. A Team Mate (Name check deserved although he is Northern - Step up Mr Peter Walsh - Respect is due) completed Ironman UK in Bolton in 13:40 (dis bite a crash on the wheels). Now, reading his tremendous exploits on FB, seeing the pictures, his reaction to the experience and invaluable advice and imagining 13:40 against my name under the Finish Banner actually left me completely numb-legged. Seriously ... numb-legged. I was proper nervous and excited at the same time. That has NEVER happened to me. Never!
Keeping my mind busy has helped, so I'm pleased that I didn't take any time off work prior to this weekend. I have about 20 minutes of packing left to do now before I can take an early night ready for the early drive up tomorrow morning (Saturday).
Team Mates have been bouncing words of encouragement around FB, text and email for the last couple of days which is fabulous. Sally came up with some Limited Edition Tee-Shorts for us all, each with an individual Nick-name. Mine is The Chinaman. Reference to the bike purchase I think. Perfect :)
One almost last minute disaster for mate Ben who fell off him TT bike and along with personal injury (is there a claim there Ben?) bent the frame on his bleed'in bike. Really tough luck. Hopefully he'll have Adrenalin shots instead of Gels to see him through.
Hopefully the Live Tracker thing on the OneStepBeyond web site will show my progress. My bib number is #616.
I'll be posting images and a few more posts in the coming weeks after, so stay tuned ........
One thing is for sure. I have absolutely no regrets about starting out on this journey, the way that I’ve approached it and what (little) has had to be sacrificed by me to do it. I didn’t think that I was the type of guy to get hooked on things, let alone ‘hobbies’, but Tri isn’t only a pass-time or fad, it’s a way of life that I’ve slowly sunken into .... and I love it, so no, no regrets.
Time to put my head over the parapet and see what happens.
W.
Friday 25 July 2014
Tuesday 15 July 2014
Bed-time story.
Once upon a time there was a guy who dreamt of completing a Long Distance Tri.
With the support of his family, he clicked on the Add to Basket button and before he knew what he was doing, he'd entered.
Now, a plan was drawn and throughout the winter he would get up early for swimming, stay out late in the shed cycling and spend many hours in the cold andpissing rain at weekends.
There would be the odd hiccup when thinks didn't go directly according to plan. They there would be days were he felt like he could go forever. There were business trips where he'd juggle training schedules to try and fit things in, but he would manage it (mostly!)
He would eat like a horse, sleep ..... intermittently and generally be just a little bit grumpy on occasion, but overall, he absolutely loved the training.
One day, he walked through the Dinning Room (wife's sold all the furniture already in prep for the kitchen ..... can't think when that's due!) and glanced at the wall-hung training plan. 'Fuck, I'm done' he exclaimed. No more training plan. The end had been reached. All targets met and dispatched. What would he do now? His mind was awash with the schedule that he had been sticking to. Will he go into a spin? Will he balloon like a baloony thing? Oh no. He bloody won't. He'll stay strong. Stay focussed and most importantly, taper down to race day with positive thoughts, fully prep'd in mind and body ready for ...... drum role please ....... OUTLAW.
Yes. It has come round faster than a Fairy Tale Dream. I'm finally there. The full training plan is complete, only leaving the taper down and nutrition to concentrate on for the next two weeks (just under!).
To re-cap the last few weeks of training, I've got a few good long ride in and am happy with the schedule of feeding that I'll be doing during the ride. They have generally been a little hillier that (I expect) the course to be, and generally 18 ish MPH average so I'm on-target for the 6hr30 ride. Bike is working out well. The first couple of rides took some getting used to due to the riding position. The leg muscles engaging slightly sooner that on the road bike and a lot sooner that the Mountain bike felt like I was learning to ride again. Weird! I'm happy with the riding position though, and the liquid carrying, and the various tools / inner tubes taped on to the thing. The deep wheels in the wind are not so bad, but I will be taking a smaller section front wheel on the day just in case it is blowing a hoolie.
Swimming has gone 100% perfect. Does this mean I'll have a mere on the day and get kicked from pillar to post? Open-water started May time and I've been gradually increasing the distances. The last couple have been (almost) full distance and time is even a little under schedule which is very encouraging. I'll plan to swim on-schedule so that it should (!) be within myself. I went pool swimming early last week for the first time in a couple of weeks. Only managed 15 minutes due to complete boredom! Jobs a good'un as they say.
Running has been great. Although I'm only really at the level now where I wish I was back in Feb / March time (due to the injury saga ....... did I tell you about the injuries?), it is going swimmingly. Pace has been higher than expected, and than I am expecting during the race, but have felt really comfortable and low intensity. Calf's remain tight during the run, but I've come up with a risk management plan of massage, calf-guards, Ibuprofen Gel and running style to hopefully keep any reoccurrence at bay. Naturally I'm nowhere near running the full distance, but was never expecting to. Right now I'm happy that I can run for a couple of hours easily. I'll see what happens after that on the day!
Nutrition, although I'm comfortable with my plan for race day, hasn't really changed much. May be something to consider more thoroughly for next time!
I'm putting myself on a strict (for now) food plan right up to race day ... mainly to make myself feel better!
I'm all planned out with the weekends events - travel, accommodation, the dog, food, signing in. I've even created a list!! The wife will be proud! The more pre-planning the better (and hopefully the less stress I create).
One last thing. Although I'll contact them individually, a great big public thank you to everyone who has trained along-side me during the last 6-months. On the road dragging me through the Romney Marsh slog, or splashing through puddles round Bedge, pounding the country lanes on runs, creating waves in the Lake, friendly chat in the Gym, even the ones kicking me out the back door to go 'do it'. Cheers. It'll be you guys pushing me along the way on the day. Feeling good right now!
Hopefully one last post before the Last Stand!
;)
W.
With the support of his family, he clicked on the Add to Basket button and before he knew what he was doing, he'd entered.
Now, a plan was drawn and throughout the winter he would get up early for swimming, stay out late in the shed cycling and spend many hours in the cold and
There would be the odd hiccup when thinks didn't go directly according to plan. They there would be days were he felt like he could go forever. There were business trips where he'd juggle training schedules to try and fit things in, but he would manage it (mostly!)
He would eat like a horse, sleep ..... intermittently and generally be just a little bit grumpy on occasion, but overall, he absolutely loved the training.
One day, he walked through the Dinning Room (wife's sold all the furniture already in prep for the kitchen ..... can't think when that's due!) and glanced at the wall-hung training plan. 'Fuck, I'm done' he exclaimed. No more training plan. The end had been reached. All targets met and dispatched. What would he do now? His mind was awash with the schedule that he had been sticking to. Will he go into a spin? Will he balloon like a baloony thing? Oh no. He bloody won't. He'll stay strong. Stay focussed and most importantly, taper down to race day with positive thoughts, fully prep'd in mind and body ready for ...... drum role please ....... OUTLAW.
Yes. It has come round faster than a Fairy Tale Dream. I'm finally there. The full training plan is complete, only leaving the taper down and nutrition to concentrate on for the next two weeks (just under!).
To re-cap the last few weeks of training, I've got a few good long ride in and am happy with the schedule of feeding that I'll be doing during the ride. They have generally been a little hillier that (I expect) the course to be, and generally 18 ish MPH average so I'm on-target for the 6hr30 ride. Bike is working out well. The first couple of rides took some getting used to due to the riding position. The leg muscles engaging slightly sooner that on the road bike and a lot sooner that the Mountain bike felt like I was learning to ride again. Weird! I'm happy with the riding position though, and the liquid carrying, and the various tools / inner tubes taped on to the thing. The deep wheels in the wind are not so bad, but I will be taking a smaller section front wheel on the day just in case it is blowing a hoolie.
Swimming has gone 100% perfect. Does this mean I'll have a mere on the day and get kicked from pillar to post? Open-water started May time and I've been gradually increasing the distances. The last couple have been (almost) full distance and time is even a little under schedule which is very encouraging. I'll plan to swim on-schedule so that it should (!) be within myself. I went pool swimming early last week for the first time in a couple of weeks. Only managed 15 minutes due to complete boredom! Jobs a good'un as they say.
Running has been great. Although I'm only really at the level now where I wish I was back in Feb / March time (due to the injury saga ....... did I tell you about the injuries?), it is going swimmingly. Pace has been higher than expected, and than I am expecting during the race, but have felt really comfortable and low intensity. Calf's remain tight during the run, but I've come up with a risk management plan of massage, calf-guards, Ibuprofen Gel and running style to hopefully keep any reoccurrence at bay. Naturally I'm nowhere near running the full distance, but was never expecting to. Right now I'm happy that I can run for a couple of hours easily. I'll see what happens after that on the day!
Nutrition, although I'm comfortable with my plan for race day, hasn't really changed much. May be something to consider more thoroughly for next time!
I'm putting myself on a strict (for now) food plan right up to race day ... mainly to make myself feel better!
I'm all planned out with the weekends events - travel, accommodation, the dog, food, signing in. I've even created a list!! The wife will be proud! The more pre-planning the better (and hopefully the less stress I create).
One last thing. Although I'll contact them individually, a great big public thank you to everyone who has trained along-side me during the last 6-months. On the road dragging me through the Romney Marsh slog, or splashing through puddles round Bedge, pounding the country lanes on runs, creating waves in the Lake, friendly chat in the Gym, even the ones kicking me out the back door to go 'do it'. Cheers. It'll be you guys pushing me along the way on the day. Feeling good right now!
Hopefully one last post before the Last Stand!
;)
W.
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