I have been involved in triathlon for over 20 years and running for longer than I care to remember. However as I counted backwards it dawned on me I have not actually trained for and competed in a triathlon race seriously now for since 2003! I will be 48 next year…I need a new challenge to keep me motivated.
The Challenge: I have entered the 2010 Windsor Triathlon.
With approximately 7 months to get in shape, my aim is not to come last in the Elite wave. Since this race will play host to a collection of Britain’s current talent and future hopefuls, I thought it would be a fun challenge to see if an ex-elite runner, can get his swimming back up to the level needed to beat the strict cut off time. Having not ridden my bike for so long, (not only will I need to ride without stabilisers), I expect I will have to hang on to a bunch of riders at about 27mph, or even worse be so slow in the swim that I must cycle round the course by my lonesome. If the bike doesn’t drain, I will have to run well under 40mins if I am not to come last, but how far under I can go after a hard swim and bike will be interesting to find out.
Why?
The simple answer is I don’t know.
But I think that once you have competed in sport to don’t really ask why, you just know you need to challenge yourself, as if it is programmed into my DNA. So I have set a tough target and want see what is achievable.
As you would expect, I have a family and kids, I have a very busy full time job, which takes me abroad a lot. As it happens I am in Switzerland today for the day!
I will need to juggle the training around my work, and family (housework, the shopping, the “daddy taxi “service etc). In short all the things that every age group triathlete faces every day, but not what your typical elite triathlete should know much about.
But back to the question of why?
Why did Sir Edmond Hillary climb Mount Everest? The answer it is rumoured is simply “because it was there”. Gerard’Aboville rowed the Pacific and while in the middle of the Ocean, a ship approached him, obviously concerned about his safety, but Gerard was sure they would ask him the one question he had no answer for; “Why?”
He had no answer, so in the middle of the ocean, thousands of miles from any land, all he could think of doing was he turn is boat around and frantically row away from these would be good Samaritans, so he could avoid the question!
Fund raising for the Emily Ash Trust
I shall make this a worthwhile challenge, as I intend to use it as way to help raise money for my chosen charity. For every athlete I beat my family, work colleagues and friends will make a donation to the Emily Ash Trust (ww.emilyash.co.uk) which does and amazing job helping children with cancer.
If I come last or don’t finish, I shall make a donation to the charity……so either way the charity wins.
My first challenge of today is to go Sigma Sport in Kingston and do what all triathletes love……buy some trendy gear, because I need to have all the latest gear……… I am rather privileged that I can supply myself with some sexy 2XU gear, a nice Ceepo Ironman frame to ride on and a cool pair of Newtons, but I still need some wheels, and nutrition…..lights and a helmet……..and even some bike shoes….The shopping list seems endless, but as they say about us triathletes “all the gear no idea”
I shall update this blog regularly with training tips, and comments that hopefully will be amusing and of benefit. One thing for sure is that I intend to enjoy the journey. Rather than make the next 7 months like a slow and tortuous boat to China that I cannot get off, I want this to be more like a adventure holiday, when I wake up each day and enjoy the experience from dawn to dusk.