When it comes to sports, more specifically outdoor sports, it’s likely that you can remember a pinnacle moment in your journey; whether that’s the initial spark of interest, or your first taste of success as you progressed. Regardless, we all have specific moments that we often reflect on. Bruce, our founder at KitUp, is no exception. Today, Bruce is sharing his story, take a read.
Reigniting the spark for outdoor sports adventures
Has your life ever revolved entirely around your work? 6 months ago I was in this bracket and I can now see the impact that this had, not just on me but on those around me. I would be with my wife or with friends but never fully giving them my attention. I was always checking the KitUp social media feeds or drafting emails or looking at new listings. One evening, I was at home and my wife told me that enough was enough, that I needed something else to drive me.
Dedicated sports training
I have always loved tough endurance races like ultra marathons, partly because of the stunning settings and the connection with nature but also because of the discipline needed to get through the build up training and the event. I had always wanted to complete an Ironman triathlon so I took the plunge and entered the Barcelona Ironman Triathlon. All triathlons follow a swim, cycle, run, format so require dedicated training for 3 separate sports.
Improving health, wellbeing and productivity with consistent physical activity
The program that I followed (see here) had been intense, with a minimum of 6 sessions per week averaging 2 hours per day. The weekends were pretty tough, often with a 4 or 5 hour cycle on a Saturday and a long run on Sunday. During the first month or so it felt pretty overwhelming but I stuck at it and soon got pretty used to it. It seemed to give me the drive and discipline not only to complete my training but to achieve so much more every day.
Consistent training gave me the structure in my life that I can now see I needed. Getting up for early morning swimming sessions or heading out on my bike not only gives me satisfaction at having been productive, it also releases so many endorphins that you are energised and focussed throughout the day. It also helped with my sleep (you have to prioritise this when training so much). If I went out for drinks or had a late night, I really felt it during my training so I had to really cut back. Again, this led to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. I spent fewer hours ‘working’ than before, but I got far more done, my work was to a better standard and I felt a greater sense of achievement.
Creating a social and active community
It was also a great way to spend some time with friends in a different setting. Training alone can get a bit lonely so convincing people to come out and join you, even for a small part of your cycle or run and a lot more fun to the schedule and you get the added benefit of catching up with friends.
I could not recommend this enough. You do not have to sign up to anything as radical or as time consuming as an Ironman triathlon but try adding some training structure to your life and see how you feel. I had all of my training sessions in a PDF document so I had the added bonus of crossing each one off. Seeing the race get closer and closer made me stick to the plan.
Tuning into your body
For the 6 months leading up to the triathlon, this was my guide. I completed about 95% of the sessions but it is important to listen to your body. If you feel that you are training too much, scale it back as the risk of overtraining could stop you entirely. Also, if you’re feeling great and want to add more in, you can. Just make sure to accommodate your diet – the calories you burn will increase drastically so make sure to fuel properly!
How I KitUp
Naturally, with 3 sports to train for, I’d acquired an abundance of kit to fulfil my training needs, starting with an investment of state-of-the-art bikes to the comfiest yet most stable running shoes, it’s not easy on the pocket, but it’s worth it.
To support the outdoor sports community, my Giant Propel bike is an incredible hire, especially for intermediate-advanced cyclists in the London area who want to take on an adventure. From the carbon frame for reaching top speeds to the cutting-edge shimano gears for the smoothest ride, it’s a beauty. While this kit wasn’t available for the big Ironman day, it has been since.
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