Finding my mojo

It's been a couple of months now and it feels like I should be back at it, but somethings missing.

Maybe it's the joy of sleeping in and no commitment to any form of training.

Over the past month, I've struggled to do much at all, only running about 20-25km a week, not much by recent standards. So today I set out on a run, to see if I could find that missing thing from my training repertoire. A quest to find my mojo.

Before heading out, I grabbed my Oakley Thumps and did a purge of all the current songs. Next came a review of my MP3's and what would do the trick. A little bit of Eminem, Nickleback, Motley Crew, Foo Fighters and Sum 41. Not a slow song in there, and all about fast paced, solid training music. I grabbed my fuel belt and headed out, not knowing my route or distance. The only thing I knew is I was going for a good run and run within a good comfort zone.

As I headed out, my biggest goal was to run, just for the sake of running and not about meeting a certain, pace, heart rate or because I felt I had to. It didn't take long before I settled into a good rythum, this had the potential of being what I set out for. As I got into the music, my mind started to wander, what was it that I wanted to do? What would bring me out of this training funk? I want to do something but if you don't have drive, why even bother. Might as well grab a beer, a bag of chips and veg on the couch...

The further I went the more things to come into focus. I want to excel at both running and triathlon. I think one of the things that has kept me in the status quo, was my Ironman. I spent a year getting ready to toe the line. I wanted to go well, enjoy the race and see how far I could push myself. While I'm happy to have completed an Ironman, the more I am dissapointed for not pushing myself enough. I'm better than a 13hour Ironman, hell I'm better than a 5:30 half ironman. This was it, what I wanted to find.. but how do I get there. Not realizing it, I found myself in a location I'd never ran in before, I was just running, kind of like Forest Gump, but I found what I was looking for a hell of alot quicker.

So now what? I know I can go better, I know I can push myself. Time to stop competing and time to race. What does this mean? I just can't sign up for another Ironman...well not without having a good divorce lawyer. I have to do it. Yup, I need to focus on my next race...the perfect race. I'm not sure where or what it will be but I think I have a plan.

I'm going to push hard for the world long course championships this October in Perth. A chance to wear my countries colours I think is just the thing I need. When I race, having the maple leaf on my uniform will push me as I won't be just racing for me, I'll have to give it my all, leaving nothing in reserve, all in an effort to represent my country proud. If this doesn't fall into place, my fall back race will be a return trip to the Gold Coast half ironman. In that race, should I do it, it will be about pushing beyond my limits and pushing through the mental barriers one throws up during a race. I'm going to go at it like a freight train, blowing things out of my way, all at full throttle. And if I run out of gas???? Go that much harder.

That's it, I've done my run and know where I am, and what I want....Look out world, I have a mission again and I won't let anything get in my way. Watch out Mark, you'll have your hands full trying to train up this crazy Canuck.....Time to get back my mojo..

Cheers and look out!!

Team Canada???

Well as I look towards my next challenges, I found two things to sweeten the next big race.

First, I found out there is a way to register for Ironman Canada without going back to register. If this is the case, I can save the airfare. Time will tell and I'll see what upper management has to say. I would love to toe the line at IMC 2010...

Second, I've inquired about putting on the Red and White and represent Canada at the long course world championships in Perth, Australia later this year. If my time from Geelong is good enough, I need to submit my monies and I could be going to Perth for home and country in late October, time will tell.

That's about it for now. I've started training 3-4 times a week, all running though and hope to get back on the bike later this week.

Cheers
Richard

The new beginning or is this the end???

Just about a month has gone by since IMA. Since then, I've eaten more junk food than I can recall, I've been to KFC more than once and more beer, wine and rum has been consumed in the past month than the last year combined. True training isn't it???

What's next for this crazy Canuck? Well, I'm just getting back into training, albeit light training. As I ease back into 3-4 sessions a week I'm going to go with the flow and train only if I feel like it. Case in point....A couple of weeks ago I went out to squad swim and half way through the main set, I got out of the pool. (I pre-warned the new coach that if I did get out, it wasn't personal).

This morning instead of going for a run with the squad, the entire family headed out a run. Vaughn in the jogger, Alyssa on her bike, while Colleen and I ran (yes I was pushing the jogger). If things feel okay tomorrow when Colleen goes for another run, who knows I might actually make it too, making that my first back to back training days since IMA. I'm really enjoying having breakfast with the family in the mornings, but I know things will change once or twice a week soon.

As I look to the future, I'm seriously looking at 'racing' a 70.3 rather than competing. This may sound weird, but more and more people tell me that I should be alott faster than what I have done...So, when in Rome..... I will most likely toe the line at Gold Coast again in October with an outside shot at Yeppoon in August, but that's being a bit optimistic.. No Ironman right now in the sights, but time will tell. I've contacted Ironman Canada and am waiting to hear back from them to see if they have an entry policy for people from overseas. If they do and I can get in, I'd love to train for IMC 2010.

You'll be happy to know that this will be the last post that will be sent out as an e-mail format. For those of you who wish to keep following along you can subscribe to the blog and it will send you an e-mail (I believe that's how it works) when there is a new post.

One last bit for you, here is a video that the I purchased which has some of the pro's and a few bits of me in and around transition. I have the red top and black shorts.


Cheers
Richard