The Good the Bad and the Ugly

Happy New Yeay everyone. So here we go again, preparing for the 2015 triathlon season.

I've not done any blogging thus far, as I haven't really had a lot to say due to on thing and another. The title for the blog may seem a little strange but hopefully over the next few paragraphs you will understand and hopefully relate to it in some small way. So, lets start at the beginning with The Good.

2014 was what I would class, as an epic season for me. I achieved all my goals, made some fantastic new friends, went to the biggest triathlon on the planet (and managed not to make a complete fool of myself) and all the while somehow managing to perform well at work and most importantly keep the family happy  giving them the holiday of a life time. The trouble with all this, is that after such an amazing year,  I have been left wondering how to top it!! not an easy feat for little old Joe. So I came back from the worlds straight into a month break and with a real intent to enjoy time with my friends and family and really enjoy Christmas and new year. So with that in mind November was a rest and I started to do some light training in December. Enter the BAD!!!

Why bad?? Since I started back, training has been a real bind to be honest. Training through winter has not been a problem up to now,  but,  after such a high I found myself at a real low. Even booking races and setting goals didn't stop what I have christened 'The Kona Funk'. From doing really well all of a sudden I feel as though I am only just starting out again. Now I'm certainly not saying that I wouldn't race unless I was doing well etc. but doing well does breed all sorts of good habits, and feelings. You can't wait to train, every session feels great, you take extra care with the other important things, recovery, nutrition, diet. Flip that on its head and it can seem no matter what you do everything feels difficult. The beauty of the guys I train with is the fact that every training session somebody is determined to make it a little bit fun.  Enter Adam Critchley.

Adam has more bike mechanicals than anyone I know. In three outings, this is what he has gone through

Outing 1. Whilst climbing Adams rear mech decided to escape from the rest of his bike (much to everyone's amusement). We come to a stop to assess the mess!! sure enough the rear mech had broken free. Luckily our top bike technician Scotty the boy was out with us. Before we knew it,  the chain was being split and shortened, the rear mech was dubbed as knackered and binned, the cable was removed and Adams bike was serviceable, albeit stuck in one gear. Scotty explained to Adam that he will basically be riding a fixie. Adam asked the question 'Does that mean I can't stop pedaling'. Not the most technical our Adam

Outing 2, one week later with new rear mech. We set off and immediately Adams chain is slipping due to the wear and tear on the rest of the group set. Luckily this is a flat ride day and Adam finds a good gear that will run smoothly. All is going well until the heavens open on Banks near Southport. Adam gets a flat. No big issue. However when he pulled out two tea spoons to remove his tyre the lads opened fire. Quite possibly the most amount of grief I have heard on a ride and that's saying something!!

Outing 3. Hillly ride with me and Chris Rainford. A puncture in the Trough of Bowland and another one in the centre of Preston. Can't wait to see what will happen next time.

Then there is the ugly. What I mean by ugly is something that me and Adam have termed as 'training ugly'. This basically means getting out there when it would be easier to sit on the couch watching TV. Trust me when I say that I have been doing a lot of this over the last couple of months. I have read a couple of posts by triathletes I really respect describing them doing the ugly stuff, and I had a talk to Mark in the Endurance Store about this Kona Funk and he described the very same feeling after Ironman UK. Training Ugly not only feels extremely physically demanding but it is mentally tough too, something that hopefully will stand me in good stead in the season ahead. Not having races to do, people cheering you on and asking how you are getting on all contribute to the Training Ugly scenario!!  I'm really lucky in the support network I have around me Family and friends understand my motives, Summit Physio (Dave & Heather) understand my aging body and have kept me in one piece through the last couple of months. The lads who I train with make life a lot easier and the trainers at the gym are a constant source of encouragemant to whom I am really grateful.

So, that is where I am at. The training is in full swing for Ironman Lanzarote and Challenge Weymouth. I have started a really good strength and conditioning program courtisy of Heather At Summit Physio (I'm 44 now, up an age group 45 / 49) and Ian my coach has set his stall out with some really good tough sessions to see if we can't have another great season.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New year and you are all back at it looking forward to the new season.

See you out there

 

Joe D