Well its now only 4 days until I officially start what I plan to be the next step up the ladder in triathlon and leave full time employment. I've been very blessed with the job I've had for the last few years, having generally flexible hours and days and a boss who's understood it if I’ve come in 15 minutes late because I'd been training before work. But in order to make the progress that I want to and believe is within my grasp, I need to make this move and start training full time.
I've reached the point where I just won't be able to challenge right at the very top unless I'm doing what they (the top athletes) are, so this triathlon malarkey has to become my full time job! I'm definitely NOT doing it for the money... I'd stay in IT for that... Or the fame... Lets face it awesome athlete that he is Tim Don doesn’t have the recognition that Lampard, Wilkinson or Hamilton can claim. The very fact that I only need use either their first or last name and most people would know who I'm talking about is indication enough of this. No, I'm doing this because it’s been my dream for A LONG TIME, it’s something I truly believe I can do and I guess most importantly it’s something I feel I SHOULD do.
Whilst it might sound likes it’s going to be a nice life and easy going I can assure it will anything but. Yes being my own "boss" will mean I run to my own schedule, but ask anyone who's set up the own successful business and they'll testify to the hard, HARD graft that they've put in to make it happen. And that's what I’ll need to do too. There will be little if any room for ill-discipline from now on. Missing sessions won't just mean not doing so well at my next race, it will mean not getting PAID at my next race! There will be no room for looking out the window on a cold, wet windy day and deciding not to do my 100 mile ride....because I just don't feel like it.
So how will I be filling all this time then? Well my training plane will be expanding a little resulting in my training up to 33 hours a week. Yes I KNOW it’s not a 42hr week most people work, but trust me, that will be more than enough. Look at it another way, that's nearly 5 hours of train a day, every day, day after day. On top of that training will come probably the most important use of this extra time....recovery i.e. sleep! This might sound like laziness, but it’s vital if I'm to be able to ask my body to do this amount work. Getting off my bike after 85 miles and needing to do a 15mile run just won't be possible day after day (my training won't be this repetitive) without making sure I'm sleeping a total of about 12 hours a day.
So with all this in mind the first goal is Clearwater, Florida and the World Half-Ironman (70.3) Championships. This is in mid November. Hopefully some of the benefits of full time training will have taken effect by then. If I can perform well there, then not only prize money, but extra sponsorship and race funding support will all make my life as a professional much easier (in other words I’ll be able to feed myself ha ha)
My next blog will be as a full time athlete :-) no doubt I’ll be moaning about the rubbish British weather, but deep down I’ll be loving it!
