I give up

It's been five years since I started this triathlon gig and almost 10 from the time I began trying to get back into shape. I've just completed another race season and I've finally come to a conclusion - I'm done.

For two seasons there I raced as a Clydesdale before shifting my focus to long course and ultimately the IronMan distance. For the lead up eight months (or so) I busted my ass across countless kilometres, both real and virtual on my windtrainer. During this time I raced another triathlon series, but against competitors of similar age rather than weight. I took 20 minutes off my marathon time and almost an hour off my PB for the 70.3 distance. I even started this blog, naming it based upon my design to transition from the weight class.

At the end of all of that, I started the IronMan Melbourne with an official weigh-in of 98kg. Yes, that was done whilst in street clothes and without first emptying my pockets, but that is also 3kg safely qualifying for the Clydesdale's wave.

So, that's it.
I give up.

I am tired of fighting the power to weight ratio from only one side of the equation.
I'm done trying to shift this extra weight on my own, and so I have bitten the bullet and made an appointment.   That's right, I've reached the conclusion that I'm not reaching my goals on my own so I'm bringing in an expert. Kinda helps that this expert is not only a sports nutritionist but also a mate of mine, a training buddy and supporter in my journey. My first appointment with A Girl on a Bike is scheduled for Monday week. Margs knows my goals and having just completed her first IronMan as well, she shares some of them (well, maybe not the weight loss part!)

I'm keen to get this new journey kicked off, to learn what I've been doing wrong and make some real progress finally.

Giddy up!

The End Is Nigh

The end is nigh

The last races of the triathlon series have been run and won, fun month is also done. That just leaves one thing to do, the EOSPN.

End Of Season Presentation Night (although the P could could be for Party) is tonight, a formal do where the lycra is replaced with more formal affair and we celebrate the achievements of the past few months. I have been with the club now for four seasons but this will be my first EOSPN. It's a terrible record, and I got in trouble last year when the wife realised she missed a chance to dress up and socialise so I mean to make amends for that transgression. It will be an interesting and likely,eventful night! Perhaps more to report next time, or maybe "Vegas" rules will apply...

May not be an accurate representation of the EOSPN...

In other news, I found another way to throw away the wife's spending money AND stack the end of next race season. Win Win!
The Challenge brand has returned Down Under! Teaming up with SuperSprint Events they announced the introduction of three new 70.3 distance races, Melbourne, Forster and Batemans Bay. 

The Melbourne edition is about 6 weeks out from IronMan Melbourne and is on home grounds so I was excited to enter, and when the wife wasn't overly vocal against the idea, I jumped at the chance.

Stoked!!

My race calendar for the 2013-14 season looks like this:

November 17 - Shepparton 70.3

December 15 - Canberra 70.3

February 2 - Challenge Melbourne

March 2 - Warnnambool Sufferfest

March 23 - IronMan Melbourne

In the mean time, there are a couple of run and ride events I may look at doing, Kinglake ride with SuperSprint is a must as I haven't missed one yet, and the Melbourne Marathon as I continue to punch my loyalty card towards qualifying as a Spartan (10 x Melbourne Marathon finishes, I have three notches on that belt). Also on the agenda, I am finally going to get my dodgy calf treated, since I now seem to strain it each time I go for a run and I don't want to get too deep into the build carrying this issue.

There is only one final question to answer regarding events to add to my off-season season. I don't yet have the answer, but I will leave the question to be asked by one wiser than I.

Reflections

It's been almost 6 weeks since I completed my first Ironman, enough time to rest up, to add back some hard lost weight, for mates to get their commemorative tattoos (and a couple photoshopped of my own). Also, time enough to reflect on what it is we did that last weekend of March.
It's probably time I put some of those thoughts to "paper".

As usual, I think I need to start this a bit earlier, right back at the start.
When I first discovered they were finally going to actually hold an Ironman event in Melbourne I was excited. There had always been talk and rumours but this time some one in the know confided in me during a training run that it was really going to happen this time. I had signed up for, but not yet attempted, my first half Ironman event, yet immediately wanted to be involved in the Melbourne race. I figured I could at least do the 70.3 version, then they announced the course and the inclusion of a point to point run meant there would be no Half. A little disappointed I found a different way to be involved, I signed up to volunteer at an aide station instead.
Table captain of the first water table of run station number 20, I arrived early to set up, waited nervously as our supplies seemed horribly delayed, unloaded the truck when it did arrive (in plenty of time), watched the approach of the helicopter along bay that announced the imminent arrival of our first customers, served the entire field (bar a couple of bathroom breaks), cheered them all on, then repacked the truck and headed for home. I realise that was just a really long sentence but I've used it to illustrate the long day the wife and I had that day. I remember a few things clearly still from that day, how sore my feet and back became from standing there for 10+ hours, the smiles and gratitude from the competitors that came through, and the decision that I would be experiencing the race from the other side next year.

We were the second to last aide station of the race, we were seeing these people at the very end of their journey. They had already covered over 250km of racing and were now just around the corner from glory. they were tired and sore but so many were still smiling and many took the time to thank us for being there to help them. During my shift there were a few that urged me to take a break but I kept saying, if I hope to actually do this event, I should be able to stand here for the time these people were racing.

Fast forward almost 12 months, I have now completed a few long course races, my most recent ones went really well. All of the training is done, my over-confidence is firmly in check following the last long course recon run (hitting a wall through the hilly section) and the race plan is set.
Now, since I've already posted my race report I'm going to skim through it here to get to the follow-up
Swim was slower than I'd have liked, might have spent too much time fighting the current to get to the swim exit rather than using it to reach the beach and run a bit further.
Bike was really good, however, my feet and lower back were cramping late. The good news was that, at least my form off the bike and into transition gave the spectators a chuckle.
Run was excellent. I had worried about hitting that wall again but the hills came and went and the wheels never fell off. It was a solid, steady run from start to finish.

Crossing the finish line was incredible, meeting up with my family afterwards was probably more so. The pride and joy I found in their eyes for my achievements is something I will carry with me. (Dad has since tried to teach my nephew to call me Tony Stark...)
I'm generally a bit of an introvert, I tend to keep to myself, reserved and therefore my emotions tend to be hidden. Through this journey I've most certainly come out of my shell somewhat and have made stronger friendships because of it. I don't know that I'm yet comfortable with being called an "Ironman", not due to any concerns about the distances we raced, it's more that I still struggle a little with being held upon that mantle.  Nuts huh?

After it's all said and done, I had a blast and only really had one regret.
Two days after collecting my finisher's medal/towel/tee I was back on my bike at a team windtrainer session.
Two weeks later I punched out a pretty solid sprint triathlon.
In the past six weeks I have continued to train pretty regularly, as if I'd just come off a regular season. This was not a regular race season however, this year I had reached the pinnacle distance of this sport and breezed though it. If I could recover so readily, how much did I have left in the tank? I had planned to race conservatively but I expected to be fully spent by the finish. My only regret is perhaps I could have pushed a bit extra. I don't know how fast I really could have gone.

Fortunately, I'll get my chance to answer this is a question on March the 23rd, 2014

You didn't really think this was a one time deal did you?