Rookie Goes for 3 in a row at Ironman UK – Week 2 of 40
Arite?
Have you had a good week?
Cool….
As you know, I have enetered Ironman UK for the third time in consecutive years because I am addicted to it and i’m writing a weekly blog for a bit of light reading along the way.
As you also know, I’ve been having a bash at trying to get my IMUK bike loop time down recently.
Throughout 2018, my circuit time has been peppering the 3:20 mark, but I recently got that down to 2:41.
To put that into perspective, a 3:20 effort would currently rank you #250 out of 352 for the 2019 IMUK bike loop on strava.
Not bad….
But a 2:41 circuit ranks you #53…..
And that is fukin excellent as far as I am concerned.
And you know the best bit?
I feel as though I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface with this yet…..
On that basis, I have deceided to share with you exactly how I was able to get that time down via this blog over the next few weeks….
Nice aint I?
Don’t mention it….
Think of it as my gift to you for your loyality to this website…
Are you ready?
Here goes….
***Please note this is not aimed at ‘Kona wannabes’ …..this is aimed at those that are currently hitting 3:20 loops and want to learn how I took that down to 2:41 so wind your neck in ‘big dog’….Cheers***
In my opinion, if you want to improve your loop time, you require a total of ten ‘keys’ in order to do this….
Here is the first key…….
Key #1 of 10 : You have to win the Battle with Your Demons
I cannot over emphasise how cruical this first key is….
It’s the foundation on which everything else is built.
To some extent, the actual training itself….that’s the easy part……
What is rock solid for your common man, virtually impossible even, is saying ‘no’ to temptation on a daily basis.
Let me give you an example of what we are talking about here…
Its Friday night.
You have just been the gym for a workout and had a nice sauna with red hot shower to finish having trained hard all week.
You are walking back to the car and you feel a million dollars.
You also look a million dollars because you have been training hard all week.
As you are walking back to the car, Your phone rings.
It’s your mates.
They are out on the piss having ‘fun’ and want you there.
You are itching to join them.
But what are you going to do?
You are going to get in your car and drive home for an early night like a good little boy because you have got that ‘big ride’ with your training buddy in the morning.
So you decline….
“But you are going to join us for gaz’s birthday in Blackpool tomorrow aren’t you Rookie?”
No…..
And the stag do the following weekend?…..
Not happenin…..
As you make your way home to munch on lettuce leaves, you drive past the masses out partying the night away, and you can’t help thinking that somehow, life is passing you by….
But here is the biggest thing I have learnt about improving your speed…
You have got to decide what you want.
You either want the speed or you want to go out and have ‘fun’….
Which is it?
Further….
Imagine, if you will, a ladder with a thousand steps on it…
Every day that you behave, you move another rung up the power ladder, and get the ability to ride a tiny bit quicker every time.
But there is a catch….
No matter how high you go, every time alcohol passes your lips, you fall off the ladder and have to start again at the very bottom rung….
Make no mistake…..I continue to battle these demons on a daily basis, but there is no doubt in my mind that this single ‘key’ represents 75% of the battle for speed right now….75%….
Listen to what the great Iron Rookie is preaching here….
There is golden magic in this blog post my friends.
Golden Magic.
Take Heed.
Here is how my training went this week…
Monday….Down in Derby so did a pool mile at David Lloyd Derby…love visiting a new DL club to see how it compares to my own…Very Plush…They scattered like pigeons that had just seen a cat when they saw me Ironman swim cap though….Get back in lads…it’s only Iron Rookie…
Tuesday…Weights set in Birmingham…I don’t think I have ever seen a 50kg dumbell before in my life but at DL Birmingham they chuck em around like smarties….
Wednesday….10 mile TT 30:38 whcih I was very pleased with see FB for commentary
Thursday….Forced day off due to work
Friday….Pool mile in Derby sub 40
Sat….10k ish run….
Sun…..2:49 IMUK loop that I was absolutely buzzin with given I went out on the ‘pop’ last night….(see above…) www.strava.com/activities/1905310254
Next week…KEY #2 of 10 to how rookie got his IMUK loop time down
Like this article? so will your mates – feel free to share it and don’t forget to ‘add’ me on FB where you will find my daily training log for 2018/19 updated daily, as it happens
By the way, hve you heard about this book? its nearly 500 pages crammed full of hints and tips detailing exactly how I was able to go from zero fitness to completing an Ironman triathlon and covers super sprint, sprint, olympic 70.3 & full iron distances all from a ‘first timer’ perspective – please take a moment to read the reviews on amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Ironmen-Iron-Rookie/dp/1974002322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529099273&sr=8-1&keywords=iron+rookie
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