A great day.

Today's Duathlon was not a big affair by any stretch of the imagination but gee's it was run well. I went not only to watch but with the hopes that I would help out but when I got there they all seemed so well organised I didn't even put my hand up, and with that I was left to take in everything and learn.

Today's Duathlon was a 2.5km run, 20km bike ride finished up with another 5km run. And the top guy and gal did it so easy I was left standing there with my mouth wide open. The speed's at which they did that 20km in I can only hope to one day reach. Awesome is all I can.

Whilst waiting inbetween run legs and cycling legs I got to chatting with a lady who is hoping to become the club coach. They are hoping to add a new dimension to coaching within the club by doing track work, actual transition training, mounting and dismounting from the bike and swim sessions. Sounds awesome. As of next Saturday they are holding 3 free swim sessions which will include stroke correction and actual squad work. I look forward to it as I believe you can always learn something new.

When I got home I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get my backside on the bike and hit the road. It was time to overcome my fear and ride the 8km block around my home. The 8km loop includes 2 main roads and one awesome hill and alot of traffic, but I think I chose the right day to do it. Being the weekend meant less traffic and the best time to overcome my fear.

I had a ball, the traffic didn't bother me even though I had two absolutely massive trucks go past me and rattle me with the wind. I felt in control and just enjoyed the weather and the fact that I have just done something I thought I couldn't. I was so proud of the fact that I tackled that hill and didn't have to get off my bike. GO ME. I think I must have done the loop fairly quickly because my husband was totally gobsmacked and said I was hooning it down our road.

I can't wait to do it all again tomorrow. Hope the weather holds out.

"Rolling buffet"

After yesterdays mammoth headache and my inability to go for a bike ride I decided to make today my spin day. I also wanted to test eating something other than chews whilst on the bike and see how my guts held up. So my son made me a Peanut Butter sandwich and cut it into slices for me. I had my whole little table beside me set up with a 500ml bottle of Gatorade, a 300ml glass of water and my PB sandwich. I also had my DVD player setup with "Bloodsport" in it to watch. I absolutely love Jean-Claude Van Damme and admire his prowess in martial arts but the one thing he can't do is act very well. Nevermind he is a great fighter.

I lasted an hour and consumed everything and one startling observation is that with all that I consumed in the beverage department I hardly let out one drop of sweat. This is a wake up call for me in the hydration department - I must have been so dehydrated already that my body needed every last bit of fluid I put in. Maybe that was the reason for my headache yesterday, actually I think it was for sure. I have been trying hard to drink more but I guess not enough. I need to drink more fluids everyday. I need to make sure my pee is dilute all the time.

Another piece of observation is that eating on the bike did not make me feel sick. I thought that maybe I would feel a bit pucky - but nah, feeling good. It actually felt good to eat something - the PB is a bit dry in the mouth though, maybe I can mix and match each little cube - one with PB and the other with vegemite for the salt component. Food for thought.

I managed 26km in the hour and am happy with the outcome. Looking forward to the Duathlon tomorrow. Will see if they need assistance when I get there. Thanks BDD for the idea.

What a cracker.

I hate waking up with the beginnings of a headache. When this happens doesn't matter what I do or how quickly I get the pain relief in, I can pretty much be guaranteed a whopper of a headache that I will just have to try and manage till it relents. So after 2 lots of paracetamol and a dose of ibuprofen I can now open my eyes and feel some relief. However it leaves my head feeling like a big bag of marshmallows - all soft and gooshy.

I am a bit disappointed because today I had all intentions on actually getting out and riding my bike, we had another glorious day of sun and I was hoping to take the bike out on the road. But it was not to be, so today I will call my REST DAY.

I tried to think what it was that had caused my headache and the only thing that I can think is that I have had 2 fairly intense sessions in the pool this week and my shoulders and neck are feeling quite tense. Maybe I am due a massage.

This coming Sunday I am hoping to go see a Duathlon held at the lakes. Wish I could do it but for obvious reasons I can't, will have to be content to watch and cheer everyone else on. Hopefully tomorrow I can go for a ride.

Solid session

This is what was staring back at me this morning when I got in the car to take the kids to school. I wouldn't think much of it if I was going to come straight home, but that was not the case. Today's session involved a rectangular object which held gallons upon gallons of water. Good thing though that it was sunny, so that made up for it in a way.

We had a couple of regulars missing due to illness (gotta love winter), and their presence was missed. However, those that remained kicked out some awesome sessions. Mel, did a whopping 2km session. 2000m from someone who not that long ago thought that she would struggle with 300m and now she had energy to burn after 2k. I am proud of you Mel - well done. That deserves a gold medal award:
My session today was a little varied once again. What is that saying "variety is the spice of life". I think swimming is one of those sports where you have to keep on trying to mix it up a bit because a) you can run the risk of it becoming stale/boring, and b) by not challenging yourself with other strokes or varying distances you wont really see a big improvement. I don't want either to happen, I have too much riding on this. Big dreams lay ahead and I want to give it my all. This is what I did today:

• 500m Fr/s warm up
• 12 x 50m Fr/s with 45 sec rest. I did them all on about 35 secs
• 300m kick with flippers. (50m Fr/s, 50m Fly)
• 4 x 100m IM with 40 secs rest
• 200m Bk/s
• 200m Fr/s finger trailing
• 300m cooldown

I feel strong, now I have to transfer that strength to my legs. I shouldn't complain, they are feeling stronger too. I can now do the single leg bridges which about 10 days ago I couldn't - so that means I am gaining strength there too. But I would be happier if things would mend a bit quicker.

Divine, divine, what more can I say.

I was totally spoilt today with beautiful warm weather, zero wind, great food and great company. Spring had arrived early and I was going to make full use of this glorious day. I started off by doing my usual physio exercises and then my strength program written by Sandi.

• 3 x 10 one leg squats
• 3 x 10 functional steps
• 3 x 10 sec one leg bridges (I can do these now)
• 3 x 12 one leg split squats
• 3 x 12 lunges with 3kg dumbbells
• 3 x 15 incline pushups
• 3 x 15 dumbbell flys with 3kg weights
• 3 x 15 bent over dumbbell rows 3kg weights
• 3 x 15 shoulder press 3kg weights
• 3 x 12 ab crunches feet raised
• 3 x 20 supersets dumbbell twists/bicycle crunches
• 3 x 20 ab alternate heel touches

I then got to spend a wonderful three hours with a dear friend chatting over a yummy lunch. Always good to catch up with Cath, she is always good for a laugh and a debrief. There is never a silent moment between us.

Feeling like I still had energy to burn this evening, I jumped on the trainer and did a quick 16km and am now ready to have a shower and hit the sack. I hope you have all had a wonderful day too but I'm ready for bed. See you all in the morning.

Swimming clears the mind

Swimming always brings such clarity to my mind. I use it as a bit of an escape, place to sort things out when the real world feels a bit too much. There's something cathartic about the mundane black line, the swooshing in the ears, the in out breathing sound that one makes. Brings focus back to the things that really matter or solutions to the things that puzzle the mind.

I used today's workout to get rid of some feelings that have been pestering me. I tried to put all of that negative energy into getting a really good workout and it worked.

• 300m Fr/s Warm up
• 300m, 200m, 100m Fr/s increasing speed
• 300m - 25m kick with flippers, 25m Fr/s with flippers
• 200m Br/s hold the glide
• 3 x 150m Fr/s 1:10 rest
• 200m Fr/s finger trailing
• 200m one armed fly with flippers breathing every 2 strokes
• 100m Fr/s cooldown.

I felt strong, really in control of all of my strokes. This session was written up for me by my older brother. He too will be competing in the 70.3 with me in May next year and as such we are sharing our workouts. Well, I am sharing his workouts, atleast for now. When I have an established pattern I too will be imparting some knowledge his way. Well, here's hoping I will.

Still not able to figure out what I have done on my end of this blogger world. My layout on my end is still stuffed, but glad to hear that all of you can't see the mess that is on my end. Will have to wait from blogger themselves to see if they can help.

HELP

My blogger layout has gone mad. Driving me nuts. All my stuff from my side panel has gone right to the bottom. When I go onto layout it says everything is the way it should be but then when I go to design it is all in HTML jargon. I am so mad.

Will see if my friends son can come and help reset it. Otherwise not sure what to do. Do I have to start all over again?