The last 3 days have been without a doubt totally eventful in the training and racing front. I am really happy with the progress I have made and am looking forward to further improvements. It's amazing how a little bit of improvement makes you want to keep going at getting better. The taste of personal success makes you want to keep going striving for future successes.
Last week being my recovery week had me doing a 30 min aerobic run on Friday. I started out the run with good intentions however 3/4's into the run it was cut short due to the coming across the neighbours son all bloodied up after coming off his motorcycle. His Uncle was there however being the nurse at heart I had to ask him to be laid down as he had sustained a blow to the head and lost his lower canine tooth. He was making sense but still I insisted on him going to hospital. The remainder of the run was good and overall I maintained a 5:10min/km pace and felt good albeit sweaty upon arriving home.
Yesterday had me back at the pool for more TopNotch sessions. To be truthfully honest I have been slightly neglectful of my swimming since the kids have been on school holidays so I was slightly nervous of getting back into the pool under a coaches supervision, but it wasn't as bad as I thought. And to my surprise with all the sessions I have missed I still had strength in the pool.
- 400m Fr/s Warm up
- 600m Drills
- Ladder 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100 - each 100 on 1:45
- 100m backstroke
As I got closer to the lakes it got more wet but thank goodness the ambient temperature was perfect.
The usual pre-race jitters are always present causing me to talk and laugh more than I usually do - atleast it makes the walk to race start seem somewhat less daunting. In the water I initially positioned myself near the front but after my last experience and being over run by the fast guys I held back into what I thought seemed like the second row. Will have to hold this position more often as I felt I had more arm and leg room to start the race off in - and as the starters call went off I was able to find my tempo much quicker and work my way through to the front pack. I exited the water 14th with a time of 11:26. Two minutes faster than my last Sprint Tri on the 27th November - and truth be told I didn't feel as though I was really pushing myself either. It's a really nice feeling to not be breathless as you come out of the water and start running to transition.
Coming out of T1 was probably the most awkward I have been in ages. I just couldn't get my shoe in quick enough and the more I tried, the more I stumbled - oh well - them's the breaks. I remember hearing Mel scream out "Go Barb" as I took off up the first little bridge - and then the rains started. Initially it was a mild little splitter splatter and then it got quite heavy - mix that in with the back wash coming off the guys back tyres as they zoomed past me - and I was blinking like a maniac. Not sure if I had visible grit splattered all over my face but I sure could feel it. The remainder of the bike leg felt much the same as always - me peddling like crazy and only maintaining about 28/30kpm. I am happy with it but being the ever impatient me I want to go faster - I want to go fast like everyone else who zooms past me. Maybe if I throw a lifeline to the back of one of their bikes it will make me faster - a girl can dream can't she. I did go a little faster - 2 mins actually - I did the 20kms in 41:09.
And the run, well I thought I actually went faster - but I was actually on my average pace - so no great improvement to speak of only that the last 2.5km felt good. I actually felt like I fell into a better rhythm finally - 28:04.
I know your all probably sick of hearing it by now but I swear I am part of the best Tri Club in the world. All I can hear during each of my races are the club members cheering me on. They are each trying to race to the best of their ability and each have a smile for me or a word of encouragement to get me through. LOVE YOU GUYS.
So with 16 weeks till my first ever 70.3 - I think I have enough base mileage to see me through the next 4mths of intense training. I am scared but excited and looking forward to accomplishing the biggest goal I have ever set myself to do. I feel confident. I can and will do this.
