There is always a lot to be said about selecting a “coach” when preparing for an Ironman. I can definitely say that I lucked out when I met Sylvie, Fiona and Nigel. Not only did I get the best coach there is with Sylvie, but I got the best team there is. My experience with NRG stared almost 3 years ago, when I teamed up with Sylvie to do my first Half Ironman in Peterborough. That lead to my second HIM and finally to my first IM in Lake Placid.
What really impressed me with Sylvie that she was able to understand and prepare a work-out program that was suited for my schedule. A schedule that could only allow training during the mornings before work and as such there was none of this swim in the morning, run in the evening stuff. Everything had to be done before noon. That made for some very interesting training days, especially when the long 7 hrs bike rides came to play. But for me, what was even more important was being able to talk to Sylvie when the training, work and personal stress got the better of me. I think many athletes whether they are doing the IM or other sports hit that famous “wall” and start to doubt what they are doing. That wall feels even larger when support from either your family / friends starts to weary. Sylvie was able to listen and provide advice on how to deal with these issues because she understood what I was going through……these talks helped get my head back into the game.
You read stories about how great doing an IM is, and don’t get me wrong I loved the experience and will do it again. But what Sylvie taught me was the mental preparation that one has to do. This you cannot find it on the internet or in a book, you need to train for it, just like the race and you need someone to lean on. Because during the training there is always this doubt in your head, “can I do this”, can I finish the bike with enough time to run the marathon” and what if I fail, will people consider me a failure / looser…..she put those self doubts away. She even wrote something that I kept under my saddle during the race, reminding me that she was with me every step of the way.
Race day was fun. The main question on all athletes minds that I spoke to before the race started was the weather. Do we wear rain gear or not. Walking towards the water trying to look like a veteran Ironman, as opposed to a newbie, Nigel kindly reminded me that it would be a good idea if I brought my swim goggles with me as “I might need them in the water”……so much for looking like a veteran. The mental toughness in the water paid off. Good start, felt great even though it started to rain, my thought was “oh well its rain gear on the bike, and since I am already wet the rain won’t bother me now”. But that is when the fun started. I am used to getting smacked in the water and that did not faze me at all. What really got me was when the fellow in front of me just stopped, thus forcing me to stop. When he started swimming he figured he could use my body to push off…….more specifically my sensitive parts. Mental toughness was the only part that prevented me from drowning that guy.
Anyway out of the water and onto the bike. One down two to go. This was the first time I rode the course, and Sylvie had prepared me very well. But then came the 3 bears. The last 20 km on the course before you went back to into LP. I won’t lie when I will say when the “race demons” got the better of me and I just wanted to quit, get of the bike and call it a day. I hated these hills, and was making the mistake of looking at my watch doing mental math and figuring out that I will never make the cut-off time – and just when you think things were at the end there was Fiona and Nigel. Fiona with her magic camera (good pic of the back of my head BTW) and Nigel just “walking” along side of me and checking up on me, with a simple “how are you doing”……I told him how I felt and he laughed in a good hatred manner and told me to eat something, anything, and that by the end of the day, my goal would be reached. Second lap I heard Sylvie yell at me from her home in Mississauga, to focus on the positive and not the negative, so I turned my watch off and set down and actually enjoyed the 2nd lap of the bike course. Self doubts gone. It amazing how my attitude changed by seeing a friendly face and hearing Sylvie in my mind.
Marathon. Two down – one to go. When I started running there was Nigel again waiting in the crowd…….with all the other athletes he waited and found me. “Walking” next to me he gave me some pointers told me to eat, drink and take salt tablets and more importantly to enjoy the moment. He did the exact same thing on the second lap, with his simple encouraging words, not unlike some other coach on the course who just ripping one of his athletes apart…….to the point where you just wanted to go up to him and belt him one.
Coming into the end, what could I say…..seeing little kids staying up way past their bed time to cheer you on, or the beer tent in at the 40 KM mark – where one of the guys offered to run with me for a moment to provide support and encouragement. When I got back to town I saw Fiona, who ran with me all the way to the stadium entrance, chatting it up and just getting me to the end. Once I got into the stadium and the crowds and lights it was all too much. I was within a few hundred meters of becoming an Ironman, I did not fail, all the stress, fear and emotion was washed away with every step. Crossing the line it took me a minute to recognize a buddy of mine from work who had volunteered for the event, but then there was someone else there….someone who has been at all my race finishes ….NIGEL…..what a better way to experience this ……with a coaching team that had more confidence in me, than I had at times.
Oh and by the way that note that Sylvie gave me that was under my saddle…..well it said this…… “I have to be truthful…no matter what happens on race day (remember not crossing the line has happened to most of us…me included of course!) you are a super star in my books! I am not just saying this to make you feel good! You have earned my respect with all the training you do in the conditions you do it and no matter what nothing will change my opinion on this. So do not worry about race day defining you or your success…you have already succeeded before you even get to race day!”
Nigel, Sylvie and Fiona……Thanks so much for everything……now there one little thing about a plane ride……..
Ted