I always thought I'd like to give Ironman another go - and after finishing Ironman 2014 I never said "never again", but I certainly wasn't ready to sign up in the near future.
What I did learn from 2014 was to have a training plan for a few months after and wind down slowly. After a year of having my life mapped out day to day and then 'poof' no training plan, no goals and a lot of time on my hands. I was still on a high and entered a sprint tri a month after and Ironmaori Half Ironman in December. I had the fitness and the IM high for the sprint tri, but things went downhill after that, resulting in being a DNS for Ironmaori due to lack of training, a niggling injury and a work event on the same night. It was a very hard decision to pull the plug on Ironmaori and I would have battled through it with a lot of hurt at the end and a slow time, but a few weeks out I made the decision to be a DNS and join the Aquaplus team at the Sports Awards. I'm pretty sure I made the Aquaplus team happy with my decision, and had a lot of fun - and maybe a tad to much to drink (dancing on Brew Bar tables singing Happy Birthday with Anna ummmm).
Moving forward to 2015....
This year I have been on the support side of things - starting with supporting my boss Trish Berry who entered her first half marathon. It was great to be able to do some walking with her for training and nice to support Trish as she was great support throughout my Ironman journey. (Think of the colour green and a 6 foot gorilla atop the Auaplus ute on Broadlands Road for the cycle). The day of the half marathon was fantastic driving around and cheering everyone on, and watching Trish overcome a few challenges and cross the finish line will be a moment I will never forget. A very proud moment for me.
Trish and another workmate & friend Clodagh (and another Ironman supporter) have now embarked on a bootcamp with David Massey and the Rotorua Group Challenge - and think I have been supportive but not pushy. They are both doing great with this challenge.
Meanwhile....
Ironman has been talked about maybe for 2019 (lol that way I didn't have to think to much about it!) I have struggled a bit this year with lack of motivation, no real goals or direction. After Ironman I went back to swim squad and continued on with the gym and Mountain Biking, and generally have been plodding along. I met Sharyn Bruce in the pool, which has been one of the best things - I convinced her to sign up for Ironmaori and she convinced me to enter an Open Water swim:) From there I think we have motivated each other, we have both gone back to spin classes, and been on the road on our bikes.... plus talked shitloads at swim squads at each end. Add to all this my daughter has decided she wants to do an Ironman and do it with me. My suggestion of 2019 didn't go to well with her and after a few texts back and forth yesterday Steph has convinced me to set a year soon!! That being 2017!!!!
So 2017 it is Steph Willis, both mother and daughter on the start line. The one thing I am looking forward to is catching up with Steph and making a bit of a plan for the next few months. First stop though is going back to Melinda next week and getting my nutrition sorted, the weight has crept on over the last 18 months:(
