Things have been quiet....that's all about to change

Matt and Pete were both correct in their previous posts when they talked about the difficulty of training over the holidays. Well done boys. Much like yourselves, I went, I tried, I failed.

My quest is, how do people do it? How do the Dean Karnazes' and Rich Rolls and Richard Usshers of the world succeed against that most interminable foe, the holiday season? Perhaps they eat turkeys made of tofu and ice cream topped with Gu.

Maybe they ring in the New Year with whey protein shakes and Isostar martinis.

Whatever they do, I'm sure it's a helluva lot more than what the Desert Hacks did over the holiday season. At some point, hopefully Pete, who seems to be on a first name basis with Dean, Rich & Richard (much respect Sneaky Pete!) can ask our heroes about their holiday regimen. Until then, I'm just a guy...I'm a guy who likes fine wine, delicious food and good times. May the training gods strike me down for my weakness.

On the day I left for home, before heading to the airport, I did one of my favourite brick workouts -- cycle 15km, run 3 km, cycle 15km, run 3km, no rest. It felt great and I left thinking that maybe I'd finally get the better of my annual holiday laziness.

After travelling the 11,600km from Dubai to Minneapolis and after a couple sedentary days, I began to feel the dreaded training guilt. My body was railing me for neglecting it. My muscles twitched with anticipation of the next run or cycle or even yoga session. Alas, for the entire time I was home, I continued to disappoint.

That's when I realised...the point of the holiday season is not to continue the breakneck pace of training, it's to go home, connect with friends and family and even -- if you happen to be on your own in Thailand -- relish that rush of freedom that comes from solitary exploration.

While I was home, it occurred to me that endurance athletes spend a lot of time training -- I know we certainly did for the ADAC -- and in the process, things get missed. Things like birthdays, pageants, anniversaries, celebrations, holidays and get-togethers get moved to the backburner because for that moment in time, training trumps it all.

Maybe this is me making excuses for my holiday laziness but perhaps the point of the holiday season is to spend whatever time necessary to reinforce those weakened bridges and focus solely on those around you that rooted, cheered, hoped, helped and prayed for you.

For the endurance athlete, maybe the holidays are necessarily a time of reconnection and reaffirmation of that which truly matters in life.

Mom's birthday (mom, me, nephew Ezra, niece Maya)

For every endurance athlete out there, there is a network of loved ones that -- whether we like it or not -- get neglected as we focus solely and selfishly on our own athletic goals. At least for me, I know this is true. Maybe a lazy holiday season is exactly what was needed to give me a little perspective.

me & my bebe Gladys

For those loved ones, I am certain of only one thing. Whether you're a brother, sister, mother, father, niece, nephew, girlfriend, cousin or friend of one of the Desert Hacks, your support is invaluable and it does not go unnoticed. Thank you.

While I've got everyone in a suitably sentimental mood, I think now's the perfect time to officially announce the new endeavour on which we're about to embark. The Desert Hacks (it might be time for a name change) have been invited to partake in Abu Dhabi's first internationally sanctioned Ironman-distance triathlon! (www.abudhabitriathlon.com)

But, as none of us are Ironmen yet, we'll be competing in the team relay version on the short course. Matt will be doing a 1.5km open water swim; I'll be doing the 100km bicycle leg; Pete will be doing the 10km run. It takes place on March 13, 2010...just 60 short days away. Wish us luck!

Watch this space for more of the trials and tribulations of our training...

Travel training - fine in theory

OK, I admit it, my intentions of continuing training while travelling around Thailand were, at best, considerably flawed. Since hitting thje islands, I've managed a damn good hike up to the top of a waterfall - views along made the whole thing worthwhile - one circuit set on the beach and a brief 2 or 3km run this morning.

Not bad, but all outweighted by the ridiculous amounts of pad thai and Chang beer I've been consuming.

Heading to Koh Tao next where lots of swimming, diving and snorkelling are on the cards...could be the perfect way to start getting the body prepped again - once back in Dubai, I intend to get going prety quickly again.

Damn, that first week back is going to hurt!

Christmas - horrendous for training

Christmas may well be a great time for religious people, children and Coca Cola, but for someone trying to stay in reasonable shape, it's an absolute nightmare.

Before Christmas I was training at least three or four times a week and barely drinking, but throw in a bit of festive cheer and all of a sudden I'm drinking three or four times a week and never training.

I've been so hungover I haven't made it out running for a while. The good news is round the corner, however. With the New Year comes a wave of fitness resolutions, and it's a wave I intend to surf - at least to get me back on track. I'm not going to go setting myself crazy targets, I'm just going to promise myself in the New Year I will start training again.

Around this time a lot of people set themselves unrealistic goals, attempt them on January 1st and then collapse from exhaustion. From speaking to the likes of Rich Roll and Dean Karnazes, I've realised you need to be organised, set achievable aims and build yourself up slowly, while remembering to enjoy the experience.

So January 2nd will see me re-enter the world of fitness following a pretty heavy festive season. Should anyone want to join me running on the 2nd, you are more than welcome. If you're in Dubai get in touch, if you're not, put on your trainers, get out the door and I'll be with you in spirit!

Pete
(Despite my apparent Grinch-like attitude, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a enjoys a brilliant New Year)

Bangkok - not ideal for training.

Things I've learnt so far:

• You can do some rudimentary strength exercises in your room if you pay 1,000+ Baht (12 quid uk?) or more. If you pay 400 Baht (as I did last night) then even sleeping is a trial given the size of the room.
• Bangkok is actually a really good city for walking around but locals see this as an affront to their multiple forms of transport.
• Running options are very low, however.
• Four days in and I still can't identify anything I've eaten. That means it's healthy, right?
• Drinking Chang Light a) makes me laugh and b) makes it feel more like it's good for you.

I'm about to jump on the coach to Koh Samui and spend a week down in the islands - hoping a bit more swimming and running/trekking can take place down there. Keep you posted.

Matt

Thai training scheme

Apologies to regular readers, adventure racers and endurance racing fans...

It has, admittedly, all gone a little quiet on the Desert Hacks blog of late. And understandably so, I think. After all the hype and build up to the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, there has been a bit of a lull as we all quietly return to normal training programmes and try to get work out the way so we can enjoy the Christmas holidays.

As we've said before, we have a new event in mind and we'll be revealing details of that in the New Year, as well as keeping you updated on how we go about training for that.

But the Desert Hacks blog has taken on a life of its own and become about much more than merely training and racing. And, for that reason, for the next couple of weeks at least, I'm hoping to use the blog as a way of keeping everyone updated on my Christmas and New Year spent in Thailand. It'll be my first time in Thailand, but also my first holiday as an endurance race-aholic! How will that affect my vacation?

Well, the plan is a few days in Bangkok, New Year on the islands and a week exploring. I'm hoping to find some decent hiking or at least a day's trekking and, while I'm sure excess will have a part to play, I'm going to see whether it's possible to enjoy a holiday without letting everything go to pot.

A few runs and swims should be easy enough (I hope) and seem like pretty decent ways of checking out the stunning surroundings, but I've also worked out a good couple of strength sets based on things I can do in a hotel room or on the beach. Tri dips, press-ups, jumps, squats, mountain climbers, chin-ups, core stuff...

I'm not actually a member at any gym at the moment as the vast majority of my workouts are swim/bike/run. However, I do try to do at least one strength session a week and two core sessions and it's amazing just how much you can achieve with some open space, a swiss ball and some elastic tubes. My workouts with those are every bit as rigorous as anything I ever did at the gym. A friend one told me that, no matter what machine or piece of apparatus you use, the best chest exercise out there is still the humble press-up. Good advice.

Let's just see if I can stick to it when lazing on the beach, sightseeing and some top-class partying are on the menu. Will keep you posted.

Matt

Interview with Rich Roll – endurance racing legend

We didn’t get around to posting this before the event, but as well as getting advice from Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes (see older posts) we were fortunate enough to speak to Rich Roll…an Ultraman competitor (it’s like Ironman but even tougher) who, having let himself go a little over the years, turned his life around to be named one of the 25 fittest men on the planet by Men’s Fitness magazine and did it all on an entirely plant-based diet!

Hope you enjoy…

After you had your 'eureka' moment, how did you go about getting fit again?

My journey began with a decision to first address my eating habits. When I turned 40, I weighed in at about 205 pounds. As a former world-class competitive swimmer, I was far from fighting shape and knew I needed a serious change. I began with a seven-day supervised herb, fruit and vegetable juice cleanse and subsequently embarked on a vegetarian regime. However, after about 6 months on this routine, I was not experiencing any significant changes in either my weight or energy levels. I was close to abandoning vegetarianism altogether, but decided instead to give a vegan/100% plant-based diet a try first, given that I was already halfway there. After giving up dairy products, eggs and everything animal-based, I experienced a tremendous spike in vigor almost immediately and knew that I had discovered something that was working for me. It was only after establishing this nutritional program that I began to even think about returning to competitive athletics.

What roadblocks did you meet along the way? How did you overcome these?

I can’t say I experienced any 'roadblocks' per sey, but there have certainly been obstacles. There are always the naysayers and negative people who attempted to dissuade me from not only my plant-based diet but also from attempting to tackle such an endurance challenge as onerous as Ultraman. But the biggest challenge by far is balancing my professional life as a full-time entertainment attorney, husband and father of four children with a training program that averages about 20-25 hours per week. My solution for addressing this was to eviscerate everything from my life that was non-essential in order to find the time to meet all my obligations, including carefully choosing my company, to surround myself with a supportive network of influences.

What nutritional advice would you offer a budding endurance athlete?

I realize that not everyone is ready to go entirely plant-based. But I would encourage anyone who is interested in this to give it a try. If, after 30 days, you don’t feel better or experience an increase in your vigor, you can always go back. But don’t take my word for it. Do your own research. Books I found helpful were THE CHINA STUDY by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, THRIVE, by Brendan Brazier, THE ENGINE 2 DIET by Rip Esselstyn and HOW TO PREVENT AND REVERSE HEART DISEASE by Rip’s father Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. At a minimum, I would encourage people to increase the percentage of organic fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains into their diet and eliminate processed foods and soft drinks.

What does your training schedule look like right now? How much is gym-based and how much outdoors?

Right now, I am taking a much needed break after Ultraman to allow my body, mind and soul to recover from what was an incredibly rigorous and challenging training season. In January, I will begin strength training with a  focus on core work and begin my return to cycling and trail running. Once Spring arrives, I will return to the pool and reduce my gym time considerably. Although I hate the gym and always prefer to be outdoors, strength training is important, especially for the older athlete. But by summer all of my workouts will be swim/bike/run.

What has been the best piece of advice you have received in your quest for fitness?

Follow your heart! Find something fitness-based that you genuinely enjoy. It shouldn’t be a fad or a phase. Its about a lifestyle choice - a journey, not a destination.

How happy were you with your performance in Hawaii (RR finished 6th in Ultraman 2009)?

Very happy. Winning the 6.2 mile swim and going on to win Day 1 by 10 minutes was a dream come true. And, although I suffered a serious bike crash on the Day 2 170-mile bike leg that ultimately dropped me down to 6th after a 7:51 double marathon on Day 3 with an injured knee and immobile shoulder, I wouldn’t change a thing. 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th – it doesn’t really matter to me. What matters is that I went on a journey. That along the way I was faced with some unexpected demons. That I was able to face them and persevere. That is what Ultraman is all about. It's what sport is all about. It's what life is all about. Of course, I would like to return to the race and put together a complete three-day race, but I would honestly say that my 2009 experience was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Have you ever raced in the Middle East? Is this something you would be interested in doing?

Not only have I never raced in the Middle East, I have never been to the Middle East. I would absolutely love to find a race, make the trip and experience that part of the world. I understand that there is quite a robust multisport community in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as an array of interesting races. Given the opportunity, I would definitely relish the adventure of travelling east.

What advice would you give to someone who is looking to change their life and become more healthy?

Within everyone exists the power to change. I don’t care how busy you are, how old you are, how overweight or out of shape you are...change is possible. It starts with a decision followed by a commitment along a trajectory of baby steps that, with consistency over time, will generate results. There are no easy fixes and it's not always comfortable. But its always possible. Search deep within. Identify what you want to change. Create a real plan that will work over time within the constraints of your life circumstances. Assemble a support network and begin the journey. You might just be amazed at what you are truly capable of. I certainly am. If you had told me two years ago that I would be where I am now I would have told you you were insane!

The big Three-Oh!!!

My birthday today, guys and gals...and not just any old birthday but my 30th.

So, how have I celebrated? Well, last night I nailed a pretty good 3,500 yard session in the pool. I know - Rock and, indeed, Roll. As a young whippersnapper I swam pretty seriously (every day and often twice a day) up to a national standard and I'm really enjoying getting into my swimming again. I'm now starting to step up the sessions a little too. I've a list of around 15 hour-long (3500-4000 yard) sets and work my way through those one by one. Some are just standard sets, others are aimed a little more at building good distances - essential for triathlons.

This morning, I was up at 6am and did a 30km cycle on my mountain bike - felt pretty good too. We've a long weekend here in Dubai (it's Islamic New Year) and I'll look to get one circuit session in and one BRICK (transition practice - probably 500m swim along the shore in the sea, run back to starting point - repeated three times - great for getting used to that 'jelly legs' feeling you get when coming out of the swim and heading into the cycle but also a really good cross-train experience) over the course of the three-day weekend.

The point of this is...well?

Firstly, it may be useful info for anyone else at the early stages of training for triathlon. More significantly, I remember when I was swimming competitively just how unmotivated I often was - and how much I tried to avoid morning training.

It's funny that, now 30-years-old, I have more determination, motivation and even competitiveness than I did back then. I can't wait to train this weekend and almost jump out of bed on those early mornings, coz of all the energy I have.

I recently saw a photo on Facebook from my 28th birthday and, from a vanity point of view, two things occurred: 1) I looked older then than now; 2) It looked like some fat kid had eaten Matt! From a non-vain point of view, exercise has brought so much back to my life. I feel younger and better than I have for years, I have tonnes more energy and I just enjoy the variety of things I have to do.

Sure, I can tell you that beers, vodka cranberries, junk food, late nights and some truly embarrassing dancing are all likely to feature over the course of this birthday weekend, but that's not all there is - that's not all I am.

After all, what better way to crack through a hangover than a beach BRICK session?

Matt