It was very lucky that my first triathlon went so well. The reason for this is because I only had 8 weeks until my second on the day of my first! Which means, while I write my blog post I only have six weeks and 2 days to go! You would think that having done one already, and having done it reasonably well, that I would be excited for the next one.
You think wrong?
I am just as terrified, if not more so, for this one and this is because the swim is in open water. Okay, it's a lake. But it's outside, it's huge and you cannot for the life of you see the damn bottom. Don't get me wrong, I love to swim. Put me in a pool and I can go for hours. The sea? Yes, love it! The waves and funny salty taste. Trying to do handstands with your hands sinking into the sand on the bottom - hours of fun! I've even been lake swimming before and, on the whole, enjoyed it. It was lovely and warm, we were on holiday in Canada and it was a gorgeous lake. The surface was strewn with lily pads and we all waded in and went for a lovely dip....
Here's the problem... (there will be a slight digression, but stick with me, I'll come back to the lake and the triathlon very shortly). I have the worlds most over active imagination! Truth. I have kept myself awake until the early hours of the morning, the hours that NO ONE should ever see, because I convince myself that the characters from the horror movie I have inevitably watched that day are, in fact, very real! I have two examples of this that highlight just how pathetically scared I can become of my own mind.
Example A) It is a very snowy February in the UK (I know, that in itself is just freaky) and school is closed because, obviously, the whole country came to a stand still at the foot and a bit of snow that had dumped itself on us. Both my parents were home and working from home in the office upstairs, Sian was off doing I don't know what and I thought it would a really great idea to watch a movie by myself to pass the time. Yes, I know. A very normal decision to make - I thought so too. A movie to myself. Lovely. What shall I watch? Oh, I know, let's watch Paranormal Activity. Why the hell not?
Those were famous last words, weren't they! Now, for those of you who haven't seen this movie, it's basically a house haunting filmed by the inhabitants of the house. There is a very angry spirit that seems to take over the woman living in the house. (Even writing this, I am starting to feel really uneasy) There is one particular scene where the couple are in bed and the door to their bedroom opens by itself. The woman then wakes up, shrieking that she can feel the demon breathing on her. Here is where I imagination kicks in. I was fine ALL DAY! I didn't even think about the movie once I'd turned it off - the rest of the day passed without any drama and I got into bed. And Oh, holy Jesus, I scared the living daylights out of myself for hours. I went to bed at around 9:30 - 10pm.... I was awake until 5am! I kid you not! Every time I started to drop off, my brain would tell me that I was feeling the demon breathe on me and I would wake up again. It was honestly ridiculous but there you have it - my imagination scared me so much that I stayed awake for 7 hours!!! SEVEN HOURS!
Example B) I can no longer have a dressing gown hanging on the back on my bedroom door. I went to see The Woman In Black in London with one of my closest friends. It was terrific, I'd see it again any day but again, my imagination likes to play tricks on me. There is a part in the show where the Woman In Black stands on a stair case and just watches the young man move around her house. It is chilling - to see the presence of her in the house and see him so oblivious to it. (I am again, starting to get goose bumps and my heart is racing a little) When I got home after the show that night, I was just slightly jittery and couldn't sleep because every time I rolled onto one side of my bed I would catch sight of my dressing gown and freak out that it was The Woman standing at the bottom of my bed. So, once turning on all the lights of course, I got out of bed and put the dressing gown in the wardrobe and there it has stayed ever since.
So yes, my imagination doesn't need much of a seed to be planted before it goes into warp drive and creeps me out completely.
Right, back to the lake and relevancy of this digression. When you are lake swimming, everything is fine and dandy when you are above the water. The water is warm (if it's in summer and the water has been heated by the sun) and you can see everything. The second you put your head under the water it gets really murky really fast. If you pull yourself down into the water further, it gets cold really quickly too. I'm sure some of you can already guess where this is heading. When I was in the lake in Canada, I went into a little mermaid dive, like I had done a million times in a pool and freaking the flip out as I suddenly panicked that the monster in the bottom of the lake might come up and drag me down to the depths. Because I couldn't see, and it suddenly got so cold, my brain went into panic mode. I very quickly made the decision to stay in a lazy breast stroke with my head firmly above the waters surface!
I'm usually a very confident swimmer - as my Dad tells all his work colleagues, I was born with gills behind my ears. I would happily spend hours in the water without a second thought about it. But I was/still am very nervous about swimming in open water before heading out on my bike and then my run. I know it will totally change the feel of my triathlon. For this reason, I attended an official training day, run buy RGactive, a company affiliated with HumanRace, who are running the triathlon at Eton Dorney in July. The day was split into three seminars, one for each event, and three groups rotated round all three seminars with lunch tucked into the middle.
I was swimming first and quite frankly was very happy to get in the water and get it out of the way. Now, as I have said, I am a really confident swimmer and I have never felt more uncomfortable in the water as I did last weekend. It is a whole different ball game swimming in open water than it is in a pool. The first thing to battle with is the cold! It was freezing!! Well, actually, according to the thermometer, the water was actually 19 degrees C but it felt more like 2 maybe 3 degrees. I couldn't breathe, let alone swim. We did some basic warm up stuff, treading water etc. Then we were told to just float. We were all in wet suits and the instructor wanted us to get used to the feel of the buoyancy the wet suits provided. This buoyancy was going to, apparently, make all the difference to our stroke.
Here comes the part where I really panic. We were asked to go on a very short swim, using the modified front crawl stroke we had been taught on dry land. Putting my face in the water has never been more disconcerting. I have never felt panic like that. My body had adjusted to the cold of the water but my face hadn't. When I put my face in the water, my body wanted to draw in breathe. This, under water, is obviously not such a great idea. I could not exhale under the water. It was so weird, I'd never experienced it before and I actually think, that because I'm normally so at home in the water, that I was feeling even more thrown that someone who wasn't too confident in water at all. It took a while, but eventually, I did feel much more relaxed, my face got used to the cold and I could breathe but those first few minutes were horrid. It was a big eye opener to just how different this swim was going to be compared to the pool in Taunton.
The rest of the training day was helpful enough and I learnt some really great tips for the other disciplines as well as nutrition and kit but the swimming is the thing that I will take away the most from. It was so weird not being to swim easily! Luckily, there is a lake near me that does open water swims so I can go and practice more before that actually triathlon day. Got a lot more training to get through before then and hopefully, by race day, I will feel more confident getting my face in the water and I can just focus on the 400 meters that I have to get through without freezing, instead of panicking that I can't breathe!
Fingers crossed eh!
M xx
Holiday Vibes
Showing posts with label bike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bike. Show all posts
Friday, 29 May 2015
Saturday, 23 May 2015
A Final Result - A Triathlon Diary
I did it! I totally did it! It was terrifying, it was painful, it was stressful but it was 100% worth it. My first triathlon has been completed!!!
The week leading up to my triathlon was not a brilliant one. I was crazy busy at work, I was exhausted and I sprained my ankle so couldn't really do any last minute training. By Saturday morning I was already feeling pretty nervous. I still had 24 hours to go and I was starting to feel the butterflies starting to roll in.
I have recently been elected onto my church's council and Saturday morning was my first away day with the rest of the council. It was a really good meeting with lots of personal and communal steps taken in the right direction for our church and for our own journey's in faith. So, I had that to distract me on Saturday morning, and it did a really good job. From 9am until around 2:30pm, the nerves went away! It was great, I was completely distracted from the fact that I was about to embark on a challenge that I wasn't sure I wanted to do anymore.
The little friend inside my head kept asking the question 'Why did you sign up for this?' and I couldn't really come up with a decent answer. I didn't really know why I was preparing to do a triathlon anymore - all the enthusiasm and the excitement of training and working hard had vanished. All I could see was a 2 hour long session of pain and embarrassment....... at this point it was Saturday afternoon, I still had about 18 hours to go and I was already a bit of a mess.
We (mum and me) left the meeting early and bombed home to set up the car and drive down to Taunton straight away. Dad was being our lovely chauffeur so that both of us could sleep/rest before and after the event without the stress of driving. Thankfully I slept for most of the two and a half hour drive so wasn't feeling obsessing about everything. I think that once there was nothing left to focus on, my head just went into melt down mode about the whole event and the confidence in my training went out of the window.
Saturday afternoon slipped by slowly with a book and some TV, anything to distract my head enough to put the butterflies to sleep for a while. Big carby dinner and then I hit the sheets pretty early. My bed was the most comforatble thing I have ever slept on. My aunty had put two matresses, one on top of the other, because they had a spare and OMG! It was heaven, I had the best night sleep I could ask for before my first triathlon.
On Sunday morning there was still a lot of waiting around. Breakfast and getting ready, waiting for Dad to come back from the dog walk - all the waiting was just making me feel SO sick. Breakfast just made it worse too - the butterflies went to town when I fed them. I swear they were practising for some sort of high speed, death defying stunt show inside my tummy.
We set off for the event in good time, all suited up and everything. Parking was a nightmare - it seemed like half of Taunton and their families had rocked up to watch or compete. They turned the car park of the sports centre into the transition zone so everyone was parked in the residential roads. I think we were about 7 streets away in the end. We joined the river of people in flip flops, with helmets on, bikes and kit bags that was slowly drifting towards the centre. Apparently, the etire for pre triathlon participants is tri suit under pyjamas, flip flops and helmet! It is a fantastic look, I have to say. I joined in with my lovely orange scrub trousers - a gift from the hospital, post op - and donned my helmet, just to complete the trend!
Once we had officially signed in and got marked up with our race numbers! They literally drew the numbers onto our bodies - just incase we lost a limb, said my Dad lovingly, they can match all the limbs up to your bike later.
GEE! THANKS DAD!!! He is so helpful when I am ready to hyperventilate.
We headed to the transition point to set up all our kit. You have to hang your bike is a specific point with all your cycling and running gear ready to go. Once we went in for our breifing we couldn't come back to the transition zone until T1 (where you change from swimming to cycling). This was quite intimidating as I had to be sure that everything was set up perfectly before I left - any mistakes and my transistions would be screwed. Luckily, beacause Mum has done like a million of these (well, 8 now) she knew what she was doing and gave me a hand.
Whilst we were setting up there were people coming out of the pool and going into transition for the bike section so I could watch how they were doing it and how they were getting on. It was calming to see other people going through the motions and not finding it too stressful by the looks of things. You can see people heading off on their bike and going out to their run whilst setting up so you really get a feel for what is going on and how you make it through the whole event.
We went in for our briefing at 11:00am after saying good bye to Dad and one last check list through our station. They took all of us, about 20 people, into a squash court which they had turned into 'The Briefing Room', a guy came in to explain the whole event, health and safety rules, go through the three different courses with us. It was very helpful, for one thing it told me exactly what I needed to do to get through the morning and also, there were at least 6 of us in my wave who were first timers so I felt much better about my lack of confidence.
After our chat we were taken through to the pool side and were given our timing chips. The event was SO well organised! I was wave 11, and we were getting our timing chips sorted, wave 10 were on the other side of the pool being allocated into lanes and stretching, wave 9 were in the water doing their swim and wave 12 were waiting to go into 'The Briefing Room' as we left. It was a like a little clock with all the cogs working to perfection! They were so organised that they labelled my hands with my lane number and the colour of my hat - yes, the COLOUR of my hat - for the lane I was swimming in.
And just like clockwork as wave 10 got into the pool, we went round to the other side of the pool to get sorted into our lane groups and have a little warm up and wave 12 came in to get their chips. It was like a train station! I loved it - my OCD was very satisfied with the organisers.
Then, before I knew it, I was in the water with my hat on ready to set off. There were 4 people in a lane, all with a different hat and we set off 10 seconds apart. The pool etiquette was that if you had your toes tapped in the water the person behind you was going to overtake you at the end of the next lane. Mum was actually in the lane with me and off before me so we had already made the agreement that I would overtake her straight away as she knows I'm a faster swimmer. So, after the first length I overtook Mum with no problem, then there was a woman with a white hat in front of me. By the end of the second length I'd gained on her but wasn't close enough to tap her feet. I got her about 2/3 of the way along the third length and tapped her toes... so you would think that she would stop and wait like she was told to. But NO! she turned round as if she was about to push off again so, naughty as it may have been, I cut her up. She knew I'd tapped her and she should have waited so I forced her to. I got a right evil glare but I didn't care - after that there was a lot of space between me and the last person in the lane, a guy in a green hat. He was pretty quick so there was space for me to get into a really good pattern with my stroke. It felt great and I realised by about length 8 that I was gaining on this guy too! This surprised me but only spurred me on more to be honest. My competitive side reared her head and decided to chase him down. I didn't really pick up my speed but I didn't let up at all. Just kept eating into the meters until we were swimming up the same side of the lane together. Then I knew I could get him - and I did!!! 4 lanes to go and pretty much slapped him on the foot (I did feel bad, it was a little aggressive) and over took him! WAHOO! I had lapped every body with 3 lanes to go. With 2 lanes to go they put a little paddle into the water so that you know exactly where you are. I was feeling much more relaxed now that the swim had gone so well. With one lane to go I over took Mum for a second time and powered home to the end.
Hauling yourself out of the pool after a swim like that knowing that you now have to get onto a bike for 23km is hard! It's a big drag and you feel like the water is trying to pull you back into the pool. The length counter for our lane was really lovely when I got out of the water though, which really gave me a boost.
'Good swim, really lovely stroke, consistent, WELL DONE!' was exactly what I needed to hear as I finished my first stage.
Into transition I went, about 4th out of the pool according to Dad who was giving me a running commentary from the fences of the transition zone. It is not pleasant putting clothes over a wet tri suit but I was glad of the running top once I was out on the bike as it was chilly! My transition was pretty slow - will need to work on that for the next one - which meant that I left for the bike behind people who left the swimming pool after me. That was a little frustrating but I was still doing okay and I was wasn't too worried about my time at this point. My sub 2 hour goal was still well within my grasp so off I went.
The course was really hilly! It was all up or down, I don't think there was much of it that was actually flat. Mum caught me up just before the half way turn and we played tag for most of the way back. I need to work on my recovery after a big hill as that is where I lose power. At one point, at the top of the most horrendous hill ever, I had a little dry heave - all the lactic build up made me feel horrendous! Mum went past me there again and that was where I lost her. I slowed down to recover from the almost vomiting situation and she vanished into the distance. Thankfully, after that, it was pretty much downhill back to the sports centre so I did gain ground on her again and we came back into transition pretty much one after the other. I knew that was the last time I'd see Mum until the end though as she is a much faster runner than I am. She set off and just vanished into the distance!
There was a lot of encouragement coming from Dad which was brilliant, I definitely needed the boost. Although, all I could should back was 'I CAN'T FEEL MY TOES!!' which he seemed to find very amusing.
I set off on a shuffle more than a run and headed out for 2 laps of a 2.5km circuit. It's so horrible to try and get your body to adjust from cycling to running - breathing goes out of the window for starters. I felt like someone had tied and elastic band around my lungs too tight! They were expanding but not enough. I couldn't quite see how I was going to manage another 35+mins out on the course. My legs were screaming at me 'what the hell are you doing? Why are we still moving? WHAT!' But I knew that it would get easier as long as I kept going. I got a seriously painful stitch about 1/3 of the way round the first lap which was really not ideal. It was horrible so my shuffle slowed even more and then, because people are funny and the course directors like a giggle, I turned a corner and hit the most monstrous hill! I mean, it was more of a small mountain than a hill, it just kept going, I couldn't see the top because the hill veered round a corner and vanished behind a hedgerow.
I swear, one half of the 2.5km lap was just a hill! It was horrid, I couldn't do it - I walked and jogged and walked and jogged as much as I could until I got to the top. I was a little disappointed but still - it was just MONSTROUS and there were lots of other people who were struggling with it too. The encouragement from the other participants was brilliant. Everyone was really chatty and positive out there which made the whole thing much easier to get through. Second lap was just as tough but I managed to run more of the hill second time around as my stitch was gone. All together my run was SLOW but the thought of my two hour time kept me going when I really didn't want to run anymore. Coming round the final corner was excellent, I could see the finish line and Mum and Dad were going crazy for me. The commentator was chatting me in too. He must have had everyone on a system as he was calling me by name as I approached the finish. It was such a brilliant feeling! Getting to the finish line without any major injuries and within my time goal too! I was SO happy.
What I loved was, because of the timing chip on my ankle, I could get my times immediately!
But I was really proud! I finished. I actually did it and I enjoyed it too. I have definitely got the bug now.
7 weeks tomorrow until the next one!!
BRING IT ON!
Check in soon
M xx
The week leading up to my triathlon was not a brilliant one. I was crazy busy at work, I was exhausted and I sprained my ankle so couldn't really do any last minute training. By Saturday morning I was already feeling pretty nervous. I still had 24 hours to go and I was starting to feel the butterflies starting to roll in.
I have recently been elected onto my church's council and Saturday morning was my first away day with the rest of the council. It was a really good meeting with lots of personal and communal steps taken in the right direction for our church and for our own journey's in faith. So, I had that to distract me on Saturday morning, and it did a really good job. From 9am until around 2:30pm, the nerves went away! It was great, I was completely distracted from the fact that I was about to embark on a challenge that I wasn't sure I wanted to do anymore.
The little friend inside my head kept asking the question 'Why did you sign up for this?' and I couldn't really come up with a decent answer. I didn't really know why I was preparing to do a triathlon anymore - all the enthusiasm and the excitement of training and working hard had vanished. All I could see was a 2 hour long session of pain and embarrassment....... at this point it was Saturday afternoon, I still had about 18 hours to go and I was already a bit of a mess.
We (mum and me) left the meeting early and bombed home to set up the car and drive down to Taunton straight away. Dad was being our lovely chauffeur so that both of us could sleep/rest before and after the event without the stress of driving. Thankfully I slept for most of the two and a half hour drive so wasn't feeling obsessing about everything. I think that once there was nothing left to focus on, my head just went into melt down mode about the whole event and the confidence in my training went out of the window.
Saturday afternoon slipped by slowly with a book and some TV, anything to distract my head enough to put the butterflies to sleep for a while. Big carby dinner and then I hit the sheets pretty early. My bed was the most comforatble thing I have ever slept on. My aunty had put two matresses, one on top of the other, because they had a spare and OMG! It was heaven, I had the best night sleep I could ask for before my first triathlon.
On Sunday morning there was still a lot of waiting around. Breakfast and getting ready, waiting for Dad to come back from the dog walk - all the waiting was just making me feel SO sick. Breakfast just made it worse too - the butterflies went to town when I fed them. I swear they were practising for some sort of high speed, death defying stunt show inside my tummy.
We set off for the event in good time, all suited up and everything. Parking was a nightmare - it seemed like half of Taunton and their families had rocked up to watch or compete. They turned the car park of the sports centre into the transition zone so everyone was parked in the residential roads. I think we were about 7 streets away in the end. We joined the river of people in flip flops, with helmets on, bikes and kit bags that was slowly drifting towards the centre. Apparently, the etire for pre triathlon participants is tri suit under pyjamas, flip flops and helmet! It is a fantastic look, I have to say. I joined in with my lovely orange scrub trousers - a gift from the hospital, post op - and donned my helmet, just to complete the trend!
Once we had officially signed in and got marked up with our race numbers! They literally drew the numbers onto our bodies - just incase we lost a limb, said my Dad lovingly, they can match all the limbs up to your bike later.
GEE! THANKS DAD!!! He is so helpful when I am ready to hyperventilate.
We headed to the transition point to set up all our kit. You have to hang your bike is a specific point with all your cycling and running gear ready to go. Once we went in for our breifing we couldn't come back to the transition zone until T1 (where you change from swimming to cycling). This was quite intimidating as I had to be sure that everything was set up perfectly before I left - any mistakes and my transistions would be screwed. Luckily, beacause Mum has done like a million of these (well, 8 now) she knew what she was doing and gave me a hand.
Whilst we were setting up there were people coming out of the pool and going into transition for the bike section so I could watch how they were doing it and how they were getting on. It was calming to see other people going through the motions and not finding it too stressful by the looks of things. You can see people heading off on their bike and going out to their run whilst setting up so you really get a feel for what is going on and how you make it through the whole event.
We went in for our briefing at 11:00am after saying good bye to Dad and one last check list through our station. They took all of us, about 20 people, into a squash court which they had turned into 'The Briefing Room', a guy came in to explain the whole event, health and safety rules, go through the three different courses with us. It was very helpful, for one thing it told me exactly what I needed to do to get through the morning and also, there were at least 6 of us in my wave who were first timers so I felt much better about my lack of confidence.
After our chat we were taken through to the pool side and were given our timing chips. The event was SO well organised! I was wave 11, and we were getting our timing chips sorted, wave 10 were on the other side of the pool being allocated into lanes and stretching, wave 9 were in the water doing their swim and wave 12 were waiting to go into 'The Briefing Room' as we left. It was a like a little clock with all the cogs working to perfection! They were so organised that they labelled my hands with my lane number and the colour of my hat - yes, the COLOUR of my hat - for the lane I was swimming in.
 |
| Lane 3 Black hat |
 |
| Wave 11 |
And just like clockwork as wave 10 got into the pool, we went round to the other side of the pool to get sorted into our lane groups and have a little warm up and wave 12 came in to get their chips. It was like a train station! I loved it - my OCD was very satisfied with the organisers.
Then, before I knew it, I was in the water with my hat on ready to set off. There were 4 people in a lane, all with a different hat and we set off 10 seconds apart. The pool etiquette was that if you had your toes tapped in the water the person behind you was going to overtake you at the end of the next lane. Mum was actually in the lane with me and off before me so we had already made the agreement that I would overtake her straight away as she knows I'm a faster swimmer. So, after the first length I overtook Mum with no problem, then there was a woman with a white hat in front of me. By the end of the second length I'd gained on her but wasn't close enough to tap her feet. I got her about 2/3 of the way along the third length and tapped her toes... so you would think that she would stop and wait like she was told to. But NO! she turned round as if she was about to push off again so, naughty as it may have been, I cut her up. She knew I'd tapped her and she should have waited so I forced her to. I got a right evil glare but I didn't care - after that there was a lot of space between me and the last person in the lane, a guy in a green hat. He was pretty quick so there was space for me to get into a really good pattern with my stroke. It felt great and I realised by about length 8 that I was gaining on this guy too! This surprised me but only spurred me on more to be honest. My competitive side reared her head and decided to chase him down. I didn't really pick up my speed but I didn't let up at all. Just kept eating into the meters until we were swimming up the same side of the lane together. Then I knew I could get him - and I did!!! 4 lanes to go and pretty much slapped him on the foot (I did feel bad, it was a little aggressive) and over took him! WAHOO! I had lapped every body with 3 lanes to go. With 2 lanes to go they put a little paddle into the water so that you know exactly where you are. I was feeling much more relaxed now that the swim had gone so well. With one lane to go I over took Mum for a second time and powered home to the end.
Hauling yourself out of the pool after a swim like that knowing that you now have to get onto a bike for 23km is hard! It's a big drag and you feel like the water is trying to pull you back into the pool. The length counter for our lane was really lovely when I got out of the water though, which really gave me a boost.
'Good swim, really lovely stroke, consistent, WELL DONE!' was exactly what I needed to hear as I finished my first stage.
Into transition I went, about 4th out of the pool according to Dad who was giving me a running commentary from the fences of the transition zone. It is not pleasant putting clothes over a wet tri suit but I was glad of the running top once I was out on the bike as it was chilly! My transition was pretty slow - will need to work on that for the next one - which meant that I left for the bike behind people who left the swimming pool after me. That was a little frustrating but I was still doing okay and I was wasn't too worried about my time at this point. My sub 2 hour goal was still well within my grasp so off I went.
The course was really hilly! It was all up or down, I don't think there was much of it that was actually flat. Mum caught me up just before the half way turn and we played tag for most of the way back. I need to work on my recovery after a big hill as that is where I lose power. At one point, at the top of the most horrendous hill ever, I had a little dry heave - all the lactic build up made me feel horrendous! Mum went past me there again and that was where I lost her. I slowed down to recover from the almost vomiting situation and she vanished into the distance. Thankfully, after that, it was pretty much downhill back to the sports centre so I did gain ground on her again and we came back into transition pretty much one after the other. I knew that was the last time I'd see Mum until the end though as she is a much faster runner than I am. She set off and just vanished into the distance!
There was a lot of encouragement coming from Dad which was brilliant, I definitely needed the boost. Although, all I could should back was 'I CAN'T FEEL MY TOES!!' which he seemed to find very amusing.
I set off on a shuffle more than a run and headed out for 2 laps of a 2.5km circuit. It's so horrible to try and get your body to adjust from cycling to running - breathing goes out of the window for starters. I felt like someone had tied and elastic band around my lungs too tight! They were expanding but not enough. I couldn't quite see how I was going to manage another 35+mins out on the course. My legs were screaming at me 'what the hell are you doing? Why are we still moving? WHAT!' But I knew that it would get easier as long as I kept going. I got a seriously painful stitch about 1/3 of the way round the first lap which was really not ideal. It was horrible so my shuffle slowed even more and then, because people are funny and the course directors like a giggle, I turned a corner and hit the most monstrous hill! I mean, it was more of a small mountain than a hill, it just kept going, I couldn't see the top because the hill veered round a corner and vanished behind a hedgerow.
I swear, one half of the 2.5km lap was just a hill! It was horrid, I couldn't do it - I walked and jogged and walked and jogged as much as I could until I got to the top. I was a little disappointed but still - it was just MONSTROUS and there were lots of other people who were struggling with it too. The encouragement from the other participants was brilliant. Everyone was really chatty and positive out there which made the whole thing much easier to get through. Second lap was just as tough but I managed to run more of the hill second time around as my stitch was gone. All together my run was SLOW but the thought of my two hour time kept me going when I really didn't want to run anymore. Coming round the final corner was excellent, I could see the finish line and Mum and Dad were going crazy for me. The commentator was chatting me in too. He must have had everyone on a system as he was calling me by name as I approached the finish. It was such a brilliant feeling! Getting to the finish line without any major injuries and within my time goal too! I was SO happy.
What I loved was, because of the timing chip on my ankle, I could get my times immediately!
I GOT A PB!!!! My swim time was the fasted I've swum in about 6 years! I was impressed. Bit frustrated with my transition times but that is something I'll get more used to as I get more experienced with triathlons in general.
My bike was fine - I think I'll have to get skinnier tiers if I want to shave major amounts of time off of that. And some more power in my legs after a hill climb.
And the run, well, when my general fitness improves and I can actually manage the massive hill, it should be quicker than that!
But I was really proud! I finished. I actually did it and I enjoyed it too. I have definitely got the bug now.
 |
| Me and Mum after we'd finished. |
BRING IT ON!
Check in soon
M xx
Friday, 15 May 2015
Like An Elephant At A Water Park (Possible Second Title - The Beached Whale Effect) - A Triathlon Diary
Why did I sign up in the first place? I really do not remember what on earth gave me the ludicrous idea of entering into a triathlon.
I mean, who in their right mind would volunteer to swim 400m, then cycle 23km and then, just to top it off, run a 5km?? SERIOUSLY?? Oh yeah, I did! That was me!
Now that the week is over and there is nothing else to focus on, I have realised just how nervous I am about Sunday morning.
Yes, I have been training but with a crazy weekend, I didn't make it out for last weekends brick session and then this week, I've been exhausted and in bed before 9pm most nights. I have had no energy to get out and train so I am a little worried that I have lost the fitness capacity to make it round the course.
I have 3 goals in mind and if I achieve any of them, I will be very pleased....God, I do not want to do this. Just writing this, I am feeling sick.
Anyway.....
Goal 1) To finish!!!!
Goal 2) To not walk during the 'run' phase of the event.
Goal 3) To complete the whole thing is under 2 hours.
If I can do any or all of these then I will definitely be crying crossing the finish line. This will be the first really big milestone that I have achieved since recovering from my knee surgery and will hopefully mark the progress that I have made as well as proving to me, most of all, that I am capable of great things and that my body can be a powerful machine when I treat it right. Hopefully, this weekend will serve a catalyst for more positive change in my body image and lifestyle.... and help me to get fitter and slimmer in the long run.
As Mum keeps saying, this is only a training event for my triathlon in July but I am still feeling immense pressure to do well at this point. I think, because Mum is a seasoned triathlete, I feel like I should know what I'm doing and should do as well as she will. That will, of course, be impossible as she is super fit and much faster than me when it comes to running.
I am slightly (please read 'incredibly') uncomfortable about wearing my tri suit. I basically look like a whale in it and will spend a great deal of time feeling self conscious in it. No doubt, I will be surrounded my proper athletes and their size 6 bodies whilst I gulumph around like an elephant at a water park.....
Anyway.....
I shall have a full report in less than 48 hours of how it all went... and how badly I will probably have done. Keep your fingers and toes crossed, people...... ARRGHHH!! Someone hide me away until Monday.
M xx
I mean, who in their right mind would volunteer to swim 400m, then cycle 23km and then, just to top it off, run a 5km?? SERIOUSLY?? Oh yeah, I did! That was me!
Now that the week is over and there is nothing else to focus on, I have realised just how nervous I am about Sunday morning.
Yes, I have been training but with a crazy weekend, I didn't make it out for last weekends brick session and then this week, I've been exhausted and in bed before 9pm most nights. I have had no energy to get out and train so I am a little worried that I have lost the fitness capacity to make it round the course.
I have 3 goals in mind and if I achieve any of them, I will be very pleased....God, I do not want to do this. Just writing this, I am feeling sick.
Anyway.....
Goal 1) To finish!!!!
Goal 2) To not walk during the 'run' phase of the event.
Goal 3) To complete the whole thing is under 2 hours.
If I can do any or all of these then I will definitely be crying crossing the finish line. This will be the first really big milestone that I have achieved since recovering from my knee surgery and will hopefully mark the progress that I have made as well as proving to me, most of all, that I am capable of great things and that my body can be a powerful machine when I treat it right. Hopefully, this weekend will serve a catalyst for more positive change in my body image and lifestyle.... and help me to get fitter and slimmer in the long run.
As Mum keeps saying, this is only a training event for my triathlon in July but I am still feeling immense pressure to do well at this point. I think, because Mum is a seasoned triathlete, I feel like I should know what I'm doing and should do as well as she will. That will, of course, be impossible as she is super fit and much faster than me when it comes to running.
I am slightly (please read 'incredibly') uncomfortable about wearing my tri suit. I basically look like a whale in it and will spend a great deal of time feeling self conscious in it. No doubt, I will be surrounded my proper athletes and their size 6 bodies whilst I gulumph around like an elephant at a water park.....
Anyway.....
I shall have a full report in less than 48 hours of how it all went... and how badly I will probably have done. Keep your fingers and toes crossed, people...... ARRGHHH!! Someone hide me away until Monday.
M xx
Saturday, 2 May 2015
A Failed Attempt - A Triathlon Diary
Oh wow! How bad do I feel!?
It being Saturday and only 2 weeks left to go before my first triathlon.... (I've forgotten what made me sign up in the first place..... there is only fear in my mind.... *runs and hides in wardrobe*).... this morning was brick training time.
I woke up with a terrible cold. Yesterday, I was feeling really low and very teary. I thought I was just tired so had an early night and woke up feeling even worse. Obviously, I was coming down with something yesterday and it has properly hit me this morning.
I was really not looking forward to my training session as I was meant to be extending my run to the full 5km distance after my 22km bike ride. Having been away all week, I hadn't been able to get to the supermarket either so my cupboards were totally bare..... so I had a rubbish breakfast and was feeling pretty crappy anyway. It was not a decent set up for a training session.
Anyway, I set off and felt okay for the first lap of the bike ride but after a major incline the road started to swim a little. After that, the last 30 minutes were just torture, I was dizzy, felt like I was going to hurl and (much to my hatred of natural bodily responses to stress) sporadically crying.... yes, whilst cycling in Richmond Park, in public... I was crying. *hangs head in shame*
So yeah, I battled through, very slowly making my way back to the car and quite literally couldn't do anything else. I managed to prop my bike safely against some railings before I semi fainted against my car. I couldn't get into the car because Dad was still off walking the dog and Mum was on the run section of her training. So I sat, crying again, in a car park only semi aware of how pathetic I must look because half of my brain was too busy watching the floor pulsate up and down in front of my eyes.
So yes.... it was pretty much a disaster. Will have to go out for another try one evening this week to make up for my shoddy attempt at a brick train session today.
Signing out from the comfort of my bed and dressing gown.... think I might stay here for the rest of the day.
M xx
It being Saturday and only 2 weeks left to go before my first triathlon.... (I've forgotten what made me sign up in the first place..... there is only fear in my mind.... *runs and hides in wardrobe*).... this morning was brick training time.
I woke up with a terrible cold. Yesterday, I was feeling really low and very teary. I thought I was just tired so had an early night and woke up feeling even worse. Obviously, I was coming down with something yesterday and it has properly hit me this morning.
I was really not looking forward to my training session as I was meant to be extending my run to the full 5km distance after my 22km bike ride. Having been away all week, I hadn't been able to get to the supermarket either so my cupboards were totally bare..... so I had a rubbish breakfast and was feeling pretty crappy anyway. It was not a decent set up for a training session.
Anyway, I set off and felt okay for the first lap of the bike ride but after a major incline the road started to swim a little. After that, the last 30 minutes were just torture, I was dizzy, felt like I was going to hurl and (much to my hatred of natural bodily responses to stress) sporadically crying.... yes, whilst cycling in Richmond Park, in public... I was crying. *hangs head in shame*
So yeah, I battled through, very slowly making my way back to the car and quite literally couldn't do anything else. I managed to prop my bike safely against some railings before I semi fainted against my car. I couldn't get into the car because Dad was still off walking the dog and Mum was on the run section of her training. So I sat, crying again, in a car park only semi aware of how pathetic I must look because half of my brain was too busy watching the floor pulsate up and down in front of my eyes.
So yes.... it was pretty much a disaster. Will have to go out for another try one evening this week to make up for my shoddy attempt at a brick train session today.
Signing out from the comfort of my bed and dressing gown.... think I might stay here for the rest of the day.
M xx
Saturday, 25 April 2015
Flying and Shuffling - A Triathlon Diary
The countdown is really on now. In the next 3 months I have a triathlon, a 10km run with a group from work and then another triathlon. I am going to really have to ratchet up my training to make sure I'm prepared for all of it.
I went for a run on Wednesday night and it felt really good! I finally felt like I was running instead of shuffling. My pace was quicker than it has been in about 18 months and I felt like I had more in my legs when I stopped. So, I'm looking forward to the 10km. I'm hoping to beat my previous time of 1hr 12mins and 42secs. If I can get under 1hr 10mins, I'll be really chuffed.
After Wednesday, I was feeling positive about training this morning. We went off without any issues and cracked on with the cycle ride. With the addition of cages on my pedals and raising my saddle, I felt much more efficient on the bike this morning - I'm still tweeking the logistics of my bike as I get more used to the feel of it. I think I'm nearly there, need to raise the saddle a little more and then I think I'll be sorted for the triathlon weekend. I felt like I was really flying on the bike, making use of all the gears and gradient changes to my advantage and really pushing on the hills. I think I knocked some time off which is also brilliant. Finally feeling convinced that I will be able to complete this race without looking out of place in a crown of athletes!
My run, however, was a different story! It was awful! Well, the first 0.75 miles was really good. I felt strong, my pace was nice and steady... and quicker than it has been previously but it all started to go down hill rather quickly after that. Firstly, I really needed the loo so thought I'd stop at the toilets at the half way point of my run, only to find that they've put a charge to get through the door. The door won't unlock until you put 20p in. So, I had to finish my run with a very full bladder - uncomfortable! Then, whilst trying to ignore the call of nature, I got killer cramp in my calf and had to stop and stretch it out before carrying on... this happened at least three times before I actually managed to shake the stabbing pain in my leg.... and then, just as I was getting back into the swing of things, I got a stitch down my left side that felt like my ribs were trying to break through my skin. It was agony so I had to stop and walk that off..... it was ridiculous. Pretty much everything that could have made my run worse, happened this morning. It had all started so well and after my mid week triumph, I was very frustrated with my performance.
Oh well, here's to my next run. Fingers crossed it'll go better than this mornings. But still, I am happy with how it went today. All training is good training, as they say.
I went for a run on Wednesday night and it felt really good! I finally felt like I was running instead of shuffling. My pace was quicker than it has been in about 18 months and I felt like I had more in my legs when I stopped. So, I'm looking forward to the 10km. I'm hoping to beat my previous time of 1hr 12mins and 42secs. If I can get under 1hr 10mins, I'll be really chuffed.
 |
| My Wednesday run. About 4km |
 |
| Cycle route for this morning. |
And then, to top everything off. Dad had been driving past me on my run and when I got back to the car park, he said 'you did look like you were struggling a little bit, you looked quite tired'..... *exhalation of irritation* You think, Dad? I just had a rubbish run, don't tell me I looked tired!
 |
| The run from hell |
Check in soon
M xx
Saturday, 18 April 2015
Please Allow The Deer To Cross - A Triathlon Diary
The weeks are ticking down! I've only got 3 more training weekends left until my first triathlon so this morning I hit the road again, on bike and on foot for a grueling workout. Mum was with me as we are doing the event together. It always helps to have a training partner and mine is super experienced. She has already done 7 triathlons with 2 in the diary for this year so as a training partner, she is brilliant.
We had out trusty driver, my dad, at the ready and bikes at the ready off we went.
TO RICHMOND PARK!
Now, today my darling mother, being the experienced one decided that it was time to up our regime. We were going to do not 1 but 2 circuits of the park on the bike. First, the easy way and then the second lap would be in reverse order which includes a horrendously steep hill which goes on for... well, forever is what it feels like when you are cycling up it.
So, off we went and away we were. It was a beautiful day and I quickly discovered that I was going to be way too hot in the layers I was in as there wasn't much wind. The lack of wind makes it easier to cycle but leaves the early summer sun untouched. It was hot. Now I faced the dilemma of 'do I stop and take it off or just keep hoping and hope that at some point the wind picks up and cools me down?' I went with option two, not wanting to stop at any point due to my timer ticking away, I didn't want to lose valuable seconds with faffing around.
Lap one went fine, there being no traffic lights in Richmond Park is a God send for me - those of you who have read my previous Triathlon Diary entry will know why. If you haven't read it and would like to, you can find it here. There was a little wind here and there, the hills were frustrating as ever and that wind I was talking about... it kicked up and slowed me down a little. My overall face was much slower around Richmond that it is around my 'home' circuit because of the combination of hills and the breeze.
Lap two was were the fun began - and admittedly, some of it was a laugh. The ever dreaded mountain to climb comes quite early on in the way we work the laps so it was out of the way before I had much time to worry about it. It killed. My legs were on fire, I had no gears left to drop into and I could have done with another 10 or so to work through - okay, that's a little dramatic but you get the picture. It sucked going up that hill.....
Then you get to the top and you... well, I felt like fist pumping the air with a big 'WAHOO' because, you know, big achievements and all that. I look around for someone else to celebrate with. (At this point mum is a little ways behind me, bike is my strong suit and know she'll take me down on the run that is yet to come this monring.) So yes, I looking around for a celebration buddy and everyone else seems very nonchalant coming up over the crest and just getting on with their morning ride. I mean, a lot of these guys are semi pro so for them it's not such a revelation that their thighs actually work when put to the test but still - where was their enthusiasm? Come on guys! Live a little!!
During this thought process and the next few hundred meters I must have taken my foot off the pedal a little because the next thing I know my mum is flying past me. 'Want to play tag?' she shouts across to me..... really mother? You want to play tag on our bikes, during a training ride? You're on! I caught her up at the moment of the next hill having used my gears to full advantage (got to love to fly) and over took her around a roundabout. This didn't last long - my mum is a touch on the competitive side so didn't let me get away for long. She over took me fairly quickly again and that just wasn't going to happen. This went for another few 'tags' and then we came to the last long, slow, very gradual incline that goes on for about a mile and my mum. athlete that she has recently become took off. I just couldn't keep up with her. She shrunk into the distance whilst I was struggling up this darn hill with the wind, oh yeah, she was blowing a hooly now, right into my face!
So, I was a little frustrated by this, owing to my own competitive nature and managed, on the home stretch to get ahead of her again. I'm a little more reckless on the downhill than mum is so I make up some ground there. It was great, I was ahead of mum, we had turned out of the head-on wind so it was little easier to keep going when what would happen?? The park's version of traffic lights - deer. An entire herd decided that it needed to cross the road and so it did, in wonderful procession with NO gaps. Just an endless torrent of deer trotting across the road. If I hadn't been on a bike and on the clock it would have been much more enjoyable but in this case it was a little more than irritating.
Once the deer had finished their morning stroll, we made it back to car park, dumped our bikes and off we went for our run. I was right about mum taking me down. She was off like a shot, her body much more used to the transition that mine is from cycling to running. It's a horribly weird feeling that your legs just do NOT want to be a part of.
I am not looking forward to tomorrow morning, when I won't be able to walk!
We had out trusty driver, my dad, at the ready and bikes at the ready off we went.
TO RICHMOND PARK!
Now, today my darling mother, being the experienced one decided that it was time to up our regime. We were going to do not 1 but 2 circuits of the park on the bike. First, the easy way and then the second lap would be in reverse order which includes a horrendously steep hill which goes on for... well, forever is what it feels like when you are cycling up it.
So, off we went and away we were. It was a beautiful day and I quickly discovered that I was going to be way too hot in the layers I was in as there wasn't much wind. The lack of wind makes it easier to cycle but leaves the early summer sun untouched. It was hot. Now I faced the dilemma of 'do I stop and take it off or just keep hoping and hope that at some point the wind picks up and cools me down?' I went with option two, not wanting to stop at any point due to my timer ticking away, I didn't want to lose valuable seconds with faffing around.
Lap one went fine, there being no traffic lights in Richmond Park is a God send for me - those of you who have read my previous Triathlon Diary entry will know why. If you haven't read it and would like to, you can find it here. There was a little wind here and there, the hills were frustrating as ever and that wind I was talking about... it kicked up and slowed me down a little. My overall face was much slower around Richmond that it is around my 'home' circuit because of the combination of hills and the breeze.
Lap two was were the fun began - and admittedly, some of it was a laugh. The ever dreaded mountain to climb comes quite early on in the way we work the laps so it was out of the way before I had much time to worry about it. It killed. My legs were on fire, I had no gears left to drop into and I could have done with another 10 or so to work through - okay, that's a little dramatic but you get the picture. It sucked going up that hill.....
Then you get to the top and you... well, I felt like fist pumping the air with a big 'WAHOO' because, you know, big achievements and all that. I look around for someone else to celebrate with. (At this point mum is a little ways behind me, bike is my strong suit and know she'll take me down on the run that is yet to come this monring.) So yes, I looking around for a celebration buddy and everyone else seems very nonchalant coming up over the crest and just getting on with their morning ride. I mean, a lot of these guys are semi pro so for them it's not such a revelation that their thighs actually work when put to the test but still - where was their enthusiasm? Come on guys! Live a little!!
During this thought process and the next few hundred meters I must have taken my foot off the pedal a little because the next thing I know my mum is flying past me. 'Want to play tag?' she shouts across to me..... really mother? You want to play tag on our bikes, during a training ride? You're on! I caught her up at the moment of the next hill having used my gears to full advantage (got to love to fly) and over took her around a roundabout. This didn't last long - my mum is a touch on the competitive side so didn't let me get away for long. She over took me fairly quickly again and that just wasn't going to happen. This went for another few 'tags' and then we came to the last long, slow, very gradual incline that goes on for about a mile and my mum. athlete that she has recently become took off. I just couldn't keep up with her. She shrunk into the distance whilst I was struggling up this darn hill with the wind, oh yeah, she was blowing a hooly now, right into my face!
So, I was a little frustrated by this, owing to my own competitive nature and managed, on the home stretch to get ahead of her again. I'm a little more reckless on the downhill than mum is so I make up some ground there. It was great, I was ahead of mum, we had turned out of the head-on wind so it was little easier to keep going when what would happen?? The park's version of traffic lights - deer. An entire herd decided that it needed to cross the road and so it did, in wonderful procession with NO gaps. Just an endless torrent of deer trotting across the road. If I hadn't been on a bike and on the clock it would have been much more enjoyable but in this case it was a little more than irritating.
 |
| My cycle route |
Having said that, I can definitely feel improvements already in how I adjust and then continue to run. It hurts like hell, I'm not going to lie, it was seriously tough but by the end of the session I feel so good from the endorphin rush and the sheer knowledge of what I have completed that it makes it all worth it.
 |
| My running route |
Check in with you all soon,
M xx
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