Run, fatboy - RUN!

Fitness is one of those things which is different for each and every one of us.

My personal fitness has never quite been as good as I want it to be, whether it's a fear of over-pushing myself, or just unmotivated to improve my physical health.  I've never classed myself as being overweight, but unfortunately I have been - and still technically am.  

When I was 18, I developed severe anxiety and my weight plummeted to an unhealthy level because I only ate once a day - usually in the evening when there was very little which could trigger my anxiety because I was at home and in a safe space.  When I went to University, I joined the rowing team and, as I managed to control my anxiety a bit more, I was able to train and eat better, so by the end of my first year, my weight had increased to around 60kg to nearly 80kg. But I still didn't push myself as much as I should have, and this still bugs me to this day. 

My anxiety was based around a fear of throwing up (especially in public). It's called emetophobia, and I hadn't even heard of it until I'd been suffering for a few years.  Because of this, I didn't eat if I knew I would have to be out somewhere public, and therefore I wouldn't push myself in the gym or on the rowing machines incase I threw up from the physical exertion. This meant I couldn't complete with the other athletes who pushed themselves daily in the gym.

Fast forward 10 years, my rowing days are behind me and my new fitness goals are ahead of me and importantly my anxiety is almost non-existent (but not gone completely).  My focus now is getting fit to compete in triathlons.  I completed three of them in 2018 - two sprint distances and an olympic distance.  Because of the nearly 14 years between first developing my anxiety and now, I can better control my fears and emotions. This means I do have the confidence to push myself when training - either out for a run or on my bike.  

During 2019, my weight soared again (not for the first time! I had the same in 2014/15 but got rid of a lot of in in 2016 when I had time to focus on me) so I knew I had to get back in shape and stay in shape. A blessing from 2020 was that working from home gave me the time to focus more on my health and fitness, as I had more time back in my day which I could dedicate to my personal fitness. The result of this was a loss of 12kg.  

This was done through setting targets I had to achieve - many of these through the Ironman Virtual Club platform. Whilst I only managed to complete five of the Virtual Triathlons in 2020, they were still all important elements in my fitness journey throughout the year. 

So, goals for 2021. Well I'm getting married in September so really want to be in shape for then, so loosing more weight is one of the most important aspects for me. I'm around 88kgs at the moment (I was nearly 100kgs this time last year!) and I'd like to be closer to/under 80kgs come September. I also want to compete in more Triathlons if restrictions allow. If possible, I'd like to complete my first Ironman 70.3 event - ideally in The Netherlands (my second favourite country after my own and where my fiancée is from). My biggest concern is the swim though. Swimming is NOT a strength of mine and something I really need to work on. The issue at the moment is no gyms or swimming pools are open (lakes for open water swimming are also closed) so I can't put in the training in that area. 

Anyway, goals set - time to train. I'm a very impatient person. I don't want to wait when I've got into my head that I want to achieve something. This comes through into my fitness training too. Late last year I wanted to increase my running distance from around 5k to 10k. So I did it. I just ran 10k one day. Then I did it again a few days later. This probably isn't the most effective way of training, but once I'd set that bar, it puts me in a position to build on that.

We're now just over two weeks into 2021, and I've already hit so many challenges I've set. As mentioned, a lot of my challenges are focused around the Ironman Virtual Club.

Week 1 of 2021 - I completed a 12k run (a Suunto challenge with the VC) - the longest distance I've run ever (from memory). I also hit a new PB for my 5k run time, plus I completed the VR1, the Virtual Club's first challenge of 2021. A 40k bike race, completed in my freezing cold garage on the turbo trainer.

Week 2 - I hit a new 10k PB, taking almost a minute and a half off my previous PB. I later completed VR2, a 10k race. I didn't get a PB in this race, but I still finished in a respectable time for me.

Next weeks VC challenge? A nice simple 20k cycle with a 5k run - what could be simpler?

2021 is still young, but there are so many days ahead for each and every one of us to improve and develop. It might not be personal fitness, but we can all have goals to set and achieve. Mine are simple - weight down to 80kgs, and more triathlon finish lines crossed...