Getting to the start line

I can almost taste the start line.  The final preparations are being made.  Today my bike, and 7 others, we picked up from my house and are on their way to Frankfurt where we will be reunited on Friday.  I was reading through some old blogs when I first signed up for Frankfurt and at the time I said it will be here before I know it - and it is.  When my pals were dropping off their bikes most were saying that for various reasons they hadn't done as much training as they needed to have done.  This is a normal feeling as the doubts creep in.  Controlling your thoughts is key otherwise you waste a lot of nervous energy on these thoughts.
I checked with the hotel to make sure we could get breakfast at 4am on race day and that I'd have access to a microwave to make my porridge.  The "breakfast of champions" is my staple diet and is essential to make sure I am fuelled for my swim.  I don't want to risk any other breakfast as keeping your stomach happy can make or break your race.
Tonight I went for my first run in 5 weeks.  It was 3km!  My hamstring felt good but who knows how it will be after 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike.  My thinking is it will be warmed up and ready to have the run of a lifetime - I have goals I want to achieve as this is my last full Ironman.
The journey has been amazing and last week when I knew I was going to make the start line I put up my just giving page for Maggie's - www.justgiving.com/derek-stewart4 so far we've raised £2,345! Unbelievable.  I'm aiming for £5,000 so if you have any spare cash then your support would be appreciated.
I've only a few training sessions left before the race and I must remain focused on the task.  The logistics in packing is hard enough never mind everything in the run up to make sure I am standing at the start line in the best possible physical and mental condition.  This is the nearest I'll ever get to being a professional athlete which is what makes it so exciting.  Being inside "the ropes" while being cheered on by tens of thousands of spectators will be really special.  Over 3,000 competitors will all have there own story as to how they reached the start line and more importantly why.  Thank you for following my journey and supporting me along the way.  I'll post a pre-race blog before the race and then follow up the race with a blog on the Monday.  Bring on 3rd July.

Marginal gains

Today is a day for reflection as it's Father's Day.  I was spoiled by the kids and had a wonderful day but before the festivities I was out on the bike for a couple of hours at 7am, and in the pool at 9.30 And I had time to remember my dad who passed in 1990 and I wondered what he'd have made of this madness called Ironman?  He probably would have been proud but thought I was nuts which sums up what my kids think.
This time in 2 weeks I hopefully will have completed Ironman Frankfurt and be enjoying a well earned beer and a steak.  I'll have a broad grin on my face as this is my last Ironman.  After 9 months of training totalling over 2,400 hours, I will get my life back again.  But until then I still have work to do.
At this stage it's all about marginal gains. Improving my speed on every training session will make a difference over the swim, bike and run.  So shorter but intense sessions are the order of the day and I can see the improvement.  I'm also entering the final preparation stage. Testing all my gear, having the bike serviced, arranging for my bike to get to Frankfurt and the all important insurance.  Race strategy will be discussed with my coach along with my race nutrition. Nothing will be left to chance.
The excitement is building as is the wind up amongst my 7 fellow team mates which will add some "spice" on the day.
And finally. Now that I know I will make the start line I have launched my fund raising for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres. Supporting Maggie's has helped me get out of bed when it's 5.30am on a dark snowy winters morning to run.  It's an amazing charity and if you know anyone with cancer please encourage them to go along for practical and emotional support.  I'd be so greatful if you could donate. My page is www.justgiving.com/Derek-Stewart4 .  Thanks for your support.

Tweaking the training

I spend a lot of my time talking about setting stretching goals and getting out of your comfort zone (or death zone as I refer to it).  Talking about it is one thing. Doing it is a whole different ball game. But what I love about stretching goals is how it pushes you to your limit. If I didn't have the goal of Ironman Frankfurt in 3 weeks today, I'd be resting my injured hamstring and setting my sights on another goal in the future.  However as I have that goal I am working hard with my coach to be in the best possible condition for race day.
This means the balance of the training has changed.  More focus on my swimming as its a great way of staying fit without aggravating my leg. The bike sessions have been shortened but I'm still working hard.  Running has been replaced with cross trainer sessions (and I thought turbo training was boring!).
The benefit of the change is my body is getting an extra rest and feeling good for it.  My chimp is getting used to the change and the fact I've done the distance, and more, before so it's a question of managing any pain and not doing anything stupid.  While my team mates will be enjoying reducing their training by tapering, I'll be maintaining a steady training regime.
And all because I have a goal, I've publicised it and as of 10 minutes ago I've bought my race gear so I'm committed (some say I should be).  We're getting close. My work diary has been arranged to allow no interference with my training in the run up to the event.  It's been a fantastic journey over the last 9 months and I'm looking forward to the "icing on the cake"!  Thank you all for following my blog and on the day you'll be able to follow me via a live tracker - details to follow. Just remember that the comfort zone promotes no growth, in fact your going backwards hence the reason I call it the death zone. So why not set yourself a stretching target to work towards? Go on. Go on go on.  You know you want to!

27 days to go

When I pressed the enter button for Frankfurt Ironman just over 300 days ago, I was recovering from a double foot injury and needed something to focus on.  It's hard to believe that the race is only 27 days away.  99% of athletes usually say they are behind in their training for one reason or another. There's always a nagging doubt but this is normal. However the last two weeks training have been the opposite of what they should have been due to illness and now a torn hamstring.  So plan B is being put into place.

My fellow athletes have been putting in the hard miles just as the weather has turned good which is perfect timing.  They will start to taper their training in the last few weeks to allow their body to recover before the race.  Plan B is, I've had my taper, I feel great, apart from my hamstring, so now I need to build the miles back up! Running is out but my physio is confident the work I am doing on a cross trainer will be a good substitute and allow the hamstring to recover.

In an earlier post I said you had to enjoy the 9 month training journey because sometimes you don't make the start line never mind the finishline.  I've enjoyed my journey this far and my PB at the 70.3 a few weeks back demonstrated how the hard work had paid off.  Now I just need to be careful with my hammy to make sure I get to the start line in good shape.

Life doesn't always go to plan but you have to dust yourself down and get back on track.  I can hear cries of ""rule 5" from the cyclists out there but don't worry, there will be a lot of rule 5 being applied! Completing an Ironman successfully is more about your mental strength than anything else. My chimp is being reprogrammed so we deliver Plan B successfully. Can't wait to be standing at the start line ready to dive into the water and start another adventure.