Coach asked me to write about my goals for 2021, but I wanted to tell you a bit about my running story first……
I only started running in my early thirties; my lifestyle was nowhere near the best, I was overweight and a heavy smoker. But running gave me a new lease of life, healthier lifestyle and an active happier dad to my 3 beautiful boys. Running can be tough with many highs and lows (more highs than lows though), but it turned my life around and I still love it to this day.
I have made new friends from all around the globe so I encourage as many people as I can to run without trying to bore them too much with all my running stories 2020.
There were many things I wanted to achieve before I turned 40 (last year), Covid-19 may got in the way of our racing calendar but certainly didn’t stop me getting sub 3hr marathon time and PBs across the board. They may have been virtual but to me their all official & I will strive to improve on them once we get racing again and we will.
One of my biggest challenges was to complete my first Ironman, I was one of the lucky ones to get a place in the Celtman Xtreme Triathlon 2020 and we will talk about the extreme in a wee bit! I have been known to just turn up at events, but it was a blessing in disguise not competing in this event last year as I would have been nowhere near prepared for it. I have only done one half Ironman Braveheart back in 2018, so there is a lot of work to be done for me and especially coach lol
Right my goals, I didn’t think I had many to be honest besides to complete Celtman, but after some thinking I learnt a lot last year and am not getting any younger, so I want to train smarter less quantity more quality. So my first goal is to get focus with help from Sophie and we have put together a 21-week training programme; first goal ticked. I feel a lot more confident with this in place as I know what the next 5+ months hold for me in the way of training.
Ok the extreme bit the Celtman, SWIM 3.4K in cold, deep and jellyfish infested Atlantic waters, BIKE 202K on incredible scenic (and often very windy) Highland roads, RUN 42K through an ancient drover’s pass and over the Beinn Eighe mountain range.
My girlfriend Marianne and I travelled the west coast back in October and she suggested a fab idea to scout the routes out for the Celtman. I’m not going to lie, Ben Eighe was stunning but at the same time what have I sighed up to!!! Sight of the stunning waterfalls changed my mind and along with having secured Dazza (Darren Sutherland) as my support runner, we are all good and most importantly, we won’t get lost no way we can get lost.
Ok goals I remember on one of Sophie’s amazing training weekends, we learnt about setting realistic achievable goals so here it goes – 5 dead simple goals to keep me on track. 1.Stick to the training plan including any rest days! 2.Learn to fuel 3.Listen & communicate more 4.DIET – Eat much better! 5.Tell my EPIC story
I am over the moon with Sophie coaching me on my Celtman journey with having coached my running for the last year and I cannot wait to see how I get on. So let my journey commence – got the best coach, family and friends for support ………bring it on CXTRI 2021.