The Future: GWN

It’s been a little while since my last post, so here is an update on what is going on. About two weeks ago my IT Band injury (from Ironman) flared up, for no particular reason, and has been causing me some issues both day to day and when trying to run. I have been going to a new Physio (he is an Ironman Finisher so he gets what I'm about) that I am really liking, he primarily uses IMS and I'm finding it helps for sure. I was going for my calves and saw good enough progress to feel confident with running. About this time is when the IT Band flared up again essentially holding me on the sidelines. With this being something I don’t think I can work around, my frustration with being injured continues...and believe me, I am frustrated. Most of my life has been centered on being able to participate in physical activities that I enjoy. This is the place I get pleasure, where I have my fun, my happy place, really the only thing I love doing. There is a definite negative effect being injured has had on my life. I know many friends and people at work see it, and hear it, all the time (sorry friends). I also find that with not being able to exercise my overall motivation and drive decrease making it more difficult to be ambitious and successful in other important parts of my life. Anyway, enough of my complaining. I am working at getting fixed up and hoping it is going to be sooner than later. Why? Because I have signed up for a race next year that I am very focused on doing well in. I signed up for the Great White North Half Ironman, one of the largest Half Ironman’s in Western Canada on July 6, 2014. This is a very popular race that takes place just West of Edmonton and has been on my radar for a few years now. I jumped on the registration nice and early and pegged my spot.

            My training program officially starts January 3^rd, 2014 and my goal is to be in relative shape to start it and most importantly be/stay healthy throughout my training. In light of my recent injuries I am becoming increasingly nervous that I won’t be healthy when the time comes to start my program. There is time to push my start date, but I really don't feel like waiting. The local Triathlon Academy also puts on an indoor Aquathon throughout the winter months with a race in Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, and finals in Apr. It is a 360m swim followed by a 2km track run. I would very much like to do all of these races and feel that I can with the exception of the December race as I’m not sure how, if at all, I’ll be running. Enough of that though, lets talk about GWN and what I have planned for myself there.

I have set a very lofty goal for this race (GWN), but if I can stay healthy I do feel it is achievable. So far I have completed two Half Ironmans, both around 6:30hrs. My goal for this race will be 5hrs. I am not exactly sure how I will get there, but it would have to look something like this. Swim: Under 35mins (PB: 37min). Bike: 2:35-2:40 (Race PB: 3:10hr, a massive improvement I know, but after seeing what my Ironman training did for me, I feel I can do it), Run: 1:35-1:40 (PB: 1:54), and Transitions: Under 10min for both. I believe that I have these times in my body, it is just a matter of setting myself up so I can be in good enough health to work towards them.

GWN also happens to be a qualifying race for Ironman Canada (IMC). A couple spots are allocated to the top finishers in their age group and they are awarded entry into IMC if they want. This is not my primary goal, but I would not turn down the opportunity provided my body felt good. The only downside is IMC has traditionally been at the end of August, which would allow significant time to recover and get more training in. In 2014 it is slotted for the end of July, only three weeks after GWN, which doesn't leave much time for recovery before you are right back it. All that being said, I am a very far from having to worry about that and need to focus at the goals on hand, mainly getting healthy and training smart when I become healthy. 

I think this will be all for now. The next update likely won't be for a while as training doesn't start for some time, but I'll keep in updates flowing through this means.

I have had some recent inspiration from NBC's 1hr broadcast of the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Here is the link for the video on Youtube. I absolutely love these things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6HkwsfTtU0