Diary of an Ironman 28 weeks to Kona

Habits

I managed to sleep in two mornings this week. A sleep in is only sleeping in to 5.30 or 6am. Every other day the alarm goes off at 4.30am. Now that it’s dark at 5.15am it  just seems a little harder to get up. Even though the temperatures are still very mild.

The local swimming pool heaters have just been turned on. The water is still 25-26 C, but it’s more fuel efficient to keep it there than to let it drop and try to warm it up. The average pool swimmer would be happy if it slipped down to 23-24 C, but skinny triathletes are not happy with that.

If the pool was 27 C all year, I’d be a better swimmer. I’m definitely a warm weather animal.  I always perform better in hot conditions than cold.

My stretching and shoulder strengthening program is going well. I have worked out where to fit my little routine into my week. A change in routine needs to be positioned where it can become a habit. I believe little things like this are very important. If they are not given enough importance, other things can displace them. I do this little routine at 5-5.30am, on the days when I coach at the pool. At that time of day, nothing can get in the way.

The habits we develop, shape our lives. Even though  my goal race is still 28 weeks away, and I don’t start seriously training for it until mid June, the habits I develop now will influence my outcome on the Lava Field.

Every morning whether I am training, coaching or walking the dogs. I start the day with my Fish oil capsules, multi vitamin, vitamin C, taken with a drink including Endura Opti, collostrum and Bowel Biotics. This is before a regular balanced breakfast.

I discovered the “Bowel Biotics” product in New Zealand a few weeks ago. It’s distributed in Australia by   planethealth.com.au It’s a combination of psyllium husks, digestive enzymes and pro-biotics. This great product does the job of several other products which I would have taken at different times.

Healthy digestion and waste elimination is the key to a strong immune system and longevity. My routine is designed to build my immune system up to being as strong as possible before starting my serious training. Too many athletes start out with a weak immune system and then lower it further with a heavy training program.

All of the fuel I will use in training and recovery has to be absorbed through my stomach. A healthy stomach is one of the keys to a successful Ironman race. In training and during the race, the stomach plays an extremly important role in performance.

On training, the habits of good swimming, cycling and running technique have been reinforced by 2 x 45min runs, 1 x 40min windtrainer workout with Power Cranks and 3 x 3000m swims sessions. Not a lot, but it is my off season.