Triathlons and beyond.: Mar 1, 2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

EPICNESS

"To describe something that is so amazing that no other word is able to describe its awesomeness"

(as per Urban Dictionary)

I didn't even know that there was such a word until I Googled it, but this is the only way that I can describe the last 2 days. After a very hectic weekend that was super charged with emotions it has been nice to have a few days of normality. Exercise definitely helps clear my mind of thoughts that can be at times a little overwhelming.

I think I said on my last post that I was not sure how my Windtrainer session was going to pan out - well let me just tell you, I think at last I totally nailed it. I was finally in a zone that felt comfortable. Not sure if it was the previous day's sadness or what, but something within me had changed. I was so focused and my form did not slip once.

Eliza even mentioned after staring at me for a bit that I looked like I was cruising. So I got into an even harder gear and still felt fine. I don't know what got into me, I just finally felt like I had hit another level. It just felt right and I just allowed myself to go with it. I managed to finish strong too, putting it in the biggest gear I could and just hammering it for the last 2mins of each set. Which by the way went as follows:

10mins, 15mins, 20mins at race pace
15mins, 5mins at above race pace.

There was no run off the bike last night, but you know - even if there was I think I would have been okay. I think something has changed - things just feel right. I feel better than I ever have and I am finally happy in my own skin - in every sense of the word.

When I finally got to bed thought's of the next day's long run where in my thought's, invading every deep little corner of my mind. I wasn't scared about it, more like excited and wanting to see just what it is I had within me to give this my all.

So when I finally woke the next morning it was game on. But not before the usual made rush of a school morning:

Or before slowing down to take in some of mother nature on this glorious Autumn morning.

There is something about Autumn that I really love and connect with. Apart from the fact that I am an Autumn/March baby I just love the briskness of the morning, the dew that settles on everything, the fact that the days are still warm yet not overbearingly hot and that the night's are getting cooler which makes for better sleep.

So needless to say when I headed out for my run I was in my element. I don't know what it is about the first 3-5km, but they always seem to feel quite hard. It's the same deal for the first 20km on the bike for me. It just takes me quite a while to warm up but once that has happened I can keep going for ages.

Once I had found my rhythm my legs just kept turning over, at quite a nice and relaxed pace too I might add. I had to make sure that it stayed within a nice Zone 2 to hold out for the full 1hr 40mins. Everything was just right - the music I was listening to, weather conditions, physically I felt prepared it was just a matter of weather my mind would allow it all to come into play. And it did.

17km's.

Yep, you saw it right here. This girl just ran the furthest she ever has in her whole life. I am running for my life and loving it. You know it's so strange, when I first started this whole 70.3 training, I never in my wildest dreams thought that I was ever going to accomplish something like this. If anything I thought the one leg of this all to be my undoing was going to be the run. But look at me now. I actually enjoy the run, the challenge of staying on my legs for longer and longer and seeing just what I am capable of.