This weekend of training was absolutely FANTASTIC. There are days in your life when the planets align and everything just falls into place - and not for any particular reason, but just because. And when days like that happen I am always astounded by how wonderful it makes me feel. I feel like I can tackle almost anything on days like that and wish I could bottle them and store them in my Bento Box and have a swig whenever I am feeling sad and sorry for myself.
Let me explain. Saturday morning I woke up feeling very very tired. Eyes were so tired I could barely open them when the alarm went off at the ungodly 3:30am wake up call. I laid there procrastinating about whether to turn up to swim squad or not. And believe me, if it weren't for the fact that I am a stubborn mule, I may have just rolled back over and tucked those nice warm sheets around my head and gone back off into the bliss world of slumber. However, I have a goal and that thought alone made me roll my lethargic body out of bed and get dressed for what was to be another long, exhausting weekend.
However, once in the water I started to come to. Amazing what some good hard work in the pool will do to your brain. Sucking in good amounts of oxygen does wonders to the O2 depleted brain and body. As the session progressed I felt stronger and stronger in the water and was really happy with my efforts by the end.
- 1km Fr/s warm up in creasing speed over distance
- 5 x 200m Fr/s on 3:00 leaving on 3:10
- 10 x 100m Fr/s with paddles on 1:45
- 2 x 200m Fr/s kick for 50m, Bk/s for 50m
- 400m - 50 drill, 50 your choice.
After swim session we all converged at the regular coffee spot and had brekkie before embarking on our 2.5hr ride with 2 x 45min efforts in there. Was I hesitant about the efforts - YES, considering my previous weekend's painfulness. However I had dosed up on Ibuprofen and felt fairly good so it was just a matter of seeing how it would all pan out. With the first effort I sat at the back and drafted off the pack to see if my back would manage - and it did. So with the second I decided to hang on and push hard. I ended up finishing nice and strong and my back only felt slightly tight towards the end. It was my legs that hurt the most - but in a good way.
It was then time for the 10 x 1km efforts. I don't know why but everytime I have to try hard on the run I always become really hesitant. Like I doubt what I am capable of or quite possibly the thought of all that pain puts me of wanting to really push as hard as I can. However, for the first time ever - and I think this should make it into the history books, I nailed my 1km efforts. I felt so strong and really light on my feet. For the first time I actually felt like a runner. And I kept thinking to myself "So this is what real runners must feel like all the time". Every 1km effort felt as good as the last if not better and the first few I kept coming in under the 5min mark. I couldn't believe it. And that was off the bike. UNBELIEVABLE. By crikey, I think Barb may finally be getting the jist of it.
Then on Sunday we were up for another 5hr ride and took in the Short Punt again. That was yet again a great ride with fantastic people. And even though my legs were telling me I had had a great hard day the day before they still managed to ride 108km and then run off the bike for a nice easy 30min run. We had a new face (Alison) join us on our bike ride today and the regular shinannigans happened - only we had a new dog chase us and we learnt some more hand signals. No - not the ones your all thinking of....lol
I am going to miss my Sunday rides when I finish Yeppoon.
