Merry Christmas Training!!!

So what does Christmas training bring to the festivities this year?

Christmas Eve: A leisurely 2hr ride with fellow IM Craig & Emm, and Muffy, Nic, Kaylee, Daniele and Emily. The River Loop was very civilised, Nic had her bike speakers blaring Jingle Bells, we saw other cyclists with their tinsel and Santa hats on....


and my speedo read 77.5kph at the bottom of Dornoch Terrace!!! My aim of IM training now is to crack 80kph!









Christmas Day: a leisurely 50 min walk (a very leisurely 10min run snuck into the mix...!). Followed by breakfast of eggs and ham and watching Santa on a boat pulled by reindeer...mince pie making....and a bbq to come at Mike & Ewen's place - good and drinks round the pool with fellow 'Christmas Orphans' :-)

Boxing Day: now this is where the word leisurely falls out of the Christmas period training.....a 4.5hr ride is planned. Will I make it? Well I will start it and see how the leg is...and continue as long as it isn't hurting..

And finally some enlightened words from my esteemed fellow IM, Bec who is jetting off to Las Vegas today (Christmas Day):

"I have to say, as I was packing the car this morning I caught the towers on Mount Coot-tha winking at me. So I told them to f&ck off because I realised I wasn't going anywhere near them until next year!"

Merry Christmas!!

Faye
x

IM Camp

Well last Friday saw the start of a 2 day (4 for some hard nuts!) training camp for the 20 or so crazy bods taking on Ironman in not too many weeks....11 for NZ and 14 for Port Mac.

Ali was coming off the back of a podium finish at the Canberra 1/2 IM a week ago, Tim O was easing back into training after a back injury has seen him doing nothing for several weeks, and for many this weekend was going to represent the first ever ride over 3hrs....get that body glide and chammy cream ready! There was a lot of uneasy anticipation of what lay ahead.

Having just been told by my physio to cut back on cycling due to my calf injury feeling worse, the prospect of the 5 hour Saturday morning ride suddenly didn't seem so onerous since I'd be stopping after 2...so much for hardcore Ironman training! All the goodies I'd packed to fuel me before, during and after the ride were all going to seem a little redundant. Hammer endurance fuel, vegemite sandwiches, gels, biscuits and an ice-cold Sprite for finishing just don't hold the same value for 2 hours in the saddle...I'd feel guilty even having the Sprite afterwards!

The weekend started off Friday night with a trail run in Noosa National Park for most. I'd done an hour water running in the morning and so opted for the get there later and chill option :-). After a Thai feed, we all rushed off to bed at 9pm in preparation for the forthcoming slog fest.

My own training was of course reduced from what was scheduled, I actually did less than I have been doing the last few weekends with Em and Jacque. But the change of scenery, having nothing better to do than chilling out and resting after training was great. It was also a good time to socialise with more of the group doing IM. I was truly impressed by everyone's efforts over the weekend. For those doing 4 days, they backed up the Saturday 5hr ride with a 4hr ride on Tuesday morning too...after swimming, running and more riding in between.


And mine, well the highlight was steaming up Noosa hill against the advice of Coach who reiterated the need in IM to pace the hills.....and flying down the other side of Noosa hill when advised to go easy in the wet - 72.3km per hr - now that made me temporarily forget about not being able to run, or ride quite how I should be at this stage of IM training!!!!



Onward and upward (I'll be back smashing out laps of Cootha again soon)!!

Faye
x

Do I Have to Ride Today?

I knew it would happen, there'd be days that I was on a training 'downer'. Today was the first and I had a ride to do....followed by an evening swim.....followed by a ride tomorrow morning...followed by....

I left home at 415am to meet Jacque in Newmarket, to ride to Southbank to meet Sophie & Chris at 445am to ride for 2.5hrs. The plan was an extended River Loop, including rolling hills. As soon as we started the main ride I knew that I just wasn't firing on all cylinders. In fact I've been like that all week. Having just had a recovery week last week, I thought all would be good, I'd be raring to go this week...if only. Tired legs, gritty eyes; motivation is not lacking, rather variable emotions and a get up and go that seems to have get up and gone!

From the outset of today's ride, I wanted it to be over, I tried everything to shorten it, thwarted at every turn by my fellow riders who so graciously changed the route when I said I was just going to cut it short - they chose a less hilly extended loop. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, MY LEGS WON'T GO VERY FAST, I DON'T THINK I'M GOING AS WELL AS I THOUGHT AND THERE ARE TEARS BEHIND MY SUNNIES I DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE; LET ME BE SLOW AND QUIET ON MY OWN!

But I wasn't even allowed my original plan of sitting at the back for the entire ride. Sophie and Chris and Jacque chatted, bantered between themselves, let me ride quietly along, even came for coffee with me after when I'm sure they didn't really have time. So I quietly rode, and quietly got round, quiety had tears, and quietly cursed my fellow riders for sticking with me, quietly had coffee and got ready for my day ahead. AND LOUDLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU!!!!!!

I am sure there will be more days like this, days that are worse. I have some fantastic friends to train with, to help me get through the days when my mind or body, or both are not willing; who will not let me do it on my own. I hope that I can do the same the day my fellow IM have a day like mine.


So I did my swim tonight, my eyes are still gritty, and I'm off to bed....I have a ride to do in the morning.....

Faye
x

The Shortest Marathon Campaign in History!

So I guess that I have been harbouring a little secret... Since signing up for IM over 8 weeks ago, I haven't run one step...

Now you may be thinking, hang on a minute aren't you supposed to be doing Ironman? Isn't that a marathon run at the end of the swim and bike? Well, yep to both of those. I have 2 new pairs of trainers ready and waiting to be broken in; some racing flats all primed for March 6th; routes worked out; a nutrition plan to avoid the awful cramps I experienced in the 1/2 IM; keenness to prove my ability in a marathon; and legs that want to get stuck in...oops hang on, no that last point might not be quite true.

So the week of signing up to Ironman, I had a 'not so good' feeling in my left calf. Having experienced shin splints before, it seemed that I might be suffering the same again. Being proactive and knowing that I needed to keep on top of any niggles, I booked in with the physio for assessment. At the initial appointment I nearly jumped off the bed when he touched the sore area, and the consensus was shin splints. Treatment? No running, light massage, compression.

So for the past 6 weeks I have been going around with a compression sock on (and it's not 34 degrees!). Only a 30% improvement - I now don't jump off the bed. So I was told in no uncertain terms to get an MRI scan before further treatment could be done because it could be a stress fracture. So I did.

And it's not a stress fracture - Yipeeeeeee!






It was however short lived elation. I went into my physio appointment yesterday with my trainers thinking that a 'muscle tear' would mean that my now 7 weeks of no running would have me doing some running by next week. Mmmmm, I got laughed at.

As it happens, it is a fascial tear deep in the left calf between two muscles, that is 2cm long and 1cm deep. My physio has never seen it in a calf before, and one of his colleagues only once. Excellent. And recovery time......16 - 24 weeks. And the advice....absolutely NO running, No long walking, No fin work in the pool, NO hills on the bike, No rides longer than 4 hours, Compression Compression, Compression.

So taking the middle ground of 20 weeks would take me exactly to race day. Cool, skip the run training, go straight to taper and race day! So I have 12 weeks to be running again - nope actually make that 9 to be marathon ready cause then it's taper.

Best case scenario from the physio of 16 weeks, I get 1 week of training, 3 weeks taper. Worst case scenario and I'm 4 weeks past race day. Right!

And now the realities? That the prognosis isn't too good. That what was my racing strength may become my Achilles heel. That I have paid my money and I will be there. That I will be cycling, water running and swimming. That I will make the concession of no fin work and limited 'big' hills.......promise! And if you see me in those silly compression socks please do not laugh...or at least laugh with me :-)

Faye

x

Tired all the Time?

I Googled ‘tiredness’ today. Apparently common searches are:

- Tiredness in pregnancy
- Tiredness after eating
- Tiredness in children
- Tiredness and achy joints
- Tiredness and headaches

Well I can tick off the list all of those since eating usually gives me energy at the moment, achy joints…sometimes but definitely related to the crazy world of Ironman…headaches, not really….pregnancy, uh no chance of that…and I definitely do not qualify as a child…well ok only very occasionally in excellent moments of silliness :-)

Maybe I have ‘tired all the time syndrome’. It would fit. And did you know that in a recent survey 11.7 % of the NSW population has ‘chronic daytime tiredness’. I’ve even found a link to chronic tiredness and sleep apnoea – maybe that’s it, I am stopping breathing whilst sleeping which is causing disrupted sleep and making me tired! Or I am anaemic –yep that must be it, not enough steak. Note to self; must eat more steak. Or I’m depressed…that makes people tired. Must think more positively and do some affirmations every day.

Ok, so I consulted the experts. From fellow readers of ‘Bonzo’s’ question on Google answers ‘I feel physically drained and tired all the time, even after a period of sleep. What could be going on?’

Mr.Vincent van Jessup: Diabetes, for one

Lola B: You may not realize this but someone can be depressed without other signs other than being tired all the time. It happened to me. I was tired all the time could sleep all day or night and wake up tired. My advice is talk to your doctor explain how you feel they would know.

Xindaiel: try just plain and simple stress. I get nightmares when i'm stressed.

Spinster Wife: Go for a medical check up. Your testosterone levels could be low especially if you are older. Or you could be depressed.

Stephanie: You are lacking something, if you are not eating right and staying generally active you will lack energy... Try a multi vitamin?

Well Mr. Van Jessup, I am pretty sure I don’t have diabetes...and I’m pretty confident LolaB that I’m not depressed despite being able to sleep all day or night and wake up tired. And nope, I do not feel stressed, do not have nightmares, and sleep like a log. Spinster Wife, have you checked your hormone recently, is this why you’re a spinster – you’ve been pumping that testosterone and are sporting a goaty or mo? That might make you depressed....Hang on a minute Stephanie... I do exercise, I eat regularly and well -have you seen my shopping basket full of steak, fish, vegetables, fruit (ok some chocolate too..), and I take more than just a multi vitamin....my bathroom cabinet resembles a health store.

I just can’t figure it out...tired all the time despite doing stuff that are supposed to give you more energy each day...exercise, eat well, exercise, sleep and start all over again. Hang on a minute that word seems to pop up more than just once in a day.....exercise.

Mmmmmmm.........

I like the response from '5zerocool' - Try some coffee for a boost. I know that if I don't have my coffee in the morning I will be dragging until lunchtime. Some people I know complain about being tired all the time, but won't try coffee. Weird!

Weird indeed 5zerocool, weird indeed!

Faye
x

Ironman Vs normality?

Is it possible to maintain a remotely normal life whilst training for Ironman? I'm not sure but so many people do it, that it must be possible...surely?! People do Ironman who have kids, hold down full time professional jobs, keep marriages together, etc etc..

But do they just put everything on hold for several months in order to really 'do' Ironman? Do the partners, children, friends, colleagues; all just put up with this triathlon crazed nut who eats like a horse, has to leave social events by 9pm because 'I am getting up in 7hours', talks about training over breakfast lunch and dinner, and moans about how expensive it's all getting..???

What does my life involve at the moment....5hrs of swimming a week, 1.5hrs hrs of water running and about 10-11 hrs of riding....so that amounts to about 17 hrs of training. Up at 430am most days, bed by 930pm....or earlier.

I went out for dinner with friends twice this weekend; Friday and Saturday night. Friday night - fellow triathletes. Saturday night - not fellow triathletes. Levels of guilt: Friday = 1/10 Saturday = 9/10. In bed at 11pm both nights; guiltily mumbling 'sorry I'm having to leave so early' as I run out the door to the car - but I still had to get up at 430am to train....so my hours of sleep were reduced to about 5 each night. I am telling you, that is NOT enough to sustain 6 hours of training. By Sunday afternoon I was nanna napping on the couch. So do I lose my social life for the next 3.5 months? Is it possible to maintain 'normality'?

Well yes and no.

Getting up at 430am IS NOT NORMAL PEOPLE. Unless you do it yourself and then you understand....so it's just as well a lot of my friends are fellow triathletes; it becomes a race to get home first. Socialising becomes an afternoon affair and no one feels guilty when excuses are made to leave at 8pm. Apologies now to non triathlon friends for the next while of early nights and putting training ahead of late nights..please save me after March 6th!

anyway...I should go, I need to get my stuff ready for the morning and it is 845pm already!

Faye
x

Riding with the Boys

After much cajoling by Scott Budd aka IM supreme, I finally rode with the boys this morning. The rap is 'Friday is a social aerobic ride followed by coffee and trash talk'. Now I can coffee and trash talk with the best of them, but by the time the boys ride hits the Corso on a 'friendly River Loop' testosterone has usually taken over and the average creeps up to 40....45....50kph as social becomes friendly rivalry leaving all others in their wake. I have refused to take part in this smash fest til now....thinking that my red meat intake just hasn't been enough to boost those ever important hormones!

So why today? Well after riding 3 laps of Mount Cootha in the rain on Wednesday, and feeling pretty fresh in the legs...I thought that it was time to take the challenge. And off we went - the girls ride behind who do stick to the Friday mantra of 'social' (no testosterone here thank you!) was my back up once I got dropped off the pace!

My tactics were to basically get sucked along in the pack. I think Scott really didn't think I'd join in so when he dropped off the front 20 minutes in it was a very surprised 'Oh hello Faye' when he saw me. And I was still there :-)

Scott, Dave, Mike, Tommy, Craig, Shannon, Ewen, Paul, Nigel...and Faye. Well all I can say is thanks for going relatively easy on me boys (although being unnoticed for a while maybe they weren't?!). Sucked along...yes.....but it was great! I even got sucked up hills....I never thought it could happen.

HOWEVER......I have to say this girls, I think you ride harder than the boys!!! I hope non of you guys are reading this otherwise my Friday morning social rides with the boys will truly resort to being smashed and I won't have the energy to participate in the trash talking afterwards!!!! I take it back guys...really I do...! But let the trash talk begin :-)

Faye

x

Ironman Silliness

So it is 32 days since deciding that taking up the Ironman mantle would be a good idea. And 100 days to go until I find out whether that idea was good or just a huge bit left of my centre!!

Ironman, 3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km of running…..and about 12 to 13 hours til finish, maybe, give or take a couple of hours – actually give more than take….!

This is what it’s all going to be about: www.ironman.co.nz

And THIS is what some people say about it:

Ewen: ‘Unfinished Business’

Craig: "when I think about doing IM, I mean really think about it - I get
goosebumps"

Gerrad: ‘Mate it is everything…all your money, all your time, all your thoughts and all your effort…. ‘

……..and yes – those are the people who’ve done it! ......and from those that haven’t:

Bec: ‘Hmm the first thing is 'hungry and broke'. On a serious note - "When I think about doing IM I feel anxious/hesitant/scared - but there is something about it that is impossible to resist"

Emm: ‘Hard work, dedication, commitment, mental toughness, self belief’

Merinda: "When I think about doing Ironman - I vomit"


5 weeks into training, 15 weeks to go.......the journey has started and this is it.......

Faye
x