Kids Don't try this at HOME

If there is anything interesting about preparation for an Ironman it is the lack of preparation for the upcoming IMNZ.

No excuses other than a very lethargic and fragile mental state. But it will be an interesting experiment into how much preparation is needed to survive a race and then I will at least know what is required as a minimum .

Having said that it is not going to be pretty . I pray I finish but I am not chasing PBs and I am not expecting much.in fact this will be a pretty relaxed race in comparison to the previous 9 .

in stark contrast to my friends racing who have done 15 plus hours , I have barely done any hours and despite a programme I have only tip toed through it i am embarrassed to say. but i feel well and reasonably fit. The contrast is gigantic when I read Gina Crawford's buildup after Wanaka on her Blog ( Ironman new Zealand Build up ) or a number of triathletes in Lanzarote preparing for Abu Dhabi long Course .

But so be it for I made my bed and I have to lie on it .Unfortunately there isn't going to be much lying down on the 2nd of March .

The coundown to IMNZ

Tim checking his phone messages at the Race after the ride down to Mandurah

The week started with a great swim at Cottesloe.The Exceed group had gathered on the traditional Monday public holiday at Cottesloe.The group swam between the groyne and the needle and I decide to swim down the coast past Blue Duck cafe .It was about a km there and a km back . I then met up with Les and Trev for coffee and very good chocolate and raspberry muffins at Daisies .  I had a run in the evening but just felt lazy.That continued on Tuesday as I skipped the bike and run session. I just felt tired.

Wednesday I got my self out of the rut and did my 1.15 session of cycling the hills at Kings Park. It was quite a hot day but worthwhile.With work and just a mental laxity or burnout ...not sure which yet , I just couldn't face riding or running on Thursday. I finished the week with a swim on Friday evening and did a good 2.4km session with 800m warm up and a 1400m main set and a 200m cool down. the left arm is sore but not overtly . On Saturday , I gave training a miss ...although I was planning to ride a 100km . I decided to ride on Sunday . Tim kindly agreed to come and so i had to show up at the Narrows bridge car park at 6.30 am . Rick twine was an unexpected visitor and rode with us till Mt Henry bridge. From there we rode to Paganoni Road and then down Mandurah Road to the estuary where the State Olympic Distance Championships were held. We had coffees whilst we watched the cycling leg and then went to the main/finish area where the Exceed Tent was.

At Mandurah after the ride down Picture by Dennis Tan

I had a coke and another coffee and the after the men's and women's open winners finished , we rode to Mandurah Station with the intention of taking a train back. By now it was hot . unfortunately for us there were no trains running between the Station and Cockburn central which was 35 to 40 kms away. We had to ride. It became a 143km ride with the temperature sitting at 47C with a breeze. I had to change a tyre at about 12.30pm and the bike path along a limestone wall had a temperature of 53C .It was very hot . We managed to refuel at the petrol station at Thomas Road and that helped. Saw 3 riders and I think everyone was regretting the decision to ride in such heat . Interestingly , I had 2 bidons of Gatorade , one of coke , 2 /3 of water  and just dates for fuel and hydration and no cramping.

We got to Cockburn Station which was 20km from Perth but Tim had had enough and so we took the train.I didn't try to talk him out of it. It had been a long day. Not quite the training week I was suppose to have , not even one according to the plan but i take some comfort in that I have one long slow ride under my belt and hard as it was I was able to go on.

50 Ways to ....

Like training for Zombies ...there are many ways to .....

My training has morphed into a soap opera of Train's Song , 50 Ways to Survive ...or say good bye. I am unfortunately at the bottom of a bell curve but whilst the blog has taken a tragic turn of a mundane depressing tone , it isn't all bad .It is a necessity of training that there will be bad patches and whilst not uplifting to read , the blog has to be true to the recording of not only the ups but the absolute downs. Where this leads I do not know other than the fact that I am not at any level of strength .I am managing . It is a good indication of how I will travel at the next race and I know I will need to get back to the gym and a lot of core work and strength work.Unfortunately I can't do that till after New Zealand.

Whilst we are self absorbed at the results and the ebbs and flow of performance  ( they are important) I am reminded that I made the decisions and would I have had it any other way ? ...probably not . To know where you are heading , you do need to know where you came from.I know intimately all the roads I have traveled to be where I am .