It is now early February and training is going great. My season schedule is locked in and my training camps have been set in stone. It is full speed ahead now for the season and I am so excited about racing again this year. Bring it on!
I want to have a special season this year and will be going out of my way to target athletes and race them on their home soil to get a feel for them. People race differently when they are at home and tend to be much stronger so it is always great to put yourself in a position to race people under these conditions.
I have added a few new events to my schedule this year and will spend some good time this year in Europe prior to Ironman Germany. After the disappointment of a mechanical limiting my chances of defending my world championship title in Hawaii, this year it is my only focus. I was in spectacular form last year which indicates that my training was exceptional and the planning was spot on. We will continue to build from here and add some more speed to the mix with victory in Hawaii the primary focus.
All athletes attack Hawaii with this mindset, but for me it is everything this year. Last year winning the European Title in Germany in another sub 8-hour performance was a real highlight, but not being able to unleash 15 weeks’ worth of build into a Hawaii campaign was devastating. I just can’t wait to get back on the Island and attack that race course. It’s all I think about.
We have some selected camp dates set on the Island this year that will be very focused and course-oriented with a drive like we have never done before. My aim is to really set up a solid bike ride in Kona and put together another run under 2:43.
If you can’t run under this time in Kona in 2009, you will not be winning this race. Times under 2:40 are more likely this season. I know it has been our primary focus and speaking with a few of the European guys they have the same mindset. The race has really evolved with a much bigger pack on the bike giving the chance for weaker cyclists to still be in the mix late in the race. Many of these cyclists in races like Germany would be expelled because the packs are not as big, but Hawaii has really set itself up into being a race that gives these faster smaller guys a chance to hang in the mix and then put together runs that can get them right up in the front few.
This was not the case a few years back and has seen a change in specific training focus for many athletes. The big bikers had a chance. This will bring a fast run into play and if you’re not ready for that then you are missing a big string in your bow.
I am not denying that the bike can still be a huge weapon if the winds are up, but the solo breakaways are gone if you want to win this event. The future of the bike racer in Kona will be to take smaller groups away of 2 or 3 athletes and share the workload off the front. Mentally this is easier and physically also. I am definitely an athlete who can do this, and my specific bike work will be centred around this style of racing, then executing a dynamic run.
My strength is my ability to run faster than anyone else in the world if the bike is tough. The damage is done along Ali’i Drive on the run in the first 10 miles. Weak cyclists struggle along here and then may find their legs later in the run if anything is left. Our focus will be to make Ali’i Drive stupidly fast. We did it a few years ago and will do it again in 2009.
I love the attention to detail my team gives to facets of this event. It really is enjoyable working with them and I draw huge confidence from them when we plan in this way and watch the videos of how races evolve. It is obvious to see your competitors’ weaknesses and then plan your attack around these.
My race season looks like this:
March 22 – Singapore Ironman 70.3
March 28 – Lavaman Olympic Distance Race Hawaii
April 5 – New Orleans Ironman 70.3
April 18 – China Ironman 70.3
May 24 – Austria Ironman 70.3 St Polten
June 7 – Challenge France – Niederbronn 70.3
June 14 – Challenge Germany – Kraichgau 70.3
July 5 – Ironman Germany – European Championships
August 23 – Timberman Ironman 70.3
October 10 – Hawaii Ironman World Championships Kona
These are the key events to my season with a specific focus on Ironman Germany and Ironman Hawaii. I have now won 12 Ironman titles including a World title and really want to continue my winning streak in these Ironman events. I thoroughly enjoy them and enjoy the process.
My marathon has become a key weapon and the workloads we have put in this early season have set a solid foundation for a bigger platform of marathon strength in 2009. Watch my marathon times this year. This is a specific focus of ours and running sub-2:40 times is the key. I have been 4 times under 2:43 in the marathon including a 2:40:04 marathon PB off the bike, but it is the sub 2:40 times that are all I am focused on now. It is a key to our season plan this year.
This year looks set to be one of our most successful and everyone is pumped with the plan, the schedule and the training volumes. It is now up to me to deliver my end of the bargain. Bring it on!
