3 Peaks Challenge 2012 Training Log #13: Cost & Sacrifices...

Sunrise - Crafers 31 January 2012

As the #3Peaks draws ever so near, I have increasingly asked myself the questions which until now have been rhetorical:

·               What has the #3Peaks cost me?

·               What have I had to sacrifice in order to be completely prepared? 

·               Will the cost and sacrifices have been worth it?

At this time, I thought perhaps some insight might be interesting, albeit the answer to the latter only time will tell.

Economic Cost

The following is a guide of my cycling related expenditure in the last 9 months.  Some expenses are specific to the #3Peaks, and some more general to my cycling that I have nevertheless included to illustrate the expenses necessarily incurred as a consequence of my riding/training throughout the winter and summer.  Notably most, if not all, have been best priced; i.e., purchased online or at a significantly discounted price.  It also excludes registration and other membership costs for groups or events of which I have participated in during this time:

#3Peaks Registration Fee:	$  250.00	Replacement Wheel:	~$  350.00
Return Airfares:	$  205.00	Replacement Cassette, Chain & Front Derailleur (& other mechanical servicing):	~$  500.00
Falls Creek Accommodation:	$  280.00	Tyres (Conti GP4000 x3 and Conti GP4 Seasons x2):	~$  200.00
Hire Car:	~$  250.00	Specific wet weather clothing & other items:	~$  450.00
SIS Energy Bars/Gels:	$  170.00	Protein powder (Musashi ISO8) // PowerAde Powder:	~$  500.00

Cycling is not a cheap sport!!

Of course, I will continue to incur such expenditure moving forward (albeit to lesser extent), but following the #3Peaks, I am looking forward to being able to spend more money on other things.  For example, my wardrobe (bar cycling and work attire) is threadbare, and in terms of personal social entertainment I owe myself (and others) a bit more.

Health

As first reported in October, I was then diagnosed with glandular fever.  My research and my doctor confirmed that this was likely as a direct consequence of my immune system being compromised as a function of my training.  I guess that getting up at crazy times pre-dawn, in the dark, wet and cold winter took its toll.  Though fortunately, I managed to fight it off and made (if possible) even more obsessive effort to look after myself when I was able to resume my training; i.e. sleep, sleep and more sleep, drink lots of water and eat though not neccesarily hungry.

No major muscular of other problems that I could say that couldn’t be otherwise managed with sufficient care.

From a mental health perspective, I’m tired.  As noted previously, I have been so focused on the task at hand that it has taken its toll on my enjoyment of it.  That being said, I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to coming down from the cloud following March 11^th.

Employment

From an employment perspective, I don’t believe I have had to make too many sacrifices.  This is not to say that my training has not had an impact on my work though, because I’m sure it has. 

As the summer drew nearer and the opportunities for training and riding increased it was much easier to be distracted from my “day job”, which I have tried to manage as well as I could.  Although admittedly, when work has been lighter the distraction is much harder to resist, and I’m sure my boss (and mentor) would say that too.  That being said, I believe my boss – understanding my situation and history – would not begrudge my having cycling as an outlet; a “happy employee is a more productive employee”, isn’t it???

From a promotional and career development perspective I could have certainly invested more of the physical and emotional time I spent training, but partnership has not been on my most immediate radar, so that is an accepted sacrifice.  Though for the avoidance of doubt, please note that I have always given 110% to my work and I would like to think that I have not allowed the quality of my work or the product of my work to be negatively impacted.

Relationship and family

From a family perspective I do not believe I have made too many sacrifices or if I have, made any sacrifice which I will later regret.  Historically I have been selfless with respect to my Boys – those who know me would say too selfless – and so my riding and, more particularly in the last 10 months my #3Peaks training, has been my only opportunity to do something that was entirely for me.  It also, I hope, makes my Boys proud and inspires them to set their own goals, work hard and be proud of their own efforts, irrespective of whether they’re first or last in what they do.

Whilst in the last twelve months I have been able to find and strengthen some great cycling friendships, it is my friendship with others dear that I have felt I have made the most sacrifice.  At an emotional level I have been so obsessively driven, focussed on my preparation and training, paranoid about recurring health issues, a little skew with priorities, and uncertain of what waits ahead, that I did not fully appreciate the emotional support and care I was being given from the side lines.  It is with much regret that I now consider my failure to see earlier the gentle hands being reached out to me; the missed opportunities for more laughter, stories, smiles, music and company.

In sport, in work, in life, we are all at times overwhelmed by what drives us.  Our goals, our pursuit for excellence and our deadlines by their very nature are necessarily consuming and the reward directly proportionate to our efforts.  But to drown in the enormity of the task at hand is counterproductive, as is, I believe, to not allow ourselves emotional time for other things/people.

What I’ve learnt in my journey to the #3Peaks and the advice I would give to others who might wish to do the same (or more generally to others with respect to life at a philosophical level), is that yes a deep breath needs to be taken, but make sure you also allow yourself to take in the beauty, the smells, and the sounds of the earth as you ride by.  Embrace it, share it and don’t shut it (or anyone) out naively thinking that to do so will overwhelm you. 

Learn to ride in the rain, laugh at your fear and ask others (or yourself) to sing louder if they (or you) can’t be heard.

**          **          **



Grand Slam #1 Loop 2
Catching and picking off as many as I could in front
having given them over an hour head start -
Legs were screaming at me by the end of this 42km loop



Recent Training

In terms of training, in recent weeks I have maintained a load which generally speaking hasn’t been too extreme, hill repeats multiple times throughout the week, but no excessively intense hard days in the saddle.  I’ve put in enough I feel, although admittedly I feel I have lost some form since the end of the Tour Down Under when I was at my physical peak.

Albeit, I did ride 165km this Sunday past with close to 2,800m of climbing, with a combination of gentle spinning and a seriously intensely crazy hot sweaty smashfest on some undulating roads through the hills as part of Bicycle SA’s “Grand Slam” series.  Probably, not a good idea and my body felt it earlier this week when having got up again for more hill repeats.