Chisago Toughman - Half distance

There are those that are close to me that happily argue that this kind of effort always existed, but the chimp brain that controlled the output of effort had such a strangle hold on the willingness for muscle output that a performance was always left wanting. Well, professor brain had boss rights yesterday!

This was not a winning performance as far as awards go, but it was winning brain award, in the fight between chimp brain and professor brain. It's been a struggle heavily dominated by the rampant chimp that bounces out of control in my mind during races. If you could project my race mind, I suspect the audience would feel like they are watching a steroidle version of Gravity in 3-D and end up vomiting all over the theatre. No a good ending. Although Mr Chimp brain was still very much loose and out and about bouncing from one proverbial branch to another, the professor brain very much had a leash around the chimps neck, keeping him in check. This allowed my professor to dictate the day and control my effort outputs. Now, this may sound like a controlling of the reigning it in sense, however, it is quite the opposite. Imagine the chimp being the dog walker and having a unlimited roll out leash and the dog (being my brain) being allowed to run wild all over the place, as far as the leash would allow. Professor brain has a very short leash and keeps my mind on track, with a focus on what needs to be done in order to achieve a result. A huge step towards that result occurred yesterday when professor brain and I stepped somewhat in sync and knocked 20mins off of my previous best time (achieved only 6 months ago) for the half distance, coming quite close to breaking the 5hr30min barrier.

Chisago Toughman bike course definitely lends itself to some fast biking and racing, but that's why we do it. To go fast breads the confidence and foundation for the professor to be boss come race day. The swim was so warm that wetsuits weren't allowed (for those wanting their time to count) which led t a somewhat slow swim for me, but considering I swam the same time in Ohio with a wetsuit, I can't complain too much. To be honest, even in my skin suit it was very warm in there and I felt my effort was about right for the day.





Once we hit the bike, despite a techy balls up, I had a feeling that the bike would be fast. Note to self: do not hit the lap button on a triathlon watch. It will sequence to the next discipline and not show you what you want. As a result, I had the very freeing feeling of not knowing exactly where I was in the race and had to rely on the course signage. As I sped along, the mileage cones seemed to be flying by. "Surely they must have mismeasured", was the thoughts repeating in my mind. However, my watch seemed to agree and thanks to some beautiful roads and very light winds, I managed to fly (well for me anyway) around the course with an average close to 19mph and finish under 3hrs, which, I would have said before hand, would have crushed me. However I felt fantastic. Having paced the course from bestbikesplit.com prior to the race, I thought the site was broken, because it suggested I would finished in 2:48 at a power output of 80% the whole way. Well, I put out 75% and finished just adrift of that. Now, I'm an athlete who loves and breeds confidence from numbers, so this was indeed the boost I needed. Wow, what a great feeling it is today!

Getting off the bike, I was so convinced I would pay for my efforts that I ran out of T2 without my race number. A mistake that I have never made in all my years of racing! Oops. Other organizers would have sent me packing, but no these fine and relaxed race organizers from Wisconsin. Phew.

I hit the run taking the usual first mile to let the heart settle down from the excitement of T2 and settle in to my stride. Following the suggested pacing plan from the coach, I took it as a 9:30min run and 30sec walk for the first 10K and then kicked the shackles off and went for it. Simultaneously, I spotted Victory up ahead, figuratively and literally, allowing the increase in pace to come easily. The temps were beginning to climb out on the not-so-shaded , with ice from aid stations providing the relief that was needed. The proof is in the pudding - the first 10K took 1hr. The second took 54mins! A negative split for the first time. A result of some great coaching and some good work from professor brain!

As you may be able to notice, I'm pretty happy with the effort. The body isn't too bad today at all, which means there is plenty left in the locker for 4 weeks from now. It was a huge confidence boost for the ironman and I am now really beginning to look forward to our fifth visit to the longest day!

Good luck to us all!

Down Time

As this is being typed, yet again a short glance at the calendar will show that 5 weeks is the time that remains before we embark on yet another "longest day" challenge. We aren't saving the world. We aren't curing cancer and we aren't feeding starving children. It's not life altering work we are doing. However, it slowly begins to peak it's head over the horizon and the excitement begins to build. As far as endurance sports go, this is one of the highlights for those stupid enough to embark on a long journey towards sporting achievement.

I think one of the reasons these endeavors entice me so much is that just finishing this event is a victory. I rarely came first in too much in my sporting life....2nd, 3rd or 4th for that matter. Yet, every time we cross the finish line of an iron distance race it's a victory and we are treated like it is. That said, this year will be number 5 and it's time to begin to shed the mental shackles that stop the legs stretching further and achieving a bit more at this distance.

There's been a fair amount of study and reading that has been done on the matter. I imagine that a writer might do the same thing when trying to overcome their block. I had a block and I plan on smashing through it in 5 weeks. We'll see what hand the body deals me on the day in question, but the plan is to maximize that hand and bluff my way to the finish.

In the mean time, consistent training is the key and, until this last week, that has been one of the mantras that I have held to constantly. This past week, however, took us to Iceland. The trip was always going to stand in the way of finishing all the training, but it was worth it. What a stunning, stark, and at this time of year, eternally light country. From Volcano's to lush warm hot springs, this country has an addictive lifestyle. It will bankrupt you, but it's addictive. You know when you're in peak training weeks when the first thought in to your head is, "I could ride at midnight and there wouldn't be anyone on the roads!"

As it happened, we were there just two weeks before Challenge Iceland (a race now firmly in my sights) and there were a few pros arriving to get some good weeks on the beautifully smooth roads that surrounded the course. The water temps were a balmy 15C which would at least make the swim quick! Unfortunately, I didn't have the wetsuit or the time to head in for a quick dip. One thing about Iceland, though, is the abundance of outdoor pools and accompanying hot pools. This makes a convincing bribe to getting some laps in whilst the others take a relaxing dip. I wish there were more outdoor pools around where we are. Technically there are, but they aren't as well maintained, have snapping turtles and visibility is quite limited. Yet, you don't come out smelling of chlorine for hours. Bonus!

The water everywhere in Iceland is crystal clear, from the rivers to the lakes. It's amazing. I just wish I had the time to take a dip. Fortunately, there was plenty of time to run and swim, so training wasn't completely missed.  I'm excited to return to Iceland, take out a second mortgage and race here!

Between now and August 27th, there lies a little bit of a warm up in the form of Toughman Minnesota. A local race of the half iron distance variety. Should provide a good test of how far the structured training has taken me. There's a lot of anticipation leading in to it. A good race plan and great practice for the "big day" in August. There's nothing quite like race morning. Just that alone creates the kind of excitement that is unlike any other. It's addictive.

As we see the end of August galloping towards us, that anticipation will build, but this year it will be melded in to excitement and joy instead of the usual. We have a great house and the promise of a great venue that we know well. Sadly, it will be the last running of Ironman Couer D'Alene. They've chosen to cancel the race after this year, a typical response when the mighty Ironman brand doesn't get it's way. Oh well, there's other great destination races out there and hopefully, with the support of my beautiful "team" we shall discover more. Who knows what lies ahead, perhaps Challenge Iceland!

Good luck to us all!

And...

The training continues.....lots

Recovery went well from the Triple T, mainly because I was fighting a fatigue induced sore throat type gross thing the whole week. It made taking the weekend off fairly straight forward, thus leading to a good week this week. It's quite oddly the hardest thing to do sometimes. To let go. To acknowledge a weakness as a good thing in certain cases. Surprisingly difficult. Like trying not to eat chocolate when it's free and sitting in front of you on a plate. Yet, like with the chocolate, realizing it's better that you walk away can lead to something else so much better, like avoiding diabetes!

Training is becoming like a long steep hill. The type of bill you begin straight from cold and your lungs are splitting trying to get up it. Then, all of a sudden, you begin to settle in to that climb, that increased intensity, and begin to acclimatize to your new surroundings. The hill gets easier and more achievable and then suddenly you're out riding for 6hrs and the only thing complaining is your "undercarriage". 

That's how training has been since returning from the long race weekend. We find ourselves 9 weeks from race day with a few races in between, beckoning is forward to the finish line. Two weeks of constant travel -not professionally - will increase the difficulty of fitting it all in, but we shall persevere and despite all the obstacles in our way, will arrive at that start line, ready or not. It's the inevitability of time.

-----recovery food-------

With a little bit of luck, an Olympic race should be next, provided work doesn't need me to, you know, work! After that, a good half iron test awaits at the end of July, goading us closer to the end of August and our ultimate goal. News has filtered through that this Ironman Couer D'Alene will indeed be the last of all. As triathlons popularity fluctuates and reaches its pinnacle, more and more of these races will fall by the wayside. To participate in the final race in CDA will make it that little bit more special. Can't wait. 

The biking is improving. The key to all of this, I am convinced, lies in nutrition. I believe it's getting close to just right. Bonks are becoming less and less and without those dips, my training and strength will get a chance to shine and not be held back by the all dominating brain dips. The next two weeks should give me a great insight it to how that particular element is progressing. We shall see. 

Until then!

Good luck to us all

American Triple T

What a weekend! Tired. Hot. Epic

The American Triple T is everything I hoped it would be. We signed up to this race after I listened to a favourite podcast of mine and the New Zealand presenters interviewed the organizers. It was enthralling to me to have a go at a race that most seemed impossible, or even bonkers. I think that's why I'm attracted to this lovely sport of long distance triathlon. There's those that climb up El Captain without ropes or those that scale Mount Everest without any oxygen. Now they are nutters. I find myself content with just pushing my aerobic and mental system just far enough to avoid any danger of death or severe injury, but far enough that most wouldn't even consider it. That's the sweets spot.

The Triple T filled that spot nicely. We started our journey from Minnesota on Thursday. With a pit stop in Indianapolis on the way down, we arrived in the picturesque Shawnee State Park on Friday lunchtime, in time to check in and register. Our cabin lay in the lush woodlands near the race start. The catch was that the start/finish line lay down a steep hill, about 1/2 mile from our temporary front door. That climb was to represent our proverbial struggle after each race. To climb back atop our mental steads and recoup for the next race.

Friday evening began with what I termed a "smash and grab' 250m swim, 6KM bike (up that bloody hill) and then a 1 mile run. About 30mins or heart pounding out of your chest fun. The introduction to our lake swimming area for the weekend was a rude one. The temperature was ideal, the content was not. We discovered through smell, taste and feeling that the lake was somewhat shallow in spots and not high on the visibility. Despite warnings not to stand to early when exiting the lake, some did and with it scooped up a triathlon short load of stewed up mud and grime that would redefine muddy for all the years to come.

After getting out of the swim we jumped on our bikes for a smash fest of fun, burning fun. Up and down the hill and straight out for a mile of quick step and fancy feet. 28mins later it was all over and off we went for some R&R before the next days festivities.

One of the huge appeal of this race is the camaraderie between the entrants. We immediately discovered this when we found that our picnic table represented the mecca of cell phone reception, with an unprecedented 4G signal. Word was out and the few of our neighbours nightly ritual became to visit our spider infested picnic table for a quick hi and good night to their loved ones. We met a top couple of lads, an Irishman and Frenchman from Buffalo,  who proved to be a valuable resource by imparting their 10years of knowledge from the race. Their advice probably saved us on Saturday.

We awoke Saturday morning to the prospect of 2 olympic distance races back to back, with a 4 hour break in the middle. The second race being an unconventional bike, swim and run aka cramp fest. Both races went according to plan. We quickly learnt to take wide lines in the lake to avoid all the silt and downed tree limbs hiding under the murky surface and that the hill we had to climb up back to our lodge was nothing compared to the hills outside of the park! However, any pain of suffering experienced on those hills was trumped by the beautiful vistas presented to us and the smooth roads during our journey. The country in that area, at times, could easily be mistaken for a high plateau in the french alps. It was gorgeous. The run portion beauty was no exception with the butterflies in abundance, floating around your head like you were in a dream. This being a fortunate feeling, because once you began the climb up the infamous Lamp Black Run you wished you were in one! The "fire road" that became our "old friend" for the next 3 races was a beauty of a run through the woods of the forest, but a run with relentless climbs and descents which compounded fatigue as the weekend progressed. That said, this was easy to forget as athlete after athlete passed by encouraging each other to forget the pain and enjoy the views. There were some inspirational athletes there. Cancer survivors. Veterans. Athletes who were competing in their last triathlon due to injuries sustained in crashes. However, the one that will stick with me for a long time will be the blind athlete. I was lucky enough to criss-cross her and her guide in almost the same spot each day on the run. When you race along side blind athletes and their guides you will always be inspired, but these too stood out from the rest due to the difficulty of the run. The rocks, divots and potholes made it challenging for those of us lucky enough to have our sight. However, the difficulty is surely ratcheted up when you can't see your steps in front of you. These two athletes gave me such a well needed boost every race and it's a experience that I will take with me throughout my life.

By the time we finished Saturday's racing we were well in need of a good rest. The second race's format and tested us all a little bit more than usual, although, being a good swimmer, I really enjoyed it.

When you wake up Sunday morning, high mental fatigue levels have been introduced to delirium. You begin to be silly and make some terrible jokes, all to avoid the inevitability of the half iron distance race that awaits you. A distance that we've done a fair few times, but ramping yourself up to the level needed to finish the distance was the challenge of the morning.

At this point in the race we were down to 2 of us, out of the 4 that began the weekend. Illness and snuck up on our two companions and it was down to Napoleon and I to get to the finish line. Competitiveness gave way to an attitude of let's-get-through-this-together. A piece of shared mentality that would help me through the bike and us both through the run. The bike was a combination of the previous two olympic races and the run a double visit to Lamp Black Run's hilly and gravely 6.55 miles. It was a race that you grew in to. As the legs warmed up, along with the lungs, the bike became a pleasure instead of a chore. Competitiveness gave way to contentment. Even the most arduous hill at mile 45, with a little hubris (:)), made for enjoyable riding. The day was warming up quickly and by the time we made the fast descent in to T2, I was ready for the day to be done. However, 13.1 miles still had to be covered. It normally takes me a mile to find my running legs after a ride and that was to be no different today. We climbed. We descended. The fluid were consumed and doused. After a couple of hours in the blazing, but somewhat shaded forest, we emerged to be greeted by the glorious sight of the finish and our team mates cheering us to the end. You don't get the long finish chute that an Ironman race gives you, with screaming supporters all around. It's more of gentle and, in my opinion, far more enjoyable finish. Quietly satisfying why you came to race - to show yourself what you didn't think you were capable of achieving. Taking yourself on a physical and mental journey that continues long after the race has finished.

This is a tough race. No doubt about it. However, the mental side far outweighs the physical. It's a race that reminds you what great race organization can give to you with a small event and a beautiful venue. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be back, if not just remind ourselves every year why we chose this sport in the first place and bring us back (mentally) to where we all started, if not with a little pain for extra sweetness.

Good luck to us all!

Preparation begins

When triathlon first appealed to me, it resulted from a desire not to run all the time and to shed a few pounds along the way. I didn't even know what an Ironman race was, or even, comprehend that one day I would attempt to race in a small park in Ohio at a race known as The American Triple T. And so, 12 years after my good friend Mitch encouraged me to race a short triathlon in Estes Park, Colorado, I find myself preparing to make the long, unidentifiable ride down to a state park in Ohio to race 4 triathlons in 3 days.

There'll be minimal supporters, but the races themselves. 250 of us. There'll be plenty of humidity and hills. The camaraderie will be strong and plentiful. The legs will be sore in the end. Yet, we shall have all completed a very challenging race that pits your natural instincts to race, and race hard, against the necessity to conserve your energy stores.

After the 12 hour drive from Minneapolis, we shall immediately begin our weekend with a super sprint race, just to sweeten the legs a little. Saturday will follow with 2 Olympic distance races (ish) with the first being traditional and the second a little mixed up. Sunday will present us with the unenviable task of a half iron distance race, which will be the cherry on top of the ice cream (I really hope there'll be ice cream!).

The race director warns to bring your climbing gear. It's probably wise to bring your climbing legs too. So, now we begin the preparation. Food, glorious food! However, the key is which food. The group had a meeting and we decided that Vincent would do all the cooking. Fantastic. That's that sorted, now all we have to worry about is racing..... and a few thousand miles of driving!

The next 10 days are going to involve a lot of training and some seriously fun racing. I am really looking forward to this race format, with the brand new experience to add to the CV. To go with friends and fellow triathletes will make it that much more of an experience for us. I can't wait.

This past weekend I was able to fly back to the UK and enjoy some wonderful training scenery which always makes those long hours flow by like a meandering river. Helped that much more by wife riding beside me as support. When you train and see the same scenery every day, to have a new vista in your sights can make all the difference, even if it's an old familiar face of the Chiltern Hills. The ideal place for a training camp by the way!

Now it's time for a bit more swimming,  running and biking. 2.5hrs of running awaits, with a trip along the banks of The Charles River in Boston. one of the truly unique places to run, seeing some of tomorrows future running, walking and talking along those banks. Makes the time fly by.

A race report will follow in a few weeks. I wonder if I will be as enthusiastic then as I am now??

Good luck to us all!

Phlegm and long rides

It's a quite like finding yourself at the bottom of a hill or mountain and looking up to the summit. You may well be excited to get to the top to share in the glorious views that your achievement has awarded you with, but you know full well that the climb to the pinnacle will be tiring and sometimes exhausting. That's how this training can be. It's not as much about the race day, but the trails and climbs that take you there. You're not alone. A team who are your friends and family around you that make sure you reach the summit of race day.

True, it is inspiring to hear and read this type of thing, but, as I heard yesterday on a podcast that helped me ignore the fact that a long ride was the day's offering, inspiration is a not the ideal word. You have to want it within you. Inspiration may drive you when you are down, but the internal desire is what has to be grounded deep down in order for you to want to start and keep it going throughout the whole season.

That is what was needed this week. A combination of a lack of sleep and a signal of 18 weeks to go, along with a noticeable increase in training volume led to a onset of a cold. When one is suffering over and above the training, be it daily life, work, family or lack of sleep induced fatigue, it is the deep desire that helped you begin this journey that pushes you forward even when it seems insurmountable. The last few days have been a bit like that.

It will seem sad, but true, that for an iron distance athlete, or even any endurance sport that requires such a time commitment, letting go of a planned session is not easy to do. Everything will point to a necessity to skip the session due to illness or overtraining, but we will have to overcome a monumental desire to "tick the box" and "have a green week". However, when you conquer that unreasonable desire, it is oddly very satisfying.  That's indeed what was needed this week with the long run. However, the temporary burying of that desire let's you hop back on your stead far quicker and keep the train moving. Of course, I sit typing this, fully recognizing that I have a cold, yet still rode four hours yesterday and ran with a club in the evening. Denial is not just a big river in Africa!

This week promises to be as challenging, with longer  rides and runs mixed with intense indoor sessions and some red eye flying thrown in for good measure. However, as above, we don't achieve this without the team around us. We must rely on them and always remember to acknowledge and appreciate their input. They make it possible for us to push these limits and achieve the goals we have set forth. For that I will always be truly thankful.

Good luck to us all

Smell of spring in the air

The long ride yesterday found myself and the new Yeti cycle out in very familiar weather conditions - conditions reminiscent of my childhood growing up in the UK. The clouds rolled in like a strong tide and kept the temperatures snug enough below to wrap the landscape in a slightly mild blanket above freezing. Whilst damp, it wasn't wet. With hand warmers in my cycling cleats, the feet warm and toaster like a fire on a winter's day, off we went out the door, grossly overdressed having over estimated the "spring" weather.

That's how the week concluded. The first (well, second) long ride out of the basement and feeling my first non-manufactured wind in my face. It wasn't even face numbing! Was a fitting end to a week filled with diverse landscapes and environments.

The week began in chilly temps in Minnesota, running with a diverse group, who will encourage anyone that they can run. When we get bogged down in these intense training environments that ironman training often presents us, it is easy to forget that we are the abnormals. Running in a group that ranges from 12min/milers to sub 4hr marathoners is a very encouraging and inspiring group to find yourself in. For 45 minutes very Monday, we get to forget that we are training for and endurance feet that most can not begin to comprehend and remember that the joy of running can spread as far and as wide as our imaginations can go.

A quick trip later and I find myself suffering in the smog and altitude of Mexico City once again. They must put lead weights in my legs when we land (that or the bike is just crap and out of date) because when I start to spin up there it feels as though I am surrounded by quick sand mixed with syrup as the workout chugs along. However, like everything, it is just a test to pass so the greater and more challenging, be it mental or physical, can be surmounted in the future. The reward was a very pleasant, smoggy, sunny and traffic ridden run the next morning before we left for the day.

This week could probably be summed up the vegan recovery drink that is currently being choked down, in an attempt not to simply ralph it back up. You know that what you are doing is worth it and the results will be positive just as long as you make it to the other end of the shaker bottle, even though presently you question your sanity at taking on this challenging liquid/bike/run/swim.

Many times during training, not matter what your goal is, you will find yourself in a mentally dark place - think "hello darkness my old friend" - and you will question whether you can make it to the figurative light at the end of the tunnel. Before you know it, and the negative thoughts have subsided, you find that the pain is over and the negativity found no purpose and no foothold despite the enormous influence it was trying to have. You come crashing out the other end like a wave breaching the sand. All is suddenly calm and the world retreats back out in to the ocean and all that remains is a fresh bit of beach that is the new you, that has only benefited from the chaos that just occurred within you. Simply, you never regret riding the wave of chaos, be it physical or mental. it is one of the big reasons I love endurance training and racing. The daily realization that I just discovered a new piece of myself that I didn't know existed.

The next couple of weeks appear to be the calm before the storm. Training is going to ramp up in the middle of April and we shall see if I'm still this jovial then.

Good luck to us all!