What has happened to Summer

Summer is supposed to be here today, but it seems we have had the wettest introduction to Summer since the 1940's. Just what I need really when all I want is to get out and ride my bike in the sun. Spring was absolutely glorious and now, all there is everywhere you look is grey clouds filled with rain. Really I shouldn't complain as being on tank water, the more it rains the less water we have to buy. It's just that it interferes so badly with everything and the one thing I find challenging is the indoor trainer. But if it has to be done, it has to be done.

So that's exactly what I did yesterday. 90 minutes worth of indoor trainer and some interval training thrown in and I was done. Lucky the one thing that is good about the trainer is that you get to watch something interesting on TV. The 38kms didn't feel too bad at all. I still got a decent workout and was dripping sweat by the time I finished - not too shabby at all I might say.

With more rain forecasted for the remainder of the week I knew it would be a fingers crossed moment for track yesterday evening. Obviously swimming is never affected as you can pick and choose whether you want to go indoors or not - which is what I did. Yesterdays swim set was tough but I am glad I got it done. It really opened my eyes as how fit I am and how much more I have got to give - there's still alot more in this little engine.

• 300m Warm up
• 12 x 25m sprints leaving on 45 secs. I did them all on 15secs
• 6 x 100ms - first 25m hard then rest easy. All done around 1:20.
• 1km time trial 15:05
• 2 mins rest
• 500m time trial 7:27
• 1 min rest
• 500m time trial 7:23
• 300m cool down.

The only difference doing this set next week will that be it might be a bit slower as this yesterday I swam short course. More tumbleturns indicates more rest but also more pushoffs, so next weeks times I think will be slightly more accurate.

So with track cancelled I thought maybe it would be a night of rest - but that was not to be. I got an email from my coach stating that it would be good should the rain hold out to do a 40minute run with 6 x 1min intervals at race pace with a 2min recovery jog inbetween. So, that's what I did. This is hard work. 7.6km, 41 mins, and a few stomach cramps later I was done. I even did it in the rain - how's that for commitment. Intervals in the pool and on a bike I can deal with but running intervals are hard, hard, hard. Especially because when I do the recovery run all I want to do is walk I am that out of breath. I didn't walk apart from at the 5km mark when my lower abdo cramps got the better of me and I then succumbed to the walk gods for maybe 50m's, but no sooner did they relent I was off running again.

Then last night in my infinate wisdom I decided to do something that would challenge me. A couple of posts back I stated how I have a fear of the open water - well yesterday I signed up for the Sydney Morning Herald "Cole Classic". Yep, I have signed up for the Open Water 2km swim in my age category. I must be totally bonkers or totally driven to not let these open water swim monsters beat me. A slightly scary thought but I figured there will be thousands of other swimmers so chances of me being picked out as a tasty morsel is fairly remote. I also have my own fundraising page http://www.everydayhero.com.au/barbara_hughes_2, I will be raising money for NETS (Newborn Emergency Transport Service). Whatever spare cash you have would be greatly appreciated as this team of nurses, doctors and specialists are true gems.

Stay tuned for a special blog post on one of my friends this afternoon.