First Ever 10k

After Llanrwst I started working full time – a first since 2005. On the Friday night I stayed up until stupid o’clock, like a mother hen watching Matt Malloy home safe in the World's from The Gold Coast.

Sunday morning my alarm went at 5:15 and I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow. I had pins and needles in my hands and feet, every bone in my body ached and I knew there was no way I’d make Bala for 6:45 to marshal. I reset the alarm for another hour banking on feeling better. It didn’t happen. I sent a text to one of the other girls marshalling for Wrecsam Tri with my apologies and slept soundly until 10:30 and felt fit as a fiddle. No explanations, no repercussions I have no idea why my body wouldn’t function but it wouldn’t.

This week I’ve pretty much stuck to the plan but was dreading this morning’s attempt at the 10k that I will race in 2 weeks time.

Legs felt like lead by the time I got to the end of our road and I started contemplating the cut backs. I intended to do this 10k last year and ended up doing the Fun Run with the kids instead. I’ve withdrawn from 2 of the 3 Tri’s I’ve entered this year and that’s when the “bloody well run Lynne” kicked in. I found 2 loops really difficult but by talking to myself and convincing myself I have run longer I did it. With a negative split to boot. (6 minutes slower than the person who was last in 2008)

Legs were a tad sore and I was extremely grateful I’d had the foresight to book an hour’s sports massage.

The thing is now I’ve run 10K, I’ve run this 10K and I will never not be able to do it again.

Llanrwst

There’s nothing like an event to motivate you even if you’re not competing.

I’ve been putting off increasing my run distance for no other reason than I’m a whimp. Saturday was a case of bite the bullet or I’d never be ready for the 10k.. Decided to do the 5 miler that used to kill me. Lots of options and excuses to cut back early. Once I started not finishing was not an option. It wasn’t easy but really can’t understand why I used to struggle.

Sunday was Llanrwst. I was on marshal duty on the railway crossing in the morning with a lovely Carneddau Tri Club member called Harri. We had such a good laugh and it was great to see the huge difference in speed and talent

It was a bit of a rush to T2 to time the finish from 11:15 onwards. I love marshalling but this has got to be my favourite task to date. It was extremely exciting to be able to shout so many familiar faces home.

Andy Campbell from Wrecsam Tri won overall with Adrian Leonard second. Rhian Roxburgh was third beating her husband Simon by a second.

I had a chat with the partner of one of the Wrecsam Tri guys. She’d done the Llyn Brennig 10 miler the day before. Her confession was the longest she’d ever run before was 10k and we both came to the conclusion the mind is often what holds us back, rather than the body.

I have always said I CAN’T do speed work. On Monday I tentatively dipped my toe in. OK I ran round the football pitch and added some quick goal lines with the touchline as recovery. For me that’s a big step in the right direction.

Discussing my Offa’s Dyke plans with my brother he said he’d always wanted to climb Snowdon. We’re doing it with the kids October half term.

Weight wise there was a whole week’s menus in the Slimming World magazine with a shopping list. I used it for my Tesco shop. Sticking religiously to their meals is not practical but having the healthy ingredients as staple store cupboard items has allowed me to plan much better. I was quite disappointed with only a 1 ½ pound loss but it’s a step in the right direction.

I felt rather proud and smug too when talking to so many people at Llanrwst who confessed they had yet to do an event. In a perverse kind of way I’m also quite proud that my “longest ever” course record remains intact.

Big, big thanks to Rhian, Simon & Emyr for a fabulous well organised event. Next year the aim is to comete and marshal. Look out Mrs Roxburgh you have competition

I Have A Dream

I Have A Dream...
Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:52 pm LynneE

Training is ticking over quite nicely thank you very much.

Not doing a lot, not sticking to the plan but I’m happy with 3 or 4 sessions a week.

Back in Slimming World. Not doing too well. I have honestly written down everything I’ve eaten and drunk over the last 2 ½ weeks. It makes very interesting (and highly unpleasant) reading.

Loving the new job. Start full time on Monday which means I’m going to have to be highly organised over shopping and meal planning which should help. Cait’s decided she wants to be a vegetarian which I haven’t got a problem with. I’ve found some great veggie ideas. It’s just a case of getting the balance right for Jim who’s a huge meat lover.

As some of you may know, when Daz posted his Offa’s Dyke thread, I offered logistical support for North Wales.

What did I know about Offa’s Dyke? Very little actually. There’s a pub about 8 miles from here called The Offa’s Dyke so I knew it must be about somewhere. The path is less than 5 miles away from my house I’m ashamed to say and it took Daz’s little jaunt to bring it to my attention.

I have no spacial awareness, no sense of direction and am completely crap at following a map/directions so made my husband come with me to find the rendez vous point. It was at the foot of Moel Fammau a “mountain” I’ve climbed hundreds of times from when I was a child but not so often recently. I was totally shocked when Mark said he’d never been there before. We’ve been together 7 years and he lived in Mold for 2 years before that.

My mission over the next 12 months is to “walk” the 177 miles of the Offa’s Dyke path. It’s too close and too beautiful not to. I have no illusions that it will be easy and I don’t want to say how many sessions it will take me. I have a great deal of research to do before I formulate a plan. Maybe I’ll wait until the spring before I go on my first walk but I will do it.

Good luck to everyone at the Vit this weekend.

I will be on marshal duty at Llanrwst on Sunday. Really looking forward to it and rather sad I’m not competing but… the night before last year I wasn’t competing either but I finished it – with the hangover from hell. Let’s hope good sense prevails this year.

Oh and I've just got to put this in here too - I'm so proud. Cait took to GCSE's early and got an A in both English and Science

It's Been A While....

And where has the time gone and what have I done?

I’ve ticked over with my training.

Withdrew from the Deva Diva’s because wouldn’t have made any impact on last year’s performance. Withdrew from Llanrwst because it’s full and there are people desperate to do it so I’ve given my place to Epasce from Wrecsam Tri.

The problems with swallowing and chest pains got even worse. I was given a rapid referral for an Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (a camera down my throat). Despite rational brain telling me it was nothing to worry about, overactive imagination had convinced me it was cancer of the oesophagus. My ex husband’s Dad died of this and my symptoms were remarkably similar plus researching it on this wonderful tinternet had me almost ordering my coffin. (Yup I know drama queen!)

The procedure itself wasn’t nearly as bad as expected (I did take Mrs Mash’s advice and have sedation.) They told me then and there that I had a massive hiatus hernia and a polyp in my stomach. Armed with super strength acid resistant esomeprazole and a leaflet advising losing weight, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, hot and spicy, fatty and fried food and eating late at night my symptoms are much improved.


I took the 3 kids down to Pembrokeshire last week. Pictures on Face Book http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97208&id=552901858&l=20fbd4189f Last year I struggled with a hilly loop. Despite putting on a good stone and a half I shocked myself by running it – not easily but not having to walk. I have retained quite a lot of my fitness.

Job wise I was invited to apply for a full time and permanent job in a different department. It was a really weird interview because I knew both the girls who interviewed me but it was a formal situation. As usual I talked too much and thought I’d blown it. They let me know last week I got the job. Can carry on part time until the kids go back to school in September. I am really chuffed that I won’t be looking for a job in November when the girl I’m covering comes back from maternity leave but I will be so sad to leave the crowd I work with now (I’m moving to Accounts Receivable – in the next room!)

As with everything Lynne related topsy turvy, upside down and back to front the training starts here. I want to run “The Borders” league which starts in October. I want to do The Village Bakery Half (February). I wish Bala Middle and Standard were the other way round. I need an Oly early season and the BIG plan is a HIM before the end of next season.

Bala Middle 2009

Alarm goes off at 5:15. Can’t quite work out what day it is, where I am or why I’m so tired. Then the penny drops and I’m up like a lark. Forecast was good but it’s still difficult to know what to pack. So I wore a running vest with a T shirt over and my hi vis and took my Tri Talk cycling jersey, plus a hoodie, plus a fleece, plus waterproofs (have I ever mentioned I used to be a Girl Guide)

Absolutely glorious morning. Great roads over the moors and then the views of the mist over the fields. It’s as if the clouds have come down to kiss the earth and forgotten when to stop.




Arrived at the leisure centre and parked up. There was no one stopping cars coming in so I talked myself into that job then moved my car lakeside when the cavalry arrived.




Managed a quick chat to Doonhamer and then off to registration.

Was allocated body marking which is just about one of the best jobs. Never had so many blokes drop their trousers for me! (Transition Ted refused!). It was very interesting to see so many fantastic tattoos. It was also interesting to see so much scar tissue! KennyBoy introduced himself and then it was outside.

My absolute idol the amazing Rhian Roxborough asked “lil old me” to do her up. Exciting stuff.




Managed to see the first two waves off before assisting with the counting out of the swim which for me consisted of shouting well done’s and attempting to take pictures. Even though I knew a lot of competitors quite well it is difficult to recognise them in wetsuits with goggles and swimming hats. Rhian had a fantastic swim.

There was just time to grab a quick bite to eat (can highly recommend the pasta from the organic van) and then back to transition to shout the bike out. A bit eerie is transition without any bikes. We weren’t plagued by magpies this year but crows and a very nice family of ducks.






The first TriTalker back was poet. It was announced over the tannoy that he was in transition. I watched waiting to give the shout out. Couldn’t quite work out what he was doing but it included eating, drinking, stretching, kissing someone through the fence. I was gutted. I thought he’d had a DNF and then next thing he flies out like a rocket. Left me a bit speechless!

Rhian was back quick but with another lady hot on her heals.

Tim B comes in and I get my phone out. I’m a bit prone to pressing the button too late so this time I erm.. pressed it too early.




Transition Ted’s in and out pretty smartish then Reproman comes in and I’m screaming at him – tell you what matey you need to go to specsavers – they do hearing tests there now.

Lance my wonderful swim coach comes in and is suffering badly with cramp. I really thought he wasn’t going to start the run but he did.

Good to be able to hear the finishing results. Really disappointed that Rhian’s not first lady, then she’s not second either. Eventually she comes in 5th and has to be supported by Rocky through transition. She sustained the injury at 2 miles into the run and should have quit but in true Tri style didn’t.

Moved from transition to the run finish mostly to watch the finishers but ended up stopping pedestrians when runners were coming in.

Fabulous day. Fantastic effort by ALL who competed. Very nice to be thanked by so many. Highlight of the day was a hug off a lady who I stopped going onto the run with her helmet on.

I really want to do this next year.

Posted On Tri Talk Sunday 7 June

I'll be back
Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:30 pm LynneE

Looking at my last entry “things can’t get any worse?” Erm yup they can.

Not blogged because not done much. Mark’s been back and to, to Chesterfield. When he’s been away I couldn’t train (practicalities of looking after Morgan) and when he’s been home I didn’t want to train.

His Dad passed away on Friday. I decided I was giving up Triathlon as I can’t do the OW session this afternoon and I have no idea when Mark’s coming back so what’s the point?

I wrote probably the hardest letter I will ever have to write yesterday to his Mam. It was the kick up the @rse that I’ve needed. Mike, Mark’s Dad fought so hard against real obstacles, Parkinson’s a brain tumour and here’s pathetic old me giving up just because I’ve missed a few weeks training.

I may not be his blood relative but he taught me a lot – don’t know when but “I’ll be back”

And just in case anyone’s interested my tribute to a great man is on my Life of Lynne Blog. Michael Edward Evans 1.10.37-5.6.2009 Rest In Peace

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