OK, I appreciate that this isn't going to get many responses, as I know that all Slowtwitchers only over achieve. But stay with me.
Been doing IM since 2005, mixed results, didn't really take it 'seriously' until 2 years ago which was as a result of a come back from some serious injuries / surgery from trail running. So then got a coach, was pretty dedicated and in training / B races got some really surprisingly good results. A races have been Ironman NZ last 2 years, and both been disappointing relative to my training and race plans. In both cases there were 'reasons' but the outcome was the same - not delivering on 850 hours of training each time and a year of 4:30am/5am starts.
First year my goal was to get to the start line fit (remember was a return to racing year) and after a strong half ironman in January (4:42) off no taper and as the end of a big block I was keeping with / ahead of most my training buddies. Come the race, things went OK in swim and bike, and first half of run, but some late course nutrition changes caught me out, and I spent final lap spewing. So finished in a (PB time of) 11:3x an hour and a bit down on where I was heading after 28km.
This year, training was impacted by some injuries. Blew a hamstring first week of July, 3 weeks out from what would have been the first of two marathons in August. Coaches plan for those were to push for 3:15 - reality I think was always going to be 3:20. Then that led to a chain of other issues, tear in plantar fascia, post tibial ligament, achilles, etc. In the end it wasn't until start of December I was back running, but spent that time really working on my swim (traditional weakness) and keeping my bike going (traditional strength).
Managed to put a good block in over xmas and again managed an OK half ironman in January - especially off a month of running. 4:45 and recovered well in the week after. More good consistent trainign January / Feb and 3 weeks out from the race then every metric (swim, bike FTP / HR) Run (pace, HR, distance) was up on the year before.
Just under 2 weeks out I did something to my back in a freak event - never had any issues before, but spent the 10 days pre race with physio, dry needling, manipulations and wolfing down ibuprofen and paracetamol to be able to work, get any sleep.
Come race day I really didn't know if I was going to start, or how the bike especially would go. But what happened was a really slow and disappointing swim (1:09 compared to 1:06 the year before), a 5:15 bike (but was 8 mins slower lap 2 as feeling exhausted) and then a total shambles of a run where my back went into spasm and I had to walk the majority of it. Finish time was 11:56 with the last 5km being the only time I really managed to run at my target pace (5:10/km) after I'd stopped, eaten some chips, had some more pain killers and just emptied the tank.
So now it's the end of the season, I need to get my body fixed (I'm M45 and so reality is I'm not bouncing back as quick, and still have the injuries from last October I've been managing and haven't healed). But I'm trying to get my head around how to approach future A races. With two underperformances now, I'm building a monkey on my own back to make me doubt myself. I've already decided to not do full distance next year, limit to 'multiple A' races at half distance. Body, work and relationships mean that 3 years of Ironman training in a row wasn't going to be viable.
Anyone got any thoughts, experience? (And yes, HTFU, take the concrete pills, get a grip and think about this whining in the context of the world at the moment are all legitimate and expected responses).
Been doing IM since 2005, mixed results, didn't really take it 'seriously' until 2 years ago which was as a result of a come back from some serious injuries / surgery from trail running. So then got a coach, was pretty dedicated and in training / B races got some really surprisingly good results. A races have been Ironman NZ last 2 years, and both been disappointing relative to my training and race plans. In both cases there were 'reasons' but the outcome was the same - not delivering on 850 hours of training each time and a year of 4:30am/5am starts.
First year my goal was to get to the start line fit (remember was a return to racing year) and after a strong half ironman in January (4:42) off no taper and as the end of a big block I was keeping with / ahead of most my training buddies. Come the race, things went OK in swim and bike, and first half of run, but some late course nutrition changes caught me out, and I spent final lap spewing. So finished in a (PB time of) 11:3x an hour and a bit down on where I was heading after 28km.
This year, training was impacted by some injuries. Blew a hamstring first week of July, 3 weeks out from what would have been the first of two marathons in August. Coaches plan for those were to push for 3:15 - reality I think was always going to be 3:20. Then that led to a chain of other issues, tear in plantar fascia, post tibial ligament, achilles, etc. In the end it wasn't until start of December I was back running, but spent that time really working on my swim (traditional weakness) and keeping my bike going (traditional strength).
Managed to put a good block in over xmas and again managed an OK half ironman in January - especially off a month of running. 4:45 and recovered well in the week after. More good consistent trainign January / Feb and 3 weeks out from the race then every metric (swim, bike FTP / HR) Run (pace, HR, distance) was up on the year before.
Just under 2 weeks out I did something to my back in a freak event - never had any issues before, but spent the 10 days pre race with physio, dry needling, manipulations and wolfing down ibuprofen and paracetamol to be able to work, get any sleep.
Come race day I really didn't know if I was going to start, or how the bike especially would go. But what happened was a really slow and disappointing swim (1:09 compared to 1:06 the year before), a 5:15 bike (but was 8 mins slower lap 2 as feeling exhausted) and then a total shambles of a run where my back went into spasm and I had to walk the majority of it. Finish time was 11:56 with the last 5km being the only time I really managed to run at my target pace (5:10/km) after I'd stopped, eaten some chips, had some more pain killers and just emptied the tank.
So now it's the end of the season, I need to get my body fixed (I'm M45 and so reality is I'm not bouncing back as quick, and still have the injuries from last October I've been managing and haven't healed). But I'm trying to get my head around how to approach future A races. With two underperformances now, I'm building a monkey on my own back to make me doubt myself. I've already decided to not do full distance next year, limit to 'multiple A' races at half distance. Body, work and relationships mean that 3 years of Ironman training in a row wasn't going to be viable.
Anyone got any thoughts, experience? (And yes, HTFU, take the concrete pills, get a grip and think about this whining in the context of the world at the moment are all legitimate and expected responses).