John's Ironman Journey

Hi friends!

The 2020 race schedule has of course been annihilated, many events being pushed back to 2021 and others cancelled outright.

After the initial gloomy dip of life without a goal, I gave myself the challenge of running every day within lockdown. I'm on Day 65 so far (... 66 today). A couple of weeks into this, I added a second goal: to run a marathon (in total distance) each and every week. Here are my stats since this began:

Consecutive days running: 65
Distance run during lockdown: 456.64km
Weeks of marathon distance: 8
Average mileage per week: 49km
Best week: 62km (wc 27Apr)

I started on the 22nd March and have fluctuated with motivation, battled with tiredness, and struggled with a few niggles along the way. I am now upping my game however, in the name of my charity Alzheimer's Research UK, and in doing so aiming to reach a few milestones in lieu of my 2020 IRONMAN:

Milestone 1: 100 consecutive days of running
Milestone 2: 1,000km by end of July (currently on 655km)
Milestone 3: Have run from John O'Groats to Landsend in 2020 distance (1,407km)

Here's the link to support me: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/jr2020

Please share, please cheer me on, and please come and join me (in a socially distanced manner ofc!)

London Marathon and Ironman Wales Help John Robinson raise money to support Alzheimer's Research UK

It was inevitable really, but I have sadly had to defer my Ironman entry until 2021.

With the Marathons, Triathlons, and even the 70.3 being postponed in the run up to the Ironman itself, and while it is still relatively likely that the event may still go ahead in September, it would be suicidal to press ahead without any proper build-up events. The bike segment I am comfortable with, and I am sure my training would have gotten me to the point of being able to at least get around the Marathon afterwards; but swimming competitively for 3.8km in the ocean as a first ever ocean swim would be plain insanity. Baring in mind that during this lockdown the pools and lakes are closed.

Bigger picture, focus on what I can influence. Stay at home, hope we get through this pandemic, and keep on running and cycling as much as I can.

Will keep you posted.

Training has taken a turn for the worse lately. After a good January of gently increasing the distance, and using my Ski trip to build up leg strength too, I felt in a good place by the end of the month. However I have picked up a back injury and have been out of action for 2 weeks now. The physio is on it, but it means having to sit on the sidelines and watch my pals kick on with our marathon training without me.

I’m getting less sore now, and I’m back on the bike this weekend - albeit only in the gym. But no running for at least another week. This has been compounded today by Storm Dennis... I was planning to be a little naughty and participate in HOTA: Hell Of The Ashdowns. A brutal bike race that I was desperate not to miss. But it was cancelled last night due to the weather. So instead, I write this while sat on the tube heading to an Endurance spin class at Digme. 90 mins of being sat in a dark room, yaaaay.

Hoping to report better news in my next update! But these setbacks are good in themselves as it builds up mental resilience and helps to deal with injuries better in general; if I want to compete in the Ironman in September I have to recover properly and not think short-term. That means regular physio, plenty of sleep, and not doing anything too silly to “come back earlier”.

In better news... I got accepted, via the secondary ballot, for the Ride100. 100 miles of closed roads through Surrey. Very excited to have the opportunity to blast through some of my favourite routes without having to worry about other vehicles! That will be my last event before the big day itself, too. 😀

First post in a while. After a couple of weeks off over Christmas, January has been all about regaining momentum and kickstarting the Run Stage training. I’ve got 91km under my belt thus far during January, had my place for Brighton Marathon Weekend confirmed in mid-April, and will be racing The Vitality Big Half before then too. The target is to be comfortable until the end, the stretch target is to cycle down to Brighton (80km) and then run it, but we’ll see how training goes because that might be too-much-too-soon (although that would mean I can have double Fish and Chips afterwards...!).

Anyway, today was my first day back after a week of Skiing (I landed home last night). I took advantage of very sore legs to see how hard I can push myself through fatigue during the Run Stage. And it was a very tough in places. I ran with Clapham Chasers G3 group, trending a decent pace for a target time of 3:30, and I just about made it. Having the group pull me along was incredibly beneficial. The sore and heavy legs at the starting line today hopefully went someway to replicating how they’ll be after the 180km bike ride on the day in Wales (...at the moment, after a 115km bike ride they are dead, so I have a lot of work to do to get them up to that point: they need to be stronger and more used to a higher level of endurance).

At the 12km mark or so, today, I really felt my mind begin to slip into a negative narrative; wanting to stop and walk, making out that I’m going to cramp up anytime soon and so to take it easy. And at this point I was slipping behind the group by about 10-15 paces. It’s amazing what you can do when you push back and take control: pain is in the mind, and it’s only when you’re tired and ready to give up that your training *really* begins. I literally felt myself break through a barrier as I caught up the group and then strode by them as we took on Richmond Park.

What I’m starting to realise is that my mind is the first to go during long runs. When I get into my groove, my pace increases and the pain drops significantly. But I only get into a groove when I’m on a path like in Richmond Park where I don’t have to constantly think about traffic, weave pedestrians, slow down for road crossings, etc. This will bode well for the race itself as it’s on closed roads, but I need to work on not getting distracted when this isn’t the case and keep that swing and rhythm at all times. One aspect not many people think about when training is mental endurance and mind control. Getting over set backs, dealing with pain, coping with boredom, handling adverse conditions without using up energy. I’m working hard on this at the moment; today was as much about hardening my mind as it was leg strengthening.

Mission accomplished. Time for a nap

Well, the last ride of the year was a wet one, rallying through the Kent hills early in the morning (the plan was to avoid the rain 👀😂...). It’s been a good year of kicking-on, I’ve clocked over 2,000miles in the saddle this year, the plan is to double that next year. And I’ve increased my “comfort distance” from around 60k to 110k. The plan is to complete at least one 250km ride, and to get that comfort ride nearer the 150 mark. So here is to 2 weeks off over Christmas, to rest and prepare 🚴🎄🥂. Next year is the big one!

Well, that was frigging brutal. Athens Marathon ✅. That was the most mentally challenging run I’ve done. I thought it would be flat for the first half, up hill for 10k, and then downhill for the final 10k. Which is why I did *a bit* of hill training. Actually it was flat for 5k, up for 30k, then downhill for 5k 😂. Those middle 30k’s... have you ever driven on a road that just seemed to go on forever? And over relentlessly undulating hills. Both my glute and hip flexor were on fire from around the 15km mark and I couldn’t get it out my mind. The route itself was the historic road that an Athenian messenger took, from Marathones to Athens, to deliver news of victory over the Persians in ancient times, giving birth to what a Marathon now is, which is cool, but boy it was boring! Countryside mostly, broken up by a couple of bland towns with nothing going on. I can safely say I won’t be doing it again, though delighted to have done it once. I’m glad to be up to “marathon fit” now too; and even eyeing up adding an Ultra marathon (55km) into the calendar. Potentially....

As you know - https://justgiving.com/fundraising/JR2020 - it’s all in the name of Alzheimer's Research UK - which got me through the toughest of periods during the run. It’s easy to say it, but when I thought of the utter s**t this disease drags people through, it made me feel embarrassed to be whinging about my burning legs, and helped to get my head down, focus back, and power through.

Apologies for the radio silence. I have been building up to the Athens Marathon... which now only days away!!... and have had my head down training. It has not gone entirely according to plan. The training schedule was looking great until the final run: I had planned to take on 40km in 3hrs 30mins however, when I reached 35km my legs completely died on me. Self-inflicted unfortunately, having done an intense leg-day + spin class only the day before. So I take some solace from that. Nevertheless...... the second big RACE DAY is almost upon us. I was ill for the Robin Hood Half but was fortunate to have had some great friends to run alongside, and the knowledge of the cause powering me through too. I'm happy to report that I am in good health - although my diet has been rubbish of late, I’m still 3 - 4kg above where I want to be by the time London comes around - and the weather looks perfect (20 degrees, sunny blues). The course looks EPIC. It finishes in the Panathenaic Stadium, I just hope I make it there in one piece 😂. Over 300m of climbing (ffs...) to navigate first. Give me some encouragement if you like, if you've not got my moby I'm on 07751201579 - drop me a WhatsApp - and the sponsorship link is https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jr2020 - this is all in the name of Alzheimer's Research. I am so desperate to beat the disease that took both of my Grandmothers, and would love your support in any and all forms! Will share some pictures of race day. JR

Flash back to my first open water swim with my coach, Matham. I have to admit, looking back now particularly, this was a real test for me. I was very nervous in the lead up, and walking down the pier I could feel my heart pounding. It was one of those moments that you just don't think and you don't stop to ask 'why' - I just jumped in.... bloody deep too! I got my head above the water and took a moment to gather myself. Matham was laughing at me lol. It took a lap to get my breathing under control, and another lap to feel comfortable (400m per lap). We then did another 2 laps a bit more flat out and I found that as long as I concentrate on the task at hand, do my drills, focus on stroke by stroke instead of dwelling on my surroundings - then I am absolutely fine. I don't think (in fact I know...) I could get in there by myself. Definitely worth giving Zone3 a shout out at this point, a brilliant wetsuit. It hasn't once let me down (in fact quite the opposite given how buoyant it is!) and is a perfect fit for my build. Very happy with it.

Heading out for a roll into the hills with the chasers lot, these guys are very fit and very fast. G2 group had me breathing out of my arse after 30 miles! Really good to pace myself alongside a TeamGB Age-Grouper though, a good standard to set.

I am super proud to have reached almost £600 in commitments already, and can't thank my friends and family enough. It's a cause close to my heart, and close to many others too. I chose this charity specifically because they are directly targeting a cure, and making incredible inroads into doing just that:

Read John's story John is raising money to help Alzheimer's Research UK

The first run of the season was a half-marathon in April. 6 and a half grueling laps of Victoria Park - a lovely piece of London's greenery that I utterly despised after lap 4! I set a time far quicker than I was expecting for my first run (1:42) and gave me the confidence boost I needed to begin attacking my training as we headed into the latter part of Spring . Another run with Young Morris!

2019 started with a better plan for the year. I had a 2x Triathlon's, 3x Half-Marathon's, 1x Marathon, and many long bike rides planned. We kicked things off with an end-of-Winter spin into the Surrey Hills, fully equiped with Winter warmers, from my thick socks, long legged winter bib shorts, up to the grey beard! Looking back, I didn't get out with these guys often enough, life/work took over quite a bit - something we need to rectify next year....