E = End game

Was reminded on Tuesday of one my (many) faults - forgetting what the 'end game' is...

It had snowed on Monday afternoon and I was pleased with my effort in cycling back from Truro to Perranporth - a really enjoyable experience in the magical half light as snow reflected the dusk sun. Roads were almost deserted; most people having left for home earlier (wary of the chaos that followed the last heavy snow that fell a few years ago.)

Got home exhilarated and determined to ride in the next morning whatever the weather (well almost whatever). Woke early to a fresh snow fall and wrapped up warm set off. Had to walk up hill at end of Perrancombe, due to compact snow/ ice causing wheel to spin, and choose to walk down Kenwyn Hill as it looked very slippy - evidenced by car being unable to turn off the main road (in the end my 'manly' efforts to help out the damsels in distress were rendered superfluous by a man, a 4 x 4 and a rope).

Got in to our office an hour and a half after leaving home too find I had focused too much on the journey - the mental concentration and physical effort in making my way in had left me 'wasted'. Had an 'ok' day but bit of disappointment in terms of productivity - should have thought about what I wanted to achieve when I had to work...

This is not new to me; one of my 'favourites' was when I had just joined the firm I work for now and was involved in a presentation - I focused so much on the actual presentation that when I finished talking I just 'turned off'. Unfortunately, the presentation was followed by Q&A session and I could not even remember my name.

In the context of Norseman - I have to remember the end game is to finish (as opposed to getting on start list!). And, also to remember that Norseman is the 'end game' for me physically in 2009 as opposed to the marathons I have scheduled in as training in April (Note: I read yesterday in 220 magazine that a Ironman trainee should not look to have a long run greater than 18 miles - so may have to reconsider my plans for April).