When I first decided to do an Ironman I went in search of a coach. I knew I wanted someone who could handle a complete novice, but most importantly someone who understood balance and how a more mature woman might tick.
Back in 2006, there weren’t that many coaches around and certainly not ones I could afford. However, I came across a young Christchurch guy who was just starting out as a triathlon coach. He’d been a part of the John Hellemans’ coaching group and if you know anything about John Hellemans, then you’ll understand why I thought John Newsom might have come out of a fairly good stable.
John Newsom had been, what he would describe a second or third-tier professional triathlete. His biggest claim to fame was that he once beat Peter Read, (I’ve no idea whether he did or not but it makes for a good story) but I contacted John, we had a chat and he became my coach.
I’m not sure that either of us really knew what we were getting ourselves in for. I was very green, very insecure on the athletic front and very needy.
John was experienced with bags of athletic confidence and a bloke!
I very soon found out that John’s mode of email discussion about my training was going to be monosyllabic and my response, in the beginning, was usually tears, but he set my training schedule and I did every single thing on it to arrive at the start line of Ironman WA in 2006.
The next 10 years saw John grow as a coach, me grow as an athlete and both, I think achieve the dream of getting me to Kona!
We parted waves the best of friends in 2016 and I’ve done my own thing since then, but not for Ironman Canada, this journey needs a different approach, a different kind of coach, enter Jan Wanklyn.
The bag and meeting a new friend – Jan Wanklyn
Jan is a true-blue Aussie. Like many Aussies she’s a fish in the pool, swimming comes effortlessly to her, but that’s Aussie women for you, they can swim.
I first met Jan in the changing rooms of a local Masters’ swim club. Another friend who knew Jan had just returned from the US said we should hook up, we were both of a certain age and both new to the area, but my thoughts were, ”Why on earth would a former professional triathlete want to be friends with me?”, so I did nothing about contacting Jan.
On the morning we met, I’d put my swim bag on the bench thinking nothing about it much until a small woman said, “Is that your bag?” I said, “Yes” and she said, “Can you move it, that’s my spot.”
It was a big thing for me to go along to a Masters’ swim meet especially as I didn’t know anyone, so this encounter nearly signalled the end, but I moved my bag and noticed I’d put it next to an Ironman bag.
There was no-one near the bag, so I didn’t know who it belonged to until a blonde woman came along and started to get changed. I plucked up the courage to ask her if it was her bag and she said, “Yes”. Being an Ironman athlete does give you a sense of belonging and so I felt confident she wasn’t going to bite my head off like the other woman and I asked her if she’d done an Ironman. She quietly said, “Yes” and nothing else, but she smiled, and I introduced myself, and in return, she did the same, “I’m Jan.”
How stupid did I feel when I realised this was Jan Wanklyn, five-time Ironman winner, a former professional triathlete and I’d asked her if she’d done an Ironman, but that statement alone sums up Jan Wanklyn, modest and humble in her achievements and so our friendship began.
In the early days we didn’t talk much about triathlon beyond gossip and I certainly never asked for advice but gradually we started riding together and on long rides we talked about all sorts of rubbish.
We’re both mothers of only children almost the same age, we both loved dogs and we’ve since both found out that we’re terrible introverts.
Fast forward five years and the Ironman Canada dream evolved over a week where one day I was saying to Jan,
“I’m not entering into the hype of signing up for Ironman Penticton at 2am in the morning” to “I’ve entered the race and think I’d better get a coach.”
Why choose Jan as a coach?
The relationship I had with my first coach John was amiable but not really a friendship. He set the sessions, I did them, he knew about my family and I knew about his but we were never friends, so I really didn’t give Jan a second thought as a potential coach because we were, first and foremost, friends and I valued that.
When Jan suggested that she could be my new coach I was surprised but said I’d think about it.
I mooted the idea with Allan and several friends who know Jan and the resounding feedback was,
“Jan would be perfect for you, she knows you well, she knows Ironman Canada, she’s passionate about maintaining a sense of value as you grow older, she’s fun to be with and she knows triathlon inside out.”
The next time we met we talked about our unique coach/athlete relationship if it were to happen, but I think Jan would agree the hints below are valid for anyone entering into an athlete/coach contract.
- Athlete expectation – be sure YOU understand what you want from a coach and can articulate it clearly.
- How much time/money/passion are you are prepared to invest in the relationship, a discrepancy on either side will only lead to disappointment.
- TIME – just because you throw money at something doesn’t mean it will work, be realistic about the amount of time you really have and make sure your potential coach understands it.
- Sadly, there are coaches out there who are on ego trips, they’re looking for kudos from what the athlete achieves – it’s all about them, not about you. If in doubt, back out!
- NEVER compare – your coach, your ability, your training, your nutrition – this is all about YOU and you are unique.
- Be prepared to fail lots, but LEARN from failures, from bad sessions, races that don’t go well and don’t blame your coach, YOU ARE IN CONTROL!!!
- Have FUN and always as my friend Heather says, “Look at the view”
Jan and I will begin the formal training relationship at the beginning of November.
Swimming – I might have to get inventive if I’m out at work at the crack of dawn and can’t get into the pool first thing, a long swim looks like it will be 7pm on a Friday night.
Running – at the moment I can run to and from work, it might mean a 12-18km run day gets split between morning and night but it’s something we can talk about. Trail running is going to be a biggie to take the pressure off my ageing body pounding it on concrete.
Riding – much of my cycle training is going to have to be on the wind trainer but again now is the time to look at programs that will give the biggest bang for their buck in the time I have. I’ve tried all four of the ones below and they all have something different to offer.
Zwift Rouvy Trainer Road Bkool
Strength training – absolutely essential and I’ve already started that. I’m fortunate enough to have built a bit of a gym under the house so there’s no excuse to avoid that.
Sleep – lots of it and good quality too – I fell asleep on a park bench for 10mins at lunchtime the other day, it was glorious and worked for the long afternoon ahead and a run home.
I’m excited about the next 10 months. I know from past experience it’s not all going to be fun, or pain-free, or easy, but what I am hoping for is a journey that will show that just because I’m chasing 60 I don’t have to settle for creaking knees or an obsession with retirement funds. I’m going to live the dream with my coach/mate – the two old girls will be back on the road!!!!!!!