Week: Monday 17th November – Sunday 23rd
November
I gave up comparing myself to others a few years ago - it
was a different lifetime back then. The
media industry has a lot to answer for when it comes to peoples’ hopes, fears
and dreams. It can build them up and
send them crashing down will one foul swoop of depictions, portrayals and
headlines. Don’t. Get. Me. Started. I
won’t go off on a meedjia rant! As Baz Luhrmann wrote:
‘Do NOT read beauty magazines – they will only make you feel UGLY.’
What’s this got to do with my Ironman journey? Well beauty
magazines certainly aren’t going to be of any help getting me to the finish
line, that’s for sure – but…. Hear. Me. Out.
With a plethora of books, magazines and more importantly top athletes
out there winning races, left, right and centre it’s hard not to be slightly
envious of their success – I sometimes find myself thinking ‘I wish I was as
good as X, Y, Z. It’s what we do.
Comparing is human nature. But unlike
these trashy Z list celebs who acquire fame for no good reason – athletes certainly
deserve their glory, after all, they train hard all day every day. Back to your point Miss May. The point is –
this is THEIR job. It’s what they do – I’m
not in it to win it so I must not feel bad for being mildly average in every
way. (Unlike Mary Poppins who is
practically perfect). After all that waffle the outcome is:
‘Ironman training is not about being better than someone else – it’s
about being better than you used to be.’
This Ironman experience is just six months of my life and I’m
putting everything in to place to BE THE BEST I CAN BE. I want to rock up to that
start line champing at the bit to race, knowing that I have done everything I
possibly could to have the best day possible. Rah, rah, rah! This week I had a lovely long chat with my newly acquired coach on Wednesday and he's assured me that he can help with the racehorse shizzle! From December 1st I am in his safe hands @P_Coach_Me (poor man doesn't know what he's let himself in for) #needyironnewbie
This week’s blog post will mainly be dedicated to the Baz
Luhrmann Sunscreen lyrics as it is one of my mantra’s to life. If you have a chance – have a listen. Whatever mood you are in – it’s a real tonic!
(I’m currently listening on repeat as I write!)
Swim
‘Do one thing every day that scares you’
After knuckling down with revision last week I successfully
passed all my SEP exams, which meant lucky me got to go to Antigua! Whoop de
fook! Sometimes I have to pinch myself.
My job takes me to some amazing places, which just so happen to be
awesome for training too! The thought of swimming in the bay At St James Club
resort kept me going through the long days up at Heathrow. During the week I’d managed to clock up an
impressive 5km in zee pool over three different swim sessions – speed,
technique and the usual fun. Mermaid mode had been activated. My first swim in
the bay was so relaxing. I am happiest
when I am swimming free in the sea. You
can’t beat that feeling of just you and the ocean, oh ok, there were canoers,
paddle boarders, pedolers (#isthatevenaword) but still, it beats chlorine,
noisy children, slow lane hoggers and unhygienic changing areas any day. I was able to lengthen my stroke up and down
the bay and take it easy without the tediousness of turning every 25m. What. A. Treat. I’d clocked a house at the other side of the
bay and had set myself the target to swim out to it around the perimeter of the
bay on day 2. Full of great ideas me. So
even a storm mid paddle boarding didn’t put me off. (MadMay strikes again.) Thing
is. If I set myself a challenge in my head I have to stick to it. That’s. Just. Me. #Mentalist. So off I went in search of the house. The swim there was lush, easy and relaxed - I
managed to get over to the house within 12 minutes, however, as I swam round the
other side of the bay the tide had turned.
Waves were crashing in to my face and I was swimming and getting nowhere
fast! I’d already been rescued by the safety boat on the Paddle board, but, no
one knew where I was now - a black cap was also #stupidchoice, so it’s not like anyone could see me so far out! I started to panic but got my head down and
ploughed in to the waves – there was a boat heading towards me and I had
visions of me being bulldozed and left for dead! Hahah.
But I just kept on swimming like a Forest Gump of the sea. And gave
myself a good telling off! ‘Tho shall
not be so adventurous on my next open water swim post storm down route.’ Well,
perhaps next time I should at least tell the crew of my swim plans or wear a
bright hat! This is a typical numptyism of Sam! Thankfully, I made it back in
one piece and actually enjoyed the challenge. #sickbitch
Swim totals for the
week: Training time: 2hrs 43 minute Distance:
8km (BOOMSHAKALAKA)
Bike
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees – you’ll miss them when
they’ve gone
Ok, this quotes got nothing to do with cycling but its Baz Luhrman
quote week remember:
I prefer: ‘Cycling – put the fun
between your legs.’
Three long school days meant I
had no time to bike during the week – apart from my single day off on
Thursday. Thank heavens for #WattBikes
is all I can say! Although, I’d rather be out on my bike in the fresh air than
sat like a twat on a stationary bike in a gym full of people - pedalling nowhere
very fast.
I must treat myself to a Turbo
Trainer soon – but my new living arrangements means I don’t actually have the space
to drip with sweat in the comfort of my own home. Thank heavens for Chrissie Wellington’s Ride
Harder series. Get on the bike – pop in my headphones and hey Presto, I am
being coached by a four time world champion telling me to ‘feel the burn, love the burn’.
Standard warm up then interval sets and blocks of riding hard, then fast
with minute recoveries in between. The
first time I listened to it – the music was hugely motivating – but now on my
1005th playback it has become a bit of a drone. (That is my only
complaint) Chrissie’s unique and infectious enthusiasm will never tire –and I find
this programme hugely motivating – especially after a long day of
learning. Having someone to kick you in
to touch is just what you need. And she is just a legend. Anyone training for an Ironman should read
her book ‘A Life Beyond Limits’. What
she has gone on to achieve in such a short space of time is truly remarkable
and she has battled a few demons of her own.
There’s Ride Harder 1, 2 and 3. 1
is just 40 minutes, 2 is 60 and 3 is 97 – all are challenging and you will sweat
buckets if you do them! Depending on how
long I have, and how long I can be bothered to sit indoors on a bike – I mix
and match the tracks to the fit the amount of time I have available. This week I did two one hour sessions. Then on Thursday I hit the roads as it was
dry and crisp and I felt strong and powerful powering up Bostal Hill (those
sessions really do help!) I just need to
stop being such a pussy on the descent I get so #godarnscared. Perhaps I can
practice in Lanzarote next month. There’s
plenty of hills to be found there!
Bike totals for the week: Training time: 3hrs 20 minutes Distance: 94km (only 32 of them out on
the road!)
Run
‘Remember the compliments you receive.
Forget the insults, if you succeed in doing this, tell me how’
I know, I’m going off on one with these
Bazism’s but will explain later. In the meantime:
‘Hills. We love them. We hate them. They make us strong. They make us weak. I chose to embrace the rolling hills of
Antigua’.
This was the week of the run. Of late I have become slack and lazy with
element of training. Post ankle break I air
on the side of over cautious in the wet UK terrain. This week there was no excuse – I was off to
the Caribbean with work for sun, sea and RUNning (of course). I’d banked a 5km run
in creepy Crawley on Tuesday pounding the pavements at night… so come Saturday
morning I was raring for a sunlight run. Antigua is great for running – as it’s
so hilly. An awesome way to strengthen those
big engines while soaking up some of the Caribbean lifestyle. I decided to ditch the Ipod so I could take
it all in, Yah man. The first hill out of the hotel had me panting but as I got
into a relaxed rhythm it felt comfortable. Everywhere in Antigua is beautiful,
green and luscious no wonder Eric Clapton decided to live here. 3km in and I’m
greeted by a man on a donkey carrying what can only be described as a sword… I’m
a bit dubious, but none the less give him my widest nasher smile say ‘good
morning’ and continue to jog on. Before I know it I’m 6km in and halfway up
Shirley Heights - a huge hill 490ft above sea level. But I don’t go to the top as I’m out of steam –
I turn and trot back to the hotelio, after all I needed to save all my energy
for paddle boarding fun! As I run through the little town locals clap and shout
me and for a split second I feel like an athlete. One local shouts ‘you go
girl, doing great.’ So I think of Good ol Baz and hold on to this compliment to
power me home. Running strong, free and now confidently! On day 2 I treat
myself to a barefoot beach run along the sand.
Great workout for the butt!
Run totals for the
week: Training time: 2hours 46 minutes. Distance: 26km
Other fitness related
activities this week:
The standard two Bodypump classes, a great tri specific strength
and conditioning set with #tritart - And who could not forget my 45 minutes of Paddle
boarding fun! There’s deffo a SUP tri event in me next year!
Total extras: 3hrs
10 mins
Total weeks training
times: 11 hours 53 minutes. Not. Too. Shabby
I will leave you with this one last thought:
‘Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes
your ahead, sometimes your behind… the race is long, and in the end, it’s only
with yourself.’
Good. Old. Baz. Until
next time peeps
What. A. Week. #epic! Follow me @tritheworldover
It. Went. Like. This:
1. Decide what it is
you want - Austria Ironman 2015
2. Write that shit
down - (Here it is – the form of a blog)
3. Make a fucking
plan (sorry Glenda, that’s another 50p for the swear tin) -plan is get a professional
coach (he can take care of the training plan). Check. Other plans included researching into getting
a new bike. Check. Being more social
with the training. Check. Getting to some
more of my wonderful tri club (Tuff Fitty not Tuff Titty) coached sessions.
Check
4. And work on it.
Every. Single. Day -and yes, yes I have! And boy does it feel good!
#eatsleeptrainrepeat #eatsleeptrainrepeat #eatsleeptrainrepeat yes, yes you get
the picture!
For those of you who know me well you will know that
indecision has let me down in the past year –This House of Prayer quote describes
it well: (PS I’m not f@@king religious)
‘Indecision is debilitating – it feeds upon itself, it is, one might
say habit forming. Not only that – but it
is contagious – it transmits itself to others.’
I am forever asking people – what do you
think I should do – and why do you think this is? Because I bloody doubt myself, when really I
shouldn’t. Hence the bumblebee/racehorse
post. Now we have that sorted and the
self-belief bandwagon up and running hopefully indecision will no longer be an
enemy of my progress in all areas of my life.
It may sound like I am talking in riddles. I probably am. But my dear friends will know what I am on
about. One thing I have learnt from the
various mistakes I have made in the past year is that:
‘Time does not wait and indecision will only let opportunities slip by’ so, now I’ve picked my Ironman path I
can walk confidently with my heart behind every step. Yada, yada, yada! Grab
life by the balls people! JUST do it – whatever it is your heart is telling you
to do! Go for GOLD! Time waits for no,
ironman!
So the first week of my Ironman training plan is done! BOOM
I won’t forget it – all the threes 3thirtythree3. One down 3thirtytwo2 to go and it. Went. A. Bit.
Like. This:
Swim hours: 1hr
35 mins Kilometres swam: 6.1km
‘Home is where the pool is’
Swimming is a great love of mine – chorine it runs through
my veins, I could swim all day every day – but not the channel ha-ha. I think I used to be a dolphin or a mermaid in
a past life because being in the water just feels natural to me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get much pool time this week. It started
off well with a 4km endurance set with Mr Latham. But the long monotonous cool down set got to
my shoulders and I had exam revision guilt so I bottled it and got out after
3.3km. I do loathe a long drill set - I tend
to switch off past 400m. Also managed to get to a Tuffy coached swim session on
Saturday, which was very good Lardy mixed it up with lots of tempo, speed and
drill efforts. And you can’t beat
training with others. A bit of banter in
between sets always helps to keep motivated too!
Cycling hours:
7hrs 40 minutes Kilometres travelled:
244
‘Cycling releases a chemical that makes you feel utterly smug and
superior for the rest of the day’….DISCUSS
Not sure I ALWAYS agree with this quote. But this week the riding has been pretty
awesome. Yes, there’s been wind and rain,
but no tantrums or toys thrown out of the pram and I even managed to keep up on
the Sunday Tuff Fitty club ride (notoriously known for dropping people out –
sorry @Totallyfuelled - had to be mentioned). I was hanging on for dear life at
one point and was amazed to look at my Garmin and see I was managing to push
38kmph at one point on the flat. WTF! So my cycling in Lanza paid off and I
have a very special person to thank for that. #DM
Anyway, being an amateur cyclist I have been known to cop
the odd strop– quite simply because in the past I have not been fast, or good
enough to keep up with this group riding malarky. Last year my quite simply
legendary friend Jon C earned himself a medal in my Sam’s wall of awesome
triathlon people. He just put up with my
teenage outbursts as did Kevlar. I will never forget my first 100 mile ride
with the Bognor lot when I boinked at 70 miles with no nutrition and became snappier
than a crocodile - he was there with his energy drink and dear words of
encouragement. Who could forget that
fateful 100km Tuff Fitty winter ride where I got dropped and I wanted to throw
my bike in the hedges. I can laugh about
it now, but at the time I was ready to tantrum that man is such a calming
influence. So, thank you Jon!
I truly believe if it hadn’t been for all those long fat
burning IM Bolton rides he invited me along to (and I’m sure dropped his pace)
I would still be plodding along at granny pace.
Building speed on the bike is quite simply down to time in the
saddle. And this week I banked some
great hours on the bike . (if you want a funny triathlon book – read Sex, Lies and Triathlon by Leib Dodell – unfortunately there is
nothing in there about how sex improves your triathlon times, or indeed
anything about sex. But sex sells, so
think that’s why it’s in the title. However,
it talks about the importance of banking good bike and run miles when the
weather is good - it’s also quirky and you can really relate to everything he
writes about!)
Run time: A disappointing
29 minutes Kilometres ran: 5:13km
‘Running - cheaper than therapy’
So why the hell aren’t I pounding the pavements!? After all I
need all the help I can get! HA. Hands up if this weather has caused you to
lose that running mojo of yours, or is it just me? – I did, however, manage to
claim a bit of it back. But let’s face
it -This weather is hardly run inspiring and it’s only going to get worse. I thought about it a lot. I looked outside. A lot. I thought about it again. And the excuses came
too easily: ‘It’s too cold, it’s too wet, it’s too dark.’ In the end I tweeted for inspiration
@thisfatgirlruns told me to just get out and put one foot forward. So after a glass of #manthefuckup I donned
the trainers and opted for a safe promenade run. Slow and steady. Next week is run week – I promise!
Other training
activities worth noting:
A rather entertaining Insanity Class at David Lloyd, with
the original coach, Paul P. You can’t
beat a bit of side shuffling and burpee-ing, and deep squatting – after all
this functional sh#t strengthens those muscles. After all I need to be a #fitleanfightingmachine
Bodypump and BodyBalance
1000 rep challenge. 10 sets of 100 exercises! Go me! Lunges,
squats… you get the picture!
All in all a very active and social week!
Total training hours banked: 13 ish
Thoughts for week 3thirtytwo2:
The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were
yesterday
1.
More running
2.
More swimming
3.
Less biking!
The power of THREE!
It will be interesting to see how much training I manage to
fit in with a full on week of SEP exams and returning to the skies. Roger that. Over and out.
PS: I am not powered by fairy dust – but …. www.totallyfuelled.com CHECK. IT. OUT! @totallyfuelled
How I got here!
I first entered the triathlon world just over two years ago, having trained at my local David Lloyd in a 12 week group triathlon programme with fellow newbies. To say I was absolutely clueless about triathlon was an understatement. My sister and her partner had been trying to coax me into their world for years, but having explained the distances of their Ironman efforts, I thought the sport sounded a rather ludicrous.
Anyway, after my basic triathlon training and first sprint tri under my race belt (Virgin Active Brighton Triathlon formally Esporta Brighton Triathlon) I soon became hooked.
However, training smart didn't seem to sit very well in my vocabulary. I have always been an all or nothing girl, so triathlon was another all focus. I would get to some of my local club training sessions, continue with my regular gym classes and just swim, bike and run when I could with little or no thought to the volume or intensity. Looking back I probably over trained - giving my body little or no time to recover. I've never been good with routine and structure if I have to organise it. Partly down to my scatty nature and the fact my job sees me literally all over the place. So training was all very mishmashed and without specific goals.
My first ever triathlon was at the end of the 2011 season, so the rest of that year was spent trying to run more than 5km without stopping and trying to enjoy it. The next year I entered a handful of local triathlons and enjoyed them, but did them to complete, not compete. It was still very much a social thing.
Swimming had always been my strongest discipline so when I entered the Worthing Sprint (sea swim) and finished ahead of fellow DL'ers this gave me my first taste of success. I knew if I could improve on my weakest disciplines, running and biking I could potentially be better than my peers. The next year I focussed soley on running and completed two sub 4.10 marathons. Again, my all or nothing approach had led me to focus on running. Although, this very same year I completed my first half iron middle distance (Swashbucker) in a respectable 5hrs 39 with a very random training plan I'd plucked from the internet. I completed a few other triathlons that year with very mediocre results and decided that 2014 would be the year I would train smarter, with the aim of posting better results. In Oct 2013, post Amsterdam Marathon I signed up for Berlinman August 2014, a middle distance tri, with the intention of making it a 5:30 finish with my ultimate goal being Austria Ironman 2015.
However, my training came to a complete halt when worst nightmare came true. I broke my ankle after losing footing in a pothole on a marathon training run on the South downs Dec 31st 2013 (Happy New Year me!) Thankfully I can now look back and see all the positives that came from what at the time felt the end of the world.
A Bloc waterproof sock became my friend and swimming my saviour. When my swim sets became monotonous and I lacked creativity, I moaned to a friend who highly recommended that I looked online for swim sets and read The Triathlete Bible that she'd given me to swat up on having a smarter approach to training. Sustaining an injury changes the way you think - I could no longer carry on training like an insane mad woman. I had to be safe and sensible in my recovery. I certainly wasn't an athlete. But I thought, having signed up to Berlinman perhaps I needed to be a trigeek and plan my training to help me get to the start line, just fit to race, regardless of posting a decent time. Anything was worth a shot. I felt miserable and disheartened by the injury.
With some mish mash coaching advice from the tinternet and various tri friends in the past year I feel I have gone from. Try-athlete to potential triathlete in a matter of months .
Sustaining an injury is physically and emotionally exhausting. From day 1, having people around me that I could ask about my training helped me to focus on what I could be achieving.
Putting together engaging swim and strength and conditioning plans plucked from the internet also helped to give me a clear structured focus. It was refreshing to complete creative and well devised swim sets. Swimming became less monotonous and varied with every swim session that I ticked off. It was even better when I managed to train with others, especially my good pal, Mike Latham, third time channel legend.
I soon felt not only stronger in the water, but also physically and emotionally and confident that I could recover well from my injury.
Recovering from an injury is a long and slow process and it's hugely encouraging to have triathlon friends on tap to put your mind at ease.
Over the following few months of swim training plans, I became stronger in the water. I noticed my times had become quicker and my mindset had shifted from negative to a positive one. It was so rewarding to set goals and achieve them.
I wasn't training any more than I had done in the past before my break, but thanks to guidance from my triathlete pals (got to love the Tuff Fitties) my once sporadic and slap dash approach had become smart and efficient and I was beginning to notice the gains.
Out of cast I worked on strengthening my glutes and I banked some quality bike miles. Less became more with running. I couldn't quite believe that after my first few runs back my times had actually got quicker. It was a revelation for a tryathlete like myself. It was beginning to all sink in - I didn't have to train all day every day like a mad woman, like I had in the past.
Within the first three months of recovering from an injury and reading and talking to friends - I had picked up more tips, skills, advice and knowledge in the space of three months than I had in the first few years of my TRYbie days.
Breaking my ankle gave me more time to focus on thinking, reading and planning my training rather than just being 100 MPH and doing all the time!
In July I went to Lanzarote and banked some amazing quality bike miles and met some incredible and truly inspirational friends (this is another blog post in itself..to follow)
My recovery year has been truly incredible and I have laid the foundations to build on for Austria 2015. I was amazed to cross the finishing line at Berlinman in a respectable time of 5:30:32. Which goes to show that Smart training pays off!
I want to continue to train smart so will be enlisting the help of a professional to keep me on track. Watch this space!
Everyone who knows me will tell you I'm mad. Mad in an Alice In Wonderland kind of way. After all - There. Is. No. Other. Way.
So over the years I've learnt to embrace the May Madness and often remind myself of this quote:
The Mad Hatter: 'Have I gone mad'
Alice: 'I'm afraid so, You're entirely BONKERS. But I will tell you a secret. All the best people are.'
I live my life through quotes. I love them. They motivate and inspire me. This blog will consist of ten per cent fact and 90 percent waffle/quotes/ramblings - so, for that I apologise. Hopefully as I share my Ironman journey the writing will improve also - but for now, as Miranda would say, bare with!
So why is 'Think like a bumblebee and train like a racehorse' My new Ironman mantra? Sounds totally bonkers, but makes total sense. Let me explain. Yonks ago a bunch of scientists made an enlightening discovery... the weight and furriness of the busy buzzy bumblebee compared to their slight and delicate wing span meant that scientifically - they SHOULD not be capable of flight.
However as you and I both know - they can. And I betcha bottom dollar the bright little blighters never even once thought they achieved the impossible. They, just did it! So what's this got to do with Ironman I hear you say well, everything. These bumbly creatures never doubted their abilities - so they grew and flew and cowabunga they were away. Simples. So. If you think you can you are probably right.
I CAN... I CAN... I CAN. I believe I can do Austria Ironman 2015 and I sure as hell have plenty of time to pack in the training needed. Thirty two weeks whole weeks and 6 days to be exact. Well lets say 31 if I add on the taper. (Not sure I am a huge fan of the taper to be honest. Me and doing nothing don't mix)
So today couldn't be a better day to start this blog. Apart from the fact, as per usual it is pissing with rain in the UK! Hahaha... Again, those who know me - know that 3, really is my magic number. Perhaps maybe why I was drawn to the wonderful sport of triathlon in the first place - who knows. So with 3thirtyfrickentwo2 weeks to go I shall begin the Birds Eye potato waffling...
Back to the quote Sam. Racehorse?! What's that got to do with a friggin bumblebee?! Well the glossy sweaty thoroughbreds just stick to their training plans and race. Don't they? They don't sweat about the small shit. They follow a plan - and stick to it. Religiously. And they rock up to race ready to give it their best - knowing they have put in all the hours training needed to get them to the finishing line. They don't care what other people around them are doing. These Black Beauties just want to get faster so they focus on themselves, their plan and they work like Trojans to get there without much concern about the immediate benefits - new fangled fads and gizmos.
This is me - now. I believe I can fly and with the right training, dedication and commitment I will not only get to the start line - but will finish. Providing I stay injury free! That's where my SMART training comes in to play. My triathlon journey has been rather hap hazardous to say the least. As I'm sure has many other try-athletes. Since the tri seed was planted at the end of 2011 I have learnt the hard way - by mistake. The biggest one led to an ankle break - but I wont go in to detail as I truly believe everything happens for a reason! Recovering from a broken ankle was a long and rewarding journey and the past year I have learnt a lot about myself and what my body is capable of.
I recovered safely and well and had my best season to date. I wrote a reflection piece of my epic season after achieving what at the beginning of the year I had thought would be impossible- a 5:30 middle distance triathlon. I will post at a later date - when I can find where I have put it!
There is nothing more rewarding than smashing a goal - or achieving something you have set out to do. That's another reason for this blogging nonsense. I want to look back in years to come and relive this experience. I also hope I can inspire anyone thinking of signing up or attempting an Ironman event - that 'Anything is possible.' If Mad May can - then anyone can. Thanks for reading. Over and out.
