Commitment to Training...FOUND!

It was tough to get out of bed this morning. 
The alarm went off at 4:45 am for the third morning in a row.
My running gear was neatly laid out beside the bed.
In bed it was cosy and warm.
I could hear the rain beat against the window.
I think i'm starting to feel a bit coldy / fluey.
Maybe i should rest.
I've had quite a few good training sessions this week.
I could have the morning off.

NO...GET UP! 

Hang on, what was that noise, was that thunder.
Surely i couldn't run if there was thunder and lightning about.

NO...you're hearing things...GET UP!

OK...i'm out of bed...GO!

Gear on, standing at the front door...
Waiting for the Garmin to locate satellites...
It's raining...
It looks cold...
I'm still dry...
I could go back to bed...
I'll make up for it tonight...

Satellites located...GO!! 

Off into the cold, dark, wet, Melbourne morning i went...
And loved it!!

For me, this stage of the off season is about getting km's in the legs and making getting up before 5 am a habit.

Today, I won!

Why am I training, and why have i entered an Ironman....Putting it all into perspective!

I read an interview with successful triathlon coach Brett Sutton on First Time Ironman (firsttimeironman.com) Linky Here and i thought i'd share his answer to the first question...

Thank you for taking the time out to chat with us.   Your training philosophy has been called different to a lot of other coaches in the sport, could you explain the core principles that have made you such a successful coach?

My philosophy is very simple there is no difference between a pro and an age grouper. Its just the time one has to train, and the speed at which one goes. Everything else is the same.

So we first need to work out if you’re a pro, or you’re an over exuberant age grouper, or someone that is doing the sport for the benefits that the three interconnecting sports can provide us with. In enhancing our life style, all three are very different . Somehow triathlon has grown as all three are one and the same under the life style heading 

This is very misleading to the participants themselves. We have life stylers thinking they are pros, we have age groupers who act out their life as pros to the detriment of those around them and we have those who do the sport for its health benefits.

Our philosophy is to look as a life coach at each athlete’s circumstance then manufacture a program that enhances their abilities with in that frame work. We do that from a nicola spirig, down to the slowest age grouper. The philosophy stays the same.

This got me thinking...

Firstly, why do i (triathlon) train?

Secondly, why did i enter Ironman?

Thirdly, which of Brett's groups do i fit into?

So, why do i train?? 

A few years back i realised that between the ages of 28 and 38, i'd put on 1 kg each year - i know...massive! Yeah, not really, but i could see a trend starting which i knew i needed to arrest.  So i started running a little more regularly.  I'd always jogged and rode my bike for a bit of fun, but thought i should get a bit more serious.  Soon i realised that my knees couldn't handle too much running.  I'd done some tri's in my distant past - why not give that a crack again... So, yep...GO!!

Over the past few years i've done a handful of fun runs - longest being a 28k trail run, and a few triathlons - most notably 2 Olympic distance races.  

This leads perfectly into the next question...

Why did i enter Ironman??

There's a number of reasons i decided to enter an IM...some valid / some not...

• because it's there
• growing up loved watching Mark Allen and Dave Scott at Hawaii
• inspired by this year's "everyday people" competitors
• do it now while my knees still allow the training km's required
• life can only get busier
• i enjoy swimming / cycling / running
• the challenge
• and it doesn't hurt for the kids to see me being active

Notice that i haven't entered for such reasons as:

• break x hours
• qualify for Kona

They are valid reasons...but they're not for me.

So, which of Brett Sutton's groups do i fit onto??

We have life stylers thinking they are pros, we have age groupers who act out their life as pros to the detriment of those around them and we have those who do the sport for its health benefits.

I fit well and truly into the third group - i do the sport for its health benefits!  

I need to remember this, and not get sucked into the second group...

I can and will get up early on the weekend to do my long runs and rides, leaving the rest of the day free. 

And I will train, before and after work, during the week when commitments allow.

But what i won't do is worry if I miss a training session...

My family comes first!

The people you meet...

This morning i dropped my car off at the car dealer to get serviced and ran back to the cafe near Jamesy's school to meet Claire and Em for a coffee, followed by a walk home.

Apart from the fact it was about 5 degrees (i really need running gloves - my hands are still frozen as i write this!!) it was a great, albiet short, run.

The majority of the run was along the Kananook Creek Trail, which on the adjacent map is the section running south to north adjacent to the beach.  The trail follows the creek along what is essentially a sand ridge between the beach and the swamp and as i discovered this morning is a favourite haunt of the Oldies for their morning walks!!

It was a cold and foggy morning, with the general friendly conversation with everyone you passed being something along the lines of "gee, it's cold" with the reply of "yeah, but at least it's not raining".  One conversation went beyond this.

As i was running past Seaford Railway Station, say g'day to old mate, he replies with "lovely morning, what's MPTC stand for?", to which i reply "Mornington Peninsula Triathlon Club".  He went on to tell me how he'd have loved to have had triathlon in his day, it would have saved him from the monotony of just training for and racing marathons - but he continues, the road trips to compete interstate were pretty amazing fun.

Oh, and his parting advice... Look after your knees!! (Cheers mate, i'm all over that one!)

Even though this was a 20 second conversation, as we crossed paths, his face seemed to light up and he told his story, and remembered events past.

For me, today was one of those, it's all about your journey not your destination, days!

Do or do not!! There is no try!!

This Yoda meme reminded me of my favourite Yoda quote: 

"Try not. Do or do not! There is no try."

If you do something with the attitude "i'm going to try and do this" there is always the option of not doing it!

If you decide to do something...do it!

I entered Ironman Melbourne, compared to many athletes I am slow. 

I will train. 

I will improve my endurance so i can get around the 226km course.

I will end up faster than i am now - not fast, but faster!

DO OR DO NOT! THERE IS NO TRY!