Close call.

Yesterday was another tough session in the pool as it called for another 3.5km, with the 500m sets. I do feel though that I am getting better at the longer sets and seem to fall into a good pattern of breathing by about the second 500m. The first 500m always feels like a bit of a hard slog but once that initial warm-up is done it feels better.

I also had some sprints in there as well just to see if I had some left in the tank, and surprisingly I did. I have noticed that my shoulders are starting to get broad again, like when I was younger. I was a really skinny kid but had these very broad shoulders and my ballet teacher was always making me choose between swimming and ballet. Guess what I chose? Yep, you guessed it, I am a fish at heart.

So here is my session:

• 400m Warm up
• 6 x 50m Drills with 15 sec rest
• 4 x 500m. 1st 100m hard then the rest aerobic
• 8 x 50m Odds hard, evens easy on 50 secs
• 400m Cool down of choice - I chose kick with fins.

Those last 50's were hard and my times weren't to different from the easy to hard. I was kind of finishing them all on about 35-40 secs. When I finished up with it all and was heading to the change rooms my right ear started to ache. Not a piercing earache but rather a deep nagging pain that branched down into my neck. And as the day progressed it got worse to the point that I was feeling slightly deaf in that ear. The glands all on that side of my neck were tender to the touch, so I took some Nurofen, got a gentle neck rub and applied some heat. And this morning - hey presto, all gone. I know it's quite common to get sick when you are in training but I didn't want it to happen so early on in the piece - so I am very relieved that it has subsided.

Next on the program called for another 4km run. I chose to do it early this morning and I have decided that early morning runs are on the list for me. I felt so alive and my breathing was not at all laboured like it has been. It was cool but not too cold and there was just the right amount of humidity to make it okay on the lungs. There was one point at about the 3km mark where I was starting to get a bit tired and my favourite song came on "I am a woman" by Gabrielle Cilmi and it spurred me on and made my last bit feel effortless again.

I followed this up with a 1hr spin class and boy did this hurt. I could tell I hadn't been to a spin class in a while. And the fact that it was a new program didn't help one bit. The 3rd last song was one continuous hill climb with no recovery at all. You were either up and out of the saddle pushing hard or climbing that hill seated. It was murder but I kept repeating to myself - if you can climb the hills at Kiama you sure as hell can do this. And that is what I did. I drank 1.2litres of water during this session - I was dripping like a leaky faucet.

Needless to say when I got home I had a much deserved shower. One thing I have also noticed since upping my training is that my veins in my arms and hands are becoming much more pronounced. Not sure if it's a look I like but I think it may only get worse. What do you think?
I thought I should also post a photo of my Tri Club. Take a look at yours truly - eye's shut. What a doofus.

I LURV PANTHERS TRI CLUB.

The rains are here

The weather has been getting gradually warmer and alot more humid, so it really was just a matter of when- not if it would rain. I have noticed it especially on my last two runs. I leave the house looking all fresh and fine and come back looking like a drowned rat.

This morning I went out a little early, not long after the kids left for school and it was so hard to breathe. I could make out a bit of a haze in the air and knew that the air was thick with moisture. I will need to remember to take my inhaler with me for all my runs from now on - just in case.

My program called for a 25min aerobic run today. Jodie wants me to be able to speak the whole way through my runs for now. I find talking to myself slightly embarrasing and a little one sided really. So instead I choose to sing songs. I can still keep track of my breathing that way and find it far more distracting then listening to my feet pound on the bitumen.

I am still wearing my SLS3 compression socks and really don't know what I ever did without them. My lower legs feel absolutely awesome when I wear them and I don't have that soreness and fatigue afterwards. I guess that's what they are meant to do, but I just guessed that maybe it was all a big gimic. Turns out they work so well on me I now want another pair but in black now.

The rains started this afternoon but only lasted briefly. So it is now even more humid BLAH. Predictions for summer in Australia are wet, hot and humid. Will be a challenging training season for me, but what doesn't kill me will only make me stronger. Atleast that what I keep telling myself.

Started with a bang.

Week 2 has been an eventful week so far and we are only on Tuesday. I am starting to think that this feeling of tiredness will be a part of me for a while, atleast that is till my body gets accustomed to the workload and the new stresses I am putting on it.

Yesterday had me doing 2 sessions in the one day. And in hindsight I should have started earlier but kids were not starting school till today. So I headed out for my 4km run at around 1pm and even though it was cloudy, the bitumen was hot and the steam from the previous night's rainfall was rising up and I was hot. Sweaty and hot. Not the most pleasant situation but I figure we are heading into the warmer months so i just need to get used to it.

Later that evening I went to the local pools and did my swim session. Remind me never to go in the afternoon again. There were swim squads everywhere. So I had to do my 3.6km session in the lane which held the big boys from the Tri Club. It wasn't until I was almost finished my set that the lanes started to become empty.

Here was my session:

• 300m Warm up
• 6 x 50m Drills 15 sec rest
• 8 x 50m Hard on 1 min
• 4 x 100m Tempo on 1 min
• 2 x 200m Easy on 3:30
• 1 x 400m TT with 2 mins rest afterwards. I did it on 6:10
• 2 x 200m Easy on 3:30 with pullbouy
• 4 x 100m Tempo on 1:40
• 8 x 50m Fins (25m easy, 25m hard)
• 200m cooldown
• 3.6km Done and Dusted.

Today when I woke up it was the same ol' same ol'. Kids back at school so the usual rush in the morning began. Hubby got them off to school and I prepared myself for my 2hr aerobic bike ride. In this ride I needed to do 8 x 2min Zone 4 efforts with 5 mins recovery inbetween. This was hard. Everytime I was ready to do effort I would encounter a hill or a long slow insignificant rise which made it all the more harder. But I did it.

I also managed to ride this all on the main road on my own. One thing I noticed that is very different from riding on the weekend to the weekday, is how impatient drivers are. I had 2 trucks turn left right in front of me as I was cruising down a hill. I literally had to slam my breaks on - boy did I let them have it. Where is their brain?

So anyway, I rode 50km in just under 2 hrs and was happy with my effort. I rewarded myself with a beautiful hot shower and loads of stretching as my left knee was starting to hurt and click a little. I think my ITB is getting a bit tight.

Bring on tomorrow.

Kicking back.

Yesterday was my designated day off from training and it was such a welcome change of pace. On Saturday after heading back from Kiama I went for another swim session with Top Notch Performance and Health which put my swim total for the week at 10.2km. The last time I had done that sort of distance, I was a child in the senior swim squad. I am pleased though as my body seems to be responding nicely.

The swim session was 3.1km long with the main set consisting of a 500m, 400m, 300m, 200m, 100m with roughly a 2 minute break inbetween. Doesn't sound to tough only that we did it as a handicap race and yep, you guessed it I started last. My job was to try and catch them all before they finished the distance.

The 500m saw me starting with a 75m deficit and I managed to get two of the other swimmers but just couldn't quite get the other. In the 400m and 300m I had a 50m deficit and caught them all. Kind of fun really - It reminded me of the games we used to play as children at the pools during training. In the 200m I had a 30m deficit and got them all but it was a tough challenge. The fastest guy saw me coming at the 150m turn and decided to start up his legs and I battled him all the way to the end - and just pipped him at the post. He was cramping bad though so he opted out of the last 100m and went to go stretch with Erin who was also cramping bad. I hate cramping.

So it was up to me and one other. With a 25m deficit I knew it was going to be tough and I just needed to stay focused on keeping my legs moving at a good momentum and staying strong through the shoulders. At the 40m mark I finally reached him and it was time to slam it home. DONE. A tough but fun set was accomplished. I thought I would be more tired but I seem to be recovering really well inbetween. I have my breath back within 20 secs of each set and am good to go. Feels like the old days.

Yesterday being a rest day I did just that apart from go pick up the new clubs uniform. I would have just loved to purchase it all but my poor husband will disown me if I spend anymore money. So, I ordered the Tri jersey and nicks and arm warmers. What do you think?

Yes I am a total dag. I absolutely love my uniform. I love the material, how it fits, the design, you name it. But most of all I love the colours. It totally matches with Aaliyah. She is gun metal grey, red, black and white. Seems like I was meant to be a part of this club. We also got a group photo so when I get a copy I will post a photo of all my friends from the club on here.

So today is Monday, and with that I start Week 2. Wish me luck.

Oh boy, that's all I can say.

Well, today was the day. A memorable day. An epic day for many reasons.

1. I met a bunch of great people
2. I conquered some of the biggest hills that I have ever seen
3. I realised my strength/weakness as a fairly new cyclist
4. I need to give myself more credit
5. I clocked my fastest downhill speed to date
6. I want to retire here

Upon arriving at the local Fire Station here at Kiama at 0815hrs, 15 mins early as usual I was half contemplating turning around and going home. Not because I was worried about meeting up with everyone but simply because I wasn't sure if I was really ready to do this. You see the FireStation is situated at the top of that hill that I showed you the picture of and I knew deep down that this hill was going to be the one I would have to tackle. But soon after I arrived, another cyclist turned up and it was too late to back out. And not too long after that the rest turned up.

They are all the nicest group of people you could ever meet. They really took me under their wing and made sure I was well looked after. I was even happy to hang on the back of the line but they told me to hang up with the group so as to make sure I wouldn't get left behind.

Pretty soon we made our way onto the Motorway and we were riding along the coast weaving in and out of the local 'burbs'. The sights were just divine.
I was never short of someone to talk to along the way. They would keep dropping back to have a chat and ask how I was going, how I found out about the group, where I was from. They were so welcoming and made me feel like I had been truly accepted into their community.
As the ride continued I found myself venturing further into the hillside. This is truly the most majestic landscape ever. I almost didn't feel like I was in Australia anymore, more like I was in Ireland or some other pristine countryside. It was just hills, hills and more green hills with loads of cows everywhere. Jerseys, Murray Greys, Belted Galloways, Freesians - you name it, the hills had it. Even the air changed aroma - from a cool salty sea breeze to the beautiful aroma's you would either love or hate from the countryside.

At the beginning of the ride I had decided that I would not do the massive hills but as the ride continued and we reached the roundabout that would decide whether you went the less hillier route or the scary hill route I chose to ride with the pack and see what I was made of. I was scared that I would not make it and make a total fool of myself, but there is no other way to find out then to just do it. So with that said I was faced with the first mammoth task. The next lot of photo's were taken from the car. I asked my husband if we could drive the route so I could take photo's to show you because there was no way I could take photos and struggle up these hills.


This hill went on for what seemed like forever. Just when I thought it was nearly finished we turned another corner and there was more. My legs were just trying to turn over and it was I must say very hard. I even had to stop at the halfway point just to regain my breath and take my inhaler. After a couple of minutes I was fine and managed to drag my sorry behind up the remainder of this hill. The upside to every hill that you climb is the downside and at one point my speedo clocked 60km/hr. I was flying and the others were flying so much faster. They are so much braver and stronger than me - I am in total awe of their strength and grit.

The next couple of hills probably weren't as bad in steepness value, but they just seemed to go on forever. The good thing was that everytime I got to the top there was someone there waiting for me. Not that I was ever left alone on any stretch of the ride. I always had someone riding behind me or to my side giving me words of encouragement.

The last hill had me seeing stars. One of them told me it was a 16% gradient hill. It was just insane - the next photos are snap shots along the way up taken in the car. Note the white car we were following even had to pull over for a rest.



When I finally made it to the top they were all congratulating me for having accomplished a really tough ride. I felt like I had just accomplished my 70.3. But the best was still to come - COFFEE.

After 2hrs 45mins and 63km of riding I finally got to stop and enjoy a wonderful long black at the Kiama Lighthouse Coffee Shop. My coffee has never ever tasted so good. It was also a good chance to chat with them all without feeling totally stuffed and short of breath.

I also got to do a little networking with one of the riders Denise who is the sole distributor of Chamois Butt'r. I will definately be testing this product out for my sore hinny.

I would like to send out a sincere thankyou to you all for your kind nature and welcoming hearts. I will definately be coming back and hooking up for more rides in the future. You guys rock.

Toughy.

I knew last night when I went to bed that the following morning would see me doing something I haven't done in a while in the pool. I was going to be looking straight down the barrel of a few hard, long sets, and as a sprinter - I knew I would struggle. But if this is what my 70.3 training session was saying I was going to have to do, then so be it. I was going to have to suck it up buttercup.

I woke up this morning and fuelled up adequately before making my way up to the Leisure Centre. And as I started on my 400m warmup I already found myself thinking of ways to cut my long sets short. The distance as a whole didn't have me worried but I know how much mental toughness is needed for long sets. So trying hard to ignore the negative thoughts I just focused on doing one set at a time.

• 400m Fr/s Warm up
• 6 x 50m Drills - 15sec rest
• 4 x 500m Fr/s - 100m hard then the rest aerobic
• 8 x 50m Fr/s - Odds hard, evens easy
• 400m Cooldown. I chose Br/s kick.
• Total - 3.5km

Now that I have done it, I have realised that I do not give myself any credit whatsoever. And although it was tough, I am tougher. I know that when I encounter this set next week, the only tough challenge I will now face will be to do it in a faster time. And by that I mean, doing it faster than an hour. This means shorter breaks inbetween sets and setting myself a slightly faster tempo.

After the swim my husband shouted me to an hour long massage. Need I say I almost fell fast asleep on numerous occasions. I know I keep saying that I need to do this more often, but I really do need to make this a fortnightly ritual. The muscles in my shoulders feel like they are made of concrete and at times I feel like my shoulders are up near my ears.

Tomorrow is group ride with the locals. Am I scared? Yes. I don't want to make a fool of myself.

Get a load of them hills.

As promised, here are some pictures of the hills in the area.

I am not sure if you can make out the top of the hill but it is right up there I promise. And this hill is probably not on my list of to do's while I am here. My fear would be that I would get half way up and then start rolling backwards in some uncontrollable fashion. But I did manage the next hill:

For which my gluteus maximus is still paying the price for. I was almost halfway up and the little bugger of a devil got on my shoulder and told me to stop, but I am lucky that I am very good at ignoring annoying things. The next photo is of the other side of this hill:

This photo really does not do it's steep decent any justice whatsoever but it's even slightly unnerving going down it in the car. the next photo is one I think I am climbing on Friday with the locals:
If you can focus your gaze right on the very last white car that hill continues for atleast another kilometre further down - and I will be expected to ride it. It will be a huge task but I am looking forward to the challenge.

This morning I continued with my 70.3 training and did another 4km run. It still feels hard and I think the more tired my body becomes the harder it will become. But I am also hoping that my body will somehow become accustomed to the increase in workload and do me proud.

On a lighter note we all went fishing today and caught 4 fish, but they were too small and subsequently had to get thrown back in. But the kids were happy.

The look of concentration on Taillah's face is hilarious. She was so determined to catch one and she finally did - a Leather Jacket. I was happy just watching them and putting the bait on the hooks.

Tomorrow is another 3.5km swim session and a well deserved massage. Can't wait.