The above saying could not more accurately describe how I have viewed my journey to date. At first I didn't think I could feel better, then I didn't think I could get fit, then I thought I could not run and then today I squashed all self doubt once again. Little by little I have inched my way through each goal and kept setting personal goals to reach my next goal. And my next goal was a 10km run. I DID IT. I have a 10km run under my belt and all because I wanted to. And I know I shouldn't have timed myself but I am have become a bit of a numbers freak. I did it in 59min 15 secs. I was so happy to have done it under the hour mark, now it's just a matter of maintaining that time or getting better.
Maybe I am looking way way ahead of myself, but I am feeling pretty good about my running at the moment and think I may just be okay with doing 21.1km. Not right now of course, but I don't think it will be too far in the future either. I like this longer running business. It gives me much the same feeling as when I am swimming - loads of time to think. But this time I think about my breathing, my stride, the pace I am running. Whether or not I am slumping forward or holding my posture correctly. Lots of time to analyse, critique and correct to make it feel easier. I think about how it would feel to actually be running at that pace for well over two hours after having come off a 90km bike ride. Could I hold that pace or will my legs seize up.
I am sure all these questions will be answered as my training intensifies. So far though I am tickled pink with my progress.
Another beautiful day spent in the pool. Even though it was overcast the temperature of the water was just blissfull to dive into. Diving in when the water is cool is not one of my favourite past times, ask my mum and childhood coach. I was the one found on the side of the pool shivering and crying and making up excuses as to why I should not have to get in the water - "I'm sick, I have a headache, it's too cold, I don't want to", yada yada yada. Totally painful I was as a child. But, now that I am adult even though I still hate it I will do it. Today however was like diving into a tepid bath and as my session began and I swam a mere 200m I was already feeling hot and knew that I would only feel hotter as the session went on. Boy, I feel my complaining coming on again. Gees I'm a whinger. So I will stop complaining now.
My session today went as follows:
- 500m Freestyle warm up.
- 10 x 50m kick with flippers - Freestyle up, Backstroke down.
- 10 x 100m Freestyle catchup - every 25m changing breathing side
- 300m cool down - Breastroke up, Backstroke back.
Quite an enjoyable session really, another 2.3km to add to my training. Not too hard but I could feel the burn in my shoulders from the catch up. It's amazing, when I am training it gives me time to think about everything that is going on in my life and the things I should be doing at home like vacuuming, mopping, washing clothes and grocery shopping. Not looking forward to it but I must do - so when I got out of the pool I went to the shops bought stuff for dinner that was on the list that Taillah made - Italian stuffed capsicum is on the menu for tonight. I have been blessed with a daughter who loves to cook. Quickly got home and did three loads of washing and vacuumed the floors. Then it was back out the door to pick up the children from school. An action packed productive day. I love it. I can feel that I have more and more energy everyday and I thank my nutritional supplements for that. They give me the energy to get out there and exercise and as I exercise I get stronger - I am a winner either way I look at it.
So tomorrow I look forward to going for a long run as I cannot do it on Sunday. This Sunday is Mothers Day and whilst I should be resting and getting totally spoilt I will be running with my son Kurtis in the Mother's Day 4km Fun Run. Tomorrow I am hoping to do 10km but not sure how this will pan out. I will keep my fingers crossed and just try to stay focused for a run that could take close to an hour. Something new for me and one that I will try to accomplish.
I made myself and the family a yummy tortilla tonight. It was made with potato, onion, eggs, ricotta cheese, fresh parsley and basil and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on top. And may I say it was exceptionally yummy. Taillah my daughter decided she wanted to add a salad to the mix and made a divine Carrot Salad. A totally vegetarian dinner and it was to die for. I can safely say now I am full, but prior to eating my meal and as I was cooking I was ravenous.
Last night's meal was a feast fit for any carnivore on the planet. A juicy T-bone steak with a green salad. That was absolutely finger licking good. I not only gnawed on the bone I did not leave one bit of meat on that bone. I even think my dogs would have turned up their noses to the naked bone I left behind. I just can't seem to eat enough now, I am always hungry.
I remember back to when I was trying to lose weight and having to re-train my brain to eat smaller portions. All I wanted to do was eat cause my portions were so small they would have only fed a sparrow. Now I am always hungry cause my metabolism has sped up so much I am burning more than I can put in and I even think I can put Fred Flintstone to shame eating the amounts I am beef I am eating. My body is obviously craving protein and I can't seem to feed it enough. I guess it's ok considering everytime I exercise I am burning a tonne of calories. And if I don't fire up the engine with enough fuel then it's just going to burn out. And anyway, I feel in tip top shape doing what I am doing. The scales never show weight gain at the moment if anything they are either sitting pretty even or showing a slight deficit in the weight department.
I seem to be managing ok on my own so far.
I finally rode some of the M7 bike track today and it was a really enjoyable ride.The sun was out and there was a slight chill in the air. Before I started riding I decided I wanted to spend about 90 minutes cycling. I have to start getting used to spending more time on my bike, and today was the day I would start doing just that. So I put my Ipod on, reset my speedometer and off I set for a 90 minute pedal fest.
My journey to my turn around point at the 45 minute mark was challenging. There were some flat parts but mainly it was a series of up hill climbs. Not anything too serious but enough so that you could feel the burn. I have to practice getting out and staying out of the saddle when my legs are burning.I was watching other cyclists just burn it up the hills right past me and they were all leaning right forward and had their backsides right up and out. I tried doing it but my legs just kept giving way and I would have to sit. I guess everything takes practice, and the more you practice the better you get at it. There were times I was even keeping up with some of the younger, stronger cyclists or even making up ground on the hills. So I was pleased.
The way back was absolutely divine. Even though there were a few hills to climb, the majority of it was a nice downhill ride. I love riding my bike fast, what a buzz. So as a result of riding faster on my way back I shaved off 8 minutes and only rode the bike 82 minutes and a total of 29kms. A bit annoying cause I wanted to actually make it to 90 minutes but nevermind. Next time I will just go further, no big problem there. Today was a really enjoyable day and it was great spending it outdoors. I never realised how many people I would see out on the track this morning and they were all nice. Everyone of them said "
Good morning" to me. And this seems to be the norm wherever I am. Everyone I see either cycling, running or swimming acknowledges the other person. I guess that's what makes me like exercise even more.
I have finally found the image of my bike. This is him to a "T". Don't you just love him. I am still paying it off and probably won't have him till the end of June and I cannot wait to have my first ride. However before that glorious day I need to name him. I don't know why I think it's a "He" versus a "She", it just looks masculine. So I will have to search the internet for some names that do him justice. I would like something that represents strength, determination, courage, speed, bravery. Not sure if there is a name that accurately covers all of this but I will try to find it, because naming him "bike" won't do.
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. I did it. I am officially registered for Port Macquarie 70.3 in 2011. It's all paid for and there is no turning back, not that I would, but it is now totally for REAL. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest and I am having waves of nervousness go through my body already. What will I be like on the day if just filling out an online form does this to me...lol. This has got to be the coolest feeling I have felt in a while. I keep looking at my online receipt to make sure it's genuinely for real. And yep, after about the 10th time of checking it I can safely say it is for real.
What made me want to sign up for this? What makes me want to put my body through the hours of training I am yet to attempt? Well, I think it all boils down to the fact that over a year ago I thought I was going to never be able to do anything physical ever again. I honestly thought that my life was going to be put on hold forever and I was going to have to learn to live with chronic pain. But a year later and many accomplishments under my belt and a new frame of mind I now realise that I can pretty much do anything I set my mind to. So why not a 70.3.
I look forward to the challenge.
If I could rate my day today and how I performed I would give myself an A+. I felt so on top of the world and wish now that everyday could be like today. Today I set myself the goal of running a route that I had only ever previously walk/run. It is 7km in length and one side feels a bit like cross country running and the other side is just road. So all in all I got a pretty decent workout. What made it even better was that I ran my 7km in 37.15 minutes and it didn't feel that hard at all and most important, nothing hurt.
Susan and I started off at a relatively decent pace and I do believe I kept it the whole way. The one thing I always find that take a bit of time to adjust to the increased workload are my lungs. They tend to burn for about the first 2km but after that they are ok and I just seem to breathe easier. I always carry my Ventolin inhaler with me just in case and have had to use it a couple of times as my exercise induced asthma likes to rear it's ugly head every now and then. It's a childhood thing that I have just learned to live with but never ignore.
As the run continued I just felt stronger and stronger to the point where I finished off in a full sprint. I could not believe how strong my legs felt at the end and I was happy to just go "full hog". And to top it all off when I finished running I was breathless for about 30 seconds and that's it. I recovered so quickly even I was impressed with myself. Susan just kept giving me compliments about how far I had come, gees it feels nice hearing it from a friend - especially one who is gifted in the running department.
I cannot begin to tell you how happy I feel. This walking on cloud 9 business is awesome and as a friend so eloquently put "if we could bottle it and take a swig every now and then" I think I would be the happiest woman on earth. But I am a firm believer that it is the hard times we go through that make these good times so worth remembering and hanging onto.
Your hard work will be rewarded.
"The path to a dream is paved with sacrifices and lined with determination. And though it has many stumbling blocks along the way, and may go in more than one direction, it is travelled by belief and courage and conquered with a willingness to face challenges and take chances" Barbara Cage
The above saying could not more accurately describe how I have viewed my journey to date. At first I didn't think I could feel better, then I didn't think I could get fit, then I thought I could not run and then today I squashed all self doubt once again. Little by little I have inched my way through each goal and kept setting personal goals to reach my next goal. And my next goal was a 10km run. I DID IT. I have a 10km run under my belt and all because I wanted to. And I know I shouldn't have timed myself but I am have become a bit of a numbers freak. I did it in 59min 15 secs. I was so happy to have done it under the hour mark, now it's just a matter of maintaining that time or getting better.
