Team Harding
www.hbtoday.co.nz
Shane Harrison and the Hawke's Bay Multisports Club
Ironmaori
blueseventy
Plus Rehab (CHB, Hastings, Taradale, Napier)
Advintage
Grant Harding Ironman II: Stake in the ground
I wore a piece of skin off my backside in Taupo on Saturday.
And I couldn't care less.
It was a small price to pay for my first full week of training. Every kilometre asked of me by my Shane Harrison-written Ironman New Zealand 2012 programme was ticked off.
I had said that this week on holiday was "now or never", and I made it "now". I put a stake in the ground. A stake which said: "this is where I am now". How far can I take myself in the next six weeks?
On Friday I put in my longest swim - the Ironman distance - a week ahead of where I had mentally placed it.
Earlier on the same day I had put in my longest run - 22km - on the new Ironman New Zealand course.
Then on Saturday I put in my longest cycle - a 165km ride around Lake Taupo. That ride, in my opinion, was worth more as a training exercise than the Ironman bike course, Taupo-Reporoa.
For the first 110km the hills just keep coming. It's not until just before Turangi that the opportunity arises to spin, free the legs.
There was nothing earth shattering about my Friday/Saturday efforts. All were done for stamina. All were done to work on the most important muscle - the brain.
During the early morning run mental notes were taken on where I would have to harden up - the short, sharp rises that can reduce one to a walk. How would I handle what is now a three-lap run? Will I have the guts to turn it into 21 x 2km legs punctuated by aid stations? Can I avoid the long walks of 2010?
My three daughters, who had been with me all week, went home in the early afternoon. That had always been the plan ahead of the big cycle the following day. And their departure heralded the arrival of the Ironman I have been looking for.
For the first time this campaign I remembered the words of my 2010 mentor Jeanette Cooper, who told me that if I was struggling with my swimming, "just stay in the water longer" (you moron!).
So I approached the AC Baths with the knowledge that I would not be leaving until 2.6km had been cut out, or 90 minutes reached. There was nobody to rush home for, or to join for a swim in the neighbouring hot pools. There was just me - just as it will be on March 3. No matter how many people are on that course, believe me, at my level, I will be suffering alone!
I worked my way through techniques - relaxation in the water, breathe, reach, pull, head in the right position, slice the water with the hands. I could hear Reece Kennedy's simple advice. And the longer I worked at it, the better it became.
3.8km later I left - a stake in the ground for my swim leg. Nowhere near where I need to be, but a huge improvement - especially mentally, wanting to do it.
On Saturday I set out just after 9am, and returned more than seven hours later with a piece of skin missing off my right cheek (no tattoo space offered, but I will accept money in exchange for a look; hand placement extra.). My average speed of 22.83km/h was purposefully slow. I had no support and didn't want to be crying with my head between my legs at Turangi. Admittedly I crawled up Hatepe - the hill which has defeated me in four Lake Taupo Cycle Challenges - but I made it and bolted for home.
There was no escaping this ride. I had missed too many 100km plus rides over the past few weeks. I had to put a stake in the ground - even if it meant moving from 100 to 165km in one jump, on a tough course.
And besides, Janet had challenged me to take the pain while she was doing the same at Challenge Wanaka (full ironman distance). Thinking about what she was going through certainly helped my mental state.
I checked on her progress via calls to, and texts from her children and her sister visiting from England, Mary.
On arrival back at Janet's home I checked on her progress, headed out on a 4km run, then returned to watch via live internet feed her run down the chute to be greeted by her two children. I then headed off to top up my week's swimming with an easy-peasey 700 metres.
I was thrilled for Janet, who finished third in the 40-49 women's section, was 18th woman home (ten professionals ahead of her), and 100th overall in a tough field of 238, 25 of whom didn't finish and 10 who didn't start.
Her time of 12 hours 30 minutes and 12 seconds might not seem that flash to some (it does to me), but in the prevailing Wanaka conditions - choppy on the water, hot and windy elsewhere, tough course - it was an excellent effort.
She described it as the most mentally challenging day she had ever endured which, when you consider she once won the New Zealand 100km running championship, is saying something.
To have led out of the swim, and clawed back a place on the run showed her ability. And I toasted "my little superstar" with a glass of wine that night.
It ended a top triathlon season which also included third in the IronMaori mixed relay (let down by her cyclist; who was he again?), and first in the 40-49 age group of the Rotorua half-ironman.
After talking with our mutual friend, James Allen, he and I decided to remind each other never to enter Wanaka.
That said, I liked the feel of what I saw. In particular allowing children to run down the chute with their mothers and fathers. Ironman is a big commitment, not just for the athlete. And crossing the line with your children, even your partner, is a mental image that many would share.
Ironman New Zealand doesn't allow that any more. I can see why. With Kona World Championship places up for grabs, it is a serious business until late into the night. But I believe it could be handled in such a way, that most who want to, can make those final few metres a moment for the whole family to share in.
While my daughters went home on Friday because Ashley had to work, and I could not look after the twins while out cycling, they contributed positively to my week. I was able to get up early and train while they were still in bed. But on the occasions I needed a couple of hours later in the day Ashley took control. When not training I had things to do, got out and about with the twins, which was fun. And with Ashley having up to five friends visiting, the supermarket took a hammering. Talk about Ironman hunger!
My girls know Ironman. And they don't seem to mind it.
Thank you to them for their understanding, and Janet for her generosity in offering her house to us. With their help I have put a stake in the ground for Ironman 2012.
Now it's back to my day job, while working through another 8.2km of swimming, 300km of cycling and 63km of running this week!
But right now It's time for a lie down.
Footnote: Australian, Aaron Farlow won Challenge Wanaka in a time of 8 hours 41 minutes and 53 seconds. New Zealand's Gina Crawford won the women's race in 9 hours 44 minutes and 6 seconds. Honourable mention to one of my personal favourites, Garth Barfoot who was the 203rd and last finisher in 18 hours 8 minutes and 19 seconds - that's 38 minutes after midnight. Not bad for someone on the other side of 75. Rock on, Garth!
Training Programme Weeks 22 of 28
Day 147 11.97km Cycle (Last Sunday)
Day 148 14km Run
Day 149 51.51km Cycle
Day 150 16km Run
Day 151 61.04km Cycle
2km Swim
Day 152 22km Run
3.8km Swim
Day 153 165km Cycle
4km Run
700m Swim
Day 154 Rest Day (First Day of Week 23)