2019 is here. This year I want to become the best of my own ability and escape the ‘training schedule’ I’ve had over the last two years.

To be honest, I have gone through the last two years as a triathlon athlete being in pretty poor shape. I drink plenty of beer, eat the wrong food and don’t live the life of a fully committed triathlete.

My usual pattern of training between March and June, completing my races before piling on the pounds over winter has to change.

This year is the year I make these changes.

What am I doing different this year?

With the aid of my coach, I have decided that this winter I will be hitting the gym more. This is in addition to the usual swimming, cycling and running that I do on a regular basis.

Since January 2018, I have lost 18 pounds and this winter I am bringing a different mindset. I’m not resting on my laurels and falling back on the comfort in the knowledge that I can train for short periods over the spring. I’m making a change to have a consistent approach for the whole year.

I’m eating better and have added weightlifting to my gym schedule to get as lean as I can. I have my goals for 2019: to smash all of my previous PBs. And that includes the 70.3.

Injury setback

As I said, I do like to have a beer or two from time to time. The Christmas period usually means lots of beers for me and this year was unfortunately no exception.

In December, I suffered a setback after falling and injuring my shoulder. I was drunk after having that extra beer I probably didn’t need!

The result is that I am unable to swim and cycle and I have been restricted in the weight exercises I can complete. However I am slowly improving and strengthening as we head into the new year.

To prove my commitment, mainly to myself, I competed in the Cannock Chase Park Run on Christmas Day with my brother. I restricted my beer intake throughout the rest of the month and ran a solid time of 00:20:37. It is only four seconds off my PB and proves that my new routine is working.

Here’s to a great year!