It's Abu Dhabi TIME!!

Late last year, I had been invited to race at the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in, where else, Abu Dhabi. There were a few critical factors that were holding me back from guaranteeing my participation, but finally, as of the last two days, it is confirmed that I'm GOING! Extremely exciting news, I am incredibly pumped!!! The distance format is an unusual one, heavily favouring the strong cyclists: 3km open water swim, 200km bike, 20km run.

Some people ask me, "Nathan, it's not even MARCH yet, are you ready for this race?" Well, ready is really just a state of mind. Of course I don't have the enormous base of volume under my feet like I did last year for IMC and EPIC, but I've already got last years volume under my feet, as well as a fairly substantial amount this year (including a LOT of increased strength and power from a lot of additional strength training, that I've never done much of in the past.) That, so far this year, has equalled much higher power numbers than even during IMC last year!

 With a world class field, reminiscent of a World CHAMPIONSHIP field (and I'm talking about the 'BIG' show in the lava fields here,) it would no doubt be overwhelming to some. But that's where I know I'm 'ready.' It takes a certain mind-set and mental state to go to a large race, this early season. A lot of the pro field is well into their race season already, being from countries that are enjoying their summer at the moment, or they MOVE to those countries for their training. Going in to the race knowing this, accepting this, and leaving that thought in check will help me maintain mental strength. The mind is a powerful weapon, both for and AGAINST ourselves; utilizing it for positives only can be a real advantage, as anyone who has done a long triathlon (or any long, physically demanding foray of adventure,) knows that the mind can be incredibly negative and demoralizing when things turn tough.

Suffering in the heat

My last final saving grace is my absolute LOVE for the heat. I'm not talking about a lovely sunny late spring afternoon with the thermometer hovering around the 20 celsius mark; I'm talking about the energy-sucking, electrolyte-depleting, brain-melting, water-incinerating numbers that you can come across in the middle east. Some of my absolute BEST training days (and races for that matter,) were in substantial heat (last year in Tucson, AZ, my strongest day was an 8 hour double climb day of Mt Lemmon, with time trialling included for a few hours after, with highs of 44 degrees Celsius (for you imperial folks, that's a whopping 110F!!)) I also spend hours on end with the heat absolutely CRANKED in the 'pain-cave' (that I've lovingly renamed the 'Sweat Shop,') not so much to acclimatize to the heat, but because I love to hurt in a hot place. 

Pure. Speed.

You might be wondering "what is he going to ride there?" Well, since I am only in possession of a mountain bike and a Cervelo S2 road bike, my amazing coach Björn Ossenbrink of MultiSport Science is currently scrambling to build a Teschner 703TT bike for me to race. It will be a wicked fast rig, helping me squeeze every last watt of power onto the road!

Triathlon Top

Arm Sleeves = Sun Protection

I'm also supported by all my other sponsors, who will be getting me to the finish line in the fastest time possible. Troy Hutchinson of Powerbar has sent out a last-minute supply of nutrition for the race, as my nutrition supplies were a bit low (I'll be using my favourite staples out on the course: PERFORM, Vanilla and Strawberry-Banana Gels, Energy Blasts, and my two favourite flavours of Powerbars, the PeanutButter and Cookies n Cream!) As for my race suit, since there is not enough time to pull a new one together (in LESS than two weeks I'll be waking up in Abu Dhabi,) I'll be pairing up some bits from years past to race in. Due to the pastiness of my nicely winter-bleached skin, I may opt for the Compressport Triathlon Shirt and the white Pro Racing Arm Sleeves, to protect me from the rays of the sun (although I've been told by the highly informed nutrition expert Noa Deutsch that my skin will be SOOOOO happy with all the Vitamin D I can absorb! Haha!) If you live in the lower mainland, head to Speed Theory Vancouver to grab yourself some of the extensive line of Compressport products, the fantastic crew there will help you out!!

Powerbar will keep me topped up

That's it for me now, time to head into the veritable 'Sweat-Shop' and suffer out for half the day. Enjoy the good looking weather coming our way, happy training and be safe!!

Nathan