OCTOBER 10, 2004: Well it is that time of year again – Hawaii Ironman time!

I am on the plane from Seattle to Honolulu with a quick change of planes then back on the big Island by late afternoon. I was just in Kona a few weeks ago putting in my much needed training miles to get ready for the big show this Saturday. Last year I had the perfect build up to Ironman from August. This year it has gone the other way. August was a tough month. The month started with a pretty serous quadriceps tear in my left leg. Cycling was completely out of the question but luckily swimming and running were okay. Then I got the bad news that my Dad had passed away. Then another injury by the end of the month – ITB syndrome. I was seriously thinking of not racing Hawaii. On paper it did not look good.

Luckily, some pretty close friend’s helped me through some dark moments. The biggest issue was my motivation to train was pretty low. I love the process of getting ready for an Ironman; yet, for the most important race of the year – the motivation was gone. I had the hardest time to get out the door to workouts. Luckily my e-ticket for Kona for my training trip was already booked. My buddies persuaded me to not cancel my trip and head to the Big Island. Their thoughts were once I got to the Big Island the desire to get fit would come back – the big Island can do that. It is a place with so much positive energy if you can harness it. So I agreed to stick with my travel itinerary but I needed to do more. I called Mark Allen to get some help. Mark is my idol and the guy knows how to get ready for Ironman. He has helped me with advise for the past two years; but, this year I wanted a training plan from Mark. For the past few years I have been doing my own plans. I figured if my idol wrote something for me to do I would do it. When I worked with my former coach Roch Frey – he would write me a plan and I would follow it to the minute. So, I headed to Kona with the support of my buddies and a training plan from Mark.

I was on the big Island for 2 ½ weeks. The first week was rough. Training on the Big Island is hard and I suffered. However, by the second week things started to come together physically; yet there was still some doubt mentally. Close to the end of my solo camp I was doing this amazing run on a amazing dirt road close to Waimea at 3000 feet. I got rain, sun, wind and even a rainbow. I had just finished a little tempo session when I thought to myself “You can win this thing”. I haven’t thought that way since this time last year. The thought came out of nowhere. It was pretty cool. I still get a rush thinking about that moment on Mana Road.

When I got back from that run I got a call from Mark that I needed to fly to Santa Cruz before the race to meet with him and his Shaman Brant. At first I was a little hesitant because of the travel. I have been traveling a lot this year for sponsors. I like doing that kind of stuff for my sponsors yet the travel was starting to get to me. I am a nervous flyer so I go thru quite a bit of stress every time I fly. Anyway, Mark persuaded me to to do it. The trip was the best idea. When I got back to Victoria from Santa Cruz trip I felt awesome and super positive towards everything and an opening which led me to getting to know the most amazing girl in Victoria.

For the past two years my buddy and massage therapist, Sean, has been coming to Kona to help me out race week. Sean had to cancel this year because he is in the middle of firefighting interviews. I was going to bring another massage therapist and friend but, since this year has been such a weird one I decided to do something completely different. I brought the amazing girl. I really want to impress her on race day! This is going to be a good Ironman!

Clint, JP, Patrick K., Mark A., Simon W., Greg B., Shawn S., Rob H., Mark B., Roland G. and Sean C. – Thanks for your support!

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