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Since last time I wrote, not all that much has happened, which I’m pretty happy about. I was kept busy, but by doing things that I wanted to do, I almost felt like an average 20 year old for a while there. I was still training as normal but just made the most of my spare time, which meant for some early morning and late night sessions. One day had a 16hour gap from waking up to start my first session and finishing my last, this I wouldn’t recommend doing regularly but for a one off I think it’s not so bad. It was actually quite nice finishing a run at 9.45pm on a warm summer’s night. Launceston is a great place to train with some of my favourite locations in the world to swim ride and run so I always look forward to being there and doing some work. The only bad thing about being at home is that it always goes too quickly. I had just over two weeks at home between the first Falls camp and the second, which would be the first time the whole squad had been together in a training environment since Leaving Vitoria. Soon enough, it was time to make the trip back up to Falls Creek to join the rest of the Wizards. Unfortunately I had to spend my 21st birthday driving myself up the mountain, so not your typical 21st birthday, although Alexis Lepage did make me a cake – wild.  It is nice to have someone to train with regularly again; sessions always seem easier when you have company, especially when it’s cold and wet outside. The mountainous weather has not been very favourable to us yet so here’s hoping it’ll improve soon!
2016 could potentially be a very big year for me and now it has finally begun, training is starting to feel a bit more serious as the days tick by and I’m looking forward to pushing things and see what I can make of the year ahead. Cheers.
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Arguably my favourite time of year has just rolled over into my least favourite time of year. After competing in some non-drafting races in Australia to finish up racing for the year it was time for a break. I took three weeks off training after the Noosa tri and on day one back training I did a race in Hamilton Island. Not ideal timing for a race but, in Hamilton Island, how could I say no? It’s strange how soon you can lose fitness and the feel of being an athlete. I have now been back training for three weeks and unfortunately it doesn’t come as quick as it goes. I took some time off after Chicago, a bit more time than I had planned but I was enjoying being home and being able to relax, so a few days soon turned into two weeks and it was time to start preparing for a few more races to see out the year; the Nepean, Noosa and Hamilton Island triathlon. I was taking a pretty “relaxed” approach to training for these races, doing the minimum I could to keep my fitness without blowing up as it was so late in the year. However that plan kind of backfired when I sprained my ankle and wasn’t able to swim or run for a week just before The Nepean Tri. I was given the all clear to race still with some minor ligament damage and surprisingly did alright. I got shown up big time in the swim which was no surprise, being a non-swimmer a week out of the water was going to hurt however I managed to ride myself back into the race and run my way to second place. Noosa was a week later and I had a decent swim here but my legs let me down, I rode and ran my way to third place. I wasn’t overly happy but I was very glad it was time for my break, three weeks of no training spending time at home, and a trip to Hamilton Island.  I'm not sure if the Hamilton Island triathlon was the end of my 2015 season or an early beginning to my 2016 season but I had a blast. It is very tough scenic course in a great location, and happy to come away with the win. From here I was home for about 12hours to pack and head off again. Like past years I began training in Falls Creek, I have been here for the past few weeks building just keeping everything pretty cruisy for now, but certainly seeing some improvements from where I was week one when I arrived here. I have stepped up from the 15minute daily walk/jogs from week one, I tapped out 35 minutes of walk/jogging this morning so we’re getting there. Clearly still plenty more improvements to be made before I start to feel like my normal self again. Falls Creek is perfect for training early on in the program, a pool up top wouldn’t hurt, but the drive down to Mt Beauty every couple of days isn’t so bad. Especially with some good tunes pumping.  I’m heading back home to Launceston on the 18th for Christmas and to see out 2015. I will be lucky enough to spend my 21st birthday traveling back up to Falls for another three weeks, this time will be joined by the entire squad and about 90% of Australia’s long distance runners so the Mountain won’t be so quiet.
Merry Christmas and I’ll give another update soon in the New Year. Cheers Jake |
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