Why is it that the day after a big session, you get out of bed and feel pretty good. The next morning it feels like the night was too short. This morning (Tuesday) was like that. I looked in the mirror and Keith Richards was looking back. 4.30am is too early to have to get up sometimes.

It’s six weeks to go and even though I’m tired right now, it’s all good. I’ve had a productive week of training last week. I managed to fit in 4hrs swimming, about 12km, 7hrs cycling and 4hrs running.  I had two rest days in the week, Monday and Friday, both days I walked the dogs for 1hr.

I find that walking is an important part of my training. It’s low intensity recovery/circulation work. The dogs like it too. We often walk down to Sandy’s horse paddock, feed the horse and walk home via the espresso bar.

It would be good to see more people as happy as my dogs. They don’t ask for much, they don’t have much. A few old bones, a smelly bed to sleep on, and one meal a day. When they get cold, they go lie in the sun. When they get too hot, they lie in the shade. They stay fit by walking two or three times a week and are always ready to defend their territory. They know no fear.`

I think we can learn a lot from the dog’s simple approach to problems. Handle it and forget it. No analysis, no worrying about what might go wrong. They live in the moment. They’re happy being what they are. I like to practice simple thoughts like my dogs when I train and race. It takes practice to be in the moment. It’s not the sort of thing which will just happen on race day if you don’t practice it.

My Sunday workout was a good test for my immune system. I did a solid three hour bike which included lots of seated climbing, then ran 20km off the bike at “ideal day race pace”. I ran it as 10 x 2km repeats, leaving on 10min. Every 10min I was refuelled ready to start the next one. I love this workout, it requires the sort of concentration on technique, the simple mental state which is necessary for a good Ironman run.

It’s a tough workout, but it’s so satisfying once it’s done. Susan, Toby and Martin, all training for Kona were holding great technique. It doesn’t matter how tired you get, you have to hold good form. The great thing about these run backs is, we constantly cross paths. A 20km run on a 1km strip would drive some people mad, but the guys who’ve got through the qualification for Kona all like it.  

I’ve always said the Ironman is 70% mental.