Absorb it all.

The last couple of days have been slightly hectic in Barbie World. With training, family, housework and life in general - I have not had much of a chance to just sit and smell the roses, but wouldn't have it any other way really. The one chance I did get was Wednesday morning, when I went to my best friends sister's home. We spent about an hour and a half just chit chatting over a cuppa and then taking a tour through her beautiful home. R & L are the nicest couple, really genuine people. And their home is just to die for - almost like something out of a Better Homes and Garden Magazine - actually I even think I suggested that they should get professional shots done and have it entered in one of their competitions.

They do all the gardening and landscaping themselves and once I show you the photos you will see just how beautiful yet totally relaxing the garden is for the visitor. Everywhere I looked was just beautiful, there was such an abundance of flowers and plants all doing their very best to try to out-show the other during Spring. Being in this garden made me appreciate all of life's little pleasures as my every sense was tantalised with beautiful aromas, textures, sights, sounds but most of all the sense of inner calm.

Modern day Secret Garden

Everywhere you looked was beauty.

Like stepping back in time.

Even the birds have a majestic view.

Sometimes it's the little things that make you thankful.

After spending a relaxing moment at R's it was time to head back home, I asked Susan if we could go the way I had ridden on Sunday just so I could see the enormity of the hills. I have never, ever been so gobsmacked as I was Wednesday. As Susan drove, I just kept looking back at the hill we were driving down and could not believe that I had ascended through that area. Wow, this was truly a moment of clarity. I am capable of almost anything.

That night I had track work and I felt better than last week thank goodness. This week it was all about focusing on form - especially when we were getting tired. I really am trying but it just still feels so very foreign. Our main set was a pyramid - 200m, 400m, 600m, 800m, 600m, 400m, 200m. I tried to maintain every 200m on about 1min. Inbetween each set we got about 30 secs break which was plenty this week - I felt really quite recovered and with enough strength to maintain it for the next set.

No sooner had we finished the main set and it was time yet again for another TT 1km. As I took off Sarah and I set off on a fairly good tempo. We held this for atleast 900m and then picked it up for the last 100m stretch. As I crossed the line and fell to the ground in exhaustion I heard the coach yell out a time and was sure he said 4:57. I was so bummed - how could I feel so tired and felt like I had given it my all and have crossed the line slower than my last PB of 4:50. But then Sarah walked over to me and said "how was that? " I said "7 secs slower than my last PB". She then said "what was your last PB", I said "4:50". She looked at me and smiled and said "well, you just did 4:47". WHAT!!!!! Instantly, my exhaustion disappeared and I jumped off the grass, which by the way was making me itchy as hell, and jumped around like a lunatic. I was soooooooooo happy. Another PB by 3 secs. This I could get used too.

And I know I have worked hard because my body aches like crazy today. Hammies, glutes, calves. Even my abs are sore - so much so I have to brace my abdomen when I sneeze. I also had to cut my swim session short by 800m yesterday as I kept cramping. So today it is off for an hour bike ride, nice and easy to see if I can shunt some of this lactic acid off. I have a sprint Tri tomorrow afternoon and not quite sure how I am going to make it should my legs get worse. Sitting still is just making them tighter.