Since we finished I've been asked many times how we managed to churn out performances day after day which came close to (and in instances improved on) our PB's.
The real answer is that neither I, nor the other guys (nor Joanne or anyone else who was part of the week) can really account for it but herewith (good word!) some thoughts.
Some musings.
"Soundness"
Avoiding injury during the week was crucial but I wouldn't have put much money on my ability to run 86 miles in a week at 7 min pace average(ish) without my achilles (plural) telling me to stop having a laugh!! Steve has dodgy knees and Kev's calf/hamstring regularly causes him problems. Tim's too young to have developed these chronic conditions ....yet!!
Ironic, therefore, that Tim's knee was the biggest worry of the week.
Clues? Steve, for one, was considerably lighter than at previous Iron races: do to a lack of swimming/gym even I was a couple of kilos down on normal race weight.........less stress and strain??
Preparation
I did all my cycling in the big chainring during training,often at low cadence having figured that strength would considerably outweigh speed over the week. This followed on from a reasonable winter of weight training based on compound exercises and core stability. By the end of Jan, after which training became less consistent, I had been leg pressing up to 400kg for 6-8 rep sets. This prep will certainly have helped me stay "sound". In my experience veterans need to spend a far greater proportion of their training working against heavy resistance of one sort or another to sustain power. Time and issues meant that I spent less time on the turbo this year...........I'd long suspected that my tough turbo sessions were a factor in my achiles problems: may have been right.
Pacing?
Well I reckon we were at about 80% - 90% of potential all week and feeling stronger by ForestMan day. So not pushing that final extra bit must have had something to do with it.
Lack of fear?
Freed from the competitive environment of a "race" you are able to manage your day "absolutely". No "pre-race" to speak of: no hurly burly in the swim: no-one whizzing past on the bike so no temptation to chase. Your own pace throughout. Big savings here both physically and, I believe, mentally.
Fun
Big smiles every day, well almost. But on the day one or other of us may have been "flat" there were three mates alongside to lighten things up.
Momentum!!
A small group wanting success for each other every day. A couple of days go well with no noticeable physical deterioration and "pow!", suddenly everyone begins to believe that they "can" !!
Belief!!!
Once we got started it actually never occurred to us that we "couldn't" do it!! .........so we did!!
THE CAPE by Guy Clarke
Eight years old with flour sack cape
Tied all around his neck.
He climbed up on the garage
He's figurin’ what the heck .
Screwed his courage up so tight
That the whole thing come unwound.
He got a runnin’ start and bless his heart
He headed for the ground
Chorus
He’s one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath
Always trust your cape
All grown up with a flour sack cape
Tied all around his dreams.
He’s full of piss and vinegar
He’s bustin’ at the seams.
He licked his finger, checked the wind
It’s gonna be do or die.
See, he wasn’t scared of nothin’, boy
'Cos was pretty sure he could fly
Chorus
He’s one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith.
Spread your arms and hold your breath
Always trust your cape.
Now he's old and grey with a flour sack cape
Tied all around his head.
He’s still jumpin’ off the garage
And will be till he’s dead.
All these years the people said
He’s actin’ like a kid
He did not know he could not fly
..............So he did !!!
Chorus
He’s one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith:
Spread your arms and hold your breath
Always trust your cape
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