Afganistan to the Nokia Windsor Triathlon

March 2010 - The Beginning

     John's training environment in Afganistan

 
Before I start this blog I need to thank two people: Kieran for getting me involved in this sport and the many conversations we’ve shared and Fiona for everything you’ve done and the support you’ve given me. I couldn't have done it with out you.

It’s strange how one conversation can pretty much change everything about a person; I had no Idea of the training involved and the commitment you need to succeed. I’m not saying this is for everyone, for some people it comes naturally, for me I have to work my backside off to get there.

 March 18^th this year I sat nervously waiting to meet Fiona, I’d gone online and sent an email to Triathlon Europe. Not long after I had a reply and questionnaires to fill in. After a long flight back from work to the UK, I was somewhat tired.  I had very little Idea what I was letting myself in for. Sat in Costa over a Latte, Fi asked me what I wanted to achieve?

“Noika Windsor Triathlon” Olympic distance

With a time frame of around 12 weeks I knew I was going to be testing myself, not only because two out of three of the disciplines were alien to me but also because of the surroundings I work in…

Having explained where I work in the world and the facilities available to me, Fi just smiled “it’s achievable & it’ll be interesting to see how you get on”                     

March 19^th an email from Fi with the start of what was going to be a hard 12 weeks. I’ve never really swum front crawl, it’s an art along with the techniques that go with it. The funniest thing was the training sessions set for me were lengths not just 2 or 3 but double figures. “Was this really achievable”??

I had three weeks off before I returned to work and knew I’d have to have a solid foundation from which to work from.

Swimming

   
 
 

I enjoy running, enjoy speed sessions, hill sessions and long runs but never in my life have I found myself gasping for air like I had experienced whilst swim training. Bi Lateral breathing, I was struggling to stay afloat breathing on one, side never mind alternate sides.

Three weeks later and life started to become a little easier. Or so I thought…

The bike

  The gym in Kabul, Afganistan
  
 
 

 I didn’t have a clue; the only bike I had ever owned was a mountain bike in my teens.

The first week or so my training for the bike was done in the gym, hard sessions followed by harder sessions followed by long sessions and then the nightmare began; “Brick sessions”. The hardest thing I have ever done bar none.

The Run

 What’s not to love about running, the sessions are hard they always are but out of the three I would choose this 7 days a week and twice on Sundays.

 The second week in, I knew I had to get a bike. Down to the local dealer and low and behold, hanging from the ceiling was a Triathlon bike (or TT bike as I know it now). I knew very little about what I was looking for but the gentlemen assured me it was a good bike to start out on. Granted he also told me it was a mistake getting it in the shop but offered me 15% discount to take it away there and then.

Bike, shoes and helmet purchased and things were looking good.

For those first three weeks my body didn’t know what had hit it, aches and pains that I never knew existed came to haunt me.

Stretching, Fi assured me would help. Incorporated from the start I had chosen to stray away from this on occasion to my own suffering and to this day I haven’t missed one stretching session since.

Training became a little difficult after returning to work, not for the lack of equipment (Gym bike & treadmill) but for the lack of a swimming pool. The problem was, I work and live in Kabul, Afghanistan for the best part of 9 months of the year.

After a week or so I managed to get around this problem and training resumed at full throttle. Question after Question I threw at Fi and time after time she was always there to give me the answers. Regular chats on Skype and emails back and forth really helped me out no end.

Weeks were flying by and training was going great, strength conditioning sessions, Bike & run sessions, swimming every couple of days, things were really starting to come together and the weight was dropping off me. I started out at the beginning of all of this at 82 kg, come race day I would be down to 71.5 kg and felt great.

 09^th June 2010, 4 days before race day. The flight over from work back to the UK wasn’t too bad. Nerves were building but I felt in really great shape. All I had to do now was buy a wetsuit.I’d read several magazines that were telling me a wetsuit had to be bought and worn several times before you actually compete.

For me, the only difference was, it kept me buoyant and that was a great confidence booster. I could ditch the armbands…

 12^th June 2010, registration day. What an experience. My first insight into what this event was all about. Bikes I had only seen in magazines were everywhere but what really amazed me was the atmosphere and how friendly people were.

Pre race chat with Fi in the evening and I was good to go. “ Just enjoy it” were the last words she used and she wasn’t wrong.

 13^th June 2010, Race Day.

Early mornings have never been a problem, light breakfast and into the car to head over to Windsor. I’ve never seen so many people around at 5 o’clock in the morning but they were everywhere and not just the triathlete’s but families too. I knew friends of Kieran’s said they were going to venture over and a couple of them I knew. My start time if I recall was 0635 hrs, Wetsuit on, bike prepped and running shoes good to go.In the water we went, pink swim cap and all. Quick brief by the events marshal and we were away. I’ve never done a river swim before and can honestly say I had no Idea what to expect. A frantic start, me at the back and I soon settled into a steady rhythm. Nothing fast or fancy, just get through this and that’s one down two to go.

Three things happened during the swim that I remember vividly, the first being the very first bridge you come to which I was assured was the turn around point, never again will I listen to someone (another competitor) who says with a smile that this is the turn around point. Realisation out of the way I carried on. The second thing was how daft I must have looked if a passer by on the riverbank had been looking over as I swam past with a big grin on my face thinking to myself” I’m swimming in the river Thames”.Thirdly, the lady at the end of the swim on the bank waving frantically at me and pointing the other way, yes I had overshot the exit point. A slight adjustment and I was out of the water and heading to T1.  
 

 Helmet, shades and the bike and I was off, exiting T1 I had a smooth mount onto the bike which was a godsend, the previous day before registration I’d spent about 20 minutes mounting and dismounting in the car park, short-lived by the fact that my shins couldn’t take the unbelievable pain that follows when you misjudge the pedals and they in turn proceed to spin at an unprecedented rate round and into your shins. Elastic bands are a godsend.

The bike was great, enjoyable by the scenery that surrounds Windsor. I had no Idea of the speed I was doing but I felt really comfortable on the bike, all I knew was I had to have something left in the tank for the run.

 

Coming back into T2, feet, feet, feet that’s all I kept thinking. That achieved and a safe dismount, the bike was racked. Because of the cold that day my feet were numb, trying to get my running shoes on proved to be somewhat of a challenge. Shoes on and I was exiting T2 for the start of the run and honestly I felt great. People were everywhere. Not that I had long to enjoy it, the small hill leading up along side the castle doesn’t look much but it takes its toll. Same speed up, same speed down and we’re away back onto the flat. A lap and a half in and the feeling starts to return to my feet but something isn’t right, nothing painful but something is in my shoe. Turns out the Gu energy gel I was looking for is in my running shoe. The three loops that followed were by far the most enjoyable. I remember seeing Fi and smiling, not just because she had come out to support me and other triathletes that she trains but because she had taken me from being average at one discipline to good at three.

I never had a finish time in mind for the whole twelve weeks of training, from start to finish it had all been about completing it.

I crossed the line in 2Hrs 42Min and a few seconds, the best and hardest thing I have ever done. Shoe off and yes the Gu gel was still in tact.

Does it stop there? Not a chance. A week after Windsor I competed in the Croyde Aquathon; 1 km sea swim followed by 7.5 km run sub one hour.

 
 
 

A couple of days after that I went to see Fi for one on one training sessions covering all three disciplines and a spot of lunch, what next?

Well, HSBC at Eton in September and the big question I needed an answer to; did she think that the Long course in Abu Dhabi was too much to soon? 

3 k Swim, 200k Bike, 20 k Run

Fi smiled. '' Based on what you've done in just 12 weeks, it’s achievable”.

Onwards and upwards

Thank you for everything Fi...

     John's training environment in Afganistan

 
Before I start this blog I need to thank two people: Kieran for getting me involved in this sport and the many conversations we’ve shared and Fiona for everything you’ve done and the support you’ve given me. I couldn't have done it with out you.

It’s strange how one conversation can pretty much change everything about a person; I had no Idea of the training involved and the commitment you need to succeed. I’m not saying this is for everyone, for some people it comes naturally, for me I have to work my backside off to get there.

 March 18^th this year I sat nervously waiting to meet Fiona, I’d gone online and sent an email to Triathlon Europe. Not long after I had a reply and questionnaires to fill in. After a long flight back from work to the UK, I was somewhat tired.  I had very little Idea what I was letting myself in for. Sat in Costa over a Latte, Fi asked me what I wanted to achieve?

“Noika Windsor Triathlon” Olympic distance

With a time frame of around 12 weeks I knew I was going to be testing myself, not only because two out of three of the disciplines were alien to me but also because of the surroundings I work in…

Having explained where I work in the world and the facilities available to me, Fi just smiled “it’s achievable & it’ll be interesting to see how you get on”                     

March 19^th an email from Fi with the start of what was going to be a hard 12 weeks. I’ve never really swum front crawl, it’s an art along with the techniques that go with it. The funniest thing was the training sessions set for me were lengths not just 2 or 3 but double figures. “Was this really achievable”??

I had three weeks off before I returned to work and knew I’d have to have a solid foundation from which to work from.

Swimming

   
 
 

I enjoy running, enjoy speed sessions, hill sessions and long runs but never in my life have I found myself gasping for air like I had experienced whilst swim training. Bi Lateral breathing, I was struggling to stay afloat breathing on one, side never mind alternate sides.

Three weeks later and life started to become a little easier. Or so I thought…

The bike

  The gym in Kabul, Afganistan
  
 
 

 I didn’t have a clue; the only bike I had ever owned was a mountain bike in my teens.

The first week or so my training for the bike was done in the gym, hard sessions followed by harder sessions followed by long sessions and then the nightmare began; “Brick sessions”. The hardest thing I have ever done bar none.

The Run

 What’s not to love about running, the sessions are hard they always are but out of the three I would choose this 7 days a week and twice on Sundays.

 The second week in, I knew I had to get a bike. Down to the local dealer and low and behold, hanging from the ceiling was a Triathlon bike (or TT bike as I know it now). I knew very little about what I was looking for but the gentlemen assured me it was a good bike to start out on. Granted he also told me it was a mistake getting it in the shop but offered me 15% discount to take it away there and then.

Bike, shoes and helmet purchased and things were looking good.

For those first three weeks my body didn’t know what had hit it, aches and pains that I never knew existed came to haunt me.

Stretching, Fi assured me would help. Incorporated from the start I had chosen to stray away from this on occasion to my own suffering and to this day I haven’t missed one stretching session since.

Training became a little difficult after returning to work, not for the lack of equipment (Gym bike & treadmill) but for the lack of a swimming pool. The problem was, I work and live in Kabul, Afghanistan for the best part of 9 months of the year.

After a week or so I managed to get around this problem and training resumed at full throttle. Question after Question I threw at Fi and time after time she was always there to give me the answers. Regular chats on Skype and emails back and forth really helped me out no end.

Weeks were flying by and training was going great, strength conditioning sessions, Bike & run sessions, swimming every couple of days, things were really starting to come together and the weight was dropping off me. I started out at the beginning of all of this at 82 kg, come race day I would be down to 71.5 kg and felt great.

 09^th June 2010, 4 days before race day. The flight over from work back to the UK wasn’t too bad. Nerves were building but I felt in really great shape. All I had to do now was buy a wetsuit.I’d read several magazines that were telling me a wetsuit had to be bought and worn several times before you actually compete.

For me, the only difference was, it kept me buoyant and that was a great confidence booster. I could ditch the armbands…

 12^th June 2010, registration day. What an experience. My first insight into what this event was all about. Bikes I had only seen in magazines were everywhere but what really amazed me was the atmosphere and how friendly people were.

Pre race chat with Fi in the evening and I was good to go. “ Just enjoy it” were the last words she used and she wasn’t wrong.

 13^th June 2010, Race Day.

Early mornings have never been a problem, light breakfast and into the car to head over to Windsor. I’ve never seen so many people around at 5 o’clock in the morning but they were everywhere and not just the triathlete’s but families too. I knew friends of Kieran’s said they were going to venture over and a couple of them I knew. My start time if I recall was 0635 hrs, Wetsuit on, bike prepped and running shoes good to go.In the water we went, pink swim cap and all. Quick brief by the events marshal and we were away. I’ve never done a river swim before and can honestly say I had no Idea what to expect. A frantic start, me at the back and I soon settled into a steady rhythm. Nothing fast or fancy, just get through this and that’s one down two to go.

Three things happened during the swim that I remember vividly, the first being the very first bridge you come to which I was assured was the turn around point, never again will I listen to someone (another competitor) who says with a smile that this is the turn around point. Realisation out of the way I carried on. The second thing was how daft I must have looked if a passer by on the riverbank had been looking over as I swam past with a big grin on my face thinking to myself” I’m swimming in the river Thames”.Thirdly, the lady at the end of the swim on the bank waving frantically at me and pointing the other way, yes I had overshot the exit point. A slight adjustment and I was out of the water and heading to T1.  
 

 Helmet, shades and the bike and I was off, exiting T1 I had a smooth mount onto the bike which was a godsend, the previous day before registration I’d spent about 20 minutes mounting and dismounting in the car park, short-lived by the fact that my shins couldn’t take the unbelievable pain that follows when you misjudge the pedals and they in turn proceed to spin at an unprecedented rate round and into your shins. Elastic bands are a godsend.

The bike was great, enjoyable by the scenery that surrounds Windsor. I had no Idea of the speed I was doing but I felt really comfortable on the bike, all I knew was I had to have something left in the tank for the run.

 

Coming back into T2, feet, feet, feet that’s all I kept thinking. That achieved and a safe dismount, the bike was racked. Because of the cold that day my feet were numb, trying to get my running shoes on proved to be somewhat of a challenge. Shoes on and I was exiting T2 for the start of the run and honestly I felt great. People were everywhere. Not that I had long to enjoy it, the small hill leading up along side the castle doesn’t look much but it takes its toll. Same speed up, same speed down and we’re away back onto the flat. A lap and a half in and the feeling starts to return to my feet but something isn’t right, nothing painful but something is in my shoe. Turns out the Gu energy gel I was looking for is in my running shoe. The three loops that followed were by far the most enjoyable. I remember seeing Fi and smiling, not just because she had come out to support me and other triathletes that she trains but because she had taken me from being average at one discipline to good at three.

I never had a finish time in mind for the whole twelve weeks of training, from start to finish it had all been about completing it.

I crossed the line in 2Hrs 42Min and a few seconds, the best and hardest thing I have ever done. Shoe off and yes the Gu gel was still in tact.

Does it stop there? Not a chance. A week after Windsor I competed in the Croyde Aquathon; 1 km sea swim followed by 7.5 km run sub one hour.

 
 
 

A couple of days after that I went to see Fi for one on one training sessions covering all three disciplines and a spot of lunch, what next?

Well, HSBC at Eton in September and the big question I needed an answer to; did she think that the Long course in Abu Dhabi was too much to soon? 

3 k Swim, 200k Bike, 20 k Run

Fi smiled. '' Based on what you've done in just 12 weeks, it’s achievable”.

Onwards and upwards

Thank you for everything Fi...