Get up and Get going!

 One day you wish you could!
- backonpointe.tumblr.com

There's nothing I love more is seeing a whole bunch of people from all walks of life, getting out, getting active and giving it a go. The atmosphere at any community event is always electric and this morning was the Mornington Bay run, which was a sweet stinger of a course of 8.24km up Bellura Hill... twice!

My body is starting to feel the effect of a full training week thats for sure, the legs are tight and tired. I got to Mornington bright and early and set off on a warm up run of 15mins, mainly to keep warm, it was gusty this morning, and also because coach said so. My first kilometer took me 5:40mins and I really felt sluggish. I wasn't setting out to get a PB this morning, I was looking at it as a gauge to see where I was sitting when it came to other runners, other than my good ol' run group. After a slow warm up I had woken up the legs and was ready to run. Side note: I really did consider just not getting out of bed, I was calculating when my next sleep in was going to be and it's not going to be well into next week! But I am practicing to live with integrity and I had promised my fabulous friend Jeni (who had organised the whole damn thing!) that I'd be there. She did entice me with the prospect of winning a whole bundle of prizes which I must admit help a little... ok a LOT hehe.

The talented/exhusted Jeni and me with my medal and bag of goodies. I won close to $600 worth of amazing prizes. Thankyou to the wonderful people of Mornington!

Coach Watson was there, as was David and Mr. King at the start line. Watson's coaxed me to get up front and centre, and when the timely car horn sounded we were off. In my mind I was looking at this run as another Thursday morning, rather than a race. This help me keep my heart rate down and keep a good steady pace. At first my legs felt the work of the last week, but as I built up a good rhythm, I began to cruise along. From the word go I was the first girl out there and my intention was to keep it that way. I kept pace with a few guys and made sure they stayed with in reach. The best tip Clinton told me was to never look behind you. This firstly waste energy, disrupts your rhythm and lets the people behind you know you're wearing down. So I kept my gaze ahead the whole race.

Rounding the corner of the esplanade the delightful hill presented itself. This is where you switch all those voices in your head telling you that; "it's too hard", "my legs are too sore", "the guys behind me are just going to fly past me", in order to keep powering on. I know how easily the mind wants to defeat you, to take the easy way out. It takes a huge effort to resist it and push through, to prove to yourself and everyone else that you've got what it takes to not back down and to keep pushing. In these moments I go through a quick body check to bring myself back to the moment, "my legs feel fine actually", "my breathing is steady" and "oh would you look at that, I've reached the top of the hill!!"

I felt stronger as the hill tapered out and the 'U' turn mark was in sight, I had kept pace with the guys I sighted at the beginning and I was making good time. Coming back past the rest of the runners I could see where I was sitting. Naomi, who I swim with on Wednesday was killing it, running second behind me. I knew I could keep my distance, especially as we began to cruise down the hill. It was amazing the encouragement I got from other runners as I passed them by, cheering me on as I was the first girl. In these moments I feel so alive and strong, I love it.

I was as I was climbing the last hill back to the park to round out for the second lap that this wippersnipper shot past me. She must have been 15, and she was on fire. "Shit, I can't keep that pace for another 4kms" and "Shit, she's going to win all the prizes!!!" were the two thoughts that raced into my mind! Yet as we turned of for our second lap, she headed off to finish the 4km distance. Amazing running by her regardless.

On the second lap was when I got vocal :) I love encouraging people along and giving them that spark to go that bit faster! Approaching the hill for a second time one of the guys as the front of the pack had stopped and started to walk. I tapped him on the shoulder as I ran past and told him to keep moving! He got going and we spurred each other on up the hill. This is when I love running with other people, in the moments, when by yourself you would easily give up. He got his second wind at the top of the hill and headed of at a great pace!

my loot! not back for 32:55mins at the office!

I too, kept a strong pace to finish the second lap, once again spurring on a fellow runner to "get going" to bring it home. I came in 1st place in Open Female with a time of 32:55mins. Big hugs and a hi five with Jeni at the finish line and a quick (yet oh so painful!!) rub down, before collecting my amazing bundle of prizes!

So from not wanting to get out of bed and have that 'well deserved' sleep in, to have a great morning and placing 1st, I can tell you that taking the easy way out doesn't always pay off. You've got to be in it to win...so they say. Oh and also wear lucky number 200! Thanks Jeni!

The good friend the Bike

Second week into training and I'm beginning to notice a theme. The Bike!

This week I have 1 hour wind trainer set and 2 x 3 hour ride.

First and foremost I need to become friends with the bike. I like to view our relationship as frienemies. This however, really has to change seeing that on the day of Ironman I am expecting to spend up to 6 hours on the damn thing. I only picked up road cycling in August last year and it's not an activity I choose to do if I have a bit of free time up my sleeve. Don't get me wrong once I get out on the open road, I love it. We are so lucky down here on the peninsula that no matter where you ride you can see the water. It's just the thought of going on a 3 hour ride when I'm all snug in bed that doesn't excite me! You must understand that right?!

my beast in all it's glory

My beast is a year 2000 Trek 1000 that I bought of my friend Ildiko. It's unlike the fandagle, light carbon bikes I see flying down Nepean highway, but it has served me well. So far I have placed above 7th in all of the sprint races last summer and won my division down at Geelong in the olympic distance in February this year. Looking forward, I have a goal to buy a new bike by September, this gives me enough time to get familiar with it before I race Noosa (olympic distance) in November. I was going to write comfortable here but let me be straight, comfort isn't something you find on a bike!

Having accepted that I'm so out of depth, Clinton is going to assist me with the purchase. I'll be looking at spending around $4,000. $2,500 being the frame of the bike and up to $1,500 for the wheels! Hence why I have been cruising around on the beast, I didn't want to spend this kind of money not knowing my commitment to the sport. Ironman 2014.... I think I'm committed.

Eating on the bike is the other challenge I've got to experiment with. I got in 'trouble' last night by the coach at swimming for not eating enough on my 3 hour ride on Sunday just gone. Having eating 1, 1/2 english brekky muffin and a gel before getting on the bike and then consuming another gel and a clif bar (which I struggled to eat whilst trying to breath!) I thought I had done a good job... Not the case! So now I have to look at doubling my food intake on the bike. I must admit I was totally zapped by the time we got back! The boys looked out for me on the ride making sure I don't drop back and getting me to draft them which helped a lot.

The other form of bike training we do is wind training. Pretty much, just imagine an RPM/Spin class on steroids and you're close. I can remember my first session I went to at the tiny club house in Frankston. I actually thought I was going to die. My legs hurt so much and this crazy Clinton had this smile on his face, he was actually enjoying it... it made me feel stick! It was thanks to Veronica who pulled me thought that first session of hell! that I survived. She's in her sixties and still fighting fit. She's my inspiration! Each week she is there ready to work hard and has the best attitude towards training. I was like "shit, if she can do, I better bloody get my butt into action! No complaints." We set our bikes up next to one another and encourage each other along when the set gets tough, agreeing that most of the time at training we feel totally dead but more alive than ever! In this last year I have met some really amazing people. That's what I love about triathlons, it attracts people from all walks of life.

Bear hugs with V are a tough W.T set

These two Peter and Veronica.
Spring chicken's I'd call them, no such thing as too old!

#36 (and so the count down begins)

First week in on my program and this is what it looked like.

Monday - 1hr wind trainer session (strength set)
Tuesday - off but went to Yin Yoga, and amazing stretch session at Summer Healing
Wednesday - 1hr swim set and a catch up with Mr Watson, to chat all things IM and life at his humble abode Brass Razu
Thursday - 1hr 'nose bleed' hill set at run group
Friday - 2kms easy in the pool
Saturday - 13km run, learning how to control my desire to run fast :)
Sunday - 3hr bike ride with the boys and Jill, my program said undulating, for some reason White Hill Rd in Red Hill doesn't fall into that category!

It was great to start my program, I felt focused and love having my week planned out. I must admit though, come Saturday when the alarm went off at 6am, and I could hear it pouring outside, I did mutter the words, 'what the hell have I gotten myself into!' But when I got to the beach and all the boys were there, high spirits and always encouraging, it didn't take me long to get back in to the IM zone.

The biggest thing I learnt this week, chatting to Clinton over hot chilli olives, is that I have to commit to constant communication with him. Last year, new to this kind of training, when things got tough or I couldn't fit in a session or I just felt flat, instead of voicing it I would retreat. I didn't want to look like I was whinging or couldn't handle it. I thought that retreating was the best way to deal with it. This year, year two of my triathlete career, I really can't afford to loose a week of training, to over train or to not communicate with the coach.

I'm have happily accepted that I am so green when it comes to triathlons, let alone a bloody Ironman! Having literally jumped in the deep end, I have so much to learn and as Clinton ask us to do at the IM info night (which quietly scared the bejesus out of me!) I have the up most faith in him and the program.

So that's week 36 down - 35 more to go......

Sunday 3hr ride - double and triple layers, it was freezing!

Gregy boy and Adam after a big climb on the back road of the Peninsula

Catch up with the Coach settling my nerves with a camomile :)

So happy I've come across these bad boys!
They are organic and taste delish and keep me going!

Here we go, here we go

my first ever sprint triathlon 2012

This time last year, I would have never had imagined I'd be here. Writing a blog about my sweaty pursuits in order to achieve an enormous goal... Ironman 2014. My history of triathlons is short. One year to be exact.

Winding back a year, I found myself in a spot of dispare, that my family and close friends can vouch for. I had lost momentum and direction. It was the familiar story of a twenty-something year old, having gone and studied a 4 year degree, design in this case, to realise that in reality it just didn't float their boat. It really didn't, I tried a few different jobs, a small magazine to a styling company finding myself only lasting a few months later anxiously trolling through seek.com for jobs I didn't want.

A goal/focus is what I needed. Something unrelated to this career that obviously wasn't evolving as planned. I have always loved to run, not ever that seriously, however in this last few months of doubtful job seeking I had built myself up to run my first half marathon, clocking in at 1:33:00, I was so stoked. But the solo running wasn't inspiring me all that much either. I needed a challenge, that's when I called up Clinton from Trispecify and found myself so out of depth, yet so excited and alive at my first Tri Ladies training session.

I had to start somewhere, so this is it, no more procrastinating. Here, I intend to share my trials, tribulations and tips of training, my good days and the bad. I'm so far from an expert in any of this, but I hope through sharing my experiences along the way I can inspire you, maybe even igniting a spark, to go after your goals no matter how BIG or small.

Wish me luck xx