7/52 - happy wedding anniversary!

Monday
AM Death by Helmet intervals 7km run total

PM 30 min swim with my sis at SOPAC 1.2km

Tuesday
AM Brick session at Sydney Olympic Park.  I love these sessions and I seem to be running really well at the moment.   Ride distance 15.3km.  Run distance 2.5km approx

Wednesday
AM Death by Helmet hills session.  Another 7km run in the IM bank.

1030AM Crossfit Women at Leichhardt.  Somehow I managed to find some energy for an excellent strength session that included a 500m run, 45 pullups, 45 box jumps, 45 pushups, 60 ab mat sit ups and lots of much needed stretching.

Thursday
Happy 21st Wedding Anniversary & Happy Australia Day.
AM There was only Rob, myself and one other that turned up to cycling this morning.  I did my session of the usual lung busting intervals. 29.5km total.

As we were heading over the the Q Station at North Head to celebrate our wedding anniversary I squeezed in Wednesday's swim session that I missed.  2.7km total swim set.


Friday
Rest day yahoo.  Just a little walk today and lots of R & R at the Q Station which included a buffet breakfast.  Burp.


Saturday
AM 100km ride.  Dad, Cathy and I rode 2 loops from Hornsby Heights out to Pie in the Sky and return - with a couple of little side trips into the national park and out towards Crosslands.  It was a good ride, perfect weather conditions and great company.  I got a flat and managed to change it in record time.  Dad says I was so speedy that I should get a job on the F1 Ferrari pit crew.  I'm slowly building my ride distance.  I'll probably ride 110-115km next weekend.  Dad and I are planning on riding 180km on 24th march as part of an Audax ride called the Petit Opperman. 

Tyre changing action

Sunday
AM 2 hour run - 13.5km.  This was supposed to be a 5:1 run/walk session but arriving at the run without my Garmin meant I had to cope without my favorite training toy.  Initially I was lost but I figured I'd just start running and see what happened.  Two hours later I had run all over Sydney Olympic Park, had a great time, taken no walk breaks and covered about 13.5km (per map my run).  Very pleasing.  Rob ran to SOP from home where we met up to cheer on the kiddies at the Weetbix Try a Tri.  The kids are so great to watch and we had a blast.

PM ocean wetsuit swim

Tarn & I at the Weetbix Try a Tri.

*Totals for the week (IM cumulative total):
Swim - 3.9km (7.6 km)
Bike -144.8km (287.2km)
Run - 30km (65.1km)
Strength: Crossfit Women

*14.6 hours of training (29.6).

Week 6.1/52 - Everyone, meet Kevin.

I have a monster that lives in my head.  I call him Kevin.

Most of the time Kevin is not around.  But Kevin loves misery so when things get a little tough for me Kevin likes to show up and wreck havoc.

Kevin makes my life almost unbearable.  He stops me from sleeping and he takes away my appetite.  He fills me with the most awful sense of despair.  He takes the joy out of life and makes it almost impossible for me to find things to make me smile.  He makes me cry.

Having Kevin around fills me with chest crushing anxiety.  He tells me not to train, not to leave the house, not to smile or enjoy life, and not to see my friends.  He also stops me from going to work.

Every day is a battle with what Kevin wants me to believe is true - that I will never feel happy again, that I will never be able to go back to work, that I will never get better, that I will never feel motivated to train, that I will never love life and that Kevin is here to stay for good this time.

At the moment most days I give in to Kevin and he wins.  But I just can't give up because somewhere, deep down, I know that things WILL get better. 

While I know that Kevin loves misery I also know he hates joy and happiness.  So, as convincing as Kevin can be, I make myself get up in the morning.  I put on my training clothes and step out the door.  I meet up with my friends who smile and laugh and make Kevin cringe and hide.  I might not always be good company but I know how to make Kevin go away, even if it's only for a short time - I train and surround myself with my friends.

Don't judge me because of Kevin.  I'm not weird or strange.  Don't be afraid to talk to me or ask me how I'm going - I'd actually appreciate it.  I also appreciate hugs.  Kevin hates them.  I like sunshine.  Kevin hates it.  I like cups of tea with friends.  Kevin hates them.  My aim is to make Kevin as uncomfortable as possible so he sets me free.

Week 6/52 - 100%

This week is my first perfect training week ever (I'm pretty sure).  All sessions done and some definite quality and quantity.  Thanks Mum for keeping an eye on me every day and for ticking off each session.  Your support has been awesome.


It went a bit like this:

Monday
AM up extra early for Death by Helmet.  I drove my car to the cafe to run from there to the start of the session.  This added an extra 3km.  Total 11.5km

PM 30 min easy recovery swim. 1.2km

Tuesday
AM up extra extra early again (430am) to get to the club ride early (530am) to squeeze in a few extra kms.  31km total including 8 x 4min lung busting efforts.  A 2km run off the bike rounded out my session nicely.

Wednesday
AM Death by Helmet hill session. 7.5kms of running up and down hills.  My legs felt really tired today.  I think that the cumulative effect of my training is starting to show.

Thursday
AM 25km ride around Sydney Olympic Park which included 3 x 8 min lung busters.

PM Balance Bolt 5km.
I haven't run under 30 mins for 5km for as long as I can remember.  My last Balance Bolt time was 31:33 so this time I so very boldly put down 29:59 as my target time.  For those of you not familiar with The Bolt it's a 5km time trial where the winner is the person who runs closest to their predicted time - no watches are allowed so you run totally on feel.

I had already done a tough AM cycle session (see above) and then I did an hour of weights at the gym.  Tired legs and worked arms meant I wasn't 100% confident that I would even go close to 30 mins. But fortune favours the brave and I was definitely brave.

I did a quick warm up, felt good, and lined up with the 25-30min group.  Looking around me I was a little scared.  I NEVER run with these people!!!

So I just did my best and ran as fast as I could.  At the turn around I doubted I could keep up the pace but I saw Rob and he said to keep running strong.  So I did.  I was absolutely thrilled with a finish time of 30:17.  So close.  Next time.

Friday
AM 2.5km swim set with the gang at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre.
AM a nice walk for recovery 30-45 mins.

Saturday
AM Long SLOW run - and it was so slow. In 90 mins I covered a massive 10.11kms. I ran/walked 5:1.  It was enjoyable and it felt cruisy.  It rained a bit which was nice.  I finished up at Centennial Park to coincide with the finish of the beginners brick session.  This meant I got to have a cuppa and a chat with the gals + Jeff. 

Sunday
AM 4 hours and 40 mins of quality pushie time with my Dad.  We rode from North Turramurra to Hornsby and then out to Mt White.  We returned through Bobbin Head.  It was a great day for a ride.  Not too hot and we managed to avoid most of the showers that seems to be around, but not on, us.  86.4km total.

This is me at Road Warriors Cafe at Mt White.  I was desperately in need of a coke but it was closed for renovations.  Bummer!

Refueling.

*Totals for the week:
Swim - 3.7km
Bike -142.4
Run - 35.1km
Strength: 1 x weights session - my last at Vision PT.  I'm back to Crossfit Women from next Monday for my strength sessions.

*Just over 15 hours of training.

I just thought I'd add this photo as a reminder of how far I've come over the past 3 years.  It makes me feel pretty proud of myself.

This photo is from a wedding I went to 3 years ago.  It scares me.

Week 5/52 - the family challenge

Another week has passed by and I'm happy to report that this one was a little better than the one before, which was a little better than the one before that.  I wont bore you with the details but it went a bit like this:

Monday
AM Run
PM swim

Tuesday
AM ride

Wednesday
AM run
PM stairs/run/walk with my sister at Balmoral followed by a nice open water swim.

Thursday
I was supposed to ride and go to the gym but my day got a bit messy and I didn't do either.  I did go to my coach's New Year celebration at Balmoral in the evening.  This is usually some sort of team race followed by pizza.

Traditionally team events fill me with fear - it's something about all those nasty school team sports experiences that make my skin crawl.  But Matt always invents something that everyone can have a go and and not feel like a gumby.

I had fun playing team tag, swimming and running on the beach, and accruing points.  Our team won contrary to what the other team says.

Friday
An early appointment meant that I didn't swim in the morning with the gang at Leichhardt but I did get my 2.4km swim set done in the afternoon.

Saturday
I was supposed to do an easy 90 mins on my bike but I didn't.  The weather really wasn't an adequate excuse.  Just lazy.

Sunday
TriShave Sprint Triathlon (750/20/5) at Kurnell and round 2 of the family challenge.  Mum & Rob are one team (Mum & Son in Law) and Dad and I are the other team (Dad & Daughter).  Rob and I do the swim and run.  Mum and Dad do the bike legs.

Last year Rob and Mum beat Dad and I by around 9 minutes.  This year Dad and I thought we had them pegged but it wasn't to be.  Mum was too foxy on the bike and had Dad fooled that she wasn't riding fast.  But secretly she had been holding back on their training rides knowing that she could ride faster on the day.

So Rob caught me around halfway on the run.  He stayed with me until about 10m from the finish when he said "gloves are off" and took off to finish with an official 2 second win.  Unofficially, after crunching a few numbers, we figure Mum and Rob beat us by about 6 mins.  So we did narrow the gap a little. 

Highlights of the event:

• the smile on Mum's face
• having healthy, fit, active and happy parents who are approaching 70 and put most who are half their age to shame
• swimming
• swimming into an incoming tide (not)
• running like the wind
• running with Rob
• having my sis and BIL along to cheer and take silly photos
• Rob and I grabbing Mum and Dad at the finish so we could cross the line together
• precious memories!! 
• Kylie's bunny ears in the official finish photo.

Dad gives Mum a hug when she finished her bike leg.

Rob and I running side by side.  I'm not sure why I am smiling.  I was well and truely in the hurt box.

Mum and Rob finishing

Dad and I finishing

The 2 teams ready for the 2013 rematch.

Week 3-4/52 - you are stronger than you think.

I'm not going to update my training for the last few weeks because honestly it's been a bit average.  Life has thrown me a few curve balls and really just getting out of bed each day has been a massive achievement.  On the days when I have trained it has been difficult and way less than a 100% effort.

The good news is that things are looking up.  Each day is getting a little easier and I am starting to get back into the swing of things albeit slowly.  I am enormously grateful for the support of my family and friends.

I managed to lose 2kg over Xmas but it was due to having no appetite and consequently not healthy weight loss.  Needless to say I have gained it all back over the last week or so thanks to my appetite returning with a vengence.  So I have signed up to Michelle Bridge's 12 week body transformation over the weekend.  It doesn't officially kick off until early February (and conveniently ends the weekend of Ironman) but I'm following it's principles from today.  

The basics are that you are allowed 300cals per meal and 300 cals for snacks each day (1200 cals a day for the mathematically challenged).  On days when I train for hours I will adjust this to give me enough fuel to train on.  As always with me it's a juggling act between eating enough to train and eating too much.  I'm sure I'm one of the few who train for Ironman and gain weight.  Grrrr.

So today I weighed in at 68kg.  Officially weigh in day is Wednesday so from now on that's when I'll be recording my weight.  I have 17 weeks until Ironman and my goal is to get as close to 60kg as I can - I'm even going to try and go alcohol free until Ironman.  I'm not sure how that will go!

Now for some good things.  On Saturday I did the Resolution Run 11km option.  I was happy to both run a negative split and run sub 80 mins (79:21) which I worked out to be my goals.  My sis ran the 5.5km and a few of her kids from work ran the 11km too. 

 

Here well all are!

On Sunday I had 2.5 hours of cycling on my program.  So a bunch of us from the club met up at North Turramurra to ride some hills.  I rode with Cathy and Stella (below) and we had a blast.  Lots off giggling from Cathy. While I couldn't keep up with speedy Cathy on the hills I'm happy that I'm stronger and faster on the hills.  It's nice to see improvement.  We ended up riding for over 3 hours.

Cathy, Stella & me.

Week 2/52 (19 December) - a tough week.

I'm sorry for the delay in updating this week but I kinda got caught up in the whole Christmas thing.  It's been a rough week.  I started the week still sick with a cold and then things became pretty rough at work with the loss of a colleague in a rescue operation south of Sydney.  Needless to say I am feeling pretty fragile.  So my week went a bit like this:

Monday - still sick I stayed on the lounge feeling sorry for myself and missed my programmed 3 hour ride.  However I did watch lots of really bad tv.

Tuesday - I joined the tri club for their Tuesday morning ride but, on the advice of my coach, didn't push it too hard.  In the afternoon I hit the pool and swam 2.5km.  Ouch.

Wednesday - this mornings tri club run session was a Christmas adventure race which was heaps of fun.  Still coughing and spluttering I wasn't exactly the best team mate and I think we came almost last.

Thursday - day shift so no training

Friday - another day shift so no training

Saturday - my program said 2 hours of hills but I didn't want to miss the club's Xmas ride so a compromise was reached.  Rob and I went out early and did some tough strength work on the big (big chain ring/biggest gear).  A real ouch fest for an hour before we met up with the others for the social part of the ride.

Sunday - Xmas ho ho ho - and a rest day!!!

Hopefully I'll be back to 100% training next week.

This photo really inspires me.  It's Leanda Cave being passed by Chrissie Wellington at this year's Ironman World Championships.  Leanda Cave said she was running as hard as she could when Chrissie ran pass.  She said she just wanted to show her respect.

Week 1/52 (12 December 2011) - not a great start

This week I returned to work after 6 weeks of annual leave.  I also commenced my training for IM #1 (Ironman Australia) and got another cold.  So my training did not get off to a flying start.

Monday - 8 x 1km efforts on the treadmill at the gym because it was raining (again).  Each one was 15 seconds faster than the previous effort.  Effort 1 was at 7:30 mins/km and effort 8 was at 5:45 mins/km.  I covered 10km in total.  This session hurt.

Tuesday - back to work

Wednesday - work again.  This was the day I started to feel poorly.

Thursday - I was supposed to do a 2 hour ride today but my throat felt like I'd swallowed a bunch of razor blades so I stayed in bed. 

Friday - I was supposed to swim but, after a terrible night shift, I couldn't face the pool and decided to head home for a sleep instead.  This meant I changed my session to an afternoon run because I don't need to turn up to work with goggle eyes (my logic really does work).  My program said 90 mins over an undulating course at an easy pace.  I'm working at Drummoyne station at the moment which is right on the Bay Run.  So I parked at work and went off for my run.  It was super easy and I felt good despite my fluey head.  90 mins at 5/1 run/walk and I covered almost 11km.  Perfect Ironman race pace.

Saturday - because I ran on Friday my intention was to swim today but my cold had really kicked in and I just rested.  I figured I still have 20 weeks to go I'm better cutting my losses now and recovering rather than pushing when I am unwell.

Sunday - still sick so no long ride.  This sucks.

This is a photo of my family from last weeks Lynne King Charity ride.  We all rode 116km in sunshine and then in thunder, lightening and rain.  I love my family!