Getting Permission

When I told my brother I was going to do the Ironman next year, he laughed, and was not surprised at all. He was quick to stress, “I hope you have talked it over with your future wife!, otherwise you might find you are divorced before youre married” Although younger he has already been married for sometime, 2.5 kids, jnr due in a few weeks. But of course Im not about to compromise my love for Liza over a swim, bike or run!. But one of the agreements was, we must still have one day per week where we get to sleep in together. Today is that day!, so score, whilst Im lazying in bed, Liza is whipping me up morning coffee and breakfast in bed.

My Brother and the Kids

On today's training plan I must complete a 90min steady bike ride. I have been looking at a map to try and workout where Christine (bike buddy) took me yesterday, cos I recon it would be perfect for Liza who would like to join me today. mmm the coffee has arrived… BYE for now

PS Today is April 1st, only 20 days until we will be married !!!!!!!!!!

But its dark!

I always thought swimming in the ocean when its dark! was a party trick only attempted after large comsumptions of alcoholic beverages …. but it seems I was mistaken. It is something 30+ crazy tri club members do every Saturday morning at Takapuna beach. Im told this was a small group, normally there are at least 70 crazies.

2nd brick session, following a night out. Tis not good for the organizing need in me. I had to release Liza’s bed grip at 5.30am just so I could get the wetsuit, the bike, shoes and all the other gear into the car, and would you believe it ! I forgot the plastic bag, so putting on the wetsuit was a real challenge. For those not in the know, slip a plastic bag over your foot and you can slide into the skin tight suit.

Training started at 7am, as we all slipped into the ocean IN THE DARK! we were told “swim to bouy two”. Well blow me if you could see two feet in front of your face yet alone some little tiny bouy 1k out. So as any wise person would do I slipped to the back of the group and merely followed the other bobbing black shapes, hoping they were tri club colleagues and not any other type of mammal.

After 50min of ocean swimming, it was time to do a super woman change into the bike gear. This morning I did a nice 45min ride with Christine. Very enjoyable!, then once back another super woman change into the running gear and a run down Takapuna beach. In all just over a two hour session. Nice!

Lead weights

Lead weights! thats how my arms and shoulders feel. I barely have enough energy to eat my breakfast and sip my morning coffee. Just survived a 90min swim session with super coach Sue. This would be the hardest swim session yet and I loved it!!!! I know that once the food and coffee kick in I will start to feel good again and ready for the workshops ahead.
I had a few more observations this morning, cos when your swimming 5 x 200s your mind tends to wonder. You would have heard me mention previously that you can tell this is a tri club squad vs a swim squad, and today merely added to that theory. I noticed all the men wear the tri shorts to swim, not the speedos, also known as ‘dick tights’. In addition we had a set with a couple lengths of butterfly after many a puzzled look most gave it a go for a couple of metres before reverting to the good old freestyle. Everyone is super friendly and Im happy to find a squad were you feel welcome. Sweet!

Liza proved her dedication to the cause last night, joining me for a 50min run. We split part way taking different routes, we were to meet up back at home – so I decided to check out some more off road tracks around Kauri point, unfortunately for Liza this was different to the route she thought I would take. So when she decided to duck via the local school and meet me it didnt quite work out as she had expected, suprised she didnt get in trouble for loitering around a primary school. OOPS!. But I did find some more cool tracks

Dont kill me Grandad!

Poor Liza!, she decided to join me last night for her first wind trainer session, and it was only my second time. Unfortunately for us, grandad, a key member of the Tri Club, aged 70+, was taking the class. Goodness me he just goes and goes like an energizer battery and as we found out he is not shy in pointing out to all that you are not in the correct gear. My begging pleas, “your not allowed to kill us on day one and day two” were merely responded with “you guys are just having a laugh”. Believe me there was no laughing, just trying to breath !!!! But its OK coach had prewarned me, so it was like water off a ducks back.

Im well into week 2 of the year long plan. The average training week is looking like this:
Mon – 45min running drills
Tue – 90min squad swim (am) and 60min wind trainer session (pm)
Wed – 50min run
Thu – 90min squad swim (am) and 45min running drills (noon)
Fri – DAY OFF!
Sat – Brick session i.e. 60min ocean swim, 60min bike, 15min run
Sun – 50min to 70min run OR 90min to 100min bike (alternate)
*** In between need to fit in a couple of 20min pilates sessions, to align body and build core.

I feel tired just typing it …….

Learn how to run

When I was young I avoided running anyway I could, in fact in one year I managed to con my swim coach into writing a note to excuse me from running at school. Nice work I thought!. Never thinking one day that I might actually want to run and here I am learning how to run. I now attend running drill sessions twice per week. I am told good technique ensures you use the correct muscles i.e. quads, hams and bum, rather than calfs, also relaxed shoulders open chest and assist in breathing, which is obviously important! Unfortunately I don’t feel any of these benefits, damn it!!! But Im told over time I will. So heres hoping ah ….

Again Iam enjoying my morning coffee, enjoying a moment of peace, after a swim squad session this morning, before kicking into work mode. This would have to be my new favourite time of the working day. But it goes to quick …..

The gentle push and a long sleep

Welcome to the end of week one …. and start of week two! Yesterday’s activity was a 50min run focusing on relaxed shoulders and technique. Im sure it will be the first of many ‘gentle pushes’ Liza will need to engage to help me get my tired legs into my running gear and out the door. Yesterday was a particluarly good effort on her part as she also strapped on the shoes and followed me around the streets, such events always spark a little competition, so although we were both buggared we were able to complete the task at hand.

Last night we went for dinner as Miss Caitlins birthday, but managed to be back home and in bed by 9.45pm. We didnt move the entire night waking to an alarm at 5.45am. Certainly one of the longest sleeps I have had for a while. And so begins week two ….. today brings a 1 hour running technique session with the coach.

What's a brick?

I think I’m going to like Friday’s!!! A day of rest before hitting the harder sessions in the weekend when generally you will do a longer run or bike on the Sunday and a Brick session on the Saturday. What’s a brick session I hear you say, well consider 3 bricks laid end to end, the first represents a swim, followed by a bike and then a run. It is about the transition from one disapline to another. Today is Saturday and I just completed my first mini brick, 40 min ride followed by a 15 run. Sounds easy! but I’m embarrassed to say but I feel buggared!.

Liza has been such a wonderful support person, so last night I tried to reward her with a candle light dinner, flowers and a surprise gift!. Oh and a wrote a peom on the fly….. didn’t say it was a good peom but cost less than a card . Judging by her response I reckon I scored a few browney points back, still in debt however, oh well.

Morning Coffee

mmm… my breakfast coffee never tasted so good! For me, there is nothing like the satisfaction of sitting on the couch with a mug of coffee (with 4 sugars!, yes I have many sweet teeth) whilst your body recovers from a session in the pool. After a late night, Liza took me out for a suprise dinner at the skycity revolving restaurant (nice work!) and a 5.30 start this morning I have to admit Im feeling slightly tired.

There is alot of talk at training about the Ironman entry for 2013, special entry opened yesterday, unfortunately only for those who had an entry for 2012. Rumours say Friday, but I am checking the website at least four times per day.

Back again .. now into the evening, just checked the Ironman website and public entries open 10am April 5th, so… I have just setup a meeting to all our email so no matter where I am a reminder will flash me! Again sipping my coffee on the couch where I started this morning. Liza has just had a tester spray tan so we have to stay up for another hour or so for it to set, apparently!.

First run clinic today at lunchtime a Vic Park. Its been a while since I had to skip and wave my arms about, and I did it in a busy domain!. Hope nobody recognised me !. Only 45min-1hour but I felt like I had been on a run, especially when we did 1min fast, 2 min jog and repeat 6 times. I had to drag my sorry self out of the car and into the shower for the second time today. Not sure how I managed to bluff my way through this afternoons meetings.

Getting Moving

It’s my birthday, a whole 38, and whilst I sit on the couch sipping my morning coffee I can feel the reminisce of a bike seat well wedged up my bottom. For some reason it merely brings a smile to my face as it means I have taken the next step and commenced the year long training raychem. Yesterday started with a 5.30 alarm, on with the togs and down to Takapuna Primary outdoor pool to meet my dedicated coach Sue who introduced me to the Tri club swim coach Pat. Lucky for me a packed swim lane meant a gentle swim with sets no longer than 100M, approx 2K in all. The shoulders and arms were feeling a little heavy but soon forgotten. You can tell this squad is part of a tri club rather than a swim club, for one, the only stroke attempted was freestyle, lets face it who is going to swim butterfly or breast stroke in a triathlon the other observation was that folks were more friendly than those in the swim club or perhaps they were just more willing to talk between sets.

Day one of training was a double whammy with a wind trainer class in the evening, hence the bike seat. It seems it must have been a while since I took out my sexy new carbon road bike for a spin. Only managed to stick it out for an hour before I started to feel my legs cramping. At which point I reminded myself ‘day one’, and ‘build up’. Two critical phrases whispered to me by Sue who waved good bye after once again taking time to meet me and introduce me to the various folks. At $20 per week, I so scored on the coaching front!
Did I mention I still don’t have an entry into next years race. Well as ironic as it gets it seems there may be an opportunity that entries open online today, funny! and if this is the case I will take it as a sign, if not then who cares about signs, just make up your dam mind and do it

A Sleepless Night

It is after midnight and I should be tucked up in bed with by beautiful. But all I can think about is our wedding and the new 8 week training plan which starts tomorrow!. Now that I have updated six of the various wedding lists I thought I would give this blog thing a go. Although I have a recent degree in IT it seems I am no where near the propellor head as Liza, who has set this up so I have a record which we can share with the kids. Believe it or not this is my first blog and I don’t have a facebook page. PS Excuse the spelling mistakes, can’t find the spell checker.

Well the journey has begun, although I have yet to secure an entry, which is now my greatest fear!!!! Entries were to open on March 9th, however given the disaster of 2012 where the event was cancelled (I know, I will be inconsolable if that happens in 2013) entries for next year have been delayed until when ?? nobody knows ?. The entry fee of $850 is going to be my birthday present this year, so I have convinced Liza, a bit extravacant, normally $50 would be the limit so it might need to be several birthdays rolled into one.


When I tell folks Im going to do the Ironman next year most just nod, then Liza jumps in and tells them what an Ironman is (a mere 4k swim, followed by a 180k ride then a cool down with a 42k run, all before the 17 hour time cut off). Then they try to nod and smile but really they are thinking are you NUTS!, if fact some just come straight out and say it!. But those who are close to me know this has been a long time coming.


In 2011, I made the most of living in the north island and convinced Liza she should get up at 3am so we could drive down to Taupo so we could get there in time to see the start of the Ironman. I secretly promised a romantic night away in Taupo, I may have missed out the part about watching a race in the pouring rain for 17 hours oops. But with some coaxing and a new pair of tramping boots (a small price to pay) Liza stuck it out with me. However the following year (2012) I signed up for a volunteer role, at which point Liza wished me good luck and sent me on my way.


I can’t explain it, but there is something that draws me to the challenge. The elite athletes are OK but watching the average Jane giving it a go brings me to tears. In fact whilst in Taupo I cried most of the time, even watching it on TV or reading books triggers an emotion. I think the driver is because I can where as previously I couldn’t. When I completed the half Ironman in Nov 2010 at Lake Hood, in a mere 6 hrs and 45 mins, I knew anything is possible, and really its about getting your head in the right space. So its good I am a little head strong (apparently?) and a some what stubbin.


Anyway back to the start …. I dont have an entry, but I do have a coach and a mind which is set on giving it a bash, so bring on the Taupo Ironman, March 2nd, 2013.
Gosh I hope I get some sleep, and please may this rain stop before my first coaching run (outside!) tomorrow night.

Hello World

It is March 2012 and I have decided I am going to compete in the 2013 NZ Ironman!

My beautiful soon to be wife, Liza has setup a blog so that I may capture both the good and bad on my journey.  And when I get old, with poor memory I can one day look back and remember :)

This book is a 'blow by blow' from my blog written in the 12 months leading up to the NZ Ironman 2013.  Apologies for the grammar errors and the boring bits!  Each blog entry captures my thoughts and feelings on that day.

PREFACE

My journey actually commenced a few years ago when my awesome brother offered to coach me, for my first Half Ironman at Lakehood, Ashburton, South Island, New Zealand.  Completed in 6 hours and 50 minutes.  From this date a full Ironman was always in my back of mind.

After moving to Auckland in January 2012, I convinced Liza it would be a great idea to go watch the NZ Ironman in Taupo, a mere 3-4 hour drive from Auckland. When agreeing, she had no idea I wanted to be there for the race start which meant leaving Auckland at 3am, and she certainly was unaware that the race had a 17 hour window.  The weather was a shocker! rain, rain and more rain ... As a spectator I did not expect to have such an emotional response for the competitors slogging it out near the back of the pack.  In between floods of tears, I was cheering on total strangers.

In March 2012, I volunteered for NZ Ironman. I figured if I was going to one day compete it would be a great experience to see what goes on behind the scenes.  Liza had learn't her lesson, and was quick to wish me all the best, whilst she stayed in Auckland.  Unfortunately there was a weather bomb and hence the race was cancelled and an alternative half Ironman was scheduled for the Sunday.  All I could think, was thank goodness this wasn't my year, I would have been inconsolable like so many of the virgin Ironman competitors were.

In my return to Auckland I decided that 2013 was going to be my time ...