Training Alone - Motivation

On Saturday I cycled to Windsor and back, just shy of 100km's. We do a good route via Richmond Park, Kingston, Hampton Court and then along the quieter southern route via Sunbury, Shepperton, Chertsey and Virginia Water (for those that bonk and need to get the train home, not mentioning any names WJD). Then a quick loop of Windsor Great Park (what an incredible public space) in the hope of seeing some polo, having a bite to eat and then heading home.

I did 1hr50 on the way out with a nasty headwind, 20 mins round the park (no polo unfortunately), and then 1hr40 back. I don't know what it is about making it past half way but it motivates me no end. Just getting out on my own and getting a good cycle under my belt with no peloton or i-pod to assist helps with the confidence building and prepares you for the monotony of the 180km's that we will have to endure.

When you're doing these sort of sessions, there's not much that can motivate you aside from knowing - a bit like Daly Thompson training on Christmas Day - that you've got another session under your belt and hopefully it's one more than the competition. The thing with me and this Ironman is that the competition is not my worry. It's the getting round. And after watching the marathon efforts on Sunday in London it hit home what an epic effort it will be for everyone in TGS to get round in one piece. Chances are that some of us won't. Which will be gutting.

In the interim someone on the TGS list circulated the following story, post-London marathon efforts. If this isn't enough to motivate you then I'm not sure what is. It makes my worries about completing the IM pale into insignificance:

"Johnny brother's best mate got leukaemia and, despite a relatively good prognosis, sadly died 3 weeks later. He (Johnny) and Jez who both have a strong ironman/marathon pedigree set about a fundraising challenge running and cycling their way around the UK from Belfast to the London Marathon via a few marathons and major cities. Cycling through Angelsey Johnny's brother was knocked off his bike and instantly killed by an elderly man driving home from his wife's funeral. They buried him on the day of the London Marathon last year. Anyhow Johnny decided to pick up the fundraising challenge from the point on the road where his brother died and not being that fit battled through cycling around 100-140 miles a day for much of last week, knocking off a marathon in Bristol on Friday and then cycling to London for the Marathon on Sunday to finish it. It was pretty gutsy and running with him I've never seen determination like it, they nailed it in 4h12m in the end and was powerful stuff given the emotion"

I was also really sad to hear that a 30 year old woman died whilst running the Marathon on Birdcage Walk (under a mile from the finish). She seemed fit and healthy and, in my 30th year, I felt quite affected by this. I guess you just have to hope that the training puts you in good stead for a strong performance and that your time isn't up quite yet.... fingers crossed eh?!