one month down

I have moved the computer into the living room, turned on the heater and are all rugged up, with Henry my boxer sitting on my lap.

Today sums up my first 4 week block of training after returning from China and of course my first block heading into Kona.

This week started with some ups and downs.

The first half of the weeks training sessions were good. They were steady and I was happy with how my training was progressing.

I swam Wednesday morning with Paul Newsome's Swim Smooth squad and was lucky enough to have Adele lend me her Huub wetsuit to try. This was perfect timing as Wednesday morning sure was a cold one! A freezing 2 degrees! but I was nice and toasty, actually roasting by the end of the 5km set. Usually I would be itching to get a wetty off as I am not frond of a wetsuit swim but I felt very comfortable in the wetty and was not getting out of it any time soon!!

Andy and I meet some fellow GK Endurance athletes on Wednesday night to see - Rising from Ashes.

Rising from Ashes is a feature length documentary about the first Rwandan national cycling team in their bid to make history and represent their country at the 2012 Olympics. Competing in a white man's sport, reserved for the privileged, a rag tag group of cyclists coached by the first American to ride in the Tour de France, are transformed into a powerful symbol of hope for a country recovering from one of the world's most devastating genocides.

An amazing story sharing the lives and journey closely of 5 young men. An incredible story definitely worth watching.

As I had very early morning sessions for the start of the week and knew the remaining of the week was going to be the same I thought I would swap a couple of sessions around, allowing me to have a 7.00am sleep in on thursday. 

For the past few weeks Thursday nights have included Pilates with Ruth Chang. This week was no different but I encouraged Andy to join and we all had some fun!

Friday saw me up early for a morning run before work. I cycle and swim in the morning but very rarely do I run. It was weird! It was COLD, dark and lonely with only a couple of people brave enough to venture out side at this time! But I enjoyed the peace and isolated feeling and was great to see the sun slowly but surely rise as I was finishing my run. After work I finished a 120min cycle and I felt tired. My legs were sore so I put on my compressions and went to bed early.

Saturdays ride was unpleasant! It was cold. I was rugged up - toe covers, leg warmers, skins, long sleeve thermals, top, cycle top, x2 wind breakers and arm warmers!!

I struggled up Albany Highway. I nearly cried. I actually nearly did. I don't know why but I really struggled. I felt better for the remainder of the ride but it was the coldest ride the 4 of us had ever had! Lucky for me my ROB was actually strong and this made me feel better.

I had an easy rest of the day and a early night rugged up in bed. I slept in half of my running clothing for the next day so I didn't have to get changed in the morning.

King of the Mountain - 

Andy and Henry took me to the race start at Helena Valley. As this is a point to point race it was great to have Andy so he could take all my warm gear to the finish line!

It has been a good two years since i have last run at Helena Valley. This previously was a regular Sunday run with friends and it was great to be back on the lovely course in the very fresh morning!

The start was fast! I now position myself at the front of these races, (before Andy yells at me to get to the front) and this worked in my favour as I had a clear start, from the start.

The first 3km's were quick. Probably too quick but I just went with it. It was too cold to doodle around!

3.5km's in and there was a nice little river crossing. I was conceous not to cross and squeal like a girl so i just ploughed through it!!

I found this race really tough. I was tired and my quads were screaming at me the whole way. Im usually pretty good at tolerating pain and especially don't let it effect me in a run but today was different. It nearly broke me! Twice. At 7.5km, whilst running uphill I nearly walked! I don't like to stop, I never stop! I remember thinking 'what am I doing?!'. Then again at 13.5km. I so desperately just wanted to be finished.

At 14.5km we were off the dirt and back onto the road, but it was a 1.5km uphill finish and I was not happy. Finally, Finally I saw the finish line and that 16km Sunday run session was finally done!!

Of course it was a fantastic race, great course and so challenging. A great event as usual run buy the WAMC.

To my  delight I was first female - 1.10.07. Just a minute off the female course record.

When we got home I napped, in my warm, cozy triple blanket bed and have done much else all afternoon!

I am looking forward to a recovery week this coming week before hitting out another 3 solid weeks, amping up the volume and intensity!

Certainly feeling less like a try-athlete and more like a triathlete again!

And it starts again

It has now been  a month since returning from our Adventures in China and I am well and truly back into the swing of things.
A relatively easy week including some easy rides and swims initially until starting a more structured training program the following week. 
I was hesitant to run again, worried my injury would still be there but all seams to be holding up just fine at this stage.

Training has had its ups and downs. It is always hard getting back into three disciplines, especially after coming off a holiday and feeling fit and fast a few months before.
Mentally it has been a bit of a struggle, I want to be where I was, where I left off and NOW. Its hard not feeling fit and fast and this makes it even worse trying to regain your fitness in winter.
But I am determined, focused and stubborn so I know I will be back!

The mornings have been cold, they are dark with the sun only coming out when its time to go to work, and by the time I get home I can make most of 30mins of light before its dark again. When the mornings are clear it is cold and when its warmer they are wet! 
There is no winning but these days make you tough and even more determined to get through the session. You know winters here when you head to the pool and its empty! A lane to myself!

This week I have really felt like a triathlete again. I feel great running, especially as I'm back outside and no longer restricted to the treadmill. The swimming is coming along slow and steady and this weekend was the first time I saw a glimpse of speed and strength. Although today was wrapped up with a very, very rare afternoon nap! I was stuffed!

A pilates session with Ruth Chang is a new addition to the program and I'm loving it! Great to have her knowledge and humour to bring some variation to the weeks program.

I was also fortunate to have a chat with Darryl from Shotz a few weeks earlier. He shared his knowledge and priceless information with me which I intend to take advantage of come October.

With under 4 months until Kona its only going to get tougher. Im lucky to have the support of my fiancé Andy and my family and its very much appreciated. 

For now, I'm off to watch Master Chef before heading to bed and starting the weeks session with a Monday Swim!

Great Wall Marathon

Race Day

2.45am and the alarm went. Yes 2.45am! We had packed everything the night before so were able to wake up, get dressed and leave the hotel room. The bus trip was quiet with everyone trying to get some extra sleep although I don't think that worked for everyone!

Once we arrived at the wall the sun was up and it didn't feel like and early start! But we are used to early starts (I think it was quite new for most people there!). Into Yin and Yang Square and we sat huddling trying to keep warm. It was a really cool morning. We had some pre-race entertainment with some warm up exercises (or dance moves!) provided by two girls up on stage. These were some fun with everyone getting involved. The atmosphere was great.
Before we knew it, it was 7.00am and the race organisers called the Wave 1 starters to the start line. Not prepared to be called up so early we quickly got undressed and slapped on some sunscreen, dropped the bags off and headed to the start. Pre-race formalities and then the 1 minute count down was on. I was so excited. Not nervous, just looking forward to an incredible race in China, on the Great Wall and both Andy and I's first straight marathon! 'BANG', the gun went and we all filtered through a small opening before heading out onto the road and making our way up a 4km winding hill to the entrance of the wall. Andy and I made our way through the mix of 21.1km runners and marathon runners reaching the top in good time. As you approach the start of the wall its an odd sight. We have all been running and scrambling to find our place at the start of this race, with those passing and being passed then you reach the wall and look up, every one is almost stationary! You reach the first incline and set of stairs and most competitors are walking! Its hilarious!

Once you reach the wall most of the first wave has sorted itself out and its no too congested at all.
It was awesome. So much fun. We had to make a quick toilet stop (yes 5km's into the race) as there are 2 toilets just off the wall. As these are all squatters, it was tough on the legs already! To make matters worse i tuck my shots gels in my shorts legs, which i dropped in the toilet, not willing to fish these out!!!

On we pressed for the next 4km. Andy was like a little mountain goat and waited for me at the bottom of each decline! The last section of the wall was tough. All down hill, uneven and tight, almost single file. We did a lap around the square before entering it again and running back out through the same starting point. We continued along the local roads which were not closed, full of local traffic and there were people every where cheering and supporting. Mostly locals. It was brilliant.

We crossed the road and made our way through some off road paths before making it onto open traffic roads again, all up or down hill, almost never flat.

We high-fived kids all the way. Ni Hao! Amazing and so much fun!
So many aide stations lined with kids wanting you to take their water bottles. They were really great!

As we made it at the 18-20km mark, again another large winding uphill battle and the pace started to slow with some walking. What goes up must come down and this followed through out the race.

At the 25km mark Andy and I were walking when a Spaniard passed us and yelled 'run, you must run, don't walk!'. Andy and I both laughed and he replied ' you are one of the top females, you must run!'. I looked at Andy and we continued to walk before I asked if I could run on. We had planned to do the race side by side but I really, really wanted to run! After he said yes I took off, not before doubling back to check if it really was ok before actually moving on. I ran the remaining race over new paths before making it back onto the dirt track, knowing the exact remaining steps of the race as I had just traced over these a few hours ago in reverse.
Into the square the officials informed me I was the 5th Female Marathon competitor. 
I had great support from our new friends who also joined the travelling fit experience. These were the 'fun' runners and half marathoners who stayed to support the remaining competitors to the finish line. It was awesome and very welcoming as we are used to having Mum and Dad out there supporting!

Out of the square and onto the wall once more. 
OMG it was tough. The initial steps were hard and narrow. The decline was now an incline and at this point we just looked like a few tiny ants scattered on the wall. Everyone was crawling, walking, puffing and struggling. I tried not to look at any one as i didn't want the wall to break me! Then, maybe a km later it nearly did! I passed one female and moved on determined not to stop.
I still remember looking at the large rest incline of steps. Taking the first step I had my head down. I couldn't see anymore than one step ahead of me and then just found myself climbing the wall! 

The down hill was some what welcoming as you knew that the finish line was in reach, but wow it hurt! Every single step hurt until I got to the last aid station, a single km from the finish.

It was great finally crossing that line, just under 4.30hrs later!
An amazing feeling as you turn around and look at the section of the wall you just ran over to complete a marathon, twice!!

4.29.07 

4th Female Overall

1st Female 20-29

I immediately went to the travelling fit group and cheered the remaining athletes through their final 8km's and though to the finish.
I was so excited to watch Andy finish but I felt sad that I wasn't there to finish with him as we had planned.

It was such an amazing experience, not really looked as a race at all but an adventure, a cultural experience, something truly incredible.

Put this one on your bucket list!!