Hi Matt and the Purple Patch crew,

I wanted to flick you an email to say thank you for bringing out The Fast Track Athlete book and your podcast. 
I started to use your book for a 70,3 in 2018 but didn't understand the structure and workout designs so went to something a little more "basic"   As well as i had prepared for that race, my inner mental demons got the better of me, and I struggled from the very first swim stroke and the entire 6hour 2mins that followed.  It was not a good day. 
After that, I started listening to the Tower 26 podcast and rediscovered my love for swimming.  Listening to Gerry and Jim i learnt more about swim structure and your own working with Gerry. 

I got the Fast Track Athlete book back out. Re read it. took the 70.3  14 week plan and tacked that on the end of the Ironman training, which i really only used to complete a 60km Ultramarathon. 
With a new knowledge of how and why i was doing the Key workouts i was able to structure my training and home work life.  As much as i would LOVE to say i did every Key Workout and a good handful of the supporting workouts every week. That would be a lie.  BUT i did what my life and my time allowed.   
Coming into Ironman 70.3 Geelong, I felt confident in my swim, bike, run. Not wanting to put any time pressures on my self I just wanted to have a strong swim, be comfortable on the bike while holding good form and then hopefully be able to run the run.
This is how my day went. Into the swim, i felt very comfortable and was finding lots of feet to leap frog my way through.   I never felt out of breath and thought "hmm if i could go around the 33min mark I would be really happy"  I exited the water in 29min FLAT.  Holy Crap.  what just happened??  I had done nothing in my swims that lead me to believe i could go that quick.  

Onto the bike, i was all smiles for the next 90km  I rode strong on the hills, knowing i could push a high power with a lower cadence. Push over the top and recover on the down.  Every 10mins or so i would just laugh at how great I had felt in my swim and that i was enjoying the morning.  This was GREAT> 
The bike course is a two lap one, So i got to go pass my wife and kids and I was all smiles.  Something that my wife said afterwards had been missing last time i raced this distance. 
I finished the run. Took my time in T2 and onto the run.
the first 13km flew by.  Then i think my own stupidity caught up with me.  In an effort to get in my run nutrition, i think i consumed to much to soon and suffered excruciating gut pain.  I was bent over double thinking WTF!!!  The  last 7+km were reduced to a run/walk and grimace. 
I eventually finished and was spent.  5:30:00  Taking 32mins off my last attempt. But more importantly, I had loved the whole thing. 

So again, thank you so much for your book and Podcasts keep up the great work. Moving forward this year I will probably do another Ultramarathon using the same Ironman plan and incorporate even more Strength work, especially now that our summer season is coming to a close. 
Even though I may not be a paying Purple Patch squady, I definitely contribute my great day and season to you and your wisdom. 

Ironman 70.3 Geelong 
Total Time: 5:30:58
Swim: 0:29:04 - 1:32 / 100M
T1: 4:29 ( stopped and had a pee)
Bike: 2:41:45 - 33.39km/h (stopped and had another pee at 70km in)
T2: 2:54
Run: 2:21:48 - 6:18 min/km