May Newsletter
I’m sure many of you already know this, but on 17th April, one of my friends sent me a text message telling me I’d won a SECOND Ironman lottery slot to Kona. Hawaii (in as many years). This was a shock, especially as I don’t recall entering the lottery! It is the pinacle of triathlon to participate in the World Championships at the spiritual birth place of triathlon.
The wife was not too happy, considering the expense of taking the entire family last year, but after finding friends to look after the children whilst she comes along to Hawaii for an 8 day holiday, she soon warmed to the idea.
After completing (and I mean completing, not competing) 4 Ironman Events in a twelve month period, I truly thought that I’d retired from the sport, especially as my last event (Ironman Malaysia – the hottest Ironman on the circuit) truly tested my resolve to the Ironman creed of “Fight to the Finish!” The finish line is always a special place, but more so when you at times believed you’d never make it.
My P3 (Bike) and Race Wheels remain in the bike box from the last event, but I’ve pumped the tires up on my good old trusty Giant and now I’m back in training, although I'm still struggling with some calf/hip problems. My coach (Walter Thorburn) has told me I need to take this one seriously, so for the first time I’m off to swim squads. How cool would it be to put in a Personal Best Swim at Kona without a wetsuit? Given that my best swim time is 1hr 17mins, this should be achievable.
I don’t think my personal best bike time of 5hrs 40mins is up for grabs though, the wind and heat on the road can be quite brutal, not to mentioned the 30km hill to the turnaround, although my best run time of 5hrs 2mins is again up for grabs if I can start the race injury free. Whilst I’ve completed a hard 35km run in 2hrs 50mins outside of Ironman, running 42km in an Ironman is totally different. My only goal for Kona (apart from finishing) is to make it to the energy lab during daylight to savour the legendary heat, but it gets dark early in Kona, so will have to watch a few more videos to see if this is going to be possible.
Thanks to all friends, sponsors, training partners who’ve helped me in the last 22 months (yes I only started on this journey in July 2006, with my first Ironman in March 2007). I’m extremely privileged to be competing in Kona for a second time and I’m truly looking forward to it, but having done it once and been thru the heat and punishment of the strong winds, there is a slight nervousness that accompanies my eagerness to compete in this great event again.
This year I joined the Auckland Referee's Association, so have found the perfect Saturday run training. Refereeing back to back junior (ie two) rugby games is not easy, especially when I pride myself with being behind the try line to blow my whistle every time a try is scored. My those kids can run fast!!!
One final thought, remember the famous quote “If God invented marathons to keep people from doing anything more stupid, triathlon must have taken God completely by surprise.”
Will keep you posted!
Regards
Lardman
(aka Jose Luis Fowler)
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