Have a good flight Holgs, race well & enjoy the experience both of you (sub 6 hrs on the bike OC seeing as you've not got to worry about the run). I'll be following you both online.
So For the first time I am injured and contemplating doing an IM.
Am I crazy?
(its 'only' an IM - but its still a long way, and the run is gonna hurt)
Where did it all go wrong?
Has the last 6 months been a total and utter waste?
Well, I entered Lanza because its Lanza, and I wanted to do well. Its a hard race, on a hard hot course, but I think I am a strong biker...
So I started 6 months ago with solid training, (thanks to Steven Lord's program/guidance)
Swimming was varied, (but I always skip sessions) but progress has been slow but steady
Biking has been great, not as many 6 hour rides as planned but I have been out just about every weekend all winter/spring. The nice winter made it easy.
Running has also been excellent, with falling heart rates, having to push to hit HR targets, and faster run test results.....
It was all going so well. I had a niggley knee, but I had that last year as well. some pain following fast/long runs, but it was hanging together
Then came my training camp. Boy was I looking forward to that....and it went really really well. I loved it
my swimming was average
My running was good
My biking was excellent
My knee flared up a bit, but hey I just ran a 42 min 10 k after 25 hrs of training
Then first run after a week at home, and after 100 yards I am almost in tears with pain and frustration.
It feels like someone has inserted a screw driver behind my knee cap when I run
So I fire up the health insurance, but it all takes an absolute age. In the mean time I still bike, but no running. As the weeks tick by, hopes of a quick fix start to fade.... I have broken myself
So.....
I have a really really solid bike.
I have discovered confidence in it, but I also need to actually do some intervals consistently and properly...
Running has been brilliant - feeling really really solid and with great steady progression
Swimming needs work - can't wait for the olympic legacy and a decent pool to swim in. Core / functional weights work has been steady.
Its been a great solid 6 months.
The only problem is I broke badly.... for the first time in 10 years or plus.
It feels so unfair - it felt it came from nowhere......
but its my body, I am in control, and I feel its let me down, but actually I broke it by going too hard /too long / too much on my training camp
So Was the last 6 months worth it...?
Yes
I have met some great people, on camp, with elt and with the castles boys, and i have got a massive boost in confidence in my ability. I know what it is like to train (reletively) hard, and train consistently.
I really enjoyed it.
Once I fix myself, it is all still there to be rediscovered, probably next year.
So Lanza.....
Am I mad for going ahead and doing it?
Probably,
but what the hell.......
I am not going to 'do well'.
My run will be 5-6 hrs and will probably hurt... a lot.....
But I have trained for it, its my A race for the season, and I *want* to be an ironman.
Again.
I have no real idea why but that it has been my goal for 6 months.
I've done it before, but thats not the point.
I want to do this event and finish it, get the T-shirt etc.
This one feels even more special than the ones before, as its not going to be easy and will now be a real test to finish.
Would I pull out if it was not Lanza?..... probably.
But I have a holiday booked, its all paid for and what else am I gonna do on a Saturday night but run/walk 26 miles.....?
Warning to thoses doing Lanza this weekend.... there's a heat wave going on there and in the areas where the race is taking place there's 40C temps.
I've just got back from the islands and there's a local orange alert because of heat, there's been people being treated from heat exhaustion and even a couple of tourists out in hikes have died.
OC - great post. I think we started this IM journey around the same time? However, you are very slightly () better than me!
I can totally understand your reasons for doing Lanza even carrying an injury as that is exactly what i would do. But there is a risk as I'm sure you're aware of doing a lot more damage in the process. You are the only one who can weigh up that risk.
You are dead right about the training and the people and experiences you have had - that's what this game is mostly sbout as the actual race is a single day amid months of training experiences.
I wish you the very best of luck and will be rooting for you ( from home) throughout the long run. Stay strong
Great post OC very inspiring, pretty much how I feel about my upcoming marafun, but like you I'm going to hit that start line and finish - lucky for me though I only have to do the marafun part
Good luck to both of you, take care and hydrate well, do remember that it is only a race... No heroics in the heat pls!
OC onto the run with a clock time of just under 7:30, just hope his knee doesn't cause too much problem for him. Holgs through the first half of the bike as well
Comments
Have a good flight Holgs, race well & enjoy the experience both of you (sub 6 hrs on the bike OC seeing as you've not got to worry about the run). I'll be following you both online.
Good luck to you both. Cannot wait to hear the race reports
So For the first time I am injured and contemplating doing an IM.
Am I crazy?
(its 'only' an IM - but its still a long way, and the run is gonna hurt)
Where did it all go wrong?
Has the last 6 months been a total and utter waste?
Well, I entered Lanza because its Lanza, and I wanted to do well. Its a hard race, on a hard hot course, but I think I am a strong biker...
So I started 6 months ago with solid training, (thanks to Steven Lord's program/guidance)
Swimming was varied, (but I always skip sessions) but progress has been slow but steady
Biking has been great, not as many 6 hour rides as planned but I have been out just about every weekend all winter/spring. The nice winter made it easy.
Running has also been excellent, with falling heart rates, having to push to hit HR targets, and faster run test results.....
It was all going so well. I had a niggley knee, but I had that last year as well. some pain following fast/long runs, but it was hanging together
Then came my training camp. Boy was I looking forward to that....and it went really really well. I loved it
my swimming was average
My running was good
My biking was excellent
My knee flared up a bit, but hey I just ran a 42 min 10 k after 25 hrs of training
Then first run after a week at home, and after 100 yards I am almost in tears with pain and frustration.
It feels like someone has inserted a screw driver behind my knee cap when I run
So I fire up the health insurance, but it all takes an absolute age. In the mean time I still bike, but no running. As the weeks tick by, hopes of a quick fix start to fade.... I have broken myself
So.....
I have a really really solid bike.
I have discovered confidence in it, but I also need to actually do some intervals consistently and properly...
Running has been brilliant - feeling really really solid and with great steady progression
Swimming needs work - can't wait for the olympic legacy and a decent pool to swim in. Core / functional weights work has been steady.
Its been a great solid 6 months.
The only problem is I broke badly.... for the first time in 10 years or plus.
It feels so unfair - it felt it came from nowhere......
but its my body, I am in control, and I feel its let me down, but actually I broke it by going too hard /too long / too much on my training camp
So Was the last 6 months worth it...?
Yes
I have met some great people, on camp, with elt and with the castles boys, and i have got a massive boost in confidence in my ability. I know what it is like to train (reletively) hard, and train consistently.
I really enjoyed it.
Once I fix myself, it is all still there to be rediscovered, probably next year.
So Lanza.....
Am I mad for going ahead and doing it?
Probably,
but what the hell.......
I am not going to 'do well'.
My run will be 5-6 hrs and will probably hurt... a lot.....
But I have trained for it, its my A race for the season, and I *want* to be an ironman.
Again.
I have no real idea why but that it has been my goal for 6 months.
I've done it before, but thats not the point.
I want to do this event and finish it, get the T-shirt etc.
This one feels even more special than the ones before, as its not going to be easy and will now be a real test to finish.
Would I pull out if it was not Lanza?..... probably.
But I have a holiday booked, its all paid for and what else am I gonna do on a Saturday night but run/walk 26 miles.....?
I *will* be an ironman
its not a knitting club
Warning to thoses doing Lanza this weekend.... there's a heat wave going on there and in the areas where the race is taking place there's 40C temps.
I've just got back from the islands and there's a local orange alert because of heat, there's been people being treated from heat exhaustion and even a couple of tourists out in hikes have died.
Be careful
OC - great post. I think we started this IM journey around the same time? However, you are very slightly () better than me!
I can totally understand your reasons for doing Lanza even carrying an injury as that is exactly what i would do. But there is a risk as I'm sure you're aware of doing a lot more damage in the process. You are the only one who can weigh up that risk.
You are dead right about the training and the people and experiences you have had - that's what this game is mostly sbout as the actual race is a single day amid months of training experiences.
I wish you the very best of luck and will be rooting for you ( from home) throughout the long run. Stay strong
Same for you Holgs - the very best of luck.
OC - gosh, look after the knee - hope it holds out and you can finish strong
Good luck boys
Good luck to both of you, take care and hydrate well, do remember that it is only a race... No heroics in the heat pls!
Race well Holgs and OC, anyone any idea what time they start
Goodness .. I forgot, its a saturday race innit??
I think its a 0700 start (same time as UK)
WIll check a bit later
Will be routing for you.
IM Dead is having a disco
I remember that well .. a disco on the beach before breakfast
Pros out of the swim and on the bikes
Bella bayliss 3rd women out of the swim, her hubby leading the mens
1.9 swim time
OC 35:32
Holgs 41:29
That the half way stage for the swim SA ??
yep
Weather forecast is reporting 19 degrees C at the moment with a forecast high of around 28 degrees.
I remember dancnig on the sand on the beach, not through choice but because it was so feckin hot !!
C'mon OC and Holgs
Holgs completed swim time - 1:24.02
Good going guys !
Pretty even splits there too ...
Go pirates!
OC onto the run with a clock time of just under 7:30, just hope his knee doesn't cause too much problem for him. Holgs through the first half of the bike as well
onto the run already..............great going.................those swim times are fast.......
go boys.......
someone please keep us informed
Just seen a pirate on the run course, couldnt make out who it was?
Go Pirates
Must have been OC