Iron Jack

Being Auckland Anniversary Weekend, this weekend marks the annual Blue Lake Multisport Festival - one of the highlights on the RATs calendar. It includes a reverse Aquathon (run around the lake followed by swim), the Hinemoa Swim (2km from one side of the lake to the other) and a sprint triathlon. This year also includes a 750m swim and a fun run. The event plays host to individuals - young and old - and families from Rotorua and beyond.

Last year it was one of my first forays into the lake for an open water swim as I completed the reverse Aquathon in a team with Mike. I’m not competing in much of the festival this year as I’m getting ready for my first sprint tri at Kinloch next week. But at the last minute my friend Mary Ann and I joined forces in Team JackMAP to take on the aquathon. Like everything we do, its serious - but with a whole lot of fun!

The runners headed off with some of the fastest (including Lawrence our coach) whopping around the lake in what seemed like no time at all. Mary Ann had estimated 35 minutes, but I suited up as soon as we got back to the beach after the runners headed off. Just as well I did, a very quick 30 minutes later and we were swapping the timing transponder and I was off.

Mike, Lawrence, Kevin (Mary Ann’s husband) and the rest of our support crew were all cheering us on at this stage, so I thought I better put some of our open water swim course skills into practice. I ran in to the water (yes ran!), doing the high-knee sprint, and then dived in. It was text-book. Apart from the bit where I lost my goggles!

But, once the goggle situation was fixed, I was off. And I had a great swim. I thought I was going quite slowly, but I did think I was going smoothly, and I was trying to focus on “catching” the water. Rounding the buoys went smoothly as well. I passed a few people on the way out, but no-one passed me. I headed into the beach for the run-up before rounding the flag and back into the water. I had finally remembered to start my stopwatch when I started and I quickly glanced down at my watch (never easy without my glasses on!) But it quite clearly said just over six minutes - for 400 metres! Significantly faster than in the pool.

I was absolutely blown away.

“Wow! I am having a fantastic swim, I better keep it up,” I told myself as I went back into the water.

Second loop, same as the first - except for the unexpected chop that had come out of no-where. After the first few mouthfuls of water I tried to breath on the other side, but in the end just opted for a higher breath on my preferred right side. Buoys - all good. Into beach - all good. Run into finish line - fantastic.

All up, 13 minutes 43 seconds for 800 metres. As long as their distance was pretty accurate, that’s a fantastic swim for me and one that bodes well for Kinloch next weekend.

You can check out the link to the Blue Lake Multisport Festival here http://www.rats.org.nz/eves-blue-lake-multisport-festival/

It is exactly a year tomorrow since my journey started with the Contact 393 at Whangamata. They ran that race today, on what looked like another gorgeous (stinking hot) Coromandel day.

And in less than a week’s time, my journey will come to an abrupt (but brief) halt. Next Saturday I should be lining up for the Tauranga Half Ironman. Unfortunately I won’t be.

I’d like to say that I have an injury which is preventing me from taking part, but really what happened was that ‘life’ quite simply got in the way.

“Life happens,” Coach Lawrence says to me fairly regularly.

I’d been trying to ignore ‘life’ for some time. That included work (times two), children (times two), husband, especially Christmas, family, friends. My key focus has been training. And to be fair, me and my life are much better for it. I’m fitter, healthier, less stressed and generally happier.

However, December was a manic nightmare on just about every front possible. My “real” job was insanely busy – fantastic – but really busy. I had a major contract to complete, managing the media at Rotorua Airport for its inaugural Sydney flights just two weeks before Christmas, a last minute trip to Wellington, Oli finishing up at school, Christmas to try and organise, as well as the financial pressures that have plagued us most of the year – to say that I got overwhelmed would be the understatement of the century.

I’d be tossing the Half Ironman around in my head for a few weeks. I was so incredibly determined not to give up. But the turning point came during a particularly unpleasant work experience in Wellington. I was absolutely craving my little family, desperate for quality time with the boys – all three of them. By the time I got on the plane to come home my mind was nearly made up. If I was to do the Half Ironman there would be no quality time, I would be training twice a day throughout the Christmas break. Not only that, I wouldn’t get the break that I knew I so desperately needed.

Despite this, I wasn’t going to give up easily and I knew I had to explore it properly so that I would know later (like when I’m watching the start next Saturday) that I hadn’t rushed it and that I had made the right decision. I talked to Mike, I talked to Mary Ann, I talked to Lisa (Coach’s wife) and finally I talked to Coach. They were all so supportive and I’m so grateful for their guidance and advice. As everyone very quickly reminded me, my ultimate goal is not the Tauranga Half Ironman in 2010 – it’s the full Ironman in Taupo in 2011. It always has been and until I’ve done it, that will always be the goal.

And I have still achieved a massive amount in the past 12 months. I can run! I can ride! And I can put it all together with my swim in ever-increasing distances. I’ve lost 10kgs and my stomach is better than it has ever been. These are achievements not to be laughed at.

So, I won’t be lining up in the Tauranga Half Ironman next weekend. But, I’ve made friends with my children again – particularly Toby who has been ignoring me for most of the year. I’m not the favourite (and I don’t want to be) but at least he’ll come to me now when he needs a cuddle. And Oli has caught his first ever fish, so exciting. We had a lovely Christmas with family, which even extended to several wines for me – the first ‘several wines’ I’ve had for over half a year. New Years Eve was spent working at Mt Maunganui (very entertaining), while New Years Day was spent working and sleeping. I’ve had a break, and I’ve needed it.

But this post’s story doesn’t quite end there. I couldn’t drop a goal without setting new ones could I?!

So, upcoming events are:

Kinloch Triathlon (Sprint) 7 February

Police Triathlon Champs (Sprint) 17 February

Takapuna Triathlon (Sprint) 21 February

Rotorua Half Marathon 7 March

Rotorua Marathon (gulp!) 1 May

I actually can’t wait to watch the Tauranga Half on Saturday – I know I made the right decision. See you all at Kinloch!