It would be lovely to have a crystal ball at hand whenever you were faced with a decision. One that would readily provide you with the answers you were looking for and gently push you in the right direction when you were swaying off the right path or just to confirm that the decision you have made is going to bring you closer to achieving what you want.
Early this year I signed up for my first 70.3. It’s nine months away and while I know that’s more than plenty of time to train for one I’m not sure if I’m training hard enough. I’ve ran a marathon but I’m worried I won’t get through my second one. I want to do the Gold Coast Triathlon in April but I’m concerned I’m going to panic about swimming in the Broadwater even though I’ve done it before. I’m beginning to wonder whether I actually enjoy racing or the idea of having raced.
The 5k at the weekend made me realise that I prefer longer distances. I’m not a sprinter, I don’t think I could race in anything under 5k. My body prefers endurance type activities. I managed to run for four hours in July and cycle for four and half in October which showed me that I am capable of them. That doesn’t mean I don’t get bored though. I’m sure if I had to run or ride on my own for that amount of time I would go out of my mind however when there are others participating it’s quite pleasant – if you can call it that. You can think about many things, test both your body and mind, and just forget about the worries and woes that life sometimes brings about.
I admire athletes with the ability to get out on the road at 5am for a four hour cycle session, or when they slip on their runners to fit in their run when it’s raining outside. Training is one of the priorities in my life but I will find ways to make it easier for me. This is both good and bad. Good because I can fit in training one way or another. Bad because there’s so much more room remaining to challenge myself.
It’s only the beginning of the year. I have been training regularly however there is still a long road ahead. I don’t have a crystal ball to tell me what my fitness will be in a month let alone in six or nine months. Yes, I’d like to know if my perseverance will pay off, that my training will advance and that I will constantly improve as an athlete and a human being. I’ve a long way to go, so I’m aiming to enjoy the journey.
