Brooks Blog
Just a few weeks to go…
Well with the Asia Pacific Ironman Championships Melbourne only 3 and a half weeks away the excitement, tension, anxiety and nerves are all building, 226kms of mental and physical challenges await and honestly those 3 and a half weeks can’t go quick enough.
It’s quite funny when you think of the event itself the distance and challenge of it all is daunting but the fact is that the training is just as daunting and challenging. The race day ultimately is a day of celebration that follows many weeks and months of the hard slog that is training. I try and think of the day in that context and am really looking forward to getting out there amongst it and taking in the whole day. I’m just like all the other age groupers out there I’m in it to get to the finish line not to break records, and I’m going to have fun all the way from beginning to end.
In terms of the training work load I have been trying to put in around 25 to 30 hours a week. As for kms, it does vary quite a fair bit but as a base I’m trying to run around 60 to 120kms/wk (with at least 2 long run efforts of 20kms plus), swimming 15 to 25kms/wk and riding around 250 to 400kms/week (with two long rides on the weekend and the rest done on the indoor trainer). I think the time though is the more important thing and keeping training consistent is the key for me. However I found it is very important to listen to your body and if you feel tired and run down which does happen with that sort of consistent workload then it can be a good idea to have a day off here and there and recharge the batteries. In saying that I’m always hearing the notion of train smarter not harder, and in the case for Ironman training I honestly believe this to have substance.
With that said I have had the opportunity to have some threshold fitness testing done with Dean McNamara at Sydney Sports & Exercise Physiology. What that has given me is a baseline of my VO2 max and Anaerobic Thresholds on the bike and run. Without going into detail what that means is that I can focus my training on specific areas to get fitter with far less effort, therefore training smarter not harder. This sort of information is incredibly valuable for anyone and everyone not just athletes. But for endurance athletes it can create a great exercise platform to increase fitness without increase load which so many people do. Info on the testing can be found at www.ssep.com.au
Triathlon and specifically the longer distance events such as ironman and half ironman, things like nutrition and equipment can play a major role in training and also racing. In terms of the bike I’m lucky to be riding the Trek Speed Concept which is one of the fastest bikes on the planet and I honestly need all the help I can get. When you’re on the bike for up to 6 or 7 hours comfort is key and I find this works very well for me. I have been able to dial in the fit perfectly. With Nutrition, it’s very individual and also a trial and error subject. For me I use gels and an electrolyte drink on the bike along with salt tablets and on the run again gels, coke and water. Like I said it’s very individual and some things may work for some and not others. On the run I stick to my tried and tested Brooks T7 racers, superlight and perfect for my foot type and with the swim,( here’s hoping it’s a wetsuit swim in Melbourne) I use a 2XU wetsuit, which as we all know is a lifesaver in the water.
Well like I said less than a month away so I hope to get through the final stages of training injury free and be at the start line full of energy and ready to go.
By Matt Code – Brooks Sales Executive
Posted on | February 28, 2012 | No Comments
My Ironman Dream
The history of the Ironman triathlon race dates back to 1978 when during the awards ceremony for a Hawaii running race, a debate ensued amongst competitors about who was more fit — swimmers, runners or other athletes. One of the participants, Navy Commander John Collins and his wife Judy, dreamt up a race to settle the argument. They proposed combining three existing races all to be completed in succession: the Waikiki Rough-water Swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (112 miles, originally a two-day event) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles). “Whoever finishes first we’ll call the Ironman,” said Collins. Fifteen men participated in the initial event held on February 18; 12 completed the race, led by the first Ironman, Gordon Haller. His winning time: 11 hours, 46 minutes and 58 seconds. The race was designed to be the toughest single day test of will and determination.
Prior to the race, each athlete received three sheets of paper listing a few rules and a course description. Handwritten on the last page was this exhortation: “Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life”.
That quote written by John Collins sums up the reason why people are drawn to this event, they go through extreme physical and mental punishment to be recognised as an Ironman, for the title and for glory. When you think that most athletes will take over 10 hours to complete the event it seems crazy to go through all that suffering for just a moment of glory but it is obviously worth it.
These days the Ironman has grown to 26 events annually across the globe and is a brand that is becoming a well known and a sought after goal. To think that it started as a one off event, to grow to where it is today is mind blowing, but it is proof that there is something about the event that people seek out and feel the need and want to conquer.
The races are commonly broken up into two categories, you have the pros who are there to win, they are amongst some of the greatest and fittest athletes on the planet and the age groupers, which is the majority of competitors. These men and women are there simply there to finish the race and conquer the massive distance. Each one goes through the ups and downs that you experience in endurance sports and are emerged in a battle between mind and body, where you are trading hours of pain and suffering for moments of glory and the title of Ironman.
In 2012 Ironman comes to Melbourne for the first time and the event will be the stage for the Asia Pacific Ironman Championship. I myself will be amongst the 1400 or so competitors battling the distance that is Ironman. For a long time I have had a great interest in endurance sports and in 2009 I got my first taste of the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii. I was there supporting my uncle who at 40 years of age decided he wanted to tackle the challenge that is the Ironman World Championship. Watching him conquer the day and run across the finish line has certainly inspired me to take up the challenge. Most people that hear about Ironman and learn of what’s involved say “that’s crazy, why would you do that”, but when you see the elation and happiness on the face of the people that cross the finish line, then you know exactly why people are doing it. I saw that in Kona in 2009 and I most definitely want that feeling just like so many.
“Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life” – John Collins.
By Matt Code – Brooks Sales Executive
Posted on | December 5, 2011 | No Comments
Are you a Floater or a Feeler?
Are you a Floater or a Feeler? And I’m not talking about what you think I am!
‘Float’ in running terms is what you already know – your trusty go-to-shoe (such as our beloved Adrenaline GTS, Glycerin, Trance or one of the many other models in our core range). You simply put them on, tune out and glide above the road.
‘Feel’ on the other hand is the new kid on the block – it’s sleek, lightweight and flexible. Feel allows you to connect to the ground and get in touch with your surroundings. Feel is what our new PureProject™ Collection offers you. It introduces a unique way to experience the run by promoting a natural stride in an incredibly lightweight shoe.
And whilst different, Float and Feel are the best of friends. Together we believe they offer you, the runner, more choice to find the perfect shoe for you.
Like all of our shoes a lot of research has gone into the new PureProject™ Collection, knowing that simply removing parts of the shoe would result in poor performance. We took a proactive approach to biomechanical needs by developing five innovative technologies that engage the foot naturally, and with significantly fewer parts than the standard shoe. Breathable fabrics, radically flexible materials, and an extremely low profile complete the package.
You can check out the shoes and the 5 technologies on the video below –
It’s what we call the Feel More with Less Experience.
We are excited to be launching this revolutionary product at an exclusive release at selected The Athlete’s Foot Stores in Australia on the 1st October 2011. Nationwide distribution of the Pure Project range will be available across all The Athlete’s Foot stores from February 2012.
We would love to hear your feedback, so please leave your comments below.
Run Happy,
Raj Jain
Brooks Australia General Manager
Posted on | October 3, 2011 | 4 Comments
Why I Run
To me running is something that I love to do, it keeps me fit and healthy, gives me an outlet for everyday stresses that are evident in life but most importantly it gives a sense of purpose and achievement.
I recently ran the Gold Coast marathon which was something that I had planned to do for some time. I have been running for as long as I can remember but have only really been competing in the last few years and have worked up to the marathon after running many halves and various fun runs.
In the lead up to race day I was running around 80 to 120kms per week, also getting in a long run every fortnight (30kms). These sorts of distances obviously help to get the body ready for the punishment it goes through on race day so therefore it’s a necessary evil. I go through good days and bad days when I’m training, good days are obviously ideal, they are the ones when your legs, fitness, technique all just feel awesome, they are the days that you hope for on the day of the event. However the bad days aren’t to be discounted when you are training. Distance events whatever they may be, marathon, ironman, ultra man are as much mental as they are physical, and in my experience when you have a bad day in training, although at the time you feel pretty down and ordinary, bad days give you a mental basis for overcoming race day adversities.
People talk about hitting the wall in a marathon and this mark can be anywhere in the race but for most people it comes around the 30km mark and this is where the body starts to say no. This is also where the mental game begins and for myself I use the bad days I have had as a reference to overcome these lows. The fact is that once you experience days like these particularly in training and dig deep to overcome them then they give you a mental reference for overcoming race day pain.
As much as I’m hurting and wanting to stop and walk I can remind myself that I have been through this pain and discomfort in training runs and I have gotten through that so why is today any different? So I keep running, keep pushing, and I know that when I cross the finish line the pain and discomfort is gone.
I experienced this at the GC marathon, in the lead up to the event I had torn my Achilles, luckily for me it was only a slight tear but uncomfortable none the less. The first 34kms I ran reasonably well and was on track to run a sub 3hr time but then the pain started to become intolerable. Every step was excruciating but I had gone so far that to pull out at that point would be inexcusable and honestly wasn’t an option. So I continued on and just kept trying to silence the voices and work to the finish. I ended up running a 3.21, which was a little disappointing cause other than the Achilles I felt pretty awesome and I know I had plenty left in the tank, but I was more than happy that I didn’t let myself quit and walk away.
The reason why I run is exactly that, not letting myself quit. It’s a challenge whether it is a training run, 5km race or a marathon; to me it’s all about the test and the achievement. Sure I’m out there to better my times and run the best I can and beat others around me but the true reason is to experience the euphoria of accomplishment when you cross the finish line after going through punishment. Those of you that run will know that feeling and that’s what we crave as runners, there’s honestly nothing like it.
Run Happy,
Matt Code
Brooks Sales Executive
Posted on | August 17, 2011 | 3 Comments
Hello and welcome to our first Brooks Blog!
At Brooks we are all about the run and part of our commitment is to continuously seek ways to engage with runners and improve their running experience. Obviously we believe that our products play a key role in this but there are many other ways for us to contribute to the running community, not least of all being to encourage free and open exchange between ourselves and runners. The Brooks Blog represents part of our efforts in this area. Our aim is to provide you with insights to our thinking at Brooks on a range of relevant subjects and provide you with an opportunity to give us feedback or even generate debate with ourselves and other stakeholders. As you may have noticed, we have recently given our website a major facelift with our primary motivations being to create a user friendly runner’s resource and facilitate communication between us and our stakeholders. If you want to know why we do what we do, please ask. If you have feedback about our gear, good or bad – we want to hear it. If you would like our take on something that is happening in the running community, drop us a line.
Another reason for increasing our efforts to communicate with runners is the abundance of exciting developments that we have in the pipeline at Brooks and this column and our new Facebook page are the best ways to keep in the loop on what is happening in the world of Brooks. Stay tuned for first word on new products, including our exciting Pure Project collection, updates to your favorite shoes, initiatives on how we are endeavoring to be a socially responsible enterprise, and of course our ongoing commitment to running events and related activities. You will hear from a range of our team on all things Brooks and all things running and we look forward to engaging with you and helping your Run Happy.
We welcome your feedback on this post or any requests for future topics.
Blog Happy
Matt O
Posted on | July 31, 2011 | 3 Comments