By way of introduction I am a 33 year old city worker and have been an athlete under Fiona’s direction for just under 9 months. After finishing a number of years of combining full time work and part time study I felt the need to redress my work life balance so I decided on a program of events over 2009* for charity to encourage me to get out of the office and to training. Although having a sporting/ competitive swimming background as a young adult in my home country of Australia, prior to the start of 2009 I had not completed a triathlon or run over 15km competitively. Looking back with the benefit of hind sight the program of Marathons, Triathlons, sportives, Etapes and Ironman it was in a word “madness”!!! As I began to understand the gravity of the task I had committed myself too I decided I definitely needed help. Step forward Coach Fi.
After sitting down to discuss the events I had committed to for 2009 and Coach Fi getting herself comfortable with my sanity we laid out goals and a training schedule for the year to help me achieve the herculean task I unwittingly had set myself. Through following a structure approach to training “smarter” not necessarily “harder” it was able to complete all the events programmed for 2009, from my first ever triathlon in April (Sprint distance at Eton) to completing Ironman Western Australia in December (10 hours 33mins).
In looking back on 2009 there are many lessons that I have learnt, most the hard way, which will no doubt provide a springboard for a successful and enjoyable 2010 season. Obviously under the watchful eye of Coach Fi. Watch this space for 2010 antics and progress.
*The Marathon De Paris in April;
The Etape Caledonia Sportive in May;
The Eaton Sprint Triathlon in May;
The Tour of Wessex Sportive in May;
The Blenheim Sprint Triathlon in June;
The Windsor Olympic Distance Triathlon in June;
The Upton Olympic Distance Triathlon in July;
The Etape De Tour (Stage of the Tour De France) sportive in July;
The London Olympic Distance Triathlon in August;
The German 70.3 Half Ironman Triathlon in August.
The London Duathlon in September;
The Bustinskin Half Ironman Triathlon in September;
The Chiltern 101 Sportive in October;
The Western Australian Ironman Triathlon in December.
