Going my own way

Celtman's not a normal triathlon.  Yes, it involves swimming, biking and running.  But it has more in common with most adventure races than with a standard 'long course' triathlon, an Ironman, or most shorter Tri's.  It's regularly raced by, and in many years won by, people who don't really consider themselves 'triathletes'.  

The swim is in cold water full of jellyfish; the bike is long, hilly, on 'less than optimal' road surfaces and subject to the vagaries of the West Highland wind & weather.  The run is a mountain adventure in itself: both the high and low courses cover boggy, rocky, remote terrain, open to the elements.  

Until now I've been training with the Brownlee Fitness Squad: I started with them whilst building up to the Celtman Solo Point Five to give me some guidance when I felt like I was losing my way.  

And it's worked well to build a solid base, but in the last few weeks I've been feeling like something was missing.  That thing that holds Celtman - and the rest of the XTri family of races- apart from most other triathlons: the environment. 

Last week I spent a day learning how to run downhill on rough terrain more efficiently with Ian Stewart of Trail Running Scotland.  Ian is a mountaineering instructor and trail/hill runner of vast experience, and it was an enlightening & enjoyable day.  It also got me thinking: as someone who isn't built for running, isn't built for speed, efficiency on rough terrain, and event specific training, is going to be even more important for me.  

How could I fit more terrain, more outdoors, into my training?  I've spent my whole life having adventures, working and playing in the outdoors: I'm no stranger to it.  But suddenly I found myself struggling to fit together the need to train for a long event, and the requirements of the environment it takes place in... Something needed to change.  

I decided to take a leap and, following that downhill running day, book a consultation with Ian to consider my options.  Should I stick with Brownlee Fitness and somehow try to make their workouts more terrain & environment specific?  Should I move away from them and use coaching from Ian for running, and Sarah Wiseman (Beyond the Water) & my Form goggles for swimming?  Or some combination of the two?  

After a really thought-provoking 90 minutes looking at training ideas, my strengths & weaknesses, and strength & conditioning analysis, I came away with lots of food for thought, and not least a few realisations about my own experience.  

I have a PT qualification, spent ten years coaching in the outdoors, and have a lifetime of experience in endurance-related activities. Together with what I've learned over the last few months training with Brownlee Fitness, as Ian pointed out to me, I have the skills and knowledge to programme the training, making it event specific, for myself... Talking things through made me realise I just needed to gather the confidence to do it. 

And so it is done.  I've pulled away from the Brownlee Fitness training, and written a programme for myself.  Every session has a purpose, and I understand which part of Celtman race day that purpose will work on.  

It feels adventurous, adaptable, it fits with my shifts... and best of all it feels like mine.