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COVID!!!! There I said it… of course, I was going to say it, how could I not mention it when it has touched every one of us in some way, shape or form. For some worse than others. Tragic losses and spoiled plans. Plans of a lifetime to be changed and rearranged, but some that we can’t get back. I have heard them all and how it has affected people, but for myself, I have been very lucky, fortunate or whatever you want to call it. I often do say you make your own luck in this world, but in this instance, that hypothesis is completely out of the window. No one is safe but you can try your best to protect yourself, your family and your friends around you.
How I was lucky, was to step on that plane and fly to Faro from Leeds Bradford airport for what was going to be one of the only Multisport events that would be held in 2020.
We had been watching the guidance, our payments had been taken, the government had not banned travel and the event at this stage was still going ahead. We made the decision to go and how thankful I am that we did. Having left the kids behind with Grandma and Grandad we were now faced with the thought of whether we would have to isolate upon our return or not, but we would cross that bridge if it came to it.
“Today was not good enough. Despite the praise and love, I was simply not fast enough.”
Sprint distance duathlon (and triathlon) is all about hurting for less than an hour, and for this event I truly believed in my ability. I (think I) ran a 5km personal best in 16 half minutes, but that wasn’t good enough to compete with those in the main pack. 15 ahead in a group versus 6. 3 British and 3 Spanish athletes, with very different tactical goals in their approach to the race. It Is well known within our age group that some of us Brits are strong cyclists and will always pull hard for the group and the dynamic was just that. Knowing that the group were only just up the road, I worked harder than ever. Hard enough to post the fastest age group bike split. I couldn’t shout any more to motivate this group, we were closing on the pack and we were running out of road. I tried tactical changes holding up the group while my team-mates broke away off the front, but as soon as I chased, the 3 jumped straight on to my wheel and joined back up. It was no good, they were on a free ride and enjoying every minute. Coming to within 200m of the front group, the elastic snapped. We had nothing else to give, we were left high and dry and adrift for the final short 2.5km run when the 3 Spanish competitors who were all runners, ran straight out of transition finding the energy from somewhere to go straight on by.
It could have been an oh so different race, but it is what it is, and I wasn’t happy, but I know what fuels the fire. I know what I can do and where I can be. Most importantly though, I know where I want to be.
A run PB and the fastest bike split eh? That’s just racing!!! 20th in Europe in our age group this time round (5th GB). One of my worst results in the 16 or so international events I have competed in apart from the non-finish at the World Champs in London in 2013 due to a mechanical. But, probably one of my best performances. Frustrating to say the least.
Up until recently I was clinging on to every little bit of hope that the European Triathlon Champs and the World Duathlon champs were going to go ahead, and my training has continued with this focus at forefront of mind. A friend of mine who I met through racing the Age Group circuit for GB said to me not long ago, “Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready”!!!! Wow Owen James, great words that I have constantly looked back on over the last 2 months. They resonate in every training session that I’ve done since. Up until now. Following the cancellation or late postponement of all my domestic events, the European and International triathlon union and federation have cancelled my final two hopes. And now with closure on my season I can completely reset and focus on new goals. Many thought that these announcements had come too late, others feeling that the races could still go ahead, I‘m unsure, but what is certain, with such unpredictable times that we are living in, the clear decision is a sensible one that now allows everyone enough time to rearrange plans and focus on the new goal.
That new goal for me is next year now. Earlier this week we were informed by the British Triathlon Federation that our qualification places for this years cancelled events would carry over into the 2021 championship events, so I can now plan around the Euro Sprint Triathlon Champs (wherever they may be now) and the World Duathlon Champs, once again in Almere, Netherlands.
And hopefully, after I cancelled my trip to Canada for the World Triathlon Grand Final because of time proximity to the Euro and world champs, I could have the opportunity to retake my place to go to Bermuda (TBC) for the 2021 Grand Final.
Where does that leave us for the remainder of 2020? I, like everyone, has had the opportunity to continue winter training all the way through to now, as long as they have chosen to do that. I did and can honestly say that I have never felt fitter. I will be honest with you though, I could try a little bit harder in resisting the lockdown snacks, but I have had the opportunity to continue to build the base in some epic challenges set by Elliot which will continue now until the end of the year leading up to a fresh start when 2021 happens. Many an hour spent in the saddle on the gravel bikes have now become the norm with mad run marathons on the treadmill for three hours, as well as the daily kids hour rides since the boy learned to ride his two wheels. These have been completely overshadowed though by a new initiative that I set up at work. Spending many an hour during the working day on ZOOM or TEAMS calls in front of a computer screen, its apparent that home working needs balance to maintain health and wellbeing. Why not extend those Videoconferences to include video conference runs? Welcome to the birth of the remote working couch to 5KM running group.
The running group started to offer colleagues of all standards the opportunity to run together before the working day. From those that had not run for many years, to regular runners and complete novices, the group has now come to its conclusion with one more week to go. If I can’t coach my triathlon club back home I will use my qualification to coach my colleagues and give them a welcome break from work. A group split between doing a couch to 5km plan and a 5km to 10km plan, the beauty about doing this over a videoconference, unlike meeting together at a track, is that we can all run together side by side for the same length of time. Something I am now extremely proud of and passionate about, I won’t be stopping the group there, instead I will be extending this to add new plans to maintain consistency and improve performance health and wellbeing for everyone involved.
Not only has this motivated me throughout the lockdown period, but an international initiative through work for country teams to “Race to Dubai”. This has been an amazing way of bringing cohesion to the company through exercise and wellbeing where time of exercise is recorded and translated into KM’s. Every hour gains 10km in distance. It is all a bit of fun but to a competitive person like me, the competition sure is hot at the top.
Many of my colleagues couldn’t comprehend how much exercise I did across a day, or how I managed to fit it in with a full time job, usually travelling, and a young family, so I thought I’d document a typical day below. It all counts…
7:30 – 8:30 Activation Run – Couch to 5km remote running group (60 mins)
9:00 – 17:00 The working day sat behind a desk videoconferencing
17:00-18:00 Kids hour on the bike (60 mins)
19:00-20:30 Run or Bike session (90 mins)
15-30mins yoga and or stretching to end the day (30 mins)
That’s about 4 hours activity around a working day, and then there is a weekend, but balance is the most important thing. Don’t force yourself to do it that way, enjoy every minute you spend doing it. I often step off the treadmill or bike wanting to puke and hating every minute, but on those sessions, I think of the long-term goal and why I am doing it. And I love it.
Exercise, it maintains my sanity. And if you read back to the beginning of my journey, well you’ll understand why I don’t look back.
Thanks to Erdinger Alkoholfrei, Raceskin, Aquasphere, MTS Cyclesport, Elivar sports nutrition, FFWD Wheels and all my friends at Coalfields Tri Club. To this list I would now like to add my work running buddies. The motivation that you have given me through your own determination to smash your own goals can not be matched. You guys are awesome, I promise I will help you go further, faster and be fitter!!!