Choices

Well things have been ticking along nicely since California. I was pleased with the result there although I’d always want to come higher (than 9th). For a race SO early in the year and genuinely felt it was a platform from which we could build a really solid and hopefully break-through year of results.

Switzerland 70.3 is looming on the horizon now and for once it’s my bike that feels a little out of sorts. I raced Eaton last Saturday and managed a nice solid win, but the most encouraging thing was my swim. For once I came out the water "in touch" with the fish (well only 30s down instead of the previous 60-90s). At last I genuinely feel like my years (that’s no exaggeration) of hard work in the pool are starting to get me somewhere.

I'll be the first to admit that not all this time and effort has been used to maximum effect, buts its all part of a journey that's getting me to where I want to be. Never during this time have I doubted myself or the possibility that my dreams couldn't one day become real. Though there have been a few (that I’ve known about) people who have thought me naive and arrogant its simply been miss-interpreted self belief. I genuinely feel that if you truly believe and more importantly COMMIT to that belief and what it’s going to take to get you there, then anything is possible. Don't get me wrong, I’m still a long way off, but the journey hasn't stalled and I can firmly see the destination.

A large part of this confidence comes from my faith as a Christian, faith in God for whom nothing is impossible; faith in the plan he has for me and the person he wants and can make me. I recently preached on the choice that we have to accept the reality that God wants to give us and how important and POWERFUL this choice is. Take a listen to here more on it; one of my catch-phrases is "you always have a choice even if u don't have control". When people realize and live this out it can be a very powerful thing. When its done with God in a persons heart it can be world changing.

OK so I delved into the self-opinionated philosophical stuff I said I’d try to avoid in my blog, but for once I think it’s worth it.

Back to triathlon then.....

Well as I was saying, I feel in the best swim form ever (so far) and my running is at its normal pre-race level. Looking at the course in Switzerland I honestly think I can run a 1h15 (despite going up those horrible stairs 3 times). If I can execute a swim that I feel capable of right now, this should leave me well in the mix come the end of the race!

With all the hard work that me and bridge have put in for the past 3 years it’s nice to at last see that it was worth while. This will by no means be my fastest ever race, but I’m confident it will be the fastest I’ve ever raced before.

If you’re reading this from my facebook page, check out my website as well... Especially my main sponsors Sigma and Orca!

More to come soon.

The unknown

Well switzerland is now only a matter of days away and its about this time before a big race that the mental side has to take over. I've never been one for a big taper (easing back on training to rest & prepare for a race) but i'm still learning all the time and i'm trying back off way more than i've done before races last year. This leaves u feeling odd in all sorts of ways......

You get used to the regular feedback from each session. How fast you were, how far you went etc. Without realising it you easily get attached and possibly reliant on these things...sometimes just to fill your life with 'something' sometimes to feed your confience and value. Neither is a good thing in my opinion and i'm working at seperation from attachemnt to these things.

All that aside the "hole" that appears during a taper week does inevatively lead to self questioning. I'm trying to remind myself that the training has been going well and that the plan me and Bridgitte have is a solid one. It can be hard though to put your trust in something that's not there until u really have to test it. I'm feeling really quite tired mentally as well which i'm sure isn't helping either so I really need to try and resolve this, this week. Its going to be a fairly intense couple of weeks as far as focusing on races goes so we'll see how everything is come June 18th.