2012 Ironman World Champion

It was just one month ago, on April 16, that I ran for the first time in 6 weeks. That run consisted of three 100m sprints, and a walk back to the start with eyes closed. This was the culmination of four days learning a new approach to allowing my body to heal itself and how to keep my body healthier and as stress free as possible.

When I asked my instructor at the end of the course about whether he thought it was a good idea to race Honu Ironman 70.3 in 6 weeks time I was tentative for fear of him saying no. Of course his answer made perfect sense, as he explained how there is no need for a certain length of training or tapering before racing. Being relaxed and training instinctively means that I can race whenever I want.

The Big Island of Hawaii has almost always been a place of joy, prosperity, and growth for me. I have always felt comfortable, relaxed, and at home when I have been to Kona (raced 6 times, visited once), and I am very excited and it seems fitting that this will be the place where I test my new approach. I won’t be as fit as I would be when I normally arrive in Kona, but my mind has more control over my body than it did before, and my body is stronger due to a gym program that I have never done before.

Jaimie was in a similar boat to me, having been injured with plantar fasciitis since Philippines 70.3 in August last year. We have both only started training recently, but we are doing much of it together, relaxed, happy, and it doesn’t even feel like training. Racing together in Hawaii will be incredibly special. Jaimie races age group and would love to one day race in Kona at the World Championship, but with my plans to race there every year it may be tricky for us both to compete on the same day, but I won’t say it’s impossible. For now though, racing together in Honu 70.3 will be something I’m sure we will remember forever, especially if I can have the sort of race I normally have on the Big Island.

Hawaii’s position on the globe also means it is a favourite race for Australians, and I’ve got plenty of friends racing in age group, and most of the pro male field is Australian too – although for them it’s either a stop on their way to mainland US, or they are coming from the US. Craig Alexander is the main threat, and he obviously has a strong connection to the big island too. Along with Paul Mathews and Luke Bell who both have very strong 70.3 results, Jordan Rapp will be trying to fly the flag for USA against the Aussie invasion.

I’ll be racing my own race – in control, patient, and going hard when I feel good – just like I did in October. Although my prep has been short, the Brownlee brothers just showed that 6 weeks is all you need to get in great shape. Next week I’m heading to the place where I did my pre Kona 100km time trial, and I’m really interested to see what I am capable of compared to 2 weeks before the Ironman World Championship.

Train smart, & relaxed.

PJ

Living in Noosa is great, because people always want to come up for a holiday, or to do some training. It was awesome when my good mate and sporting Idol John Maclean came up for a week with his wife Amanda and son Jack. Any time spent hanging out with John is a relaxing, motivating, and learning  experience. His books are great reads because he is such an open and honest guy who is very self aware. Hearing the stories from so many of his athletic feats and adventures makes you look at what you are doing, why, and how you can do it better. As a businessman, life coach and speaker John is very successful too, because of the same attitudes he puts to achieving his athletic goals, he also puts personal life under the same scrutiny.

This time we caught up I was able to introduce him to someone I had recently met who has changed my mindset and my mind/body connection. The technique is unknown to all but a few who have met the guy who discovered it (more info to follow later this year), but the principles can be put in place without knowing the technique. They are; the mind controls everything, and causes a physical reaction to every thought you have. As so many of us have thoughts which put our mind or body under stress so many times throughout everyday, the result is catastrophic. Stress related illness, disorder and injury is real. You can only every be in a state of growth or protection. Even tensing as you try to hang on the back of a group of cyclist  is a negative reaction and blocking the flow of energy and changing your state. Stay relaxed. Stay in a state of growth. Read More…

Jaim and I have spent the last few weeks here in California doing all sorts of work. I was very nervous about the freezing water in Alcatraz (47/10.5 degrees) but thankfully good preparation of many layers kept me warm. I was very happy to finish 4th for my first race of the season when I hadn’t been training too much in the swim and bike. Javier Gomez won comfortably.

We are having quite a few meeting with sponsors, potential sponsors, and people who want to work together for mutual benefit and growth of triathlon. My website will be getting a facelift over the next few weeks, with an online store so we can fulfil the requests of race outfits, signed pictures etc. that I get asked for. Part of the profits will go to the John Maclean Foundation.

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It’s been 8 days since the race, and it still doesn’t seem like I’ve won. It hasn’t sunk in at all. Chatting to Chris McCormack and Chrissie Wellington after the race they said it won’t, not for a long time, maybe not till the lead up to next years race. I really appreciated the opportunity to chat to them.

After leaving Kona Jaimie and I spent 5 nights in Waikiki, and I did get stopped in the street, a lot. It seemed like every Australian triathlete was there this week, as well as plenty I knew who were there just on holiday. It is weird when I am asked how it feels, and I am just blank. I can hardly recall the race without a pause for deeper thought. It all seems like a dream I had several years ago. Funny, because that is exactly what it was.

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