Iron Jack

I have often compared Ironman training and childbirth - usually when I’m slogging my way up some hill in Waikite Valley. Most of the time I’m swearing black and blue that childbirth is easier!

And today I can confirm that some of the aftermath and recovery from a big bike ride are exactly the same!

Today I finally rode the Taupo Half Ironman route. The Taupo Half Ironman is now less than two weeks away. I’m completely petrified. But that’s another story.

Another 5:30am start saw me breakfasted and collecting today’s riding buddy, Deborah, just after 6am. Rather than drive all the way to Taupo, we parked at Reporoa and road the route in reverse, down Broadlands Rd to Taupo and back again. This is also the full Ironman route - albeitthe full route takes in two laps. I had tried to ride this route once before with Mike - it didn’t end well!

So it was with some trepidation that I set off this morning. First and biggest mistake today - trialling some new chafing cream. I’m out of Bodyglide, but have also found some other cream that is doing the job even better. I’d run out, they don’t sell it at my bike shop and so I tried a new one - highly recommended by my bike shop and many others. And our club legend Jamie (who rode the Extreme Enduro 8x laps of Lake Taupo non-stop last week!!) swears by it.

But it didn’t work for me. We’d only done an hour and my bottom was absolutely burning. I was really worried I was going to open up my wound it was so sore.

I managed to put it to the back of my mind into Taupo - got off the bike for a toilet stop and actually felt pretty comfortable and more than capable of riding the 45km back. We set off again - this time to tackle the Napier-Taupo Highway hill. This hill keeps me awake at night. When I first left Auckland to take up my first journalism job at age 21, I flatted just off the Highway - and I recalled many a late night stumbling up or down the hill or my way to or from the pub. Today, I got up it no problem. It wasn’t a speedy climb, but it was fine, and nowhere near as bad as some of the hills we’ve been climbing in the Waikite Valley! So that was a big mental achievement.

Next were a series of quite quick downhills, managed to catch up a lot of speed and increase my average. Very happy. And then, with about 20km to go, all on the flat, my bottom really let me down. Every pedal stroke was an absolute burn. It was agony. I literally crawled my way home.

On the plus side, I did it, quicker than I thought - even with crawling the last 20km. My average speed was better than ever before. I know I can ride up the Napier-Taupo Highway hill and I have ridden the Taupo Half Ironman route. On the down side, a sore bum is just the pits and can ruin the ride - and your speed.

So lesson learnt, stick to the chafing cream I know and love!

Which brings me to childbirth.

When I came home from hospital with Oli nearly six years ago, my sister-n-law presented me with a tupperware container containing a pad which had been frozen in a tea tree oil and water solution. Just the trick for sore, tender bottoms apparently.

And it was! Absolutely bliss, numbs the area and the tea tree oil helps take care of any bacteria that might be hanging around.

So here I am, back to the beginning. And I can confirm, that an old wives tale for soothing sore tender bits after childbirth is just the best thing ever for a numb, sore bumb after a long bike ride! Thanks Sarah!

I am officially entered in the 2011 NZ Ironman. Am really excited and completely petrified at the same time.

But at least I’m in, unlike many other people who have missed out.

For the first time ever, the NZ Ironman event has reached capacity and it sold out in just 13 days! It caught many people out, many who will be first-timers whose goal was only ever going to be doing “an Ironman”. From now on, if you even think you’re going to want to do an Ironman, you’re going to have to be ready to enter as soon as it opens - you won’t have the luxury of waiting until October (or even later) to decide if you’re ready or if you’re injury free.

It’s going to change the nature and culture of the NZ event forever.

Approximately 800 entries had been filled in the first five days, with the vast majority of those going to Australians who had already experienced their two Ironman events selling out - one sold out in less than 24 hours. So there may well be more Ozzies than ever before, and potentially, less of the average back-of-the-packer who simply wants to survive. Those people have always been at the heart of NZ Ironman so I hope that doesn’t change too much.

It also means that relatively new, local events like Challenge Wanaka are also in for a sudden increase in numbers, as those who seek to simply complete an Ironman look for a new event to enter. Challenge Wanaka sounds like an amazing event in stunning scenery, but how will its unique experience be impacted by a sudden influx in numbers?

At the same time, setting early goals and planning to achieve them isn’t a bad thing. Surely there’s nothing like the motivation of being entered to keep you going?

So I do have mixed feelings about what this means for the event.

But as a result of entering, I am living, breathing, eating and freaking out about Ironman more than I ever have before. I dream it - or rather I have nightmares about it; my training programme has gone up a huge level; I’m reading everything I can get my hands on - and unfortunately I’m not sure that is helping! I’m also sick and have already missed three days of training which doesn’t help!

I’m sure this panic phase will pass. There are still 287 days until the start line. How bad could the training possibly be?? Yeah right!

Anyway, I’m lining up alongside some fantastic friends and training buddies for next year’s event. Here’s the list so far:

Mary Ann Patterson - my fairy god mother and constant motivator, supporter and friend. She may have moved to Palmerston North, but that hasn’t stopped the banter and phone calls and us giving our coach grief!

Alison King - the journalist I was never going to be, fellow redhead and training buddy. 2011 will be her fourth - yes fourth! - Ironman and she’s after new times that shes not yet ready to share - I know she’ll get them too.

Ben Shaw aka Binga - one of the key people in the whole Ironjack journey. Ben did his first Ironman in 2005 and was meant to do his second in 2006 - the year the swim was cancelled. He’s been battling injuries and babies ever since but is determined to get back to the start line. He’s always been my inspiration to do triathlon, and then Ironman, and I’m stoked we’ll be lining up together next year. He’s also married to one of my closest friends.

Ingrid Tiriana - one of the first people I met at RATs - and quickly discovered we had a common friend! Ingrid is a true Ironman inspiration (I say that a lot don’t I? I guess its because pepole who do Ironman are completely inspiring!) Anyway, Ingrid did her first Ironman in 2009 - after suddenly discovering a random heart problem during her training for 2008. Despite this, she achieved her goal of finishing in 2009 and now she’s back for more!

So the countdown is now well and truely on for 2011 NZ Ironman. Even though there are moments of real panic, I am also extremely excited. It’s time - bring it on!

Start line 2010 Ironman

Its not every day that you end up being interviewed about your Ironman journey on TV. Not once, not twice, but actually three times in one week! Its all part of my goal to not only keep myself honest and motivated towards my own goal, but hopefully motivate others to get going as well.

Here’s the interview on Rotorua TV:

Ironjack on Rotorua TV!

I am sore. Very very sore. Challenging bunch ride for me on Sunday which left me not only feeling stiff and sore in every part of my body, it also left me quite disheartened. But that’s a blog post for another day.

Important to move onwards and upwards and what better way to restore the faith than by a run on part of the Ironman course in Taupo!

Whenever I go to Taupo for work I always make sure I drive through Reporoa along the Ironman cycle course. By travelling it every second or third week I’m starting to get quite familiar with its dips and dives. Of course, that will be nothing to actually riding the course on my bike, but its a good start.

Today I also had enough time to take a very early lunch break and fit in my run down there as well.

I set off at a decent pace - heart rate zone three to be exact - and managed to maintain that for most of the run. I started just up from the swim/start finish, and then ran along the lake front until I got to the Napier/Taupo Highway - a good milestone turnaround point, and exactly 25 minutes, theoretically making it a 50 minute round trip. The loop back was slightly faster so I finished in just over 45 minutes, having run just under 6km. This is getting slightly faster for me, so I’m pleased with today’s effort.

Of course, the big reality check is that isn’t even one quarter of the Ironman marathon, but it still felt great. I’m a big one for visualisation, and as I was running I could literally picture the path on the day, with crowds of people on either side. I could feel the heat, and the exhaustion, and while it was nowhere near an accurate re-enactment of the day, I do feel like it was a good start. Even just realising I would be running on cobblestones for around half of the Ironman run was an important note to take.

So all in all, a good day out.

Postscript: Having the theme song to Rocky coming on the MP3 player may have been over-doing it just a little however.

Fortunately I did have a spare tyre with me - two actually. Unfortunately what I didn’t have was a pump. Also what I didn’t have was the knowledge and ability to actually change the tyre. It wasn’t all bad though, it was a last minute decision to actually take the saddle bag with me, along with its two spare tyres, so it could certainly have been a lot worse!

I was also very very lucky to be riding with the other two amigos - plus an extra amigo. Between the three of them they had the knowledge and ability to change the tyre, while I kept watch for cars and took photos on my phone!

Text to coach with photo.

Text back from coach:

“Three of you to change a tyre. One to hold the wheel, one to hold the pump and one to ring for instructions?”

However, as I pointed out to him, at least we were out there. And indeed we were. My flat tyre aside, we had a fantastic ride. The first one on the road for Mary Ann and I since our last events. Our route last weekend was largely dictated by the upcoming 100km Flyer cycle race between Rotorua and Taupo. That’s not an event that I am lining up for, however, Nina and Mary Ann are, so wanted to check out some of the course.

We drove out to Waiotapu and left the cars at the Pub. We headed down State Highway Five as fast as our pedals would take us. It turns out people drive very fast down that highway - including very large trucks - so we were pleased to finally get off the main road and head to Reporoa. Located literally halfway between Rotorua and Taupo, Reporoa is also the bike turnaround point for the Ironman - I have a feeling this is an area I’m going to get to know very well!

The 100km Flyer also includes a wider loop around the Reporoa countryside before taking the more direct route into Taupo. We headed off along this loop for an extremely pleasant ride. Very quiet (apart from our talking and laughing), lots of lush green paddocks, cows to talk to, trees and the odd farmhouse. It was largely flat, with a few little hills and we managed to boot along at a fairly decent clip. Until I got my flat tyre.

We had only just kicked off again after a short nutrition stop. I’ve never had a flat tyre before and was expecting a thump thump thump like on a car. But it was just really bumpy. I couldn’t work out if it was flat, or if it was just a really stoney road!

“Does my tyre look flat to you?” I asked Mary Ann.

“Yes!” she said, screeching to a halt and calling the others back.

I was able to successfully take the wheel off the tyre and get the spare out of the saddle back - but that was where my expertise ended. Nina whipped out her super duper wheely device aimed at getting the tyre off in a flash. Unfortunately, there was nothing flash about my tyre. I don’t know how long it had been since it was changed, however, the inner tube was completely stuck to the inside of my tyre! With a great deal of grimacing and grumping, the tyre was finally off. In went the new tube, slight pump and then finished off with an air canister. Nina has all the toys - Mary Ann and I were very jealous and I suspect a visit to Kiwi Bikes is on the way!

We eventually got back on the bikes and headed back onto a much shorter ride down State Highway Five towards the cars. A final hill to finish off and our ride was complete.

Great scenery, great ride, great company and lots of laughs.

Jenny (left), Mrs P (Mary Ann on bike) and Nina changing tyre!

What an incredible weekend. Its hard to know where to start. Ironman 2010 in Taupo, New Zealand, was everything I thought it would be - and more.

It was exciting, exhilirating, nerve-wracking, exhausting and most of all, absolutely and utterly inspiring.

I think I’m still digesting the weekend and what it means for me, as I visualise lining up at the start line this time next year. I was completely excited about going to watch the event - but also completely petrified. I hoped it wouldn’t scare the living daylights out of me.

Well, most importantly, it hasn’t. If anything, I actually feel a lot more comfortable about the whole thing. Comfortable and confident that if I do the hard hards, I will be crossing the line to hear the announcer say, Jacky James, you are an IRONMAN! I can visualise the steps in my mind and how most of it will come together. There is still a massive amount to learn about training, racing and this particular endurance event.

I’ll probably download some more later, but here are some highlights:

• Coach won his age-group! Wahoo! And he’s qualified for Kona! Double wahoo! Absolutely incredible to watch him race - I don’t think I had quite warned him enough about my passionate sports supporting, but he certainly couldn’t have missed my cheering!
• A number of RATs members crossing the line, but most heartwarming for me was Clarrie - an “older” competitor, determined to do his Ironman. We used to be in the same lane at swim squad and he is the dearest man. He had a great race, finishing in just over 14 hours. Awesome.
• Ripping around on bikes to catch all our people racing and making sure we didn’t miss a bit.
• Finding an amazing kebab shop for tea!
• And along with Coach’s efforts, the biggest highlight for me was my friend Stu from Kapiti Coast - we met through the Twitter triathlon network, we both work for the same Government organisation and we’re both working towards Ironman after battling demons - Stu this year and me next. I’ve followed his progress with growing excitement and respect. Even with all is training and busy family life, he still finds time to shoot me his latest inspirational thoughts. Eight months ago Stu couldn’t swim. Today, he is an IRONMAN! I met his wife for the first time at the swim exit - and saw him for the first time then as well! We followed his progress throughout the race, and I even rode out to near the run turnaround because I thought he might need some support on the last stretch. He had an incredible race, finishing just under 13 hours - 12h53m. Awesome.

And one final highlight…Mike wants to do an Ironman now too and is talking about 2012! Wahoo!

I’m sitting on a plane on the way back from a four day holiday in Queenstown and Central Otago. When the wedding invitation arrived earlier in the year for a wedding in the middle of nowhere – okay Glenorchy – it was the opportunity we needed to leave the boys in Auckland for a week with the grandparents, and take a much-needed break just for the two of us. 

The wedding was for my dear friend Jasmine – a friendship forged at Outward Bound, and then over many drinks during a weekend in Dunedin for me, and another in Wellington for her. She was the “baby” of our “tight five” at Outward Bound – a core group of us who literally got each other through – Stu, Kath, Pete, Jaz and myself.

I had been to Stu’s wedding in Dunedin in 1999, Kath’s in 2003, and she flew back from Africa from ours later that year. Kath and I – the two red-heads of the bunch – have remained close and in close contact, sharing births of children and other life experiences. I had lost touch with Stu and then Jaz, and hadn’t actually seen or talked to Pete since Outward Bound. Apart from Kath, we were all reunited at Jasmine’s wedding. And true to form for her, it was the most Outward Bound wedding of them all, with the ceremony in the middle of a forest in the middle of nowhere, and the reception 30 minutes down a gravel road. And all the memories have come flooding back.

It’s now been 12 years since we took on Outward Bound, and I still carry it with me every day. It extended me in more ways than I could ever have expected or hoped for. And in fact I haven’t been stretched this far until my journey to Ironman began. When I was preparing for Outward Bound, I was living in Taupo, was single, a bit of a party girl, and had lost my way when it came to my career (hard to believe now!). At the time, I was often asked why I, of all people, was doing it.

Even my doctor expressed his surprise when he was giving me the medical all-clear to go.

“But you’re already such a strong, confident person, why do you need to go to Outward Bound?”

I’d also thought I was pretty good in the confidence stakes. I already knew I was assertive (my dad calls it bossy) and had a good level of self-esteem, and I was pretty fond of taking a leadership role (again with the bossy). I thought I was going to work on the fitness side of things.

Outward Bound certainly did stretch me on the physical side. I never realised what true exhaustion was and through aching and pain I found new muscles I never knew I had. I don’t think I’ll ever forget walking straight up hill, through solid bush, for four hours solid, carrying all our gear, running out of water and crying from exhaustion and effort. I didn’t think I could take another step further. But of course you do. And then you take another one, and another, and before you know it, four hours have gone by and you’re at the top. It’s an amazing feeling and one I’ll carry with me forever.

The day I arrived at Outward Bound I made a promise to myself that my low levels of fitness would not stop me achieving anything while I was at Outward Bound and it was a promise I kept. The rest of Hilary watch were much, much fitter than me. I was the slowest by far. But I kept plodding up the hill and used my mental energy to get me there.

Outward Bound pushed my personal barriers and took me to new levels. I found new limits, and I also found ways to push those limits and to take it one step further.

Twelve years on, I still apply these philosophies to my every day life. At work when I think I just can’t take anymore, I look back within myself and carry on going. I’m constantly setting new goals – both in my personal and professional life – and not a day goes by that I don’t think about Outward Bound and what it did for me.

I left Outward Bound an even stronger person than I was when I arrived. Sure I was fitter, but I was mentally stronger than I ever had been before.

As I think back on it now, I realise that Ironjack is my new Outward Bound. Its stretching my physically more than anything since Outward Bound. In fact, I’m fitter now than I was at Outward Bound. But its also about the mental game. Its all in my head. If I can beat that, I can do anything.

To the “tight five”, thanks for bringing back the memories.

The triathlon community on Twitter is an amazing thing, which has led to some fantastic contacts and connections for me around the world, and also a bit closer to home in New Zealand. Stu, aka @No_More_Shadows on Twitter, just sent me this from the Ironman website - I’m going to post it in front of my computer so I can come back to it every day.

The Ironman will try and psyche you out and wear you down over the course of the year. If you know what to expect then each swing Ironman takes at you will have less effect. The way ironman can beat you is with self doubt. If your self doubt gets to a point where you decide not to take on the challenge then Ironman has beaten you. This is where it beats most people even before they even get close to the start line. The first self doubt weapon is in the form of other people. They will constantly either tell you or imply that “you can’t do it” when they have no idea if you can or not. They will tell you “it is a long way” which is not rocket science. They will tell you they had a friend who has done Ironman and make them out to be much better than you. If they have done it themselves and are really self absorbed they will even imply how much better they are than you. The other even more deadly weapon is Ironman intimidating you directly. This will be you telling yourself you cannot possibly do something like that. What where you thinking? Are you insane? Don’t tell anyone or they will laugh, your not good enough, etc. This is all ironman trickery and not true at all. Be ready for it and know that this is what prevents everyone else from taking on the challenge.

A fantastic piece that I know will provide endless inspiration.

Stu’s on an amazing journey. You can check out his blog here http://no-more-shadows.blogspot.com/2009/01/journey.html He started riding in January 2005 after a health shock when he clocked in at 120kg. He’s now down dozens of major cycling events, including the Round Taupo maxi enduro and he’s on track for his first Ironman on March 6 next year.  And from the photos on his webpage, I’d suggest he’s probably half of his former self.

I can’t wait to be at Ironman to cheer Stu and all the other first-timers on. After all, it will be me exactly 12 months after that!

Or, learning to swim (again) when you ain’t got gills. I don’t think that’s quite what Tom Petty had in mind with that line but it works for me.

So back to the pool yesterday for an emergency coaching session. I had an absolutely rotten swim on Tuesday. Everything hurt and I felt like my stroke had gone completely to pack. I felt like I was going slower than ever, splashing about all over the show, and not able to swim very far at all. It was a disaster.

Resulting text to Lawrence afterwards:

“I’m having a swim crisis, can you fit me tomorrow?”

So at 3:30pm I rocked up and swam a few lengths. Nope, still rubbish. Lawrence arrived to supervise the stroke.

“Not good eh?” I stated the obvious.

“Hmmm, there’s a few things going on,” he replied. Understatement of the year.

After my last coach session with him, it transpired I was swiping to the sides. I’m now over-compensating by pulling my arms completely under my body. Hands still floppy, not “catching” the water. Hands entering the water thumb or palm first, not very efficient orf effective. They need to be little finger first, arms curved like over a barrel, hands following the line underneath me down the middle of the pool.

But worst of all, after spending the last several months “re-learning” my stroke and stopping windmilling. I have gone far too far the other way, and am now playing “catchup” all the time. Basically I’m almost like a rowing skiff in the water, glide, stop, glide between each stroke, as opposed to continuous stroke and glide. No wonder I haven’t got any faster in the past there months.

So now I’m back to a hybrid windmill/glide that attempts to capture the best of both worlds.

Aaaaargh. Who would have thought that swimming, my strength, my sanity, would start becoming my biggest nightmare!

Back to the drawing board again tomorrow morning. We worked out a new swim/drill programme that will see me swimming just over 2km in a session - with hopefully some significant improvements as a result. Fingers crossed.

“It’s actually not that bad,” he said afterwards. “Definiately don’t beat yourself up about it, you could already do the 3.8km if the Ironman was next week and most people can’t say that. We’re just making it even better.”

“Okay.” I said.

An hour later and I was setting my bike up for Lawrence’s spin class with the Tri Club. It rocked. I’m still buzzing.