Still Sore!!!

Normally when I was doing my longer triathlon training hours I would be fatigued for sometimes up to 48 hours after the workout.  I am quickly learning the difference to training for Ironman and 400m sprints.  After the circuit workout Ron put me through last sunday I felt great that I had met such a great coach and that we got along so well right off the start.  Monday I was sore which I expected.  Tuesday was worse which was no surprise as two days after hard workouts usually are.  It is friday night and there are still parts of me that hurt from 5 days ago!!!   I have been training everyday during the last, but have been carefiul to eusure I have been having good warm ups and cool downs to ensure I do not hurt myself. 

One of my first true sprint workouts in over 10 years was today.  10-12 X 150m.  2 min recovery.  Me wanting to push myself finished 10 and said ok one more.  Then I finished 11 and said to myself ok 1 more.  Doing the little extra everyday is what is going to get me to the Olympics, not doing the bare minimum my coach asks of me.  It was a hard workout but I was better for it after it was done.

David

New Coach!!!

I met with Ron Thompson at Foote Field this afternoon for a meeting and workout.  The second I saw Ron I noticed him from my track days in high school.  We talked about alot of my past training and track history before starting the workout. 

Ron put me through a 90 minute circuit workout that nearly made me throw-up at least twice.  My shoulders felt like they were going to fall out of their sockets, my hamstrings felt like they were going to rip in two and I loved it.  I forgot what it was like to have a personal coach training with me and keeping me on target. 

I am sure Ron was using this workout to determine many things about me.  Obviously strength and ability but also drive and want.  After sweating and hurting through the workout we sat and talked for another 20 minutes.  I ask Ron if I was going to make it?  He replied, "only as far as your natural ability would take me, you have the heart to do it so we will see."  Thinking about his words they definately sound like a coaches answer.  Of course I wanted to hear yes you will, but realistically I know that would not be the case after one day.

Lucky for me Ron is retiring in October and has offered to work with me around my crazy shift work schedule.  His plan for the start is basic.  Obviousley I have missed the outdoor track season.  Ron is going to turn me into a 400m indoor speed deamon for the indoor track season.  He said it is a great way to build a bas fitness to prep for the 2013 outdoor track season.  We are going to start with 4 main workouts a week, hills, stairs, circuit and tempo run.  Down time will be 'active recovery', which means not sitting on my butt but not throwing up during training. 

I am really looking forward to the indoor season and increasing my track fitness.

David 

First contact with new coach

I just received a text message from the coach I have been trying to get in touch with all week!!  We are meeting at 2pm today for a meeting and workout.  I can't wait to meet with Ron today.  Very excited to get some structure to my training not to mention some technique work.  Will update tonight as to how the session went.  I can't wait to see the look on Ron's face when I tell himmy plan for the next 4 years!

David

Joys of Shift Work

Its 5am and I am just finishing my post workout meal.  Did I wake up at 3am to get a workout in before work?  No I am at work.  For those of you who don't know I am a shift worker 6-6, 5 on 5 off.  Our nights get pretty slow so I am able to take advntage of our gym facilities. 

While training for Ironman this would mean 2 hour spins on a stationary bike at my desk at 3am.  The bike has been put aside and I have discovered the medicine balls in our gym.  I am finding that by changing workout styles I am having better workouts.  For 11 years all I did was swim bike and run.  Time for a change and this is only the beginning. 

I had a really good medicine ball workout.  The majority of the workout was tossing the ball against a brick wall but anyone who has used a medicine ball before knows that your core is almost always engaged.  Strong core fitness is key to successful Javelin throwing (or so I have read).  Even researching Medicine ball training has been exciting.  This is a strange feeling I have not had for a long time.  Looking back it is almost as if I did Ironman training because I had to more than I wanted to.  Now I just want to do as much as I can as often as I can.  I have to slow myself down and remember that this is just the beginning. 

I have been off training for about 3-4 weeks and am feeling a bit sore as a result but that will pass as my body remembers the training and get's used to the new training I am doing. 

David

Life Changing Event

Last weekend I attended the wedding of a good friend of mine, Kevin Gregg.  Kvein is now married to an amazing woman, Kate MacLellan.  While attending their wedding in BC I met Kate's sister Rosie MacLellan.  For those of you who don't know, Rosie recently competed in the 2012 London Olympics and was Canada's only gold medalist.  I have met many medalists before and have had the chance to view and hold multiple Olympic medals.  As amazing as the medals are there is something even more special each Olympian I have met has.  Each Olympian receives a small gold ring with the Olympic rings engraved on top.  A token only available to a special group of individuals.  The ring is what is stuck in my head. 

In 2005 I was working for West Edmonton Mall and was actively promoting myself in order to obtain sponsorship from my employer.  At that time my goal was to compete at the 2012 London Olympics in triathlon.  Somewhere along the way I lost sight of that goal.  Whether it was work, school, or personal life I am not sure.  As the London Olympics happened that once forgotten goal was sitting in the back of my mind.

I cannot get the feeling out of my head that I am running out of time.  The entire 5 hour drive home I was running through scenarios in my head that would make it possible to attend the Rio 2016 Olympics as an athlete.  In high school I threw Javelin with little to no coaching or technique advice.  I ended up finishing 4th in the city that year and thought that was the end of my javelin career.  I turned to football after high school and triathlon soon after.  The last 11 years my athletic career has been dedicated to triathlon.  Don't get me wrong it has been an amazing journey.  I have attended 4 triathlon world championship events and completed 2 Ironman events.  I love triathlon and Ironman events, but I want to be an olympian.

Back to the car ride home, javelin popped back into my head and it has been all I have been thinking about for the past week.  Researching local track and field clubs, javelin workouts, technique and qualifying standards have taken up all of my free time.  For those who think this is not a serious thing, I have placed my $7000 Timetrial bike up for sale in order to prepare for the next 4 years.

My workouts this week have changed from 4 hour bike rides to sprints, strides, weights and medicine ball training.  My search for a coach continues and will hopefully be over soon.  There is a major track meet in Edmonton every summer and I hope to be apart of it next year.  I already have my sites set on IAAF World championships in bejing China 2015 leading up to Rio 2016. 

Please join me on my journey to Rio



David