Here we are, race week. It's a familiar buzz, a blend of excitement and nerves. In my running shoes, I'm in my element. The nerves are there, but deep down, I know I can handle whatever the race throws at me. But this week, it's back to triathlon, and suddenly, the game changes. The 'what ifs' are back with a vengeance. The classic wetsuit wrestling match, the dreaded mid-run cramp – it's like an obstacle course of potential embarrassments.
Here's what’s really unsettling me - I'm the new guy in the triathlon community. It's like being back at your first race, feeling a bit out of your depth, wondering if your gear is a dead giveaway. That's me right now, stepping into a familiar yet foreign world.
Growth Outside the Comfort Zone
But, this is exactly where growth happens, right? Stepping out of our comfort zones. When I jot down these fears, they start to seem less daunting, almost laughable. And yes, I'm even worried about the possibility of coming in last – talk about focusing too much on outcomes!
Let me take you back to my first pro triathlon, the Yeppoon 70.3, in 2012. I was all in, training like there was no tomorrow, with my entire triathlon 'career' riding on this one race. My Mum was there, ready to cheer me on. Fast forward to race day: I was the last pro out of the water and completely drained on the bike. I ended up having a bit of a breakdown on the side of the road. It was a moment of pure, raw emotion, but I managed to pull through and finish.
Learning from the Past
That experience pretty much set the tone for my short-lived pro career. Over-training, setting unrealistic expectations, and then falling short. It was a tough cycle, and honestly, it was a pretty rubbish way to race. Everything changed when I stopped obsessing over the numbers and started enjoying the process.
So, this weekend, I'm keeping it simple: 'Relax and push', 'Enjoy the race'. I'm focusing on process-oriented goals, breaking the race down into manageable parts. It's all about staying in the moment not getting ahead of myself.
Wish me luck!
Training Update
Last week's track session was surprisingly good. I hit 10x 400m with 90sec rest, averaging 69 sec laps, around 2:50min/km (4:30min/mi). This week, I'm tweaking it a bit: same session, but cutting down the rest. The goal? Build time at sub 15min 5km pace while fatigued but not pushing the anaerobic limits. That's a challenge I'll save for later down the line when I’ll lift the duration at race pace and reduce the rest.
Recent Content
I returned to the Performance Advantage Podcast mic with Matt Miller (@MTB_PhD) to discuss the only two interval sessions you’ll ever need and the science behind them.
Week Twenty-Three - Strava Link
📊11:24 hrs total (TSS 652)
🏃5x Run = 5:37 hrs (72 km)
🚵1x MTB = 1:50 hr (24 km)
🏊2x Pool Swim = 2:40 hr (8.8 km)
🎮1x Zwift = 1:12 hr (42 km)
Mon - Easy Run 50min (10 km)
Tue - AM Hard Swim Squad 1:22 hr (4.5 km) | PM Seady Zwift
Wed - 30min warm-up - Track Sessions 10x 400m
Thur - AM Hard Swim Squad 1:18 hr (4.3 km) | PM Seady Run 1:11 (17 km)
Fri - Easy morning group run (50min (10 km) | PM MTB 1:50 (24 km)
Sat - Stag Do 🍻 (Batchelor Party)
Sun - Easy AM Run 30min (6 km) | Easy PM Run 20min (4.5 km)