Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Time to Start Again

ok, so Ironman is over. It's time to reconnoitre, check my goals and refocus. I spent the morning evaluating last years goals (see goals page) and hmmm, while many goals were terrible failures, others I achieved and I am very pleased. Perhaps I was a tad too ambitious. So this year I have kept them very simple. One for each discipline, and a few extras to keep me focused in the right direction.

2013 Goals
  1. Follow Coach's plan with honesty and consistency
  2. Reach my Olympic race weight (59kgs)
  3. Learn to run again
  4. Work on swim technique and form
  5. Work on strength and raise avg riding pace
  6. Stretch and do my core/strength exercises religiously

I simply can't move forward until I can run again. So focus is on run and what I need to do to get there again. I'll keep you posted.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Sammi Vs The Gorilla

A few weeks before Ironman I was having physio on my itb and while I was there Coach asked about how the mental prep was going, did I have any questions about nutrition etc and how was life in general. I knew that the balance at home with Gazza was slightly off kilter. Long hours training and being apart, tiredness and both focusing on our impending race had left the marriage, not in trouble but rather, on hold. But we agreed that 20 years of marriage could hold us for just a little longer. Coach asked me how I was feeling about Ironman. I was ready, I said I felt 'Ironman is like fighting a Gorilla. You don't stop fighting when you get tired, you stop when the Gorilla cries Uncle!' He laughed and said 'good analogy Sammi.'

Two days before I was to step into the ring with my Gorilla, the Crew met with Coach for some last minute thoughts and motivation. Coach talked about the obstacles we might face on the day; tiredness, walls, the highs and lows. He gave us strategies for coping with each. With years of racing experience under his belt, his words were gold.

The big day unfolded and as the heavy weights stepped into the water I found myself swept along feeling comfortable and at ease. The usual punch and shove in the water, all a normal part of training and had been well rehearsed. I was happy with my swim and as I gathered my bike bag I ticked round one off in my head. Ok, two to go.

Away on the bike with my family and the crowds cheering us on and a blast from the megaphone as Coach shouted our names and words of encouragement. I found the hills easy as we travelled out of town and along the straight. I was turning the legs over comfortably when I came upon a familiar shape. Here was Gazza on the side of the road with a shredded tyre. I pulled up and saw that we was ok, smiling and waiting for the bike mechanics. He assured me he was ok. Coaches words ringing in my head. 'You need to run your own race.' There was nothing I could do to help, so I kept going.

On the second lap with 165+kms done I started to feel the legs were tiring. Hills were taking there toll and I found my head was starting to fill with negative thoughts. I'm tired, this hill is so big, it hurts. Again Coach's words came to the fore as he said this would happen. Replace the negative talk with positive and back the pace off for a short time you will come good again, check your nutrition, be your own best supporter. I got in some calories, took the pressure off my legs and focused on how far I had come so easily and how I still had loads of bikes around me. I told myself that I was proud of how far I had come already. Pretty soon the power was back in the legs and I put the final kms behind me. Round Two Done.

Round Three was always going to be tricky for me. With a pesky itb that had plagued me over the past few races, the running had been kept to a minimum. I saw Coach as I headed out. A quick high 5 and a reminder from him of our strategy to walk/run the marathon.

At 4kms into the run an all to familiar pain started to creep its way in. The itb was giving off warning shots that it wasn't happy and a nice big blister was forming on the bottom of my foot. It was at this point that I found myself with my back against the ropes and the Gorilla was landing some pretty nasty body blows.

I could feel I was falling hard and just as I was about to hit the canvas, a familiar footfall came up behind me. It was Gazza, He had caught up to me finally after pushing hard after a 45min wait for a new wheel. One look at my face told him everything and he hugged me. We walked on to an aid station. As we walked I tried hard to pull it back together. I told Gaz to keep going, that I would be ok. I was going to the toilet and I would get going again. He said ok. I entered the loo, sat down and sobbed. I have never cried during training or racing before. It was totally out of character but a sign that I had hit the wall hard. The Gorilla was winning!

Once again, Coach's words came ringing in my ears. 'When you hit the wall, find your motivation.' Images of my Grandma came to me, we don't have long with her and I wanted to honour her. I looked at my arm where my Dad's words are tattooed there, 'This Too Shall Pass', and I knew that it would, my mum with her words of 'put the pain in a box Sammi, put a lid down on it hard' and my daughter Keryn who I have always tried to instil in her strength, resilience and belief in herself. Ok, I had my motivation. And then an image came to me of Coach. He was out on the course dressed up, on his painted dragster bike with outrageous helmet and goggles with the megaphone at the ready, he was hilarious. I had found my happy thought and in that loo in only a couple of minutes I had gone from tears to laughing out loud. I was ready to go again. I opened the door and there stood Gazza, waiting patiently. He had lollies, coke and Gatorade ready to go. He had given up his race to run with me. I loved him more in that moment than I can ever describe. Ok, 'Let's kick its big hairy butt Sammi.'

We fell into step, me in front, Gazza behind and together we ran/walked the course. The pain never left, but the experience of running with Gary reunified us, of seeing my family and friends, the AP.10 Crew and hearing my name and words of encouragement from the crowd lifted me.

We entered the finishing chute and found my family and hugged them. I turned and there was Coach  larger than life. I hugged and thanked him for all he had done for me. I turned to Gary and together we ran the final few steps hand in hand to the cheers of the crowd.

As I crossed the black line I smiled to myself - and behind me from way off in the distance I heard the cry.......UNCLE!

My hero and me