Follow my Journey

Follow my Journey

 

May 13, 2024

Training for a half-Ironman triathlon is not for the faint of heart.
While my training started in September, the training volume increased in January.
Most days I’m in the pool, on the bike, out on the roads, or in the gym. Some days are double workout days.

 
Mississauga half-marathon time: 1 hour 54 minutes

Late April provided a good practice race at the full half-marathon distance that I’ll be running as the third leg on 7 July. I was pleased to run the second part faster than the first – in runner speak a ‘negative split’. But I think I’ll need to keep improving my speed on tired legs. There’s always more to work on.

This training block has been going well. I’m grateful I haven’t picked up any injuries. My trainer at Connect Fitness, Jevon Relova, has prepared me well for this phase. 

For endurance training, the numbers really tell the story. Triathletes today have access to real-time data about power output, heart rate, and speed. I’ve noticed my fitness data trending up steadily since January. It gets easier to push longer and harder in the pool and on the bike than it did in September. Yesterday’s 18km training run was faster, at a lower heart rate, than the same run a month ago.

Endurance doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m more of a sprinter than a slogger. I’d prefer to go hard for short bursts than to keep a steady effort for the 6 hours I hope to be racing on 7 July at Half Ironman Muskoka.

But over the years I’ve learned from two main sources about endurance.

I try to study and follow the ways of Jesus, who taught the earliest Christians to endure persecution. Those followers consistently lived this out and taught others that enduring affliction leads to developing character and hope. (Romans 5, Hebrews 10, and 2 Peter 1). 

I’ve also learned this sort of endurance up close and personal in the eyes of people I’ve met living in war zones. I saw endurance in the eyes of a Syrian mom I spoke to in a refugee camp in Lebanon. I’ve seen endurance in the patient smile of a school principal outside Goma who hosted hundreds of families on the school floors as they sheltered from rebel attacks.  

These are the folks I’m running for on 7 July. These are also the folks I’m hoping you’ll stand with by donating on this page. Please consider donating securely via this page, and if you wish, share this page with others you think might be interested.

Matt Scott