Wednesday, 20 May 2009

TEST

Just want to see if this works whole blog disappeared

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Ups And Downs

Started the week really well and then…

Mark’s dad was taken ill so he had to hotfoot it to Chesterfield. My Mum and Dad agreed to look after Morgan for me to go to work but as I do my training early mornings it has been impossible to do anything.

On the way to my parents Friday night there was an almighty bang. I thought I’d been shot then that a tyre had blown bus realised as I was still driving it was something else. Just before I was about to pull over I noticed a chip in the windscreen about the size of a 50p. My Dad had a look at it and said “are you sure it wasn’t a pellet gun?” I mean how am I supposed to know? I took it for “repair” Saturday morning and the guys were quite shocked. Because it was the top drivers corner and because of the depth of the chip (which had now developed a foot long crack and can’t be repaired and has to be replaced) they thought it highly unlikely a stone from the road would have caused that kind of damage. They suspected that it was either a pellet gun or a stone had been deliberately thrown at me. Off I toddle to the police station and basically they didn’t want to know. They’d had no other reported incidents so there was nothing they could do. My point is, I went in to report this but they didn’t log it so it wasn’t reported. How am I or they to know that someone else hasn’t done the same?

Bought Morgan an electronic dartboard. Got home no darts.

Sunday was helping Jim with his online, maths, angles in parallel lines homework (you cannot imagine how hard I found it – you cant draw “Z” and “F” angles on screen and I ended up looking at them upside down!) anyway Morgan was playing in the bathroom (which is precisely 2 foot from Jim’s room) he’d decided to put the hand towel in the sink and turn on the tap – yup you guessed one flooded bathroom. Later on another flood in the bathroom this time from the toilet but we’re not sure how. We think perhaps the Andrex fairies had paid us a visit. They could also be the same fairies that had drawn all over Morgan’s face in bright orange marker pen!

Mark’s Dad’s still in hospital but he’s stable so Mark came home last night. Looking forward to a better week. It can’t get any worse can it?

Sunday, 10 May 2009

Recovery, Two Sessions In A Day and A Freezing Lake

Well I said I was having a rest and I have for 2 weeks.

I think Saveloy and Sue’s suggestion not to do Chirk were probably right as whilst I was mega chuffed at having done it I really haven’t felt good for the last 2 weeks.

Some big positives to emerge though.

Contacted one of my massager’s other clients, Lance, who is an Ironman and asked him for some swim coaching. Met him last Saturday and after telling him that I was completely crap he asked me to swim. Apparently all my mechanics were there, they just needed some “tweaking.” First thing was such a fundamental pathetic error; keep my fingers together. Doh! Secondly he made me slow right down and breath every other stroke. This made a massive difference and made me about a million times faster. Really kicked myself that I hadn’t got in touch with him sooner.

Got out of the pool and my towel was missing. Checked my locker. Checked the side of the pool. Checked behind the desk. Nothing. Had all the pool attendants check all the lockers, all the cubicles, the toilets – nothing. Was offered one of the staff’s but I declines. I am a triathlete! It’s only like doing a T1!

Last Sunday’s planned bike was cancelled due to literally getting off the toilet and an almighty ping in the bottom of my back. Sitting, standing and lying I was in agony. Bending and stretching were my only relief.

Out on the bike this morning – decided to keep it short because firstly I was swimming this afternoon and secondly because it was cold and windy! (yup no hope for me!) Felt absolutely amazing. Only did 10 miles, only had to go to the little ring once and took 7 minutes off my PB.

This afternoon was the first of Chester Tri’s training days for the Diva Divas. I’d decided that I only wanted to swim as logistically with my 3 and a borrowed child in tow to do all 3 would have been impractical. We got there for the start and I couldn’t believe how many had turned up. Far more than last year. There’s an adventure trail on the site and we had a whale of a time. Jim and Cait were soaked, Morgan was plastered in mud but what the hell what are Sunday afternoons for.

Changed into my wetsuit and it felt a tad tight. Was ready for the off when Sal the race secretary suggested “next time it might be a good idea to wear 2 caps.” As an ex Girl Guide the “Be prepared” motto still sticks so I retrieved my spare from Cait. It was cold, very, very cold but in fairness I soon warmed up. As usual I stuck to the back but felt incredibly strong. I am never going to be a good swimmer but whilst my £35 Tesco wetsuit was adequate for last year when I did my “doggy” crawl of a fashion stroke today I felt the restriction on my shoulder as I crawled the whole course. We didn’t do the full 750m but I certainly felt fresh and held my own. Even more incentive to get into AndyS’s Orca for the next session on June 7th. Once again this was a fabulous event arranged by our very own Timmy and his Chester Tri team. Thanks guys.

Have decided to totally change my tactics and plans. The Diva Diva’s is my next race on 12 July. 750m open water swim 10mile bike with a tough hill at the beginning (not too tough I did get up it without getting off last year) and a 5k pancake flat out and back (twice) run on grass around the mere.

I’ve had problems with my back twice in the last month and whilst neither was a training injury I’m convinced that pushing myself to run longer is the cause. I want to go back to just running 40minutes and upping it by 10 minutes for the next 2 weeks then going back down to 40. Swimming, there’s another 2 open water training sessions, hopefully Lance will be able to give me a coached session every week and I’ll get another endurance session in every week. Bike wise I think is where I can make the most time. The old Mold sprint will give me the endurance plus the hill strength. The 10 miler I did this morning will give me an idea of pace and the Borders/Nercwys loop is short and hilly enough to run off to get my bricks in.

One very happy bunny!

And to cap it all.... Jims footie presentation yesterday and he got a well deserved player of the year

Monday, 27 April 2009

Chirk Sprint 2009

Had an awful swim and not entirely convinced I did 16 lengths. Faffed in T1 deciding whether or not to put a top on - did in the end and was glad. Felt incredibly strong and much more confident on the bike. Ran into and out of T2 but had the problem of not feeling my feet. I probably ran about half which I was disappointed with because I can run more difficult and longer routes. Guess the bike took more out of me than I thought.

Actually remembered to set my watch so was really pleased with 2:13

Then the results
Swim 13:58 (13:46 2008)
Bike 1:15:57 (1:15:01 2008)
Run 43:21 (48:25 2008)
Overall 2:13:16 (2:17:12)

Absolutely over the moon with the run time – 5 minutes in a sprint. Sue has got to take a lot of credit for this “encouraging” me to go long and hilly.

Thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon timing the bike so got to see quite a lot and a good laugh – at least 3 with their helmets the wrong way.

Back a bit sore but not suffering anywhere near as much as last year. I really would have kicked myself if I hadn't done it.

Wanted to do the Deva Divas as my next event but not sure.

Will do Llanrwst.

Going to have a rest from TriTalk for a while – thanks to all for your support and encouragement. Best of luck for the rest of the season.

Posted Friday 24 April - The Best Laid Plans

So the plan? Rest on Wednesday fine.

That’s when it all goes a bit pear shaped.

Thursday could hardly get out of bed. Back was so sore. Not unduly worried. Seven days training on the bounce and going long would inevitably mean a bit of a seize up when I stopped. Friday was no better so booked a massage for Saturday.

Tracey worked her magic and diagnosed inflammation of the tendons, which I suspected. She suggested rest which really wasn’t a problem.

Mark phoned me in work on Monday panicking like mad Morgan had a temperature and was sleeping. Can tell it’s his first child and I probably would have been worried too had I not had the other two and realise how quick kids bounce back. My main concern when I got in from work was not that he had a raging temperature but that he wouldn’t drink.

Mark was relegated to the back bedroom and Morgan slept with me. He woke up several times screaming obviously having horrendous nightmares. Mark took him to the Doctors on Tuesday who diagnosed a throat infection but said if he hadn’t started drinking by 7pm he would have to be admitted to hospital and put on a drip. We managed to get him to sip half of his juice.

During the night he woofed down 3 beakers of milk and was right as nine pence Wednesday morning by which time I woke up with an awful sore throat and a really chesty cough. Mark decided the cure all would be a really hot curry which seemed to do the trick except yesterday morning it decided to depart my body really quickly and I was left with “the ring of fire.”

Can it get any worse? Yup.

Whilst I was glued to the loo get’s a call off my ex hubby to say that Cait had a really bad stomach and wasn’t going to school. Typical 15 year old girl me thinks. I was seriously allergic to double French. By lunch time he’d left me voicemail that she’d been to the doctors who’d referred her to the hospital and she was waiting to have a scan. The diagnosis was fluid around her ovary. No cause and no cure.

I have no idea if I will be on that starting line on Sunday. My back is still really sore. I can deal with that (tramodol and declofenac) It’s the throat and chest that are giving me concerns. If I don’t do it I’ll forever say “I wish I’d….” If I do it and struggle I’ll wish I hadn’t. I’ve got nothing to prove. I’ve done it before. I really want to do it. It’s a sprint for goodness sake. 2 hours of hard exercise are not going to kill me. Anyway the spray tan’s booked and I’m marshalling on the main gate from noon so good luck to all and don’t forget to say “Hi.”

Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Well I've Never Been So Insulted In All My Life

Thanks to AndyS’ suggestion I might have a hiatus hernia and the dietary advice in the link I have been chest pain free since last weekend. I’m still going to get it checked out by the doctors but the symptoms matched mine exactly. To be pain free has not only given my energy an immense boost but increased my confidence to go longer and push harder. So yup there was a lot of love about but totally deserved.

Saturday – got to the pool at 7:30 to be greeted by my brother in law. We both did 1500m. He did it in half my time breast stroking. So I obviously asked him for some coaching.

“You’d be ok Lynne if your @rse didn’t stick up like a barrage balloon!” Amazing how quick you can go off someone? It was a very constructive session.

Sunday – repeated it half an hour earlier.

I’m so grateful to Cenzo for suggesting this. I don’t think I’ve ever swum that far and it’s certainly got me back in the pool loving my swimming. Still really carp at it but know what I need to do.

Monday – decided I’d better up the run mileage but wanted a flatter route as the Chester Half doesn’t have the hills that my longer sessions include. Once again I have no concept of terrain. Did a 3.5 mile out and back. It wasn’t hilly but was filled with undulations. Felt really good getting back into Mold and then it happened….

A car stopped for what I thought was directions. The woman wound down her window and shouted across the street

“Daahhhhhling you’d be much better power walking. My daughter’s bigger than you and the doctor’s told her not to JOG as it puts too much strain on the knees and she should power walk instead.”

I was absolutely flabbergasted.

“Thank you but this is the end of my 7 mile RUN and I intend to RUN a half marathon”

I ran off and as soon as I’d got round the corner literally cried out loud. How dare she imply that I was too fat to run? Then I got really angry. I told my Mum and her response was

“She was probably only trying to help. For goodness sake Lynne how many other 45 year old, 15 stone women do you see out running? How was she to know how far you’d run?”

Whatever her intention, she’s done me a favour. I am even more determined now to shift the weight.

Talking of weight.. I’ve put on 12lb and am now 15stone 12lb. I ditched the scales apart from the 1st of the month weigh in. Can’t blame Easter Eggs because I’m not keen on chocolate. Don’t know what to blame really? My jeans and work clothes are hanging off me. I’m definitely not as big but the scales don’t lie?

Yesterday did the Mold Sprint bike. Can’t believe how negative I felt.

“You’ll never do it Lynne, carrying all that weight.”

“This is the 7th day of hard exercise, you’re knackered, no way will you get up those hills.”

Strength and energy came from somewhere. Only had to get off once and that was to put my chain back on. Not sure what the greatest achievement was getting around or not throwing my rattle out of the pram and ringing hubby to rescue me.

Back in work today after a lovely break. Decided to make it a rest day. I haven’t got a half place after all – someone beat me to it. I’m not sorry. I managed the extra mile relatively easily on Monday but to get from 7 miles to a half in less than 5 weeks with a Sprint in the middle was asking too much me thinks.

Got an interval run schedules for tomorrow a brick for Friday a long(ish) run for Saturday and a long(ish) bike for Sunday and then should be tapering. Not sure I want to taper we’ll see.

Looks like I’ll be doing Chirk heavier than last year so no expectations, no targets, no pressure, pure pleasure (speed bumps coming back to the sports centre)

Monday, 13 April 2009

Back on Track

Posted Monday 6 April

On the training front absolute rubbish. Still got the pains in my chest – can’t get a Doctors appointment until 28th April. Took the “reflux” tablets I was given last August and they’ve completely wiped me out (anxiety, fatigue, drowsiness) Chirk could well be a DNS but… there’s the rest of the season to look forward to and I’m determined to do this 128 length swim this weekend.

Posted Friday 10 April

Just a quickie….

Decided sod it go for broke. I train with a HR monitor, there are houses about, there are people about, I’ve got my phone and I’ve got my dog tags. If I have a problem with my chest I’ll just holler for help.

Really couldn’t do anything up to Tuesday. The mind was willing but the body was weak so I gave in. (I really do know now when I can and can’t push). Wednesday was so energised. Just did the 5k to break myself in gently and was absolutely fine. Headwind didn’t help but really enjoyed.

Thursday took a couple of minutes off my hilly bike and decided to run off. Don’t know why but bricks always give me the giggles.

Late Friday afternoon got mail from my manager to say there’s a couple of Chester Half places up for grabs. So in a moment of madness I took one.

Intended to do “the Cenzo swim” today but checked with the pool last night and it’s closed today and Monday but open tomorrow and Sunday so will do tomorrow instead.

Ran the Borders today. Hills were hard but had plenty left in the tank at the end so chuffed and took a minute off. Really aching now though so I need that swim tomorrow.


Life is good. I’m focussed bring Chirk on.