Haven't posted in ages, purely because I really didn't know where to start and mainly because I simply haven't had time.
Training has been steadily ramping up week by week. I am following the Rotorua Half Ironman training programme which is working really well for me. Some weeks I have hit every session. Other weeks I haven't. I have learnt to move on from these weeks, and put better plans into place for the following week. The main thing is that I am feeling confident that the work that I have done, and will continue to do in the next few weeks, has definitely paid off. My swimming has stayed steady, my biking has come ahead leaps and bounds and my running will always be a struggle, but the struggle is getting easier.
A few weeks back I headed out to the lake with my wonderful training buddies Lee-Anne and Dean and super fabulous support crew Greg, Georja, Lockie, Max and Nic to do a mock version Tinman triathlon. This was a 1km swim, 40km bike and 10 km run. We all managed this in a very casual manner and felt ok. The run was slow and hot, we think we did around 9km, but a huge achievement after swimming and biking.
I have been having ongoing issues with my open water swimming but am determined to get my mind sorted and have been just getting back out there each week. Hugest thanks to the wonderful support of the RATS crew for their help in my freak out times and their advice and support. Jacky, Lauren, Karin, Lee-Anne, Nina, Jamie - you guys rock! I have had loads of suggestions from people and have tried a few of these out which are working for me. The main one being to get in there early and swim around a bit to get my heart rate up slowly, take my time when starting out and watching my hands when swimming. I did the first RATS aquathon of the season last night (750m swim followed by 5.5km run) in 54mins. So utterly stoaked as I certainly didn't get close to finishing this in under an hour at the end of a long season of training last year. Woohoo!!
Last weekend I completed the last 80km of the Lake Taupo cycle challenge. It was an awesome day, wonderful atmosphere and apart from a pain in the ball of my foot, a hugely successful ride. Felt good on finishing too so that was a great hurdle jumper for my mind - if I can do 80km, surely I can do 90km!
Running has been steady but I know that over the next few weeks, I have to add a few km onto my long runs. This will be interesting, but I did a 13km run a few weeks back and lived to tell the tale! The run is always going to be the thing to kick me where it hurts so I am hoping that the steady runs I have been doing religiously, every week, over the last few months will pay off..... I have also taken my Iron man uncles advice and making sure to run off the bike as often as I can.
Finally, What a huge commitment it is to take on training for a Half Ironman, let alone an Ironman. I text my wonderful mentor Jacky James (check her out on www.ironjack.co.nz) just recently when I was having doubts that I would ever manage to juggle all of this to Ironman distance. I asked her just how she managed to fit it all in. Training, working, parenting, being a wife, running a household etc etc.. She replied that she really has no idea how she did it! And I totally believe her.
My take on it all is - One day at a time... It takes sacrifice, it takes juggling, it takes organisation, it takes asking for help, it takes guts, it takes hard work, it takes commitment and it certainly takes a physical and mental toll. I guess I always thought it would be hard, but until you add pressure into the pot, you never really know how hard.
Think of me on December the 15th!!
