Wrapup 2016 - planning 2017

2016 has been a good year as I have managed to break my PB in three different triathlon distances and also became a mentally stronger triathlete. This was also the first year that races and training planning was done together with Darby (coach) which was a key foundation for successful races ,zero injuries (well not from training J ) and zero sick days.

The build part of the training went quite well and by January my FTP raised from 250 to 280 all looked great and then came the ski vacation.
For my wife 40^th birthday we have went for a long weekend in the Italian Alps. When trying to show off how fast I’m (first ski holiday with the wife) I have made an amateur snowboarder mistake and at the speed of 36km/h crashed on my left hip. Lucky only my pride got broken yet a three weeks of lying on the coach and a three more for recovery caused my fitness to drop.

Recovery went well and by the time of the first race (21^st of May) I was 90% recovered as still had pain when transitioning from cycling to running

In June I have joined Finland’s best triathlon club SKB Racing Triathlon Team, this gave a boost to my racing performance as racing with a tri-club suit and getting a great team support in local races is game changer especially for those dark moments during the race (among other great benefits of being part of this club)

Races this year were planned quite well :

·      Half distance in May to remove the rust (IM 70.3 St Pölten)

·      Olympic in start of June (Vantaa Triathlon)

·      Half distance in end of June as part of the full distance training  (Långvik)

·      Full distance in mid July (Challenge Roth)

·      Half distance in  mid Aug to close the season (Challenge Turku)

Racing went great , first the confidence was high and pre-race stress low then setting goals to each race and create a race plan based on those prove as success (never race without a goal/s). I have managed to break PB: Olympic 2:11 (previous 2:25), half 4:35 (previous 4:45) and full 9:49(previous 10:25) this prove a good progress and I believe that there is more room to improve.

What next?

Still planning for this year to do few running events a 10K race, an half marathon and my first full open marathon (Frankfurt). Next year races are already planned ,booked and goals are set.
will start with IM 70.3 Mallorca in May - goals : take off the rust, experience a non-flat course, visit Mallorca and enjoy good time with SKB team. In June The Championship race in Slovakia – Goals: race with the best and improve my half PB and in July Finntriathlon Joroinen Finnish championship in half distance – Goal: top 10 in my AG.  
For full distance event I have wanted to do IM Kalmar (Sweden) yet the logistic for this race was too complicated so in the end I have registered to IM Copenhagen – goals: Finish time 09:30, top 20 in AG , those are not easy goals yet I believe that if work hard and get the needed progress those goals can be met.