An excerpt below from another article on mental strategies to deal with fatigue in extreme endurance events.  Written by an old friend of mine about training for, and completing a channel swim.

"Replicating the most difficult part of the event will require getting the individual into a highly fatigued state and asking them to produce a high-quality performance. There are several different ways to induce a highly fatigued state; back-to-back hard training sessions, inadequate nutrition, and poor sleep strategies have all been used. Once in this fatigued state, the athlete should spend more time than usual mentally preparing before the session starts. Although mental preparation should be a part of every session, this is an opportunity to further enhance beliefs that he/she has the ability to cope with extreme fatigue in environmentally challenging conditions."

The full article is here: http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/david-walliams-endurance-swimming-coach-reveals-all-39465

You know the sport's gaining some recognition when the Daily Mail try to take the piss...!  (And, typically, they get it wrong)

As some may know, i'm a fan of barefoot running for a few reasons, so imagine the pleasure to find out that for a mere 220 quid I can " give the gift" of barefoot running to others... Brilliant!!

Take off shoes...
Run...

Err...

Gotta love this...  :-)

liking this idea....buggered if the battery goes though..?

Interesting article in 'Larvae' magazine recently about the psychology of 'pain' and athletic endurance performance:

" Therein lies the essential paradigm shift required to get deep into into the pain cave.  For Richard Roll it's not about a goal that's worth the pain - it's reaching a level of pain that makes the goal worthy.  "All the miles and hours of preparation builds me up physically and mentally to do what I set out to do with my body" he says. For me, by the time I step to the starting line, the race is over. I'm going to succeed.  The race itself is a form of active meditation on everything I've done. It's literally a celebration of the journey to get there".

The complete article is here: http://www.lavamagazine-digital.com/lavamagazine/201012?sub_id=MMphIIbphiqz#pg133

SUNDAY
UP WITH THE LARK (THE ONE THAT GETS UP AT 7.45 WITH BLEARY EYES AND A SLIGHTLY BEERY HEAD). TOO LONG OVER BREAKFAST. SEEM TO BE BACK ON THE CAFFIENE IN A SERIOUS WAY. NEED A FEW DAYS WITHOUT. OR WAIT TIL NEW YEAR RESOLUTION TIME? OUT FOR AN HOURS MUDDY FUN ON THE CROSS BIKE. QUICK BITE AND A BIT MORE COFFEE. 2H DRIVE (SENSIBLE SPEED). MORE CAFFIENE AND NEW BRUCE FOR COMPANY. RACE WATCHING / SUPPORTING TIME. STOOD IN THE FRIGGING COLD FOR TWO HOURS. WARMED BY THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS. :-) GO TEAM. HAPPY ATHLETES - HAPPY COACH. INJURED ATHLETES - NVH COACH... DRIVE HOME. 1H 45. SENSIBLEISH SPEED. MORE BRUCE. LOUD...NEEDED MORE CAFFIENE. OUT FOR QUICK RUN ROUND WOMBUN IN THE DARK. ACHILLES COMPLAINING AGAIN. WHY NOW? BUGGER. COUPLE OF HOURS 'WORK'. VEG....

As we all suspected - they're all a bunch of wankers at that Luffbraaa

Yeah, yeah, I know.....

So... how've you been?

Me? Great!

Here's the quarterly blog offering:

A couple of weeks since 'The Race' (er...Kona..), gut reactions to it are back where they belong, and it seems an appropriate time for some calm, collected post race analysis.
That, and I'm stuck at 35000ft for the next few hours with bugger all else to do...

But before that; about all those pre race goals,

hmmm...

Right, first up; the swim targets. Lets be honest, I didn't even get close, which accounts for race day 'performance' - more on this below. Definately a project for the winter / next season methinks.

I never got to ride to Tywyn (or back), but then again I only had about 3 weeks at home all summer, so I'll forgive myself this one I think. The 'Avoriaz' challenge pretty much happened as planned, although I bailed out after four times up. However, as this took an emotional 6 hours, with 4 hours of 'up', and a some serious soul
searching after #2...I'm having that one if that's alright.

The 5k of climbing in one day? Dunno, probably got close on an epic 8hr Alpine day when Lucy 'The Gossanator'ripped my legs off!
And the 200k ride in Malaysia? Well...got in 190+k, so I'm having that one aswell!
I didn't get close to the 100 rides in 100 days, but might carry that one over to the winter / spring.

And the 17h 26 mins in 2 days (the length of my training playlist BTW..)? Nah...

OK, so to the race then.

Firstly, my day out: (second IM and second race of 2010)

the Swim

Was never going to be as quick as previously given the lack of pool time for the last few years, and I got exactly what I expected time-wise and had a nice, comfortable cruise around Kailua bay. The fish are still pretty too..

the Bike

Again, no real dramas...Nutrition / hydration worked well and conditions were pretty good, probably the best I've experienced in Hawaii. But I was definately missing a gear in the last 30 miles or so, though. I usually want to be feeling and riding at my strongest in the last third of the bike, but Mary's dress wasn't really swaying this time ;-), and the last stretch back along the Queen K became a bit of a chore.

the Run

The only target I had really set for Hawaii was to run three thirty something. Achilles problems of the past few years had been in abeyance for a good few months and I really wanted a solid run here, not having had one for a decade or so!!
And to cut a long story short, I felt good as soon as trainers hit tarmac and stayed that way for the whole 3hours 33 minutes - job done, thank-you!


On the whole then, a day out to be chuffed with. Not a completely unqualified success, but the day I have that will be the last day I race... Only 4 minutes outside my pb in Hawaii ten years ago (and all of that on the swim) with a best
bike and run time (just).

(Say it quietly, but this was actually hundreds of places further down the field than 2000, reflective of better conditions and standards. But shussh, eh...?)

I can live with 4 minutes in a decade and the thought springs to mind that the year I last raced as well in Kona I also pb'd over the distance....Hmmmm..I wasn't really up for much next season beforehand, but that new 'Challenge' race just announced in France looks like it should be pretty quick... Seeds...?


And Hawaii 'The Race'; big picture..?

Mixed feelings to be honest.

OK, so its Hawaii - and (as Max Boyce might say) I was there..

It was certainly gratifying to prove to myself (maybe to some others, but mainly me) that I could still qualify for, and race pretty solidly in, Kona. Having now qualified at 5 races, over 4 age groups, in 3 continents and 2 decades the Ego is satisfied.

(for now..)

It was lovely to be there with some of my own athletes who had qualified, and with quite a few friends and new and old aquaintances, all of whom did spiffingly well.


BUT, I just don't think I'll be in a rush to go back...(and yes, I appreciate this is easier to say having been a few times..!).

As a race, it's not the best (it's just that it's THE race)...There are better.

The hype and commercialisation stick in the craw a little and the WTC has basically become a machine for extracting cash from athletes and their supporters. Far too much emphasis on monetisation, sticking their brand on any tat that will sell and protecting and promoting brand position, image and market share and all that bollocks. Everything they do seems calculating and somewhat cynical. $55 for a pasta party is fucking ridiculous.

So, I'll leave it for now I think..


..at least til my ego needs a shot in the arm. Or maybe the next age-group..?

All the sports psych stuff reckons that goals should be made public and all that, so here goes (this of course assumes that this actually counts as 'public'....

Goal for Kona: run 3.3? That's it...

Hawaii training goals, some boxes to tick along the way:

Swim 10k in one day
Swim 20k in one week (yep,these two will probably be in the same week)
Swim 1.35 per 100m or quicker in all sets
Swim 4 lengths lake Montriond (that's in one go...)

Bike to Tywyn from home
Bike from Tywyn (probably not in the same day)
Ride to Avoriaz x 5 in one day
Climb 5000m in one day (the above doesn't count..)
100 rides in 100 days again
200k ride in KL

Train 17.36min in 36hrs (why....? Answers on a postcard please..)

Run to avoriaz from Morzine

Majorca camp

"Go hard or go home and we can't go home so...."

It's looking like those that were planning to be in Majorca with us for one week will be here for two (or more...) Obviously there are worse places and situations to be stranded in and spirits remain high. BUT those that were coming to join us for the second week won't make it at all. NOT GOOD.

Friggin Icelanders have pinched all our cod, 'lost' squillions of dodgy investments, given us the squeeking Pixie that is Bjork, and now a sodding cloud of Volcanic ash grounding half of Europe! I've gone off them.

Little things...

I was delighted to find that the aforementioned ' Wankers Corner' refreshment establishment (near Urinal, Oregon - see previous post..) actually has it's own website. Apart from informing us that there is a 'Head Wanker' it also includes gems such as:

"Stop by our online gift store a pick up your official WANKERWEAR today!"
T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, boxers, panties, coffee cups, pint glasses, key chains, penlights and sunglasses are always for sale, and are shipped Worldwide.

(panties..?!)

"YOU can shock your friends by having your next party at the wankers corner. Break tradition and let Wanker's give you a party that will tarnish your reputation."

"For a lousy 15 bucks we'll give the guest of honor a Wanker's coffee cup or beer glass, a key chain, and panties or boxers."

(panties again...!)


WANKER’S SPIRITS
PLEASE REMAIN SEATED UNTIL THE RIDE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP.

Cocktails include:
THE BLOODY WANKER
Our version of the favourite hangover cure. Absolut Vodka and our own special recipe.

ULTIMATE WANKERITA
The supreme margarita! Jose Cuervo Gold, Cointreau,
Sweet n’ Sour & a splash of Grand Marnier, all on the rocks..........7.75

"ARE YOU A WANKER?
If you are looking for a career in food service, or just a part-time job, see a manager for an interview."

and finally:

"So if you feel like it, grab your nuts here. They're free."

....and that reminds me.... the annual Majorca camp is imminent :-) :-)



(I got knocked off by an idiot in a rental car yesterday...
....bloody hertz)

Hardly a frigging surprise is it;

a) that the marketing mercenaries at our beloved WTC would sanction it..

b) that I'd bloody get some..

Good article from Matthew Syed in the Times this week:


One life, new goals, just a kind of madness for Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher is bonkers: 41 years of age, the German retired three years ago to spend more time with his millions, has done little of note in the interim beyond crashing a few motorcycles and conducting tests for Ferrari, yet he dares to believe that he can return to the fastest and most exacting of sports and wrestle the glory away from a younger, sharper generation. “Schumi”, it is probably fair to say, is just about the only person on the planet who believes that he can win the title for an eighth time.

Michael Phelps is another nutter. The American swimmer went to the Olympic Games in Beijing planning to win eight gold medals over the course of nine short days. We all knew he was talented and had arms and legs the size of oars, but this was just plain silly. Even Ian Thorpe considered the task hopeless, but that energised Phelps all the more. “The more negative they are, the more determined and more certain I am to do it,” Phelps said. “If I have an ambition, whatever it is, nothing is going to stop me.”

Some would call it bloody mindedness — the stubborn refusal to countenance one’s limitations — but is it really so different from a type of madness? When Muhammad Ali took on George Foreman for the world heavyweight championship in 1974, nobody — not even in his own camp — felt that he stood a chance. Except for the man who would go on to win the bout and transform the world. If, as Orwell put it, a “lunatic is a simple minority of one”, Ali must have been the craziest athlete in history.

Take any sportsman who has achieved epic things and you will discern a willingness to defy the wisdom of crowds. Who beyond Lance Armstrong believed that he could rise from his deathbed to win the Tour de France seven times? Who beyond Jesse Owens supposed that he could mount the podium four times in Berlin in 1936? Who other than Steve Redgrave (and, possibly, Matthew Pinsent) gave credence to the idea that the ageing rower could roll back the years to win a fifth gold medal in Sydney?

read more:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/matthew_syed/article7055783.ece