I'm doing 35 things
Ever since I’ve been in New Zealand I’ve had a interest in the Coast to Coast… It’a multisport race with the fastest time ever being something like 11 hours. I’ve done quite a bit of mtb racing, some track cycling and trail running. My parents own a kayak and occasionally (twice a year) I will go for a paddle with my wife.
I mainly just want to measure myself against others in this endurance test… Another reason is that I felt like it was the obvious thing to do… countless times have I had people approach me while I was out running or cycling, asking whether I was training for the Coast to Coast… and I always felt like it would be so cool to one day say yes! The race has a very good reputation and almost anyone knows someone who has done it… I myself have a friend who has done very well in the two day event (same course over two days) and had the great pleasure of assisting a traveller from Holland doing the one day in 16 hours and 30 minutes…
At the moment I do very little in terms of exercise… I continue to mainly work and enjoy time with my wife. Though every time I see a cyclist out training or a kayak on top of a car with a Coast to Coast sticker, I get that tingling sensation that re-ignites a passion for endurance racing. Often have I talked about this race to my wife but never have I wanted to do it because I felt that the cost was too great and preparation time would be very hard to come by.
But over the last month or so, after another friend has decided to do the race… I’ve decided that if he can do it, I no longer have any excuses!
I always said…. if I’ll ever do the race it would be in 2021, when I’m 35 years old and should be at my physical prime in terms of strength and endurance, as well as having far greater mental toughness than what I have now.
Another reason I want to wait for that long is because I think I will have more time available then… but only if I can organise our business to not depend on me the level it does at the moment… (bearing in mind that my father’s level of input to the busines would be considerably less by then). Making arrangements to free up time for me to train for the race will help free up time for family from then on. This race will mark the end of a period in my life where I have personal ambitions… by then God may have blessed me with children… It will no longer be about me, but about my family… ;)
In terms of what this means for me right now:
- Stay fit and healthy
- Prevent injuries
- Continue some strength training of kayaking muscles.
- Visualise success
Two year training plan starting January 2019:
- Pre 2019: Buy racing kayak and start practicing up to one hour per week, find a kayaking trainer. Start using track cycle on rollers for base fitness in winter.
- January 2019: Get grade two license.
- September 2019: Training hours at least 5 per week, excluding kayaking.
- September 2020: Training hours at least 20 per week.
- November 2020: Run kepler challenge under 7 hours (see other goal).
The level of training I intend to do in the months leading up to the big event would be about 20 hours per week. I would need to get my grade 2 kayaking license by 2019, with a suitable kayak for the race. I have a lake nearby as well as a strong river. Mountain running will also not be a problem around here… cycling can be a bit dangerous but should be fine, with some bunch rides organised about 1 hour drive from here.
Watch this space… I’m aiming to do well!
