This year I seem to have spent the time I have spent on here apologising for not up dating my blog, I've really struggled to understand why this is the case. I was thinking about it this morning while on one of last long rides with a friend of mine. The conclusion I came to was that work has been busy, but the main thing is that my training has been so much more demanding that last year and as a result I'm so much fitter and faster than this time last year.
I'm weighing in at 75kgs that 5 kgs lighter than I was when I raced Ironman China and Challenge Roth last year. I'm riding faster too and running better than I ever have, in the recent Dubai marathon I ran 30km in 2 hours 5 minutes and I recently smashed the international short course event (1500m swim, 100km bike and a 10km run) in Abu Dhabi, where I came 6th overall out of 700 racing in an international event where I was not racing only using it as a training day, coming in at Ironman pace.
With the continued support of www.blueseventy.com my swimming has continued to improve, so much so that I came out my wave in Abu Dhabi in first place. I also now have a bike that fits me better than any bike has ever fitted me, thanks to Toby Jones of www.bikefitasia.com and Adria n Holman of www.probike.ae without these guys I would be not anywhere near as fast or as comfortable on the bike or as fresh on the run, as I start the Ironman marathon.
Without Jason 'Coach Pain' Metters, my coach at www.tri2aspire.com, who has guided me for the last 19 months through my weekly training, local and international races, getting each of my three disciplines to level where I can be competitive within my age group in any Ironman event throughout the world, I would be no where near as fast or as fit as I am today. There's also my training partners who I've trained with over the last year Turnip, Ben, Carl, Sellar and many others you know who you are. Lastly, Sarah, my wife and key member of Team Hawkins without her well....I'm not going there.
These points mentioned mean I'm faster than last year when we hit the start line in Port Elizabeth on 10th April. However there are a few things that worry me, the road surface, the wind, mechanical issues and the lottery that is entering at Ironman event, where some you can turn and finish in just over 10hours only to get a slot and then the next year a 9.05 athlete wins your age group by someone who should really be pro! These worries are all out of my control, so I really can not dwell on them, as I can not change them, however they are questions I wonder about while lay in my pit at night from time to time.
On Monday I go into taper time, a period I always look forward to, but a time once I'm in the middle of I hate. This is for two reasons, firstly I like it because it's about this time of training I'm knackered and I'm looking forward to the rest. Secondly, I hate it, because I start to feel I'm getting lardy fat and that I'm not really training (I know I am but I've got so much more time on my hands it's just plain odd). All very odd feelings. It'll be interesting to see how this taper goes, I'm very much more aware of what I'm doing this year and therefore things such as diet, rest and effort are going to be monitored very carefully over the next two weeks, I am going to be fit, strong and above all fresh when I arrive on the start line two weeks on Sunday in PE.
We're fit, fitter than I have ever been. We are now classed as elite age grouper material, we're searching for the ultimate prize in age group racing in triathlon, a slot to the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, USA. It's there in our grasp, my body is there, fit and ready to challenge for this prize, but it will be my mind that gets me there, the race for the slot will only start with 10 miles of the marathon to go....then it's game on donkey kong!
Lastly, this last couple of months we have witnessed some terrible natural disasters throughout the world, our thoughts go out to those effects in the Christchurch, New Zealand and Japanese earthquakes/Tsunami. We wish them all well.
Taper safe,
Ed and Sarah
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