Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.

Alright, I did it - 4200m. I can't believe it, well - actually I can but it seemed like I almost wouldn't on the night.

4900m was what was written for the session. An unrealsitic goal for now but I know I will get there. The week before I had completed 4000m and my goal is everytime I hit the water 200m more is what I expect and nothing less. After all it is only 4 laps more. I can use this as my cool down. So that is what I did.

I think it was about 2/5 of the way into the session I was faced with 6x300m, probably the toughest sets yet. Not only because I just don't like them, so in my head I kind of already switch off but also because the day before I had attended bootcamp and my arms were extremely fatigued. So I did 3 without flippers and 3 with flippers. Should these be part of my session this week I shall try 4 without flippers and forge forward towards my goal.

With 700m to go and 16 minutes left in the session - would I get there. YEP - 4x100m F/S kick with flippers in 10 minutes and 300m in 6 minutes. Boy, talk about determined and stubborn.

I even have my coach now pushing me to go that extra 200m.

Not on

So I didn't get to go to the bike riding lessons as the weather just didnt want to behave. I was a little disappointed as I really want to understand my bike and become best friends with it rather than acquaintances. So I instead went to my usual bootcamp which I was planning on just moving forward a day so I could fit the bike session in. This bootcamp has become my usual routine since before October 2009. It's not something I am willing to compromise on. Sure there are days where things just crop up or where all the appointments in the world just happen to coincide on the same week, but when that happens I make sure that I make up for it one way or another. That may mean having to change my routine slightly for the week. But I make sure I stick to it.

I still havent conquered the goal of getting out onto the road to ride. This will happen, I am more than 100% sure. This is something else I am not willing to compromise on. Once I say I want to do something, I become a bit like a "dog with a bone",- driven. The one thing I have realised along this journey is that I can do anything. Sure they may not resemble some olympic athletes achievements but they are achievements nonetheless. They are my achievements.

I love being me, life is good. What more can I ask for?

One more lap.

I am pleased to announce that my cycling is getting better. I can now cycle 25km in one hit, 20km more than my last blog. It was true about the 3 days a week thing, it does work. Obviously not working as fast as I would like it to (impatient me), but I am making progress.

I have invested in a pair of cycling pants, you know the padded bum ones! They feel great on when your cycling, as for walking - well I feel kinda like a 2yr old when they need a nappy change. Its hard to walk and take yourself seriously. When I first put them on and looked in the mirror I was wondering who the "Oompa Loompa" was looking back at me. But, they are not worn for fashion, comfort is the number one goal. And they work to a degree. I still think my nether regions need to toughen up a bit, or I need to stop whinging.

My best friend Susan has recently purchased herself a road bike and is now riding with me. I love the company and it makes the time go by so quickly. She gives me the push that I need to keep going when my legs feel like giving up. Thank God for best friends, that all I can say. I must admit though, she makes it look so much easier. When I watch her she makes it look effortless and my hope is that one day I too will look that way, or atleast learn to stop contorting my face in such a fashion that you can tell from a mile away that I am in pain.

Another lesson I have learnt is to keep your mouth somewhat closed when cycling. I do believe I have now swallowed a 1/4 cup of gnats and numerous flies. Great way to get protein on the run....BLAH. I will stick to protein bars thanks.

So as I ponder my next ride this coming Friday, I shall set myself a goal of going out onto the open road. Not far, just the length of the Regatta Centre and back and then continue with the rest of the ride. I want to try something a bit different and vary the course up a bit. Keep the excitement level up high.

Oh by the way, I am also attending a bike riding skills class tonight for women. I really need to understand my gears better. Will keep you all posted as to how it went.

Does my butt look big in this?

Its a love hate relationship.

Since commencing my training, my love for swimming has returned, and I now strive to swim a little more everytime I get in the pool. As part of having joined the Tri Club I now participate in their swim squad once a week on a thursday night. Week 1 - 4 weeks ago, I completed 2500m and felt so tired on getting out that I don't think I could string two sentences together. My body ached all over from the last cell of keratin in my hair to the ends of my not so delicate toes. Susan and I walked out of the pool wondering what in god's name had we gotten ourselves into. On our way home Susan gave me a call on the mobile just so I could keep her awake for the drive home. I was so proud of what she had accomplished and I am sure she was equally proud of me.

As week 2 drew closer I started to get nervous, simply because I knew what lay ahead and I know me - I am not happy with staying the same. 3500m and 90 minutes later I surfaced from the pool with a grin and the need for some much needed rest and Ibuprofen. I was so proud of myself, I had come so far when at times I thought it would never be possible again. I really missed the squad life even though as a child I immensely detested being told when to wake up, how much I had to swim, what comps to go in...yadda yadda yadda. Now I'm the boss of me and I am definately tougher on me than they ever were. I won't allow myself to give up.

3800m in week 3 and I was feeling great. The variety of the training sessions made it almost feel effortless....NOT, it was still hard but atleast it beats swimming up and down over and over again aimlessly. I think the coach can tell how excited I am about getting better every week as I am constantly asking how much I have done halfway through the session so I can beat my score before time is up. "Are we there yet, are we there yet". I so badly want every week to be an improvement on the last and so far so good.

Last week I felt it. Although I made it to 4km, every lap was so painfully slow and torturous. I had the runs all day and my stomach was cramping what felt like every 5 minutes. I really shouldn't have gone, I should have stayed at home and rested but there goes that stubborness and persistant streak again. I was getting motion sick in the water and I felt quite spewy. If I could get through this lesson without letting things come up, I think I could just about tackle anything the triathlon had to offer. As it was, I survived but when I got home all I could do was have a shower, say goodnight to the children and Stephen and curl up in the foetal position in bed and go to sleep. When I woke up in the morning I felt no side effects of the previous nights efforts. I felt great.

I was trying harder and harder every week and my fast recovery was the proof of my efforts.

Running is like walking, only faster.

Atleast that is what I tried to tell myself when I knew my weightloss and get well journey was on a roll. Trying to run when I was overweight was really painful. So I naturally thought the less I weighed the less stress there would be on my joints. But unfortunately that has not been the case for me. My hips, knees and ankles continue to hurt regardless. I do think that structurally I was not designed to run. I am flat footed, I have knock knees and my back has arthritis, not the best combination for a runner, but nonetheless I shall continue to forge forward to reach my goal. Things in the running department just have to be at a slower pace for me.

After the 5km Fun Run I was in pain for about 4 days. Ibuprofen and Paracetamol were my new best friends. Whilst I was up and walking slowly things were somewhat manageable, but when it came to sitting down or trying to stand up - that was a different story. My muscles would seize up totally and trying to stand on sore joints made me wonder if this was truly worth it. But after four days rest, my brain cells rehydrated themselves and I began to think straight again.

During my bootcamp sessions we would always start off with a warm up run and most times we do running inbetween activities. So when I started getting shin pains I thought, "give it a chance, things will come right". So I continued to push myself and I am now on week 3 of NO RUNNING. Please take heed, listen to your body. I didn't and now I feel like I am behind the eight ball. This triathlon is drawing nearer and my running, not great to start off with - is now probably worse than ever. I know my legs need the rest to recover, but running is such a unique discipline I feel like I am going to be a total disgrace on the day if I don't get cracking on the training. "Patience young Jedi".

Panthers Tri Club

I joined the local triathlon club. The gentleman at the bike shop gave me a discount on my bike by joining - I couldn't miss the chance of getting a discount, after all I am a girl. But now that meant I definately had to do a triathlon. There was no backing out even if I wanted to. I hadn't even signed up for one yet, how does one do this and which one would be suitable. Thank goodness I have friends in the know.

I had heard discussions through my bootcamp class friends. There were many small tri's around but the one that caught my attention was the TriShave Women's Triathlon. I liked the fact that is was all women, I wouldn't feel like such a "doofus". I could mingle in the swarm of other women and feel safe and protected. Also, there was a possibility of some of my friends doing this event with me. I was up for the challenge but only if my friend's held my hand.

I jumped on the registration site and filled out the necessary criteria but stalled numerous times upon hitting the send icon. My finger was like it had a mind of it's own and just would not let me press it. I stalled and stalled and stalled until finally I did a Lleyton Hewitt "C'mon". And without another thought it was gone into cyberspace. Off to TriShave World. Instantly, I was excited and scared. I SMS'ed everyone, I thought the more people I tell the more they can rev me up and keep me motivated during the initial phase.

Once I get going I know I have the will and drive to motivate myself. I am also stubborn and hate not succeeding in something once I have set my mind to it. By succeed I don't mean winning, I just like to see things through to the end, regardless of the obstacles set before me. The obstacles make me want it even more.

So now I know how to swim, I have my bike - just need to keep on practising, and I have signed up. What's next? Oh yeah, running!!! All I can say is OUCH!!!