Stopping to Speed Up

 Hi Everyone!
 
A different location for today’s post, I’m sitting on board a flight to Melbourne where I am looking forward to seeing some comedy shows and celebrating my Dad’s 60th birthday (he really turned 57 but any chance to give him shit!) Packing for the trip in the early hour of this morning was surprisingly simple and it took me a little while to work out why. For the first time in over 12 months I was not packing any training gear. Do not adjust your screens. No need to re-read what I wrote. It is true. I am not taking any training gear with me. Why would I deny myself the opportunity to train in Australia’s second best city? (Another little dig there) The answer is that I am taking a break for training and it is probably going to be harder than some of the hardest training I have ever done.
 
Challenge Melbourne has traditionally been the race that ends my racing season and this year was no different… Except for the fact that the race moved from late January to early April. This meant that I had to move my break back a little further than I would normally have had it. In fact, I probably would have already finished my two week break if I was a good, obedient athlete. After the race was over I was inundated with uni work and literally did not have the time or energy to train. So for four days after the race I did nothing except eat, sleep and study. Then we had the Easter weekend and the weather was so good. I went for a ride. I honestly didn’t really think too much about it, but in hindsight I think I actually did. My coach had told me many months before that there was a planned rest period after Melbourne and I was kind of hoping that he had forgotten about it. No such luck. The next day I ran Parkrun. Again this is maybe more of an indicator that I am a bit weird, but in my mind, Parkrun isn’t a workout. I consider it more of a social outing. So I would happily do one on a rest day and not think about it.
 
Anywhoo me and Ben started planning out the next 12 months. My goals, target races etc. I told him my next big goal is to really start focusing on hitting that magic 4:05 70.3. We worked out where my splits need to be. Maybe a 25 or 26 minute swim, a 2:15 or lower bike and a 1:20 run. This allows for maybe 2x2 minute transitions and there you go. If only it was that easy. So apart from deciding on the goals we also discussed which races I want to do. One of the races I want to do is Bintan 70.3 in August. Ben suggested I skip that race and actually extend my season until Cairns 70.3 then take a break. Perhaps the Asian race wasn’t the best idea. But I want to do a race in Asia, I try and do one every year and I want to race Bintan without crashing. So long story short, my rest starts now and I am expecting to line up in Bintan in August.
 
Knowing the sort of people who read my post (there are a surprisingly large number of you) some would think two weeks off training would be amazing. Others would not understand what I am worried about. Others will know exactly how hard this is going to be. The timing of it all works out pretty well. I am on uni break and have plenty of other things to be working on. My coaching business is really starting to pick up with a decent number of athletes coming on board. I have also started working on something that I am incredibly excited about. Me and one of my best mates, Mike Robinson (yes I know I talk about him a lot) have started a podcast. We called it Think Fit and recorded and released our first episode last weekend. I am really drawn to the medium of podcasting because I listen to so many myself. I also know how many people out there are looking for information. The podcast is primarily focused on weight loss and fitness but that literally could mean anything. The main thing though is we want to keep things simple and fun. One of the golden rules we have with each other is we will keep doing the podcast (even if no one listens) as long as we are having a good time doing it.
 
The main reason I mentioned the podcast (apart from trying to get you all to listen to it – DO IT) is because I am the ‘technical’ person and I didn’t realise how much work goes into editing and mastering the audio. So the fact that I am about to have some extra time up my sleeve will also be very handy. The other reason that this little break is well times is because one of the uni subjects I am studying this semester, International Children’s Law is a behemoth of a subject. There are literally thousands of pages of readings. Thousands! This little break will allow me the chance to catch up and get on top of those readings.
 
Here is the thing though, the first few days, maybe the first week are going to be great. Extra time, relaxing when I can, not travelling with my bike, how god does that sound! Then after a while I will start to get restless, then frustrated, then cranky. I will be convinced I have put on all the weight I lost, that I am going to be slow and never reach my 4:05. All of this stuff will start to drive me crazy. These conversations will happen in my head daily. My poor wife is the one who will probably suffer the most as I become moody and sulky and sometimes angry. But it is all part of the process. I am really going to make a point of sticking to the coaches orders and make sure I am really on top of my nutrition. I am going to take the time to meditate and try and prepare myself for what is to come because it isn’t going to be easy.
 
So when you are out for your ride or run and are having the time of your life, spare a thought for poor old Tim. I know that the break is important and I am going to do it. I just know I am not going to like it.
 
I am going to put in one last little plug for my podcast (bloody listen to it already!) but we really want to get people involved with the show. So if people want to email us questions, ideas or thoughts they can send the email to [email protected]. If you think that email is a little old-school then you can also interact with us on
Facebook
Twitter or
Instagram (@thinkfitpod.)
 
So enjoy your training, listen to my podcast and remember to TRI!

Hoping to go MUCH MUCH faster next time I race on this bad boy

The logo for my show. Did I mention I want you to listen to it?