2012 was a fun year of racing and strength testing.
In June and July, my college students survived a rigorous 10-event strength and conditioning test called the UFT decathlon. We ultimately arrived at a score calculated by excel formulas that exists as an objective measurement of our overall fitness - strength, power, endurance and speed as a whole. Four of these students (CC, GC, JC and SS) competed in the London Honda running series and I competed in 5 events. From the London Fitness Show in February to Springbank Races in September, the Medix Fitness program walked the talk. I am very PROUD of these students!!
During this time I competed in the CVC 50k ultra-marathon (detailed on the blogs below). I was very satisfied to finish 2nd in the IAAF certified event and short-listed for the national team. I was emotionally charged to think about pacing to a national podium for 50 miles at a trail race in Chicago. Unfortunately my funding fell through so I strategized to summon my aerobic capacity for the largest, most competitive race in London, the Springbank Half Marathon.
I was very happy with the 21k result despite very little road or speed training. On record I ran 1:20, but was led off course for 30s at the canoe club fork in the path. So a 1:19 was a valiant fight at 3:45/km pace and an 11th place overall finish in this deep field of race horses. I was 3rd in my age-group, despite a tough stretch from 7.5k to 12k, I was rallied by Brian Byrne of London. He slowly and methodically was running 1sec/km faster than I was, so he slowly crept away at 17km by a distance of 100m, but I was determined to pull him in. The pursuit was ON.
I thought it was a mistake from the beginning. Cheered on by Steve Weiler (London Runner Distance Club Head Coach) at 20k, I surged early - up the last hill of the apex of the springbank park loop. I had no choice but to hold on to this relentless surge for ONE FULL KILOMETER. I knew in the back of my mind I had done this for 750m in the IRONMAN and the ULTRA 50k, but never did I think I could go another 25% past this total body flood of complete lactate saturation! I summoned my fast twitch fibers and overrode the anticipatory regulation (restrictive pacing signals from the brain).
I had to glance back with 400m to go to ensure I had him, and by this point he may have tried to go with me, but I NEVER ALLOW IT. This is the way I see it. Your brain makes the decision to COMMIT FULLY OR NOT; there is no grey area. Thankfully, my experience in over 150 races, I have won every "end-of-endurance- race" dual. My ability in the 800/1500m adds EFFICACY; essentially PROOF that I will win, especially since I am not racing for the entire race victory (with other track talents), but the decision for 11th and 12th place overall.
Not every race goes as planned, in fact, if you get 50% right you are one of the best in the world. Just ask SIMON Whitfield. He has 2 amazing Olympic Games (Sydney 2000 - GOLD and Beijing 2008 - SILVER). I had 2 of these experiences this summer thanks to my gift in running, but for more than this my self-coached MENTAL COURAGE. I watched Simon's Sydney 2000 Gold medal performance over 50 times and mentally rehearsed it with my races 100's of times. However, Simon was unlucky in the London 2012 games and I was unlucky at the Run for Heros race in Amherstburg. It was a bummer, since I was ready to rock, just like Simon. My plantar fascia which I had been nursing for the last month, took me out of the race at the mid-point (10.6k). Tendonitis on the top of my foot has gone away, but it is funny how pathologies just move position in the body!
Looking at 2013, my college class is goal-searching for the next 3 months. This is a great time to role model balance of strength, speed, technique, power and endurance. I look forward to also coaching TC, as he has tremendous talent for the 2013 triathlon season. Together we will strengthen and create awareness for the TTC (Tranter Triathlon Coaching) brand at the Welland Half Ironman, and several sprint and olympic-distance races within a one-hour drive of London (Woodstock, Sarnia, Chatham, Lakeside and Tilsonburg).
Thanks for your support.
Rob
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