Mentors/guru's want a real challenge

[paddy]

Hi all

I am looking for a mentor to guide a long shot age grouper to konai am up for the challenge if you are no fancy qualifications, PHD'S necessary just plenty of IM experience. if any coachs/guru's are looking for a big challenge please please send me a private message. i cant afford the coaching packages or I would take one up straight away. I was think of contact via email maybe twice a month or whatever the brave coach/guru deems necessary I would be able to pay a small fee on a regular basis.

reading the forum is really helpful and i have a basic structure to follow however,

I am just looking for someone to bounce things off and a bit of guidence.

i hope moderator does not think this request as stepping on the teams toes.

Thanks

Paddy.

[aftriguy]

Paddy-

I am by no means one to help, but as I started this season my one goal was Kona.  I had a brief idea of what it was going to take and made sure I lined up everything so that I would have no excuses for not qualifying.  I have been on here following the team since back in early 2009 and was waiting for the release of their online coaching.  Bingo step #1 was in work for what I was looking for.  I went with Scott and I was on my way.  The other thing that I did was bought a powermeter, I would say this was the second best investment I made.  The other thing that I did was made sure I found a race that suited me.  Being my first IM I knew it was going to be a long shot to get to Kona, but why not set high goals   If you truly want to get to Kona make sure you have a solid game plan, and if it is really that big of a deal it will take some sacrafices.  Find a race like China, Korea or another first year race in a far of destination that will not attract a big crowd.  I tell you what, if there is an IM China on the calendar next year, it will be REALLY REALLY SMALL!  That would be a huge opportunity to land a Kona slot.  Hence that is why I had signed up for it this year, then all hell broke lose and I ended up racing Korea.

I had a talk with Brandon in Singapore about everything above and we talked about how people want to get to Kona and it is a "dream" of theirs, but when you ask them the hard questions they seem to shy away from it.  Like making the trip to China or Korea to take a shot at that Kona slot, it is a financial burden for most but if you really want that Kona slot that is something that you have to consider.

I thought I had it all figured out with going to China/Korea.  I had Singapore 70.3 early in the year, good hot/humid race.  Then I went home for 3 weeks before Korea (not ideal, but had a family wedding), and trained in 40-42 degree temps, but no humidity and then flew back for IM Korea.  Now he is the kicker with the whole Kona thing, you have no control over who else shows up.  I had done some research and I knew some fast guys were coming in my AG.  But anything can happe on race day.  Only 4 slots in my AG at IM Korea and I just happened to snag the last spot.  But those 3 guys that were ahead of me, they were 1st,2nd,4th Amateurs and all finished in the Top 10 Overall..........So I had a good day, and if I would of missed that Kona slot there is really nothing you can do about it.  You prepare yourself to the best of your abilities, you show up and execute and where you finish is where you finish.  You just have to cross that line knowing you gave it your all and wherever that puts you is the finishing # you get next to your name.  Hopefully that # next to your name comes with a Kona slot!

[Fegan]

Paddy,

Firstly - is your goal realistic? I've got a friend that publicly stated they were going for sub 10 at Austria and missed it by over an hour. Have a look at the times required for Kona qualification, the likes of Austria now require sub-9!

Why not take the ca$h you'd spend on entering and traveling to an m-dot race and hire a coach, then do Eireman or Outlaw. Then when you're ready take the qualification shot, doing an IM abroad will set you back close to £1000 on entry fees, travel and accommodation.

There's lots of coaches available that aren't TBB and may even be local to you, so can actually spend deck time with you. If you're set on getting a TBB coach, then save for a 3 month block (interest free credit cards are good for this), get a skeleton structure set-up and then buy a month ad-hoc after this - possibly every 3rd. So you get 3 months guidance then another 4 weeks every quarter to review your progress and your skeleton week. Not ideal but better than nothing.

But first, speak to a few people that have made it Kona in the last 2 years and see if you're willing to commit to the training needed. Remember even if they were only doing 16 hours per week, there's probably 5 years worth of base before this.

Lastly, maybe question why everyone is hung up on going to Kona - if you can't afford a coach, then you'll not be able to afford to go there - this will set you back closer to £2-3K!!!!!

[paddy]

is my goal realistic i think so and that's all that matters to me its a dream i am not going to the pool to be average i have no natural talent but what i give away in talent i will make up in determination. i could not afford to travel to kona this year or next just as well since i have no chance i qualifying. i am in this for the long haul min 5 years and if in the end it does not work out well i will have enjoyed the trip seen the world well Europe anyway and be b bloody fit. attention all coaches, this is a long shot i am not asking for full blown programs just some guidance/mentor. as usual fegan and aftriguy make some valid points and i thank them for it. everybody has a dream this is mine!

Paddy