Monday, October 29, 2018

Fitz Challenge October 2018

What's the point of posting if you haven't got anything to say. And I guess from the looks of things I haven't had anything to say for about 10months now. Interesting for me considering I always have an opinion or a comment about most things - annoyingly so, some would say. But today I feel moved to post.

 
Yesterday was the Fitz Challenge. I signed up for the 105km distance with good mate Lil (de-identified of course). We had Stixxy meant to join us, but injury claimed her and very reluctantly and sadly we had to carry on without her. the 105 distance saw us travelling from Stromlo Nature Park to Tharwa Village return. Some truly stunning Aussie bush countryside with farms and rivers and trees, large boulders, livestock and a nose full of dead critters. Enough rotting stinky roos, wombats, snakes and one poor wee turtle to fill one nose for a life time. Luckily the flies weren't out in their usual millions and the magpies were fairly sedate now they have fledglings to worry over.

 
The night before the ride saw the Southern Riders Cycle Club (SRCC) indulging ourselves on pale ale and ginger beer as thick as syrup at the Canberra Bent Spoke Brewery before we stumbled across to Debacle, a pizza come Schnitty Restaurant and I had the pork ribs. With a few more drinks under the belt the team unplanned, decided to provide me with some tough love and an intervention that left me feeling a little squirmy. But nothing they said wasn't true....unfortunately. While I have absolutely no bad blood with AP10 at all. I did stall on the grid for probably 2-3 years. I have made no forward progression at all since Ironman 2013 (yes I know that's 5 years) in part due to ITB issues and the torn knee cartilage, but also due to the pressure. Perhaps self imposed, but there nonetheless. I had started to dread Monday nights, Saturday morning rides became the book of excuses and I think I was up to #1034, honestly. I stayed 12 months too long and finally when the umbilical cord snapped when work and life, study and the planets aligned, I had to let go of the white knuckle ride and let AP10 drop. Something The Onion Man and Roberto had identified well before, but what do you do when loyalty has a strangle hold. Anyway, the tough love rolled out with the momentum of an avalanche and the juggernaut continued as it gathered speed. In the end the truth was, I had waited too long, lost too much love and joy for what I was doing. I had lost my way and allowed stress to stop me in my tracks. They were all passive observers while I floundered, and to their credit each held their tongue. But now they have scooped me up into their 'club' with no judgement, only genuine care and the friendship that had always been there, and has been reborn. I feel joy again. A great feeling.

 
So, for the first time in so many years, I'm keen to train again. Saturday mornings see me jumping out of bed to start our rides. I'm not worried at all about being dropped as we each look out for each other. I feel motivated and care about the team knowing they each have my back too. Its safe here! And when we woke up in the morning to start our ride for Fitz I was super excited, but also calm and not stressed - no pressure. (and it is important to acknowledge here that the pressure was always self imposed!) but when you run with Champions, there is a great deal of pressure to perform.

 
Anyway, Fitz's was here and after a roll around Canberra's Lake Burleigh Griffin and enjoying the day with good friends, I was ready.

 
Lil and I rode out after the starters gun and made our way along the beautiful roads of Stromlo it was a great ride and we felt comfortable for the first 60kms out to Tharwa. I took my turns on the front and tried to stay conscious of the power we were putting out along the roads and hills. I stayed comfortably climbing at around 130watts so fairly good. We arrived at Tharwa as the day was starting to heat up. While we stood in the heat eating oranges, cake, lollies and filling up our water bottles, to our surprise we looked over to see Gazza jumping out of the Sag Wagon, oh dear. He had snapped a chain on his ride for 165kms. Luckily I had my credit card with me and the bike mechanic had chains available (fortuitous) and so we were three for the ride home. And that is when I fell in a hole. Hot, tired legs, no chatter, battling. Upon reflection I think the following needed to happen:

 
  1. Less time on the front
  2. 1 x water bidon, 1 x Electrolyte bidon
  3. Drink every 10mins - set alerts
  4. a lot more fuel. 1 x gel every hour as a minimum
  5. Salt tablets
  6. Caffeine
  7. Consider changing fuel to Torq gels and Infinite or Tail Wind for Electrolytes
  8. More hills at the end of our Saturday rides
  9. More hill climbing during the week on Zwift
  10. Sit in the shade at the aid stations if I can
  11. Stretch and regular maintenance massages
The little bike went like a champion. The seat is fantastic now and the kit looked and felt great. AND I seriously need to lose some weight for crying out loud. Every kilo I lose is a 7 watt advantage!

But in the end I came back strong. At the 'Gravel Pit' aid station I downed a Gel, drank a heap, ate lollies and poured water over my head to cool me down. A salt tablet also and after 10mins, suddenly I was back and driving off the front up the final hill. It was there all along, I just needed better nutrition management and strategies for managing the heat. Funny that!


Now as I sit here typing this, I feel great. I feel happy, energetic and not completely fried. But looking forward to the next adventure which is the Alpine Classic. 200kms of climbing. Bring it on!

 

But first some more fun with Roberto and The Onion Man at Husky 1. Yes, there may well be some stress there for sure. But at least I have found a kit that fits. whew!




Saturday, January 13, 2018

2018 off to a flying start......

So, September hey! Wow, I guess for me there has been heaps going on but none of it really related to triathlon and chasing the illusive black line to Ironman. The arthroscopy on the knee has taken its time to settle. But honestly, there is no hurry really.  In  a huge shift, I had to cancel coaching with AP in November 2017. I feel like I have lost my soul, my direction and my mate. I'm left flopping about aimlessly, but still busy as the study and work is all consuming at the moment. So I am left to my own devises, with no coach. I guess I know what to do to get back to fitness and the slow steps literally  means walking and so there isn't much technical program development skill required for walking. So 2018, means I'm flying solo while I try to manage all the other conflicting priorities. So for now, this blog is renamed, chasing the black line back to Sammi, the black line on the scales and the tape measure. Or maybe I should call it, chasing the black line back to Coach and AP10. I'll keep you posted.