Festivities Over

Hellooooo! I’m back!

Nothing to report! And I mean nothing. I’ve done nothing.

Shopped at 6am rather than train. Spent time wrapping presents instead of training. Played on the Wii instead of training. Consumed far too much food and drink. Too scarred to get on the scales.

Hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas. We’ve had a fantastic time.

Turkey’s all gone (we had beef but scrounged some from my Mum and brother). Nut’s are all eaten. Taken all the booze to my brother’s. Don’t eat chocolate so that’s not a problem.

Back in work today and working full time (it’s going to kill me!)

Knocked the half on the head – can’t get myself too stressed over not being able to do it. (will however run the course before the event – probably will take me 3 hours but hey ho!)

17 weeks to Chirk – written the plan – onwards and upwards.

And… I ran this morning. Felt absolutely fantastic. Cannot believe I have missed this wonderful feeling for 3 weeks!

Oh yes and I believe my blog’s been hijacked. I would never, ever, ever contemplate an Ironman – would I? A moment of complete madness!

Blame Sue

Blame Sue
Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:14 am LynneE


I’ve read some great things about Sue this week. About the support and encouragement she always gives to newcomers on TT. To all of you who have never met Sue – all I can say is the support you get in the forum is nothing to what you get in the flesh. Before I met Sue my ultimate ambition was to complete a Sprint. I’ve done 3. Entered a half marathon, pencilled in to do Bala oly in September and ultimate ambition is to do Bala Middle 2010. I have never wanted to do an Ironman. I swore I would never think about an Ironman. I have too many family commitments to train for an Ironman . IMUK Bolton… It’s too close not to think about. 2009 is definitely too short notice but… if I could do an Oly early in 2009 and a half late on then IMUK Bolton would be a distinct possibility for 2010. Running with Sue and the girls this week I was whinging “Sue I can’t do this! My legs are too heavy.” I wanted sympathy. I wanted “It’s ok turn back.” What I got was “They’ll feel far heavier after the bike so get used to it! “ Tough love yup but I walked less and finished 5 miles 5 minutes quicker. Thanks Sue

Blame The Weather (NOT)

Blame The Weather (NOT)
Sun Dec 07, 2008 3:41 pm LynneE


Monday – by the time I’d de-iced the car was too late to go to the gym Tuesday - 40 mins gym bike Wednesday – due to run with Sue – frozen pavements and black ice so bottled it ( Sue still ran which kind if proves why’s she’s an ironman and I’m not, or never will be!) Thursday – forgot to reset my alarm Friday- same as Thursday Saturday – made a conscious decision to finish the Christmas shopping rather than train So a pathetic week at the time I cant afford a pathetic week. Other things that have been going on.. (and no they’re not excuses!) Cough and cold getting worse instead of better so decided to give in and got some antibiotics. Tuesday my friend Lesley fell on black ice in her work’s car park and cracked her head. Wednesday hubby slipped on ice on our back path and had a mega panic because if he had been seriously injured Morgan would have been “home alone” Wednesday night had a discussion with Lesley about a local by-pass. It’s 3 lanes and I hate three lanes. The previous week I followed a car, obviously a stranger to the area who crawled at 30mph. OK his choice but a motorbike and car chose to overtake us both. Still no great problem until the 30 mph car decided to do a U turn half way down where there was a lay by. If we were being overtaken at this stage the consequences would have been dire. On Friday, not realising there was black ice I braked and slid into the path of a cement mixer fortunately stopping with inches to spare. On Friday afternoon an elderly couple were killed at the spot me and Lesley had been talking about. Another 2 people are seriously injured and a 17 year old has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. 10 weeks to my “A” race I’m miles, literally, behind schedule so I can either give up now or… Decided the hilly route I did with Sue is well lit so there’s nothing to stop me running it in the mornings (no excuses for de-icing my car.) So if I drop the swim until after Christmas add an extra run and only do 2 shortish gym bike sessions I should be back on track. Did an interval 5k this morning on ice so there’s a start.

The 2009 Plan

The 2009 Plan
Sat Nov 29, 2008 5:52 pm LynneE


Apologies again it's long Before anyone gets mightily impressed with what you’re about to read – I can’t take the credit – it’s mostly Sue’s. 2009 I’ve 2 main A races, the half marathon in February and Bala Standard (oly) in September. Both new to me. The other races. Chirk, Diva Divas and Llanrwst are just for measuring improvement. I’ve come to the conclusion (due a lot to Wiganers blog) that I can’t continue the training on a wing and a prayer there has to be a plan. So until February each week 3 runs, 2 bikes and 1 swim. After Feb can review but will only need 2 runs since will have the running and distance in legs from half marathon training so can concentrate on bike and swim. Enough time to increase their distances for Bala in September. Runs 1 long endurance run 1 hilly run for strength and muscular work (4-6 miles) 1 paced run (so not teaching myself to run slow 3-5miles n the treadmill ) Was looking at increasing long run by 10mins a week but to do 3 weeks then back off a week to avoid injury am going to have to increase by more than 10mins to be ready for half Bike will try for an outdoor longer ride if weather permits. Again endurance thinking increasing distance for Sept Bala. 1 on static bike, need to see what it does to mix and match hill training with intervals. Swim could wait till after Feb but some would keep me ticking over bearing in mind need to increase distance for Bala. So between now and half, concentrating on run. Then can review after half for next lot of training. Entered the half to give me focus for the winter but really think it was the right decision as running was by far my weakest discipline. I am very conscious I will have to put in a lot of bike mileage February onwards and will need to take every opportunity to swim open water. So the plan… Would rather go long in daylight so long run Saturday and long bike on Sunday and if I don't manage long run on Saturday WILL do it on Sunday and drop the long bike and won't beat myself up over it. Wednesdays – an hour hilly with Sue Will use treadmill for speed. Really struggle. I know it's psychological and boredom. Just got to knuckle in there I guess? So... Monday Gym Treadmill 5k TT Tuesday Gym bike Wednesday Run 60mins hilly Thursday Rest Friday Swim Saturday Long Run Sunday Long Bike All of course subject to flexibility. Pretty much stuck to the script except missed the swim and the hilly run was 85mins. The other biggie is Nutrition. I have got to lose 4 ½ stone by April. I’ve identified the benefits of wheat free. I’ve identified the benefits of longer consistent training. Job is great but a mediocre sandwich from the buttie van every day is not good. Will substitute for oatcakes and fruit. Am pretty much into the sensible shopping habit which helps enormously as meals are all planned which reduces temptation. Cold still bad. Tried the liquid beechams. Tried the tablet beechams. Tried the no training. Tried the hard training. Last night tried the ½ bottle of brandy, kill or cure approach. Combined with a particularly frosty long run this morning – might actually be getting somewhere. Suffered with migraine though. Frost and sunshine always trigger one. Plus sunglasses were well steamed up.

A Year On

A Year On
Sat Nov 22, 2008 6:41 pm LynneE


Apologies – it’s long. My hotch potch week started really well. Was at the gym bang on 7 Monday and did a taxing 40mins on the bike. Felt like I’d worked hard. Tuesday the treadmill. I’d forgotten how much I hate it. Started off ay 8.1 and struggled. Heart rate was all over the place spiking at 170 then dropping to 88. Decreased the speed. Held on to the rails and called it a day after half an hour. Wednesday cross trainer. I love it. Don’t feel like I’m working hard at all but love the amount of calories I’d burned. Because I didn’t feel I’d done much didn’t stretch properly and woke up on Thursday with problems with my left leg. Calf and hamstring. Couldn’t work out if it was a pull or just overdoing soreness so had a day off. Friday, still sore so just did a repeat of Monday on the static bike. Found it much easier. Booked an appointment for today for a massage. Morgan woke early this morning and as Mark had been ill last night I had to wait for him to get up to go for a run. Tight calf and hamstring so no real expectations but had planned to run/walk the Borders. Decided to go out really, really slow. If you knew how slow my normal is you’d realise just how slow this was. Got a lot of pain about half a mile out so decided when I got to the end of the road I’d head back . Of course when I got to the end of the road it was better so plodded on. Did a deal that once I got to the top of the first hill I’d head back. Felt great so carry on to where I got to last time and then turn back. Well it’s pretty much flat and downhill after there so I might as well carry on. The further I got the better I felt and absolutely loved the undulations. It’s a good 10k. Took me 82minutes. It’s by far the longest and furthest I’ve ever run. I’ve cracked 10k. I’ve cracked 10k with an injury and a cough and Mark is absolutely delighted I’ve lost my voice again. The job. Fantastic. SAP is a brilliant, user friendly system (and a great addition to my CV). The people are lovely. It’s great to have sensible adult conversation and to be able to discuss what was on telly last night but, I’m damned if I’m going to watch the X Factor or I’m a Celebrity just so I can join in. The only downside is the temperature in the office. It’s like a greenhouse. I was melting. Everyone there’s got coughs and colds so of course by yesterday mine was back with a vengeance. I’ve always said I’d never train with an illness but I’ve already lost 3 weeks and I felt so much better after running this morning and it’s cleared my chest. Weight wise I’ve lost another 4lb this week. No changes apart from upping the training. So now the long bit. Wednesday was my Birthday and apologies for the drivel I posted after a couple of glasses of wine. Amazing really how a couple of glasses affected me, the old Lynne would have needed a couple of bottles A year since I took on this triathlon malarkey and time to reflect just how much it’s changed my life. I’m about 17lb lighter than when I started. I couldn’t run the short sides of a football field. I hadn’t ridden a bike in 30 years and the only swimming I’d done was with the kids. I’ve completed 3 sprints. I have met the most amazing people who have been incredibly generous with their advice and their time. I feel I’ve got to know so many people off Tri Talk who I maybe will never meet but whose advice and inspiration have proved invaluable. I am well aware that my achievements are tiny compared to what others on here have and continue to do. It’s not what I’ve achieved in the last year that I’m looking at. It’s the basis that it’s given me for the rest of my life. I’ve always been a quitter. There is not one single thing I can say I’ve stuck at whether it be dieting, growing my hair, a marriage. When the going got tough Lynne always bailed. For the first time ever I feel as if I’ve got control of my life. I have a new job and today I ran the Borders. Last April the Chairman of Wrecsam Tri asked me to run it. Obviously I wasn’t ready but offered to marshal instead. I was totally intimidated by the standard of runners and decided after that I couldn’t possibly take part in Chirk. I was eventually talked around on the basis the only person I’d be competing against was myself. I vowed then that I would run that route and today I did. I no longer need to race it. I know I can do it. After the second training day of the Deva Diva’s I had a panic because I had seriously struggled to swim 500m in openwater there was no way I was going to be able to add 250m plus bike plus run. Sal, the race secretary made me promise that I’d turn up for the last training day and that she’s swim with me. I ordered a man’s XL £35 jobbie wetsuit from Tesco Direct. Sue twisted my arm to swim in Bala on the Saturday I did the training day on the Sunday – I absolutely loved openwater and had no problem with the distance. Consequently the following week I completed the Diva’s. Llanrwst was a strange one. I had stomach pains for 3 weeks before. Done no training withdrew. The day before hurt my neck so took Tramadol and Diclofenac all day. Then feeling mighty sorry for myself at not competing consumed vast quantities of wine and at 11pm decided sod it I’m going to do it anyway. And I did. Ok I was last but I did it. So triathlon has given me strength of body, strength of mind and a confidence in myself I could never have imagined. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have considered entering a half marathon but I have. Once I’ve run the half the 10k of Bala in September will be a doddle and then all that’s left to do is Bala Middle 2010. Bring It On!

New Job New Start New Me

New Job New Start New Me
Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:33 pm LynneE


What a week! No training for 3 weeks Cough got better. Got caught up in this stupid Zahada – quite the most frustrating and annoying thing I’ve ever done. Shows basically what an obsessive compulsive personality I’ve got. It has helped in many ways though. Made me exercise the grey matter and think of problems from a different perspective. Took my mind off jobs. Registered with yet more agencies. Interview on Thursday went really well. Seems like a really laid back Company. Perfect working arrangements. Flexitime so I can do 4 ½ hours a day term time so I can take and pick up the kids from school and school holidays 3 x 7 ½ hour days so I can have 2 days off with them. The more they told me about the job the more perfect it seemed. The only downside is a 1/3 cut in salary. They let me know 2 hours later that I’d got the job and could start tomorrow. I was absolutely ecstatic. It has taken so much pressure off me. I am extremely fortunate to have any job in this present climate. Decided yesterday, even though I felt much better, that I had to give the house a proper Spring clean. If I’m going to be working 5 days needed to get to a level where I can keep on top of it. Yet another whimp out of training. Due to poor planning the wheat free’s gone out the window. Fortunately I’ve kept off last weeks loss. Have had far too much to drink this week too. Celebrated getting the job on Thursday and a few too many last night too. Was reading Joxter’s thread. OMG that is a scary amount of alcohol Think I’ll give up in the week and then heavy training Saturday and Sunday will mean may partake in one or two on a Sunday night. This morning…no excuses. Raining. The Sue cap trick. If your face doesn’t get wet it’s not raining. So what route? Straight back up to the hour? A swifty 20 mins to break me in gently? Compromised with 5k. Started off at my normal snail’s place. Not good. Legs felt like lead. Lungs were on fire. Did a deal with myself if I could just get to the top of the hill I could cut back. These deals never work. Just another lamppost. Just to the end of the road. Next thing Transition Ted’s beeping his horn and waving at me which makes me speed up and home comes around very quickly. A minute slower than usual but just so pleased to have got back out there. The PC’s died and the grand plan was on it. Engineer not coming out until Tuesday so I’ll have to wing it a bit this week. Monday- Friday Gym 45mins (opens at 7 and have to get back to get the kids to school. Will decide what I’m going to do by who’s there, who’s supervising and how I feel. Saturday run 60 mins. Sunday cycle 90mins. Need to get a swim session in there somewhere but the local pool’s shut for refurbishment so need to sort an alternative. Got a family do on Wednesday so won’t be able to run with Sue again. It’s worked out quite nicely. 13 weeks until the half so a hotch potch this week and then start the real 12 week plan. 13 weeks to get from 5k to a half? I’ve had my illness. I’ve had my injury so as long as I can keep them at bay I am confident.

Magic Weight Loss

Magic Weight Loss
Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:00 am LynneE


When I went to get my back sorted last week Tracey reminded me of a kinseology session I’d had with her last year. It showed up wheat intolerance so I decided the magic weight loss cure would be to cut out wheat. I’ve had no bread, pastry, pasta or pizzas. I have had noodles, silly person that I am thought egg noodles were made from eggs and didn’t realise they contained wheat. So the upshot is I’ve dramatically cut my wheat intake and lost 4lbs. I know it’s not a sustainable amount to lose but it is the kick start I’ve been after for a while. From someone who was constantly hungry, last week I had to be reminded to eat. I haven’t trained for two weeks. My back is pretty much sorted. I decided to run on Saturday, then changed my mind as I thought I’d better edge back in gradually. I walked to the gym. It was shut. I walked back home. When I got back Morgan was awake and it was throwing it down so.. the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Sunday I’d arranged to watch my nephew on parade. I had a totally bazaar experience. I was sick. I don’t just mean felt unwell I had projectile vomit. I didn’t feel ill before. I didn’t feel ill after. Just a totally unexplainable incident. My cold has gone but I’ve still got a cough that is well and truly chesty. Coughing makes my throat sore. I’ve lost my voice( hooray shouts husband!) The coughing is keeping me awake so I am knackered.. Back on the Echinacea for a fortnight me thinks. Realistically loosing this much training time I’m not going to be able to race the borders but I will run it and it just means my half plan won’t need a taper or recovery so that’s got to be good? On the work front decided last Thursday to put the plan into action to tout for business but fortunately or unfortunately the phone began to ring with responses to the numerous jobs I have applied for. There are 7 possibilities in the pipeline at the moment. I’ve had to go in to register with various agencies. It feels very much like a waste of time but I can’t not do it as I don’t know who might be the agency to find me my dream job. I’ve got an interview on Thursday so fingers crossed and… I’m still in the enviable position that Boots and Evans ( that’s the big bird’s clothes, as opposed to bike shop!) are still recruiting seasonal staff,) I was advised yesterday to contact the AAT and CIMA as I may qualify for exemptions because of my experience.