Lanzarote: Going Long

WHY? The first question I always get is why? There are loads of reasons, let me try to explain... Many years ago I watched a program about the Lanzarote ironman following 3 blokes from the UK preparing for it. I think it was a one off, hour long show. I remember thinking at the time how amazing yet mad that was. My thoughts were along the line of that is amazing but I could never do that. From that point on I was always aware of ironman events. Jump forward to 2009 and I am on holiday in Lanzarote with family. It wasn't the first time I had been there and in the past had kept an eye out to see if the ironman coincided with our visit. In 2009 I had completely forgot about the ironman until we drove past a poster and I realised that it was on whilst we were there. This got me really excited, I knew I had to see it. The day off the ironman we were travelling around the island sightseeing and got to see a few sections of the bike. We decided ... or rather I insisted that we went to  Puerto Del Carmen to see the transition area and athletes out on the run course. From the moment we got there I was absorbed by the atmosphere, people lined the streets and bars watching the event, the music was pumping and generally the atmosphere was euphoric! I was hooked! In the back of my mind I was think I could do that. I had 2011 in the back of my mind. I came home booked my first triathlon started reading some magazines and began to follow a generic training plan. Tri no. 1 was at Nuffield sports centre around st albans. I didn't need much kit as it was a pool swim and I used my mountain bike. The event was geared around beginners so was a good start for me. I finished the event, got the bug and started planning... The next tri was to be in Leeds in September. In this time I made a few investments in kit i.e. Road bike, wet suit, tri suit, the list goes on and on and on The Leeds tri was a really good experience, it had both a hilly cycle and run course. I didn't do too well but got my first Olympic distance tri under my belt. I learn't a lot about where my weaknesses were and how seriously I wanted to take this going forward. The next steps were: - Get a coach - Buy more kit (you'll see a trend here) - Get entered into the UK half ironman (said the be the hardest in the world) - Get some swimming lessons to improve my technique I'll talk more about the half ironman in other posts but I am going off topic... So back to why. Seeing the ironman in 2009 got me really excited. I have always liked a new challenge but I want to really test myself both physically and mentally .As my dad has always says "you're a short time alive and a long time dead". I want to tell my grandchildren about the things I have done and inspire them to challenge themselves. I don't know where this journey will take me ... but I know that it does not end on 20th May 2011 in Lanzarote... Jamie's blog can be found at www.kinchy.net