Not so good for: Facing the reality of a race that did not go to plan; accepting finishing the season with a DNF (Did Not Finish)
So it's been more than 2 weeks since my somewhat disastrous Ironman Barcelona. Two weeks of pretending it never happened, two weeks of not unpacking my suitcases, two weeks of alternating between "you did the right thing" and "why didn't you just finish it?!?", two weeks of basically moping around. :P
But I started running (a.k.a. jogging) on Monday. I only managed 2k. On Tuesday I managed 3k. And this is 2 weeks after seeing my doctor and being told it will take 4-6 weeks before I can do anything again. I guess I did the right thing after all. Who knew that 2 weeks from this cast, I would be out running again??
And so today, I am ready to finally spend some time in reflection....
Reality is, 2014 was a very unconventional season. I had decided (against my will) that I would do what was fun, and fit with my life, no more, no less. If it didn't fit, well that was just too bad.
So the year started with a new year ski trip to Austria (January):
This was followed closely by another ski trip, this time with kids (February):
Where I set an all time record for ski speed, or something.....
Next I realised my work and residence permit for Denmark was expiring, and I needed a new passport (March). So I made a flying trip to Malaysia to renew my passport, and spend some time with my family (including building some Lego with my brother)....
When I got back to Denmark, I realised I only had around a month to prepare for my first "real" marathon without a 7 hour warm up (of an Ironman). Three weeks of run training and I was "ready" for Paris Marathon (April). Great experience to be shared with my parents and my better half, Jesper.
I ran a 3:12 marathon which I was happy with, all things considered. It was what I thought I could do, and did do. So happy I might have knocked a few others on the head in my excitement to get to the finish line....
I then had the privilege of spending my Easter holidays with my parents in Denmark. Guess the arm waving runs in the family?!
Next up, Jesper was doing a race, Grejsdalsløbet (May) in Vejle. I was just along for the ride....
And then I thought it would be a good idea to do a mini training camp in Mallorca, all by myself...
...in preparation for Ironman 70.3 Aarhus (June), where I started the run in 9th place and ran my way into 2nd place. Bonus: Lucky enough to have stayed at a lovely campsite with a view....
I qualified for the World Championship for Ironman 70.3 but declined my slot, in favour of a different project this year, Ironman Copenhagen.
But before that, it was our summer holidays with the kids (July)! We brought our shiny new caravan to Austria, where apparently they decided to build their mountains very steep. My time trial bike looked pretty out of context here. :)
Finally, it was IM Copenhagen (August). It was a good race, where I took off 18 minutes from my previous PB at an Ironman distance. A 10:33 Ironman is perfectly respectable, although I didn't realise this was my time as I ran down the finish chute with my flag:
I came 6th, 4-5 minutes away from qualifying for my dream race, Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. Damn.
I then decided it would be a good idea to sign up for another Ironman, and signed up for Ironman Barcelona in the beginning of October. So started my new campaign of #2IMsin6weeks. However, I had an additional challenge to get through before then, Coast to Coast of the Pyrenees with Jesper and PP Cycling.
One week of cycling (September). 35 hours. 735km. There were tears and there were smiles. But it was all smiles at the end of the tour:
We had fantastic company, guides and beers:
But I as in dangerous territory, I had been sick, and was still sick by the end of the tour, and leading in to the race.
So starting Ironman Barcelona (October) was a bit of a bad idea, if I were honest with myself. Maybe if I hadn't caught a cold, it could have been better. Maybe if I hadn't cycled 35 hours in a week when my normal training hours was more like 10 hours per week, just 3 weeks before the race, it could have been better. Maybe if I hadn't done another Ironman 6 weeks, it could have been better. Who knows.
But fact was, I was there. And so I decided to make the best out of it. Enjoy the experience. And I did! I had the opportunity to experience Oktoberfest in Calella!
And enjoy some fantastic seafood along the way!
But the race was not to be. It started with a morning storm:
And you could argue that it was the storm before the storm. :)
I pulled out of the race 23.5km into the run. My Achilles hurt from step 1. And it just got worse and worse. My decision to pull out was based on the fact that I was not going to run a fast marathon, and did not fancy walking 20k back to the finish line (as it turned out I had run further than I thought). I didn't need another finisher medal, and well, I didn't think the risk of being wheeled off in an ambulance was worth "just finishing" the race.
Tough decision. But I guess it was the right one, knowing what I know today. Turns out I had damaged my Achilles, probably from riding too hard in a bad position on the bike. So I am happy that 2.5 weeks later, I am walking almost pain free and able to start running (jogging) again.
So I am grateful. For being lucky enough to be able to do all of the above. It's been an interesting year, if just a bit random. Ten months of non stop action!! Time to regroup and think about my plan for 2015.
PS: Missy says "thank you" to her babysitters who look after her whilst I go gallivanting all over the world. :)
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