Getting Stronger

So I know it's been a while since my last blog, I do apologise, I have been busy training... umm, racing, umm oh hell, I confess I've just been lazy.  It's been an interesting time.  A time of milestones, disappointment and success.

As far as my fund raising campaign goes, I have not only managed get my first donation, I have actually managed to raise ZAR1000... CHA CHING.  Ok, I know it's not much in the greater scheme of things, but it is a start and it can only get better, right?  Well regardless, the ball is rolling and I am very positive.  Everything will work out just as it should... as always.

In the interim I have been very busy training, I followed my programme religiously, well almost. With the exception of a few too many rest days for my liking. And of course the 3 week vacation in Thailand. And the 3 weeks I was out with the flu... come to think of it, I've been very bad. Hard to believe I have been as successful as I was.

Lets see, there was a sprint triathlon... 750m swim, 20km cycle, and 5km run. Weather was shocking. It was the hardest swim I could have imagined, breathing was to say the least, an issue. It took me an eternity of 25 mins to complete the swim. Turns out, my swim was not as strong as I'd imagined. After having to wrestle with my mind about the not being able to breath, I managed to gather myself and move on.  Managed to complete the cycle and run pretty comfortably feeling good, and at not too bad a time either.  Total time of 1h30... about what my target time was.  Was feeling really impressed after this race.

Then there was the olympic tri... 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run. I did a bit more work on my swim, having the last debacle in mind, but when the race started, conditions were ideal. Water was beautifully flat, weather was cool. having the boosted confidence of the last race, I really had a good day. I struggled a bit with the transition from swim to bike, but once the legs warmed up, there was just no holding me back. I finished in a proud 2:59... making it a sub 3. Just barely, but sub 3.

With all the confidence and pride brimming from the previous races, I was just on such a high. Loving every minute of the training as well as the races. Tried my hand at another 94.7 cycle challenge. The plan was to do it in under 3 hours. At kilometre 70, I was at just 2h12 and was just about to start my sprint to the finish when my chain comes off, bending my rear derailleur in the process. I managed to make a makeshift repair, leaving me with only 2 working gears (the 2 front chainrings).  All things considered, I finished in a 3h19.  Not bad at all, at least I thought so. Now I just need a proper bike. Oh damn.

That brings me to my nemesis  dun dun duuuuuun. It was me vs the ultra triathlon. A half Ironman dist monster.... make that THE half Ironman distance. Yes, the same one that killed me before. The Midlands Ultra.  I am so ready to face this beast.  It's the one thing I've been training for all this time. My eye opening race.  The only difference is, this time I am ready.  This time, I'm prepared. I trained. I can absolutely, unequivocally  without a doubt say, I am ready. In fact, I am even aiming for an under 6 hour time.  Come race day, things don't go so well.  I am at the transition on time, bike racked and ready. Waiting for race briefing...and waiting, still waiting. Weather is yet again, against us. All the training, all the expense, all the hard work, time and effort culminating in this one event, and the weather has other plans.  Fog so thick, we can't even see the dam.  Eventually at 9am they call it "It's not safe to continue folks, we have to cancel."

How sad, oddly enough, I really wasn't as disappointed as I'd imagined.  I got to see my sister who I haven't seen all year, I got a pretty decent holiday.  So worth the trip.  However, there is this one slight detail I have overseen.  The race.  I return home, feeling a bit like something is lacking.  Just feeling like I didn't really want to put all that training to waste. So what do I do? I take the plunge. Give myself another target to work towards. I register for Ironman. Yup, just like that, on a whim. Just get on with it.  Looking back, I am not even the least bit unsure.  No second doubts, just kicked training into overdrive, and get serious beast mode going. I am actually excited to see how I do with it.  Looking forward to the race.

In the meantime, I will keep trying to raise more funds for Kids Haven, I will keep training and working and keep you informed, as I progress along my journey of getting there.

My program

It was a real challenge finding just the right balance for me. For those interested, I will be explaining my program, and how I decided on finalizing it as it is.

My point of reference was the dismal awakening at the first race. So I knew what I was doing was hardly enough. And what I was doing was a simple 10 hour/week program. Ride to work on the bike, get home, go for a swim and every other day, a run around the neighbourhood.  For the week that would be:

• 200 km cycle
• 12 km swim  
• 15 km run 

Really doesn't add too much in the bigger scheme of things, but I was feeling drained by the time Thursday came along. Only logical explanation was that I was training very well. NOT.  Something had to be done. It was time to get drastic. I did some research, and found a lot of 12 week training programs. And I mean a lot of them.  So what was I to do until 12 weeks before the race? I am assuming just sitting around waiting for the 12th week to come was probably a bad idea. Cue in, the insane gym obsession.

I joined the gym. After all, I needed to get fitness levels up, strength and stamina as well right?  Right. Well, in my defence, it is nothing that I was used to. As far as I knew, the gym was a bunch of sweaty guys picking up heavy things in some guy's dad's garage. To my surprise, they had everything I could possibly imagine (and some might I add, that I could never imagine the use... probably something out of some warped, twisted torture chamber.) Nevertheless I endured, went past the weights, and on to classes.

For those machismo Neanderthals who believe classes are for the less than adequate athletes (ashamedly, previously to my education, I would be classified as such), I have a surprise for you. They are actually quite the workout. I can even go so far as to say it is a fantastic workout. The different classes target different muscle groups.  Pilates is very good for core work, spinning is good for fitness and stamina. At least that is how it helped me.  Spinning is something I believe all cyclists should do. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it's a good replacement, far from it. They have totally different pros and cons which I won't go into. I am however saying that it is one hell of a substitute for when you can't get to the road for whatever reason.

I finally settled on the classes that did not leave me feeling like an uncoordinated oaf. If any of you have tried some of these classes, you'd know what I mean. You just about start understanding how to do the one routine properly, and the next one starts. It's a total nightmare if you actually trying to get a workout, and never get any momentum going. So I stuck with the very simple, easy to understand Pilates and Spinning. I also found that adding some weight training was helpful to get strength up, however, very time consuming. Thus, enter circuit. Fantastic full body workout, that is high impact and quick. In 20 minutes, I have done a full body workout of all the major muscle groups, and there is still time to get fitness and cardio levels up, just perfect.

Eventually, I started doing some sort of program:

• Every day I would cycle to work ( that's 40km a day for 5 days)
• Run to gym (about 7km round trip for 5 days). 
• At gym, it was swim Mon and Wed, 
• 2 to 3 Spin sessions a day and circuit every other day. 
• When I wasn't doing circuit, it was Pilates. 

This worked out very well for me, because when time came to try one of the 12 week programs, they were way too easy for me. At least so I thought, so I started adding a little bit of what I was already doing in the gym. Not changing the program, just tweaking and adding what I felt I needed. Lo and behold, I finally managed to work out something that worked for me. It left me feeling tired, but strong, confident and fit.  It's not as complicated as I had imagined:

• Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays were swim days
• Sundays rest, 
• Saturday was long cycle/brick day, 
• and Tuesdays and Thursdays running days. 
• Adding circuit, Pilates and spinning in the mix, and I had a really intense, challenging workout. 

Best of all is, I was doing more than the bare minimum required according to the program I had found.  It turns out this worked well for me, very well in fact. The logic behind it is, get myself race ready, and still have a year to improve from there. If I can by some miracle, actually do well, then I can get a bit more exposure for Kids Haven. And more exposure might actually lead to some much needed financial aid.

 Above is a copy of my program for anyone curious to try it out. It gives more detail of what I do and when. I still have a year before I tackle the full Iron Man South Africa, so I will be changing and tweaking the program as I need, as my fitness levels change. For now though, this works very well for me, for the time I have available to train and my own personal fitness. I started this program 12 weeks before the Midlands ultra, the same half Iron Man distance race that killed me before. In all fairness, it is a program for a full Iron Man, but I had the strangest notion that I should rather be over prepared than the last hilarious attempt where I was so hopelessly ill prepared.  I will not be talking much more about my races, except to mention how and why I change my program. I would really hate to bore you with small details.  This is after all, a blog about a journey. A story about an average guy trying to make a difference in a crazy world on his road to getting there.

5. The cycle... well almost

Getting ready for the cycle was a lot harder than I had anticipated. Prior to this, the last time I had been on the bike was for the 94.7... In 2005 and to be completely honest, I had been on the bike once before that to train for the 94.7. Before that was at primary school. Si fu Bruce (an inspiration to anyone trying to better themselves) convinced me to join a team.  For all intent and purposes it worked out pretty well. I managed to finish the race... maybe not well, but I did finish. That being said, I was in the peak of my athletic life.  Doing kung fu 4 times a week, 3 to 4 hours a day. Strong as an ox, super fast and just wouldn't say die. So obviously, in my mind I had the cycle under control. 

First thing, was to get a bike. Holy hell so many beautiful choices and none of them I could afford.  Mean machines, fast machines, beautiful machines. I managed to settle on a umm... machine.  More like jalopy.  Found an old Giant 7 speed road bike that I could afford and immediately jumped on the offer.  It was going for a third of the price of the cheapest one I had seen until then. Man I need to win the lotto. 

Regardless got the bike, cleaned it up, serviced it, perks of being a mechanic I'm pretty good with that type of stuff. My jalopy was looking like a baby now, and ready to hit the road.  First run, I decide to ride to work. It's only 20km, so I know it's manageable.  Don the helmet, high viz jacket and get going. About 3 km down the road, my 8 year old cleats (never been used btw) decide they were not prepared for this. The entire sole of the shoe comes off mid stroke. Problem, I can't exactly head back home, I'm going to be late for work. I press forward with one cleat and one... almost cleat. Manage the 21 km's in about an hour. The ride home was done in safety boots.  Just as entertaining, but a lot more comfortable.  

As time progressed I got a lot more comfortable and faster on the bike. Slowly started gathering gear.  Almost started looking like a cyclist, until... I'm not sure if this has happened to anyone else before but I felt like a real tool.  Finally managed to get a new pair of cleats, and on the first trial run, first traffic light I stop at something tells me... you're forgetting something dumbass.  Then I stop and try to put my foot down for balance.  Alas, my foot is still clipped in.  I somehow managed to completely get off the bike and walk away, milliseconds before I could taste the flavour of the pavement. The bike went one way, and I went the other.

Talk about the walk of shame.  Having to face the drivers of the cars next to me while I go pick the bike up must have been the single most embarrassing moment ever.  None of them drove away, even though the traffic light turned green, probably because they couldn't control their bodies from hysterical laughter.

TIP OF THE DAY: Don't try out cleats in peak hour traffic. Admittedly, the cleats do make the world of difference, when you eventually learn to use them correctly. 

A few weeks down the road I am really getting good with this cycling thing.  Ride to work is taking 45 min, I'm enjoying the view, zipping through traffic just like a real cyclist.

I had been training about 2 months and felt ready for the 94.7 in 3 weeks.  Figured it was time to try my hand at a real ride longer than 20km. A friend tells me to try out Suikerbos Rand Nature Reserve.  Apparently it's a nice game ride, great view, good road and best of all no traffic.  Of course I didn't notice any of this, I was too busy trying not to die.  It started with a 4km climb... about 90 ͦ incline, 20 km later, there was another 12 km climb... also about 90 ͦ It was a real killer. When I was done I decided I had to do it again before the race, so I went back the next week. Of course this time I did notice the view.   Tearing down at 40km/h the springboks bound effortlessly next to me as if curious to see what I was doing. Amazing, I was hooked on cycling. 

The next week I completed the 94.7 in 3h40min a full hour faster than my first attempt (when I was in my prime).  Felt really good about it like I could do any other race.  Kept at it, managed to get my average time for 90 km down to 3 hours, and figured I was ready for Midlands Ultra.  We all know how misinformed I was, don't we.  Now I am proud to say I have been training harder, putting in the time and effort and writing this, I am forced to look back and realize that all things considered, I am finally becoming a serious athlete. Even if it is for no reason other than my hilarious, stupid moments are slowly dwindling, making room for actual improvement in the sport itself.  It almost feels as if I am not so silly anymore, making fewer stupid mistakes, I am basically more seriously on my way to getting there. 

4. Mastering the swim

I'm really excited about this whole Iron Man thing and am so keen to get the training started. The cycle doesn't really phase me, nor does the run, so I start with the swim. Being a water baby myself, I reckon it can't be too bad. I mean I grew up in the water, taught myself to swim and everything. I grab a towel, and head off to the pool... this is gonna be so damn fun.

Get to the pool, along with Joe and Stace... I gotta admit I'm always dragging my family along to all my little adventures, and they obediently tag along, game to give whatever the flavour of the day is a try. It's the 3 of us at the pool, not a big pool just 25m. Early September and the days are starting to get nice and warm. Which of course gives me this false sense of security when I see the sign... "Pool heater out of order" I can already see in their eyes, they are not too keen on this insanity, but they persevere ( not sure if it's out of fear of me or just curiosity as to where this was going).We get to the water and right away I'm in... to my surprise, the sign saying the water temperature was 23 degrees was greatly exaggerated. It was more like 2.3 degrees to me! Remind me again why I'm doing this!!!!

I manage to maintain my composure, enough in fact to see Joe jump in as well... and get out just as fast. Almost as if he jumped on a trampoline, he jumped in feet first, and only managed to get his ankles wet. Seeing this, Stace didn't even bother getting in, she was the wise one. She grabbed my program, and started reading for me, assuming the role of coach. Joe immediately found the sunniest part of the place and started defrosting while he waited for us... much like a lizard, baking in the sun. Kinda reminded me of a chop on the braai.

Man, am I already hungry? This cold water is getting to me, I'd better move to keep warm. So I start, 2 warm up laps and my shoulders are dying, my lungs are bursting. Stace shouts out... 1 arm drills.. WTF? What is that? How do they expect me to swim with 1 arm? I just barely managed to do the warm ups. Man, I'm in trouble. I push through the program I had found and eventually ( In my mind 12 hours later) I hear her say... and the last one, 100m sprint. Jeeeez, I survived.. wheezing, sputtering coughing like an old jalopy in dire need of an oil change, I get out... This is gonna take some work.

Immediately, as I get home I start researching. Go out and get all the toys I need, pull buoys, kick boards, the works. I'm gonna do this. Next pool session, I found a proper heated 50m pool, was doing drills, and actually progressing. Almost to a point I could do a full length of 50m without stopping. This was getting serious. So I was working on my stroke, stamina, endurance and speed for like 2 weeks, could even do a full lap, when I see this old man coming for a swim. While I'm getting ready, he gets in and starts swimming. I take a moment to watch him and I think to myself... "self, he's not going that fast. His strokes are really slow and he's old and he's fat.... maybe I should race him. BUT DON'T TELL HIM" I get in and get ready, timing it for when he comes around for his next lap.

As soon as he turns, I'm off like a flash. A full on sprint. I mean, I'm tearing down that lane, I'm surprised I'm even touching water, I'm that fast. I get to the other end, and look up... The "old, fat man" is already halfway back and looks like he's not even changed his speed... and I couldn't do another lap if my life depended on it. Dammit, back to the drawing board. More research.  More practice. More drills. I eventually meet a group of guys training for the Iron Man and they invite me to join them for the swim training. Bonus! Just what I needed. They give me their program and we start working together. It was really hard work, the training partners really helped.  I kid you not, 2 months later I was ready for my first race... in fact, it turns out the swim section of that race for me was the easiest.

As time goes by, I will be posting the different programs that are working for me, until then, I am still in the process of tweaking and adjusting them to get the most out of them. Wouldn't want any triathlete hopefuls trying my programs and do more damage than good. The one thing that has been consistent, I've found, is that everyone says you need to do what's best for you. Everybody has different strengths and weaknesses and shouldn't follow someone blindly. Until then, keep at it, I will be posting what I can along the road to getting there.

3. Motivation

Exhausted, I'm laying on the bed broken and spent. Like a used dish rag that has been through the wringer. Unfortunately I can't sleep. Probably too high on adrenalin from the madness I had just put my body through, or maybe just too tired to consider sleep.  Nevertheless it’s hot, my body is aching, but my mind is racing.

If you recall I started this madness to raise funds for Kids Haven, a rehabilitation centre for street children. I'm laying there broken and battered like my dog's chew toy.  I start making little calculations, tallying up all the well wishes, promises and donations I have managed to collect for Kids Haven, well wishes, more than I could count so many saying "you're doing a good thing"  or "wow you're a good man to do this" even countless saying "you're better than I am " and "no matter how hard I tried I could never" unfortunately, cash monies collected equal a sum total of zero.

How could this be? I've put it out there the kids need help. I've spread the word of what I'm doing. I've been doing this for almost a year the kids should have millions by now.  I honestly had no idea it would be this difficult.  I was under the impression the athletic stuff would be the hardest.  Turns out I couldn't be more wrong.  

I think it was time to change my strategy, I figure if I'm going to make any kind of impact I will need to finish well and get noticed, hopefully even get a sponsor. So I started training, when I wasn't training, I was campaigning.  I'd ride my bike to work, which just for the record is such a good idea.  Especially for cheapskates like myself the saving on the fuel bill was astounding.  I was getting stronger, more used to being on the bike, saving money, win win. 

Except of course when the idiots were not trying to kill me.  I find it really difficult to understand, we cyclists take almost no space on a road yet people feel the need to pass us close enough to smell our goo's.  Almost as if they see you and think... hmm, I have some dust on the left side of my car... that spandex warrior will work really well to get it off. Then they wonder why we take up the entire road if we don't need to. I'll explain why we do that right now; we're just giving ourselves enough space if indeed we need to swerve away from an overzealous car clean freak.  After all we do not want to leave a nasty snot stain on your windscreen do we?  Apologies, as you can tell it does occasionally get a bit hair raising out there. 

I'm cycling, working out, swimming, running, doing everything I should have done before I foolishly tackled the race of death...death by stupidity.  And believe me when I say it is stupid to attempt an ultra triathlon when you are ill prepared.  So for now, when I am not training, I am at the PC doing the much dreaded networking.  Prior to this I was BBC (born before computers).  Facebook was just a site to find jokes and funny pictures, I had never heard of Twitter and blogging was some kind of secretion stemming from the nose that was never to be spoken about.  Now I am doing the posting, telling the jokes, trying to draw attention to my own little campaign, my idea of making the world a better place. Trying to do what I can to make a difference. Getting the word out there.

A typical session for me would be cycle to work in the morning... work.... cycle home.  Try not to puke for an hour, run to the gym. At the gym it is some kind of combination of swim, spin, run or circuit then repeat. A total workout of about 4 to 5 hours for the day. After that it's on the PC, telling you guys about it. I'm talking, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, any media mode I could find, I'm getting the word out. On the plus side all this exercise has my gut move from a barrel, leaning more towards a braai pack, and on a good day with a bit of imagination, if you squint your eyes just right and look directly at the sun you might even consider it a six pack.

You need to understand something about me.  Before I started this whole campaign, it would take me up to a year to say something to you.  I was always the quiet guy in the corner watching everyone at the party.  Kept my goings on really to myself, hardly said a word until I knew everything there was to know about you, what you liked, what annoyed you, what were your limitations, that way I knew just how far to go before you'd snap (my neck).  And I am unfortunately one of THOSE... those who will find a weakness, and tease, terrorize, torture and play until you can take no more and you will still love me for it.  For as torturous as I am once you get to know me,  you will always know to rely on me when you're stuck up a tree wearing nothing but a sock and a hair band. You will rely on me to tease you endlessly about it... after I help you through whatever the problem is. And now, it is Kids Haven I have in my sights, and they will not be getting rid of me for a long time.

Admittedly it has been a long and arduous road, with many up's and downs. Full of financial, physical and emotional challenges. I’m sure I'm not the easiest guy in the world to live with on the best of days, but now I have cycle gear scattered all about the library, gym equipment has overthrown the lounge, the kitchen is my own private science lab and the laundry room is just a nightmare. But I have been very lucky... I still manage to attain all my appendages regardless, we will see how long.

The hardest for me was a few weeks ago after endless campaigning, networking, all I had been getting was the usual religious and spiritual replies from everyone and not really any positive feedback, I read this post,  http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/other/2014/08/01/kids-haven-protege-wins-medal-for-south-africa

Turns out we are doing something, realize it or not and all we can do is keep at it. Kids Haven produced a Commonwealth medal winner they must be doing something right.  I have no choice but to keep doing what I am and hopefully I'm lucky enough to inspire one of these kids in the same way.

2. The First Race

Here we are, it's 5 am in Natal Midlands the weather is glorious, the sun is just about to start rising and we're in the car on the way to the race.  For the record, first half Ironman distance tri, and I'm stoked.  I've been training hard (at least so I thought ) for this and by all my reckoning should be tough but I should do ok.

My mind is racing flashing back and forth to training going through my pre race checklist ticking off everything.  Did I train enough, did I bring my HRM, water bottles, and did I pack the wetsuit?   Where are we?  I'm sure the dam was on the other side when we came for the race numbers?  OH MY GOODNESS!  This can't be happening.  There is no way I could be lost. It’s just a 5 min drive from the lodge, why is this taking so long?  OK, calm down, get your bearings and start over.  Luckily I have a pretty good sense of direction so I manage to get myself back on track in no time, this time a lot more focused on the task at hand... getting there.

We arrive and the tension is just unimaginable excitement seething from not only the athletes but spectators as well. Other competitors asking, “ is this your first race? And you chose this one?”  Almost as if I was insane, but my mind is just in the zone.  Hear nothing but my heart beat in my ears, see nothing but the track. I think... 

Man, I got this.  Swim?  Takes me about 35 min to swim 2kms, has been for a while now.  The cycle? Piece of cake, did the 94.7 in 3 hours, I should breeze through the 90km as well, and as for the run?  This is gonna be easier than I thought.  I've been running 21km in under 2 hours. All in all I should be done in 5.5 to 6 hours.  Don't know what the big deal is?

This is all going through my mind when I hear Stace saying... “dammit the batteries to the camera are dead”. That of course doesn't phase me, except I hear the MC announce the decision on wetsuits, " I repeat the water is wonderful, wetsuits will not be allowed" OH SHIT! This, I had not prepared for.  For those of you that don't know, the wetsuit is meant to keep you warm in cold water however it has certain side effects. It is almost as if your mother herself is holding you up in the water, pulling you through the water. Sort of like aiming you and almost moving you forward magically without you using any effort. I'm not sure if this is all psychosomatic, just boosted confidence, or if the wetsuit actually does play some part but hearing wetsuits were not allowed sent me into a spiralled panic I just couldn't avoid.  

This was my first open water swim EVER.  What if I get tired? What do I do? How will I get through this?   My HRM starts screaming at me. Heart rate in range! How is this possible?  I haven't even started, this is when I realize it is actually telling me to get my shit together.  So breathing starts, focus, calm, everything is under control. Phew, that was close.  All under control now, got my groove back all happy and ready to go. 

Again I see nothing hear nothing just pure focus.

And we're off water really is wonderful, refreshing, clear and calming. I am a bit intimidated by the sheer volume of traffic in the swim, I calmly fall back and wait for it to thin out.   That's it, I'll come up from the rear and make up time with the cycle and run.   Game plan worked perfectly, swim finished really strong started the cycle without a glitch.  Then 300m into the cycle my chain starts slipping.   Ugh! I don't have time for this now, I'm pretty strong how can this effect me?  I mean I have a 7 speed bike, I'll just avoid this problem one.  The first 2 laps go off without a glitch.  I'm 80 km's into the cycle, it's 36 ͦ C and it's only been 3 hours since the start.  Man, I am tearing it up, made up with time and then some. When suddenly catastrophe! I hear the words ringing in my head, "good morning Mr Gamiet, this is your wakeup call!!!”.

And what a wakeup call it was. My left quad decides it will never let my leg bend at the knee again.  EVER.  It just stops working, no notice no warning.  My right quad, on seeing this decides umm not fair, if he's not doing anything why do I have to? So... it too says the hell with this, you will be a stick man. You will loose all use of your knees until we are treated better. From this point forward, you will move like a zombie, as if your joints are nonexistent!  

Now in all fairness, I did abuse the legs a bit in trying to make up time, and for the legs to cramp that bad could even be understandable.  However having both legs cramp while your feet are clipped onto the pedals is not exactly the most ideal of situations to be in.  In all honesty I would have to admit, it must have looked like a giraffe trying to get off a bicycle... so I'm willing to bet, anyone seeing this probably had to stop whatever they were doing until they could get their uncontrollable laughter to subside.   I was moving at 30km/h, trying to stand, sit and get off the bike at the same time. And no matter what I did the quads kept pulling me back saying... “Oh! where do you think you're going mister?”.

I manage to hobble my way through the cycle in another 2 hours, when time came for the run, I was exhausted.  My original thought of... Ag will probably be done in 6.5 

hours has drastically changed to; DAMMIT, JUST FINISH ON YOUR OWN STEAM!!!  

Every aching step I took made the cramps worse.  Every second dragged into years, my legs screamed.  Oh goodness is there no end to this madness?  The only thing driving me forward the reason I was doing it,  all that was in my brain ... finish for the kids ya damn wuss.   Stop being a little wimp and finish. Eventually with 5 minutes to spare I see the light at the end of the tunnel, almost hear angels again, the finish line.  Eventually the end is near.  The funniest thing happened right there in the last few hundred meters.   It was the strangest sense of accomplishment, gratification, pride; I couldn't believe how good I was feeling.

.

Even my legs stopped screaming just for the last few meters. When I crossed the line, it all just made sense... life, just made sense. No failure in the world could be as bad as the failure to try! I felt like I could, like I had, 

like I am... a triathlete.

1. The Origins

So I'm sitting having coffee with 2 gorgeous women just chewing the fat, catching up.  I hadn't seen Zaids in about a year and it was really great chillin with my cuz. She starts telling me about this EVENT a few of her friends had being doing.

I had heard of Ironman, but it had never crossed my mind as being something for me.  I mean, it's just some dudes running around and playing games in tight clothes right?  Well boy was I wrong, it turns out these dudes are SERIOUS athletes.   There are sponsored elite machines, there are your hard core fitness freaks, even the average Joe trying to achieve a personal goal. 

I was not even considering thinking about it when in her really jolly, bubbly, giggly voice that is so uniquely her, Zaids says "They even do it like for fund raising and stuff, it's a awesome vibe the entire day with people partying and socializzz..." as I hear the angelic voices singing, I see the clouds open, light shines down and it hits me like a tonne of dirty, sweaty, socks.  I sometimes wonder if it happens to be the same tonne of socks that has overwhelmed and are escaping all 3 of my laundry baskets.

I should mention that not 2 weeks prior to that, a few friends from work and myself decided to make a change in some kids lives and have a braai (that’s BBQ for the uninitiated) for an orphanage. The thing is I was so touched by the conditions the kids were living in I felt compelled to do something.  But what?  

So this brings me back to the tonne of sweaty socks. My mind just kicks into gear all fired up to do this. I AM GOING TO DO IRONMAN TO HELP AN ORPHANAGE!!! Sounds simple enough don't it?   Swim a bit, ride a bike and take a jog?  I can do that in a heartbeat, I mean I had been doing kung fu for over 10 years this should be a breeze. 

Turns out the joke is on me.  It's called Ironman for a reason. This is not for any old chump who went to the gym last week, this is for some serious guys.  There's a whole other language, lifestyle, diet, wardrobe, not to mention equipment, jeez the cost alone was astounding.

Nevertheless I endured, did what research I could, started working out (what in my mind was training) even managed to get myself a bicycle. The more research I did the harder I worked out (some might even consider that I started doing training) and the harder I worked out the more I enjoyed it until eventually, I have to admit...

Hi everyone, my name is Zane, I am... I'm... I'm a triathlete. I use the rent payment for entry fees, my kitchen looks like a mad scientist's lab, vacations are planned around my "A" race, I just can't get enough... cept of course, during the race there is always the eternal question WHY? OH WHY do I do this to myself?

So for anyone interested, I'll be blogging about my training, my races, accomplishments, failures.  Basically whatever goes down on my road to Ironman South Africa 2016. Maybe someone can learn from my mistakes on a similar road, maybe some of you just want to laugh at my stupidity, whatever the reason you are welcome to take a peek into my road to Getting There.