Very Downs

By jim on Monday, May 3, 2010 - Related Tags:- dream, westley

Week four came and so inspired by the previous weeks I hit the gym.  Lots and lots of weights, it seemed to be working so I stacked them on, less aerobic cross training and just strength, I even trained on the day before (which I normally don't do) including a paddle around the course to get used to things, then the race!

I started well and stayed with NIc for about 300 metres, then lethargy kicked in, I had burnt out, overtrained, exhausted myself physically and mentally - I was spent.  Big winds and my head anywhere but in the competition and NIc won by 7 minutes!!  Kirsty sent her blog in and I couldn't believe it, she had done much the same - pretty weird.

So that was the down side.  I then rested a couple of days, had an easy week and did another time trial with almost identical windy conditions but this time felt much better and only lost my 2 mins ( a 5 minutes improved performance)  I asked Jim for some advice on paddling with the wind. Grrr back to the drawing board.

Enough of the downs so now the up...

The Harbour Series was my next effort, a real race and mostly flat but some wind and some bump.  13 kms and a 'significant event' as per my goal.  This could be it, I though to myself and set my focus on my goal (to ten finish i the over 50's).  Off I went and copied my training. I focussed on the person in front, rode their wake then paddled past, next person here I come. I kept doing this until I found someone just a bit better than me and I tried to stick as long as I could.

Around the last turn and heading home 3 kms to go, I followed a local guy and got some nice runs around a rocky shelf.  We both caught 2 or 3 with that move.

Dez from the Blast had sent me a quote to help me get through the tough times - he said something like, "Pain is just weakness getting out"  Hmm liked that one and use it quite a bit.

Dez also gave me another tip....  Tim Jacobs apparently when he's behind at any time, starts to chant to himself with "..here I come! ..here I come!" and apparently he scared the shit out of people as he powered through the field chanting "..here I come!" to himself and mowed down the pack to take the race out ;-)

So find yourself a mantra and make it work.

Mine (Dez's) is "..not gunna happen!"

So there I was yelling 'I can, i can' and embrassing pain.  Pushing that last bit and bolting home for the big finish.

The result - 8th!!!!!!!  Wooooooo Hoooo  - my goal in site, can I do it next race?