Russell Cox’s Blog (19/11)

In August 2008 Russell Cox took a year out and moved to Australia. His goal? To race a couple of Ironman and qualify for the 2009 World Championships in Hawaii. Two races rapidly became six, and one year became two, as Russell realised his goals in impressive fashion. The athlete and coach will be blogging extensively for Triathlete Europe over the coming months, allowing us to follow his progress as he builds towards the 2010 Ironman World Championships.

In just over two weeks time I’ll race Ironman Western Australia and finish up a busy season. Now you might think it’s odd to be starting blogging at the close of my season. What you need to bear in mind is the next season starts the day after the race. Ok, maybe a couple of days after the race. I gave up on the idea of an off season around the same time I gave up my job and started training full-time. I thought to start things out I should tell my story so far.

Some time around August 2008 I started a new life as a full time athlete. I left behind a desk job for ambitious plans, a desire to train and race hard and a ticket to Australia. Lots has happened since then. Importantly I did train and race hard resulting in completing some of my goals. I loved Australia and New Zealand enough to bring me back again this winter.

I’m sure I’m not alone in finding plans easily grow beyond the original idea. Way back in 2008 I told friends I was taking a year out, but I’m past that and on the way to two. I entered this full-time lifestyle with some set race goals – Ironman Western Australia (2008), Ironman Australia and if things went to plan the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Somehow over the first few months it expanded. I had a bit of a breakthrough at Ironman Western Australia setting a new PB, but not quite getting to Hawaii. Buoyed up with confidence I found myself entered into a few more events. The 2009 schedule jumped from two Ironman races to six! I did say it’d been a busy season. Entering more events proved a good idea as it wasn’t until my last chance that I got a Hawaii slot.

This busy season started in Port Macquarie with Ironman Australia. Unexpectedly Australia went against the hot and dry stereotype and the region flooded during race week. It was hot, but mud defined the day. Mud and a very flat race from me. A result I wasn’t too happy with and still no Kona slot to show. I’d make excuses, but I didn’t turn up in the shape I needed.

A brief return to the UK to say hello to family and friends before flying out to Lanzarote for a month. I really can’t complain much about the life I lead! Apart from getting in weeks of solid training with friends there was the Ironman at the end of my trip. I was all ready and talking myself up to do a sub-10! With a week to go I developed a saddle sore. Not some little thing either a humongous abscess bigger than a golf ball! I still raced. Wouldn’t recommend it though!

I came home deflated and still without that Kona slot. There was one more chance – Ironman UK at the new venue in Bolton. Realistically I needed to be on my age group’s podium to have a chance. I’d have to be racing well. Perhaps now is the time to mention a little quirk in my schedule. You see I’d heard how good Challenge Roth is supposed to be. It sounded so good I’d entered. It was three weeks before Ironman UK!

Entirely new territory for me. I got back into training in the UK summer. Not quite the summer I’d enjoyed on the Gold Coast, but I’ll admit to a fondness for home. I trained hard up to Roth and raced it as a ‘training race’. If you’re unsure of that term it’s something athletes say before an event if they want a good excuse for a poor performance! As it was despite a mini-taper I almost set a new PB and on the way managed a big Ironman run PB.

With three weeks till my last chance for Kona I wanted to get back into things straight away. My body had entirely different ideas. Aside from ballooning up like an elephant (my ankles were a source of amusement at my swim lake) I have not felt so sore in a long time. What followed was a nerve wracking three weeks wondering if I’d actually be racing or not. I couldn’t run for longer than twenty minutes until seven days before Bolton!

A day or two before Ironman UK and there were signs that things might be all right. All right, not amazing. The age group podium seemed a long shot. If anything comes from racing so much it’s the confidence to give it a go. I knew what a really bad race was like and I’d get through. I also knew what a really good race was like and all I needed to do was replicate that. Easy!

Ironman UK went amazingly. I got onto that podium and with initially only two Kona slots I was delighted to learn a guy ahead of me was already going! It’s hard to describe the pleasure and relief of finally getting the place after a year of trying! I celebrated by taking a big three week break before training up for Hawaii.

Finally race number five, the big one! I did some really solid preparation for Kona, including a good week in the Pyrenees (it’s a tough life). Then out to Kona two weeks before the race. Acclimatisation took a while and my taper felt terrible. Come race day though things must have worked because I had an amazing race and finished under 10 hours. Hawaii was an amazing experience.

Now here I am back in Oz, getting ready for one more Ironman this year. Competing in Kona has left me wanting more. I’m aiming to get back there again and improve on my performance. Like I said plans seem to grow well beyond their original scope!

So I’m working hard. Training as best I can to get myself ready for the coming race and my first opportunity for another Hawaii slot. Once again it’ll take a podium place to have much chance so this isn’t going to be easy. Then again where would the fun be if it was?

There’s more Ironman races coming up in the next season. There’s going to be massive amounts of training including Epic Camp in New Zealand. Then there’s broadening my involvement in the sport through coaching and training camps. One year as an athlete leaves me wanting to continue this lifestyle as long as I can. So a major goal is to sustain a life in this sport. Hopefully that journey, the training, the racing will prove to make for interesting stories.

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