Let’s get ready to rumble!!!

What is this? Surely Robo isn’t doing a blog.... well yup, I sure am and after seeing a post from two years ago saying “I’m coming back to western Sydney 70.3” I thought I better start saying, Ironman Western Australia... here I come!

Over the last twelve months I have been what I like to call “ticking the body over” and it feels weird, typically I train hard for a goal, I dedicate 8 months and then move on however, this time with the support of my wife things are different.

Since September 2018 I have been training steadily and consistently with no guidance and to be honest it has been fun, I have always fallen in love with the process of regaining fitness, and with no goal set in stone I have been able to do just that. However, on my list which has twenty sporting goals (primary triathlon based set five years ago) there is one that has remained on my list...... Kona.

Kona for me has always been the ultimate goal because it has always seemed unobtainable and I love chasing something and proving to myself “anything is possible” however as time has gone by and I have seen what I am capable of, I know, deep down, it is achievable and I am confident in backing myself to do it. Like I say, it is not a matter of if, just a matter of when.

For the last two and a half months I have been back training under Simon Cochrane (Athletic Peak) who took my fitness to a whole new level throughout 2016/17 (where I posted a 4.10 70.3 and a 9.46 IM on a tough day) and thankfully once again we are seeing his training blocks and my dedication work together seamlessly as my body has been absorbing the training blocks.

With less than 6 weeks to go until Ironman Western Australia, I surprisingly have no nerves, I know I am leaving no stone unturned. I have learnt to listen to my body to ensure I provide real time feedback to Simon and adjust any training when needed based on any early signs of sickness/ increased fatigue I see or feel through heart rate, sleep, HRV and more importantly understanding what my body is telling me.

What also makes me back myself is that I have done this before, I know what to expect (to an extent) and my mental preparation for race day is well and truly underway, what I am also excited about is that for the first time I am going to be racing multiple ironman races in one season with IMWA and IMNZL booked in I have committed to myself that I am going to do this and this is what I want.

Now, I’m not all serious and no fun, anyone who has been around me leading up to a race knows I am definitely not the serious kind, but 10 minutes before a race start, I naturally flick a switch that puts me in race mode.

However, no matter what happens this season the key with me is, I am out there to race myself and if my best and extending myself beyond my barriers is good enough to get to Kona then I will be overwhelmed but if not, I’ll still be proud of myself, otherwise... what do we do this for!

I’ll be planning on sharing my build over the coming weeks with you all, I am super organised and it is showing as I have purchased my season’ race gear, begun trailing everything to make sure it is dialled in, so I’m keen to share this with you and tell you why this helps me during some of the biggest training blocks I have.

Well until then, I’m all prepped for a big weekend of training so Mahalo! (I thought I better start practicing right 😉)

Robo