Ironwoman champion Jordan Mercer reveals incredible training schedule ahead of M20
IF you think the life of a professional athlete is a couple of training sessions a day and running errands for the rest of it, then have a chat to Ironwoman Jordan Mercer.
IF you think the life of a professional athlete is a couple of training sessions a day and then hanging around and running errands for the rest of it, then have a chat to Ironwoman Jordan Mercer.
Mercer, who took out the Ironwoman title for the first time in the 2015-16 season, is now well in to training for the Molokai to Oahu (M2O) paddleboard World Championship and the level of commitment for this event goes beyond anything the average Joe could probably ever manage.
The M2O is a 52-kilometre race across the Ka’iwi Channel in Hawaii and it takes at least five hours to complete.
This is the same body of water that claimed the life of big wave surfer Eddie Aikau in the late 1970s and is known for its bad weather and open ocean swells.
So it understandable that Mercer now spends around six hours each day completing a rigorous training schedule to prepare for the endurance event that will be held on July 31 this year.
“This year I want to change things up a little bit, I can’t be doing the same thing if I want to take things to another level,” Mercer explained to the Sunday Telegraph.
“In a day I try to train the time it would take me to race and in a week – excluding my swimming – I try to paddle the race distance.”
At least six hours a day swimming, running and in the gym; 52 kilometres a week on the board. Why would anyone want to do that?
“There are a few things that I really do love about this event – the energy that this whole event has,” Mercer said.
“In Hawaii they actually call it the ‘mana’. How they explain something like that – an energy; it’s powerful; something that’s special, and this race has definitely got it. I love that.
“I also love that it’s so hard, that it is so rewarding. I always learn so much about myself, pushing myself to limits like that; overcoming what I think is all I’ve got to give at many times throughout that race is something pretty special.
“It’s something that I’m not challenged with in anything else that I’ve taken on really.”
Having won the M2O for the past five years, it’s clear Mercer has the physical ability to win – she even set the race record in her first year there as a 16-year-old.
But the mental side is an even bigger challenge. Mercer admits it distraction can creep in during a five to six hour race.
The achievement of working through those mental hurdles during the event can be even more satisfying than victory itself.
“There’s so much that goes through my head. I’m like a professional daydreamer, so you can imagine what it’s like being out in the middle of the ocean and I just have the pleasure of doing what I do best – brainstorm, daydream,” Mercer said.
“But although it’s such a long race, physically you have to be fit but mentally you have to be so strong. Daydreaming is all well and good but you miss one little wave and that’s a one-second penalty to yourself.
“You really have to be switched on out there.
“There are definitely times when the negative thoughts start to creep in and when that happens you feel it instantly. Your body starts to falter when you think a negative thought … When things like that happen it’s scary.
“I’ve only got what’s left mentally to pull me out of that so that’s when I think about what it would mean to win; how much better it would feel to cross knowing I’ve given my all... I put it all on the line then.”
And is beating that record in her sights this year?
“It’s always a goal (to beat it). I know I’m not going to be doing this forever and I really do hope I can leave a legacy on this event and I think if my record could stay that is something that I want to happen,” Mercer.
“I need to make that record a bit better and I haven’t had a chance to do that in five years.”
TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR M20
Morning: 2.5 hours swim squad - approximately 6 kilometres
Gym session: 45 minute to one hour group training
Afternoon: Distance paddling - approximately 8-9 kilometres
1-2 run sessions per week
Originally published as Ironwoman champion Jordan Mercer reveals incredible training schedule ahead of M20
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