While lamenting the failures of the past adds little value to life, I think that if you choose to learn from them instead, than some good can come of looking back. I really look forward to the next year in my life as one of discovery, and of learning new things, both as relates to my training and life in general. Certainly I know now, that looking back at all the things I worried about that never came to pass, has helped me to cope with the challenges of today.
So as I take a quick peak back at Ironman 2012 I have made a few observations.
First the excuses. I never felt "on" for the entire day. From the moment I got up I felt sluggish. For some reason my stomach was upset through most of the race. I had fairly severe gas at many points, and worried that if I farted I would crap my pants instead. For the first time ever in a race I seriously considered stopping at a port-a-potti. Perhaps I should have?? I did make a last minute change in my eating strategy the day before which may, or may not, have been the cause. As the race wore on I started to question my race drink as well even though I have been successful with it in the past. It definitely causes gas all by itself and perhaps that aggravated my condition on this given day....who knows.
And then theres the real reason I did not meet my own expectations. I believe it was my bike ride. Even though it was 16 minutes faster than my previous attempt it felt tougher. I'm pretty sure that I left my race on the bike course, simply because I was not prepared to ride as fast as I thought I could. I had not done enough, or at least the right kind of preparation to compensate for my 3 years of added maturity. Especially in light of the hills in Penticton. It was on the hills that I really knew I wasn't as fit as I thought I was. I had the exact same lower gear ratio as in 2009, and yet I never seemed to have quite the lowest I needed.
The delightful part of the whole day was of course my swim. I am still amazed that I stood up at 1:18, as I swam less in preparation than I have done before, and I was definitely slower in the pool than in 2009. Knowing that the improved time was really just due to upper body fitness leaves all kinds of opportunity to build on that, both from a strength perspective, and of course technique.
And the last thing I learned form Ironman 2012. I was just a wee bit too focused on my time goal. My wife warned me about this several times but of course as usual, I needed to learn the hard way. If I had listened to my body and rode a bit slower on my bike, I am certain I would have finished with a considerably better run, and a better overall time.
So...on looking forward.
The focus will be on
1) overall strength gains in the weight room, especially legs
2) cycling technique with the computrainer.
3) hill work both bike and run
4) swim technique
5) focus on learning instead of time
6) nutrition, both training and racing
I do want to make another attempt at 11 hours but that is the last time you will hear reference to it. I will be another year older (damn!), and anyone who has been to Mont Tremblant can tell you that it ain't exactly flat there either. It could in fact be a tougher course than Penticton. So I will focus on becoming a better swimmer/cyclist/runner, and let the time chips fall where they may. After all, the real reason I'm doing this has nothing to do with race day.....
....and I have thought about this some more as well. I truly felt like I had a great year leading up to the race and yet the confirmation for that still came from Claudette. Of course she has always been a supportive partner, but I also know how much time and space this training takes away from the rest of our lives. Despite being a selfless person she is however still human, and as such her support of another Ironman is confirmation that it some small way it makes our collective lives better.
(ride 41 kms)
"We drive into the future using only our rearview mirror."---Marshall McLuhan
So as I take a quick peak back at Ironman 2012 I have made a few observations.
First the excuses. I never felt "on" for the entire day. From the moment I got up I felt sluggish. For some reason my stomach was upset through most of the race. I had fairly severe gas at many points, and worried that if I farted I would crap my pants instead. For the first time ever in a race I seriously considered stopping at a port-a-potti. Perhaps I should have?? I did make a last minute change in my eating strategy the day before which may, or may not, have been the cause. As the race wore on I started to question my race drink as well even though I have been successful with it in the past. It definitely causes gas all by itself and perhaps that aggravated my condition on this given day....who knows.
And then theres the real reason I did not meet my own expectations. I believe it was my bike ride. Even though it was 16 minutes faster than my previous attempt it felt tougher. I'm pretty sure that I left my race on the bike course, simply because I was not prepared to ride as fast as I thought I could. I had not done enough, or at least the right kind of preparation to compensate for my 3 years of added maturity. Especially in light of the hills in Penticton. It was on the hills that I really knew I wasn't as fit as I thought I was. I had the exact same lower gear ratio as in 2009, and yet I never seemed to have quite the lowest I needed.
The delightful part of the whole day was of course my swim. I am still amazed that I stood up at 1:18, as I swam less in preparation than I have done before, and I was definitely slower in the pool than in 2009. Knowing that the improved time was really just due to upper body fitness leaves all kinds of opportunity to build on that, both from a strength perspective, and of course technique.
And the last thing I learned form Ironman 2012. I was just a wee bit too focused on my time goal. My wife warned me about this several times but of course as usual, I needed to learn the hard way. If I had listened to my body and rode a bit slower on my bike, I am certain I would have finished with a considerably better run, and a better overall time.
So...on looking forward.
The focus will be on
1) overall strength gains in the weight room, especially legs
2) cycling technique with the computrainer.
3) hill work both bike and run
4) swim technique
5) focus on learning instead of time
6) nutrition, both training and racing
I do want to make another attempt at 11 hours but that is the last time you will hear reference to it. I will be another year older (damn!), and anyone who has been to Mont Tremblant can tell you that it ain't exactly flat there either. It could in fact be a tougher course than Penticton. So I will focus on becoming a better swimmer/cyclist/runner, and let the time chips fall where they may. After all, the real reason I'm doing this has nothing to do with race day.....
....and I have thought about this some more as well. I truly felt like I had a great year leading up to the race and yet the confirmation for that still came from Claudette. Of course she has always been a supportive partner, but I also know how much time and space this training takes away from the rest of our lives. Despite being a selfless person she is however still human, and as such her support of another Ironman is confirmation that it some small way it makes our collective lives better.
(ride 41 kms)
"We drive into the future using only our rearview mirror."---Marshall McLuhan
Love
Peter
I understand what you mean, but I can't help but wonder what you think is the difference between being "on" and not? I think I have experienced this myself, and only when I read it now did I really think about it. I suspect it is purely psychological, but wouldn't it be nice to know what other factors affect this? I suppose that it what the next year is all about eh?
ReplyDeleteLove old John