ASK THE DON
How have you had to adapt your training as you’ve grown older? We’re the same age (42), but obviously racing at a different level, and I wondered how I need to adapt as I move through my 40s?
rowing old is tough when it comes to professional sport. Retirement can come early – like mid-40s, I hope – and that’s only if the body behaves. My body is the engine. But it’s the mind that starts the engine up every day, keeping it revving high and competitive. Desire is the key to racing well into your mid-40s. The want, the need, to put it all on a start line and say, “Here you go, this is what I have today. If you want to beat me, you’re going to have to work damn hard and earn that win.”
Don’t get me wrong it’s a lot harder now, what with two kids and a mortgage. The responsibility. Back in the day, it was just me, myself and I. Looking back, I didn’t know just how good I had it!
Practically, as I’ve aged I’ve taken out a fair bit of intensity from my training, especially when it comes to running. My body just doesn’t recover as quickly as it
gused to. To compensate, adding in longer blocks of threshold with shorter recovery brings my speed endurance up, especially on the bike and in the pool. I’m more consistent then my younger days, too. Little and often is better than being a weekend warrior and smashing out a massive Saturday and Sunday only to need a few days off.
I also do two pilates sessions a week, one S&C session and one massage, as well as Normatec recovery boots at least twice a week. Every 10 days I see my osteopath to sort my neck and head! All of these things help consistency and that means a faster me come race day.
Other age-related tweaks? A full warm-up, even for swimming. Before I hit the pool, I take 10mins to swing my arms and give my upper body a good stretch. Same with running and cycling. I love a good foam-roller session pre- and post-session, too. I’ve also learnt that