Time to “Go Get IT!”

I figure now that we’re well into 2015 it’s about time I gave a little update as to what I’ve been up to since a little race in Hawaii back in October.  Though it doesn’t really feel like it, I had an off season.  It pretty much comprised of catching up on everything I had put on hold in my big training build for Kona.  I had a lovely stack of school books awaiting my arrival home from Maui and I also had a wife and small dog both very deserving of some undivided attention for a while (just to clarify I am still married and Oscar is still very much tormenting every other dog in our neighbourhood).   I spent the last two months of 2014 finishing my course work for my Business Commerce Degree.  I am happy and relieved to say I passed all of my exams, now only one more accounting course left to take in the spring and then I’ll be a Certified General Accountant pursuing a career as a Professional Triathlete.  Kind of makes you wonder what I learned in school!

As some of you already know, one of the big changes for me in 2015 is that I will be racing as a professional triathlete.  It’s a dream we’ve thought about chasing for a while when I was ready.  I say “we” because it was a joint decision, in order to do it right it requires the full support of my family and Jenna has been my biggest supporter all along.  Back in August 2013 we were driving back from Challenge Penticton, a friend had shared Trevor Wurtele’s victory speech from Ironman Canada in Whistler.  The part of his speech that really stuck with us was:

“Go after your dreams, it doesn’t have to be in sport, it’s with anything in life.  Do everything in your power to make that dream happen.  Fully commit to it and go get it.  The worst thing that will happen is that you go back to your old life knowing you did everything you could to make your dream a reality.”

                                                                                                                                             – Trevor Wurtele

We were so amped on the drive home, though not quite convinced to sell everything we own and buy a motorhome we did come up with the brilliant idea to try and move in with my parents to save money to try and make it happen.  Though extremely supportive of us and our endeavors they didn’t quite share our enthusiasm and politely declined.  We slowly started making plans on how this would look and how it could be financially feasible, 18 months later here we are and I’ll be toeing the line for the first time as a Pro at Ironman 70.3 New Orleans in April.

I am extremely lucky to have an incredible supporter in my wife Jenna along with both our families.  I have an amazing team of sponsors this year, some new and exciting ones that I’ll announce shortly in addition to continuing to have the outstanding support of the great brands and businesses that have been with me over the last couple of years.

Training wise I’m swimming faster than ever, still not as fast as the short course boys in my squad but the gap is growing smaller.  It’s been a lot of work, a whole lot of waking up SUPER early, but it’s been very rewarding.  I’m running really well, the contrast to where I was at this point last year is massive.  Still lots to do on the bike but again much further ahead than where I’ve been at this point in seasons past and I can’t wait to start racing again.  I’m sure the season will serve its fair share of humble pie but I also truly believe I have some breakthroughs awaiting me later this year.  Until then we have a whole lot of work to do.

“Excellence is not a part time job.”

                                   – Mark Allen