It's really interesting how you look at training for an Ironman. You would think the 20 weeks would be the same... True, but it's so very different when you look at them closely.
Version 1.0 I had no idea what the hell I was in for. Some sessions were painful, some were scary and there was allot of arrogance with how I was going to slaughter that course. The end result.... .humble pie, but I was hooked.
Version 2.0 I knew what it took to train and that I could do it. I learned some tricks from Version 1.0, intensity was there, was the effort there.... possibly but I don't think I trained smart. The end result a PB and a smaller portion of humble pie.
Version 3.0.... or would that be 2.1 or was it a continuation of Version 2.0. Sessions were there, but no motivation, constantly tired and learned one should not back up one ironman with another one just a few weeks later. I learned allot, enjoyed the course and the end result..... Massive serve once again and a one year walk away from Ironman and anything associated with training.
Hmmm there's the problem.... too much humble pie I reckon. But am I really doing anything different this time or is the ironman bakery starting the pie baking again? Perhaps, but I'm on a diet this time.
As one gets older, you may not have the speed you once had, but you learn. One would hope and you take all the little things you've learned along the way and put them to good use, which is what I'm trying to do. This past weekend was an Ironman camp which is where (for the first time this campaign) I actually started to feel the efforts of the first 14 weeks of training paying off. I had strength at the end of sessions and whilst tired, had the strength to back it up at the next sessions.
With 6 weeks to go until Cairns, it's about keeping the same thing going I think. This time around, I've been doing the session that is put in front of me, do it to the best of my ability on the day and really trying to get the most out of it. I've been working on keeping my HR low especially on the run, as this is where I've been let down each time. If I stick to plan, I think the run will show up. The other MAJOR thing is, keeping the ego at home, there's no room for it on race day, or in training. Sure you can have fun, but trying to make up say 10 minutes on the bike, just to lose over 30 minutes on the run, is not worth it.
Some serious sessions coming up, with this weekend being a 7 hour brick session (5 hour ride + 2 hour run) and this will be a good check for me. Just one session at a time, doing smart and turn off the brain on race day. Yes Version 4.0 appears to be a good upgrade thus far.
12 weeks in
15 years ago
