Diary of an Ironman 15 weeks to go

Well my first week of training has consisted of two one hours swims. Both taken cautiously. The cold has almost totally gone. Just a little congestion left.

At this stage of a recovery from a cold or flu, there are still things I can do to make my Hawaii preparation more effective. I’m able to still work on my flexibility and core strength. As long as my muscles aren’t weakened by a flu. (in my case it’s just a cold, the muscles are fine. I haven’t had a temperature)

My swims have been focussed on further refinements of my stroke, improvements to my fifty meter stroke count. I’ve got our bikes totally ready for our buildup. My wife’s new Felt Time Trial bike has arrived from Pedals Plus.

I’ve set it up to the measurments off her old bike, she’s sat on it, but has yet to try it on the road. Ben at Pedals Plus, Mona Vale has put together a package for Sandy to suit her budget and needs. A great deal.

It’s a Felt B16, with Zipp “flash Point” wheels, Dura Ace bar end shifters, Vision aero bars and we’ve fitted an Xlab rear bottle carrier. To be honest she’s more concerned about the colour and general appearance then the names or numbers. She’s had the fastest bike in her category in at least five of her ten Ironman races on whatever sort of bike she had at the time. And she couldn’t tell you what type of gear she had on any of her bikes. All she’s interested in is the fact that it works. 

I personally believe the bike you ride affects your mind more than it affects your bike time. The first time I ever rode a disc wheel, it took two minutes off my forty km time. Now I honestly don’t believe a disc wheel on its own can take two minutes off forty km. I think maybe one minute for the wheel and one minute for the head.

The same sort of thing happens in reverse. I can look at my lost week of training as a result of my cold as an advantage. I have been running several runs a week in the off season. This week of no running can only be of benefit to my leg muscles and joints. Especially as I’m about to start a fifteen week training program. Or I could see a little over six percent of my Hawaii training time has been lost.

I’m a “glass half full” type of person. I now stand at the start of my Hawaii prep. in a fresher physical shape than I would have been. I am confidant that if I had to, I could prepare for Hawaii in eight weeks.  I’ve taken lots of athletes to significant PBs in twelve week plans.