Well, here we are again, the summer is approaching and once more I am preparing for a selection of races, starting off with Toyohashi Japan Half Ironman this weekend. I haven’t raced an official Ironman event since Cozumel 2021, although I did do a local “longer than a half but shorter that a full” event in August last year.

I also did my first full stand-alone marathon for many a year last December, when I completed Valencia Marathon in just under 4:30. While the result was a long way off what I could manage previously, it did represent a big step forward from the Achilles injury that had plagued me for almost two years and the hiatus of the “Covid Years”. I’m definitely older and heavier, and rather less sprite than before, thus almost 1 hour slow down, but I was happy to complete a full marathon without needing to walk.

I recently returned from 9 wonderful days in northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The winter was just about done, although there was still snow on the mountains and a distinct chill in the air at night, but daytime saw some glorious weather and some fabulous riding both with friends and alone. Over 500km of saddle time along with around 5000m of climbing has meant I came back a lot stronger than when I left, although I don’t seem to have picked up any speed. However, I hope that just being able to maintain a constant power output in my up coming races will give its own rewards. I also managed over 60km of running, and one swim in the amazingly luxurious Park Hyatt Hotel pool, with expansive views and underwater music to distract me.

Although my race season is about to kick off I have yet to decide my schedule, other than this weekends half IM. I am potentially doing Vitoria full ironman in norther Spain mid-July and have been playing with a few other potential races later in the year, but yet to make a decision. I have decided that I am going to attend at least one week of swim training camp at the end of August, which I will be booking up very soon, as a way to try and kick start my swim improvement (I have actually stayed at the same slow pace for over 10 years, and I feel it’s now or never to try and break into the next level)

Of course, none of the above is really of any interest to anyone. And to be honest, this post is not much more than a way to try and get myself back into the habit of writing and maybe as a way to motivate myself to focus more and make “time to tri harder” an ethos rather than a catch phrase!

My main driving factor has been the realization that the big 60 is looming over the horizon (yes, I know my drooping face and faltering race times makes it looks like I achieved that milestone a long time ago, but in reality, it’s still two years hence), and that soon I will be consider old enough to get my free bus pass. This has caused me a certain amount of introspection, looking at my achievements but also at my many failures, really trying to work out what my life has been about and also what I am going to do with myself going forward.

While I have had what many would consider a successful business life founding, building and eventually selling my company, I feel things has tailed off into obscurity and I want to push myself to get back on top so I can go out with bang. My personal life is as mixed up as ever, although as I’ve slowed down and the raging lion has become more of a domesticated pussy cat, a lot that used to seem important really doesn’t seem that way anymore.

Rather worryingly, I realize I can’t really say I have given much back to the world in the way of good works, other than a short-lived effort after the big earthquake of 2011, so I do believe I need to find a way that I can contribute to society in a more altruistic manner. And of course, I want to achieve something as an athlete, to do something that that neither I or anyone else ever thought I would be able to do, and I have several ideas about that which I may (or may not) be discussing here at a later date.

Now I have no doubt that I have bored my faithful reader (I know you’re out there!) to death with my “about nothing arty fairy navel gazing”, but I hope this initial return to the WordPress boards will soon result in a more regular, informative, and maybe even enjoyable read. So, it is with confident wink and a wry smile I implore you to fasten safety belts and put away tray tables, as we are about to embark on a fun ride to some destinations and adventures as yet unknown, you do only live once, and I have a lot more living to do.