Let It Snow...

I can't quite believe that it's been nearly two months since my last post, which says something terrible about my admin... and possibly the start of my winter training!  I could tell that I've been pushing out 8 hours a week, honing and toning myself into the perfect athlete over the winter months, but that would a massive lie.  After the satisfying if slightly uninspiring end to the season, I spent October in 'active rest' mode - taking it easy basically, with intervals sessions in the gym, technique work in the pool, circuits and the odd spin class.    I'd ended the summer with a few niggling injuries, which needed rest and some physio treatment so I was glad to have a horizon free of races in which to take that time out.  Probably the highlight of the month was seeing my first column about my antics in print in Triathlete's World.  I grinned my way down the street whilst reading it, happy with the output and excited to have my thoughts published. 

Things have been perking up in November though, as my second and third columns have been submitted for print in January and March issues respectively and proper training is slowly but surely resuming.  Last weekend I spontaneously took part in the Elan Valley 10, a hilly road race covering 10 miles of Welsh countryside.  I say spontaneously as I hadn't actually registered for the race - my husband was taking part and I went along to support him, with the plan of running to the 3 mile marker and back whilst he competed... Needless to say, at the 3 mile point the sweep vehicle I was intentionally keeping behind suggested I run ahead, so I did!  At 4 miles I turned back, but 'you're practically there now...' encouraged the sweep vehicle marshall, so I kept on running much like Forest Gump.  I overtook 14 competitors, which I'm pretty thrilled about considering I started 10 minutes after they set off, and sprinted over the finish line in about 1hr 35mins pretty damn pleased with myself.   Since then, I've felt a lot more motivated, and my running and swimming is tripping along well.

As the snow starts to fall in Wales, my plans for long weekend bike rides seem out of the picture, but longer gym sessions here I come.  At this stage, the bike is the bit I'm worried about, especially after my Olympic race in September, and so I'm just trying to keep the general fitness progressing and my leg strength improving with hill intervals on the static bike, in the hope that some dry, non-treacherously icy days coincide with non-working hours.  A ski holiday and the festive season approach, but I'm determined to keep training going if not too weighed down by turkey, bread sauce and roast potatoes... ooh and the little pigs in blankets... and smoked salmon... and roast gammon on Boxing Day... and mulled wine, not to mention the advent calendar chocolates...... oh dear, this could go pear-shaped.  I'll keep you posted, if I can move my fingers enough to type after all that food.

Oh the weather outside is frightful

Well, it's been a month since my last blog post and the tri season for 2010 has come to a close.  Despite a trapped nerve in my shoulder and not enough training due to my Masters dissertation (got to love my priorities there), I completed my Olympic distance race on 26th September... and came last!  Not only did I come last in my race but I was the final one over the finishing line for the whole day! The organisers ran the sprint and super-sprints within the Olympic distance so we were all cycling together.  Or rather, it tripled the field of people who could overtake me on the bike.  But hey, it's about completion and personal achievement and I am satisfied with the knowledge that I ran the whole 10K and my swim and run splits weren't too bad. A good day to be proud of.

The winter training season thus begins and I'm pretty excited.  My local leisure centre has a fantastic gym and the team there are really supportive.  Made up of runners, duathlon racers for GB and the generally uber-fit, I've already been given a handful of excellent tips for the coming months and that was just at my induction!
Bike fitness, speed and endurance will be the fundamental goal, whilst maintaining (and hopefully also improving) good swim and run techniques.  I don't plan to come last a second time.  My tri suit has been emblazoned with 'Racing for Combat Stress' across the back (thanks to PSM Sportswear) and my Excel training log has been designed for the next 4 week block.  Time to get on with it then!  I'll keep you posted

Harnessing the adrenaline

Over the last five days I have achieved a great deal and also been incredibly scared; what I find interesting though is that the same hormones will have been produced - predominantly adrenaline but also cortisol - in all instances.  On Saturday we went for a hilly bike ride, climbing a steady 550m in 6 six miles, but then of course having to descend the same on the other side!  Descents are not my strong point, in fact they couldn't really be much weaker.  My child-sized hands find it almost impossible to reach the brakes whilst on the hoods of my bike, yet I'll be damned if I'm going to lean forward on a steep downhill to sit on the drops, so that my fingertips can strain to sufficiently stop my bike whilst I pick up speeds akin to light and sound.  And I'm scared of heights (or rather falling), and there were all manner of cars on the road, surely ready to mow me down as I hurtle downwards and around tight bends.  No thank you.  And so, after three patient attempts by my long-suffering husband to convince me to try it again after 50m of effectively braking down the road, he gave up cajoling his shaking wife to get back onto her bike, and instead cycled behind her as she ran downhill with bike in hand.  Well, it's cross-training isn't it?  I admit I find it overwhelmingly terrifying that I cannot stop, nor suitably slow my bike and have visions instead of head-on collisions with baby rabbits.  I know that I need to conquer this consuming fear - and that throwing myself into a hedge if it all gets too fast does not a backup plan make - but I think I'll practise on some slightly shorter, gentle hills for now with some solid hedgerow to my left.

The beginning of this week in stark contrast, has been one of Personal Bests; on Monday I smashed my 7.5km training tempo run, which has a gruelling 25% hill to climb in the middle, by 5 minutes, and last night I achieved an 100m split in the pool in 1:35!  After both sessions I encountered much the same sensations as those experienced when wobbling downhill on Saturday - heart racing, body shaking, energy levels pumped for flight, combined with 'I want to lie down now and eat ice-cream' (that last one must be the cortisol).  It seems funny that two such extreme feelings can mechanically be so similar.  I suppose that my body can't tell the difference between me pushing myself to run or swim faster for fun, and the sheer fear I feel when going down long hills; in both instances it is activating my fight-or-flight response, a built-in system to boost the body when under threat from predators.  There's a thought... maybe I should get someone to chase me during my training sessions.  A fool-proof plan.  Nothing is going to get me down those hills (or achieve new PBs) faster than being tracked down by someone terrifying.  Tony Blair perhaps, or my GCSE Spanish teacher with her glass eye.  So if you happen to be in my part of the world, and see someone careering down a road being chased by a mad woman shouting 'Donde esta tu tarea?', fear not, it's just me harnessing my adrenaline.

Otterly exhilarating

What a high!  Last night's swim session with my triathlon club resulted in some serious progress, which was (and still is) incredibly exhilarating!  The simple instruction from one of the coaches to alter my arm position for greater reach and paddle-like movement has revolutionised my technique.  I was reaching speeds I never thought possible, snapping on the toes of lane members as I caught them up - I even lapped someone!  I can now imagine what it must be like to be a dolphin, gliding through the water, sleekly, elegantly... in my case my husband has decided I'm more of an otter.  This morning I had to Google an otter to recall its features - brown, whiskery, with short furry limbs.  Hmm.

I have not, however, let such unsatisfactory mammal comparisons dampen my day-dreams of being spotted by talent coaches, to be drafted in as a late entry for the 2012 Olympic swim team.  This is but a matter of time.  But until then, I cannot wait to get back in the pool and try out my new found skills again, to make sure it wasn't just a bit of luck.  Little moments like this are part of the reason that sport is so addictive and triathlon so satisfying - you have three disciplines to improve in, giving you much better odds.  Now I just need to make a similar breakthrough in my cycling, if only to stop being lapped by smug men on mountain bikes.

(And sorry about the title pun - I'm still chuckling to myself about it.)

Faking it

I must admit to feeling rather flattered, and just a tinsy bit smug, after this weekend's exploits.  It's been a while since I've written - life (read: work) has been getting in the way of training in a most unsatisfactory way way over the last few weeks - and I was starting to feel a little bit like a triathlete fraud.  Managing only 6 hours of training a week recently, with races of increasing distances looming, the panic of hundreds of spectators finding me out for the beginner that I am has been rising.  And where exactly have my toned triceps gone?  They were most definitely here a fortnight ago.  Last week, mostly to get out of DIY chores and a paint-fume filled flat, I pounded the pavements, did my obligatory evil press ups (even managed some sit ups) and wriggled into my wetsuit not once, nor twice but thrice!

At 6am (yes dawn had only just broken) last Saturday, I was descending the ladder into a cold but peaceful lake at Liquid Leisure and feeling pretty darn pleased with myself.  Most people, my husband included, were still asleep!  With a spring in my step I added two running laps of the lake to my swim and felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment as I staggered back to my car.  I love this sport - it's exhilarating, healthy, friendly and there's something about wearing a wetsuit that makes you feel like a pro (even if most people warm up on the distance you strive to complete!).

To further boost my mood, a lovely couple I met later on that day at a wedding referred to me as a triathlete!  Really?  Me?  It would appear the process of faking it is now complete, and I actually might be a bona-fide, pinch-me-and-its-still-true triathlete, who gets a kick of out fitting in two sessions a day, or starting the morning at 5.30am to clock up some additional wetsuit miles.  I am tempering my bouncing enthusiasm with the knowledge that my upcoming Olympic distance (less than 6 weeks away) is probably going to break me, not to mention next year's ridiculousness, but I feel a renewed vigour for meeting that pain train head on and seeing who comes out on top. 

This Saturday will offer the latest race opportunity for me to test out my new theory, although I'm not buying into the American nonsense of 'everyone's a winner'... maybe everyone can be a winner except for the poor soul who comes last.  No one, least of all me, wants to come last thank you very much.

Ah, injury, I've been expecting you

Well it was going to happen wasn't it?  A little too much enthusiasm with my front crawl and I have a rotator cuff strain to show for it.  It's incredibly frustrating.  Cycling and running can continue but a week out of my next race I've had to reduce swimming to nothing near race pace, and my wetsuit still has a shiny new tag on it in the corner of my study.  One of the instructors at the gym has given me some rehab exercises with stretchy yellow bands, which looks rather intriguing - I plan to try them out tomorrow. It does give me a good excuse to work on my upper arm definition, which is gaining a rather satisfying shape.  I almost know the way to the beach.

In the meantime, I am determined to become a road demon and conquer the Welsh hills.  The glorious sunshine and stunning scenery are definitely fantastic motivators and I've been clocking up some good mileage over the past couple of weeks, along with some increasing total ascent figures.  I nearly came off my bike spectacularly on Monday, saved at the last minute from the hedgerow by a shred of counter-balance.  Luckily no one witnessed me wobbling and squealing my way round the sharp (downhill) corner in question. 

I have also signed my name on the official (and expensive) dotted line for next year's Ironman 70.3 UK race.  There's no going back now!  £200 later, I have a registration number and a date with a world of pain: 19th June 2011.  Just under a year.  £530 of fundraising to date, and I feel confident both about the time in hand for training and the fundraising efforts. I am negotiating sponsorship with a couple of businesses currently, which is exciting and will hopefully be fruitful - PSM sportswear have also very kindly agreed to garishly logo up my kit in return for their logo emblazoned across my lower back.  The more the merrier - being a stylish triathlete with a honed tan was never going to much of an option.

I'm also trying to work on my nutrition, which seems to be a trial and error process.  Some days I finish training and need a long nap, others I feel raring to go for the rest of the day... the cream tea I had this weekend by the beach probably didn't help.  But it was very yummy.  And I found a lovely wedding hat at a bargain price in the same tea shop, so most certainly a productive outing.

Anyway, cream teas aside, I have a week to go until the next race and my first competitive open water foray.  I'm hoping it being a British, all-women's race in refinedWindsor that it will be a case of 'no, after you I insist' politesse amongst the competitors, but I fear elbows and a distinct lack of ladylike behaviour will instead be the order of the day.  I will spend the morning channelling Elizabeth Bennett.  She certainly wouldn't stand for being swam over.

Adrenaline and Ice Baths

I'm on what can only be described as an exhausted high!  As I write this I'm feeding on large quantities of protein and carbs, in the form of cheese and oatcakes with chutney.  Possibly not what a professional triathlete would eat after a race but I'm incredibly proud of myself and so I think I deserve it. Plus, not in the wildest stretches of my imagination could I consider myself an elite triathlete!

This morning was awesome fun: I got to the race waay too early and had to sit around for about 3 hours.  But I saved a baby bunny from a drain, or rather I persuaded the paramedics on hand to, so time not totally wasted.  My good deed for the day.  The bunny might have chosen that drain - a change of scene, a bit of peace and quiet away from the other bunnies - but he was set free, whether he liked it or not!  Anyway, enough of the rabbit.  The pool swim got off to a strong start: I overtook the leader of my lane, and then let my tail overtake me, to finish a satisfying 400m in about 8:15 I'd say - not a PB but about 45 secs faster than I had mentally prepared for.  T1 took ages, mostly because I was faffing around putting my lenses in - must buy prescription sunglasses - then I was off for a hot, humid and hilly cycle.

Husband plus friend drove around the course, positioning themselves in laybys to take photos of me as I progressed, which was both amusing and motivating, as I had no bikes in eyeshot throughout the leg to focus on.  That will no doubt change as I progress to larger races!  T2 fared much better and the evil last leg of running began steadily.  Not for the faint-hearted, there were some blinders of hills to tear up - one so steep they'd carved stairs into the hillside... I walked that one.  The first 500m were a world of pain and a 'digging deep' for the PMA to push myself onwards.  Once my legs got used to running after 20K cycling, I settled into a steady pace and finished 5 minutes under what I'd aimed for, gasping for water.  Note to self - hydrate more on the bike.

Adrenaline high was followed by an excruciating ice bath once home to help repair muscles - I think that was almost more testing than the race! And now the best bit - celebratory food!  It's been a fantastic experience, both enjoyable and eye-opening.  I've learnt a lot from today and know that a re-structure of my training schedule is needed, to weight it in favour of the bike rather than the pool.  Plus even though they hurt, brick sessions need to become a weekly activity if I'm going to work up to an Olympic by September.

The next Sprint race is 400m open water - 20K bike on the flat - 5k run on the flat... easy after today!  Well, the open water bit does slightly fill me with dread but time to squeeze myself back into a wetsuit for more open water practise to conquer those fears.  I've got 4 weeks until race 2 of the season and I can't wait.  I'm truly hooked - I can hear our bank balance groaning with dismay - and raring to go. Not right now though... maybe Monday.

Practice makes progress

It's been a really exciting week, full of small steps of progress. Last tuesday I went to my first club meet of the Newport Triathlon Club.  The coach taking the swim session was fantastic, and gave me some tips that have already made a noticeable difference to my technique.  He wants me to go up to the Level 2 group, who swim sub-8:00 eek! But my training sessions this week in the pool have resulted in 8 laps at a time, and a 08:30 400m.  I'm starting to feel like I can actually swim!  Bring on Level 2 this Tuesday.

It seems the maxim of being a better cyclist will make you a better runner is true too.  I've done some killer hill work on the bike this week, which, though my quads are in clip today, resulted in a PB 10k hill run of 55 mins yesterday, followed by a 57 min 21.5km hilly bike route today - a recce of the bike route for next week's tri.  I seriously need to work on my cornering and downhill confidence, but tangible progress has been made over the last few days, which gives me a great feeling about the next 12 months.

I'm learning quickly that positive mental attitude is most definitely the secret ingredient in triathlon training.  All of these small triumphs show how far I can come if I work at it and keep trying, which is so exciting.  Whilst next year's challenge still seems incredibly daunting (I try not to think about it too much), I know that if I keep progressing over this season, then I have a strong chance at a respectable finish of my first Olympic Distance tri in September.  I'm also rapidly understanding the power of rest days!! Tomorrow's bank holiday will most definitely be a day of no phys... perhaps a few sit ups and press ups but I draw the line there. Instead there will be a lie in, followed by an afternoon nap and most probably an early night.  Oh yes.

Two weeks to go to the first tri!

Two weeks to go! It's pretty nerve wrecking actually, especially considering I've only really been able to get on my new road bike this weekend.  It's a Specialized Dolce 24 and incredibly pretty! I'm sure that's not really a particular requirement for a bike, but it certainly makes me love it that little bit more!  Thanks to the wonderful Miles at M&D bikes in Abergavenny, my bike has been tailored to fit my tiny, child-sized hands, so that thankfully I can now actually reach the brakes.  This makes going downhill a lot more enjoyable I must say.  Knowing you might have a strong chance at stopping at the bottom, should you need to, brings the experience back onto the right side of living life on the edge. 

The last couple of weeks have seen a number of other firsts too.  All of which have been hugely motivating, not to mention great fun.  I made my open water swimming debut last week at the fantastic Liquid Leisure club house just outside Datchet.  Everyone was so friendly and helpful, which really settled my nerves.  I had visions of barely making it into the water, let alone actually swimming around the lake.  But I needn't have worried.  It seems I'm a little bit of a natural... not in any athletic, see-you-at-the-2012 Olympics way, but I didn't hyperventilate in the 12C water, nor did I panic.  Instead, with some tips from one of the Liquid Leisure team from the bank, I swam three laps of the 200m course and the team were impressed with my technique. Yippee, a triumph!  I went back two days later, just to check it wasn't a fluke, and enjoyed myself just as much.  I was wearing the most amazing wetsuit, which meant I didn't need to kick my legs at all - I felt like a small, albeit wobbly, swan, gliding through the water (whilst trying not to swallow too much of it).

My pool swimming has come on leaps and bounds too, and I can now manage blocks of 100m without too much of a problem.   My husband timed me yesterday and I came in at 8:57 and 8:50 for two gos at a 400m distance.  The next goal is to get the rest periods down between each 100m block, as I'm easily clocking up a minute on these overall.  But an invigorating time trial and so good to have a solid marker to work from.  I really feel like I'm making some progress!  So much so that I've booked out the rest of the season - 3rd July Sprint, 21st August Sprint and an Olympic distance to round off the season in September. 

But first things first, I've got to tackle the challenge on the 5th June.  My first ever triathlon!  I'm undoubtedly a little nervous, mostly about the transitions, but I'm sure that practise will make perfect.  In a way I'm also glad that no one will be there to support me, so I can focus on the event and not worry about making a fool out of myself in front of friends.  Ah the competitive Daisy surfaces.  Well maybe that's a good thing and a bit of competitive spirit is just what's needed to drive me up those hills when my quads are screaming.

So, next goals: complete the sprint on 5th June and master the hills and pools of Brecon.  Easy peasy...

My first ever triathlon!

Well, there are now just over 5 weeks to my first triathlon. It is very very exciting, if a somewhat daunting prospect. Mostly because I don't currently have a functioning bike and 4 laps of the pool is as much as I can swim before needing a few seconds' rest!

But I like a challenge. I'm training 6-7 days per week currently, and already seeing improvements in my endurance. I'm also amusing the staff on camp and my neighbours by doing interval training up and down the private roads, which makes me look like a tomato by the end!

I must admit to spending an inordinate amount of time looking at bike specs over the past few days... I have chosen a model - the Specialized Dolce 24 - as my first ever road bike and now bidding on a secondhand one on Ebay. Fingers crossed! Failing that, I'll be buying new.

Two weeks of exams coming up and then I can start training at the Newport triathlon club, in addition to my own sessions. So exciting! Watch this space for news on how that goes.

Hi!

Thanks for visiting my blog page for my fundraising efforts for Combat Stress. This charity does incredibly important work, specialising in the care of Veterans' mental health. They treat conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders. Their services are free of charge to the Veteran, but these things cost money and they are in greater demand than ever.

Every little counts and so I'm aiming to put myself extremely out of my comfort zone to raise funds that will make a tangible difference. The plan is to compete in next year's half-Ironman, a very challenging triathlon which takes place in June 2011. It comprises a 1.2 mile swim, 56 miles on the bike, followed by a half-marathon... hideous frankly! But our soldiers put their lives on the line for our country, so this is nothing in comparison really.

I'll be competing in events throughout the next year, starting with my first sprint triathlon in Brecon on 5th June 2010: 400m swim; 20km bike; 5km run. You can keep track of my progress from novice to triathlete here on my blog, and if you fancy coming to support me at any of the events I'm taking part in, your support would be wonderful!

So, please dig deep and help me reach my target of £2,000 for Combat Stress. Here are a few examples of what a donation from you will fund:

• £30 pays for a session of trauma-focused therapy
• £130 pays for a consultation with a psychiatrist
• £293 pays for a full day's care at a Combat Stress residential treatment centre.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you so much!

Daisy xx