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My Tri-ing Tales to Beijing!!
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| Kirsty Johnson Cox |
Kirsty and the Bodyneed Ponsonby management team |
Leading up to the BIG Moment
I flew out last week on Singapore Airlines. When I arrived at the airport I made it known to the team manager that I needed to see the physio and I hoped I would be able to meet up with her sooner than later once we arrived in China.
There had been much deliberation when booking my flights as I was concerned about the flight times and thought I could come out earlier, flying on Friday/Saturday instead of Sunday. My husband thought it would be nice to fly out with the team especially as it was my first time out. In the end I had regretted not booking my trip earlier, as meant that those who didn't get themselves organised, me and twenty or so others had a 6hr stopover in Singapore. However, after arriving in Beijing I was pleased that we were on that flight as we managed to get 4hrs sleep at the airport and felt quite refreshed in Beijing. Those that flew straight through were over the travelling.
We had been given many instructions on what we should be eating/not eating and all of us have brought over our own special food that we like. My husband says I brought the kitchen sink! Well he got a good telling off when I found him eating out of it!
On my arrival, the temperature was not too bad nor the humidity, it would be good for race day if it stays like that. The Smog however, was nothing like I have ever experienced, this is a concern for the athletes, including myself with asthma. It did thin out slightly when we got to Changping but was still bad. Fingers crossed that it is not going to cause any problems. We booked in to our hotel and shortly afterwards I found myself on the way down to the swimming pool. Buses were put on and there were lots of English speaking volunteers that have been recruited to help us. The reality of what I have achieved is now starting to sink in! My arms felt dead but after persuading my body to do a few strokes of butterfly they started to wake up.
The following day, those in my NZ training group and I went out on the bike course. It feels fast, a few technical downhills and here's hoping that it is not going to rain, otherwise there may be a few accidents. We also hear that an Australian athlete has already gone home after falling off his bike and breaking his collar bone. We cycle past the reservoir and the memorabilia from the Olympics - this is amazing, I can't explain how it feels to be on the old Olympic course, and we are all being treated like we are Olympians. It is awesome! Of the cycle course, I have forgotten what it is like to cycle on smooth road surfaces.
I am still not running and getting a bit frustrated as my right calf seems to be getting tighter, in fact I think something else might be going on. It was only later when my left started to cause me some discomfort that I figure that it is may be my neck or back that is causing the problem and the poor calves are just the symptom. I am desperate to get to see the physio, which I finally do on the Friday, just as things seem to be improving.
I have been for a couple of orientation swims in the reservoir, wearing my race suit. I hadn't got my name put on my race suit as I thought I might get away with wearing a two piece but it shows off too much of my midriff, which is against ITU regulations! I still feel very special wearing it. I think I will get my name put on it when I get back to NZ.
We have done some sight seeing, going to The Great Wall, not climbing too many steps as don't want to get stiff legs, and the Ming Tombs.
The highlight of my trip so far was when our team dinner was cancelled due to the weather and we ended up gate crashing the Australian team dinner. They were great accepting us into their event. My husband and I ended up holding the Australian Flag, for him it was very fitting being an Aussie, in doing so we got to stand next to a number of their High Performance Athletes including, Emma Moffatt, Emma Snowsill, Chris McCormick, Brendan Sexton. I got my picture with Emma Moffatt and also walked away with some Aussie training kit. What a fantastic evening.
The events have started and New Zealand already have a collection of medals from the Aquathon including the Women's World Champion. At the Opening Ceremony I find myself at the front of the group as we walk down Changping Main Street to the Stadium, as I have the biggest Flag, there will be lots of photos of me somewhere - Facebook's face recognition will be having a field day, actually I may be safe as the Chinese don't easily have access to Facebook.
The nerves are starting to find their way into our bodies in a number of ways. I dreamt last night, that I had left all my transition stuff up at the hotel and hubby had to go back to get it, sorting it all out whilst I was in the swim. On mounting my bike I find that he had not only put the shoes on the wrong side but he had put his shoes on my bike!!! Well I can guarantee that some of that won't be happening as he doesn't have his shoes with him!
My event is on Sunday, I am doing the 40-44 Age Group Women's Olympic Distance, starting at 7.30 am. The event website is http://beijing.triathlon.org/ where you will also be able to see how our Elite Athletes perform.
What Happened On The Day Of The Race
SO THIS IS IT........
After all the trials, tribulations, training and commitment to nothing else, the event has finally arrived. I am in Beijing, ready to start. I have set myself a goal of being the top Kiwi home but I was not too sure of the ability of one of them, so I would be happy to beat the one who came 2nd in the qualifying race in Wellington (I was third).The evening before, I racked my bike and remembered the location, opposite a tree and had my uniform checked. The weather on the day blessed us, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Lucky, as the day before was cold, wet and windy. Not nice..
There was a bus going to the race start at 4.45am and another at 6am. As I was in one of the later waves, we were advised that it was ok to take the later bus. Excellent, a slightly longer lie in. I still woke at 4.15am to take on my race fuel and back to sleep for another hour.
One final check of all my transition things, all carefully laid out the night before and I was on my way. The bus didn't come! I was starting to get edgy, but there were others in my age group waiting and the Australian Team Manager did a good job in keeping us calm, as she was not worried. It was about another 20mins before it arrived. Apparently the road got shut on it
I had received a couple of good luck texts from friends, I was now preparing myself, talking through how I was going to do things, keeping my ipod at a level that blocked all out. We finally arrived, athletes off first so that it gave us a little more time to clear security and get clear of transition. Time was pushed, my training partners and others in the NZ Team met me in transition, relieved to see me. Hubby was with me, I laid everything out, checking again that all was there and picked up my timing chip. One last visit to the toilet and I was on the way to the holding pen. The waves were going off in 5mins gaps. Before I knew it my wave was in the water waiting for the start.
I was holding on to the pontoon for a deep water start, I had been practising dive starts but the organisers had decided that there was a risk of losing goggles, so no dive start! I can't believe I am here, the hooter goes, I am off as fast as I feel safe to do, so not to stress my breathing too much. The strapping on my ankle started to come off but I didn't care. I was euphoric, thinking to myself that I was now competing in the World Championships and swimming 1500m. Reality hit when I swallowed a load of water and had to settle myself and concentrate on breathing. It happened again and I remind myself to turn a little more to stop swallowing water. My pattern settles and we all start to slot into our places. I managed to pick up the feet of another competitor and sailed in behind her.
As I exited the water, I took the opportunity to have a quick look behind me and notice that there are still quite a few swimmers behind me and I feel good. I quickly take the tape off my ankle as don't want to get disqualified for leaving debris behind and run into transition. As I arrive at a spot opposite the tree, I put on the race belt and go to put on the helmet, it is not mine! As I look down the line of bikes I notice that mine is 3 down, still opposite the tree, eek! I could tell that I was the 2nd Kiwi out of the water and in front of the one I wanted to be. My cycling shoes were being held in position by elastic bands (this was the first time I was getting onto my bike with shoes already on the pedals, but as it was a long transition, it felt appropriate to do it) I mounted the bike well and got my shoes on and strapped in. As I headed out of transition those coming through on the 2nd lap of the bike course shouted they were passing, I held my course as best as I could. In front of me there had been a crash, a poor Australian was tangled in the barriers and was not looking too good. I was on my way with Hubby's Garmin recording my cadence and speed. Cheers from Hubby, my brother and his girlfriend egging me on. It was a hilly course but from the reconnaissance that had been done earlier in the week, I knew exactly which gears I should be in and when. There was support along the course and a great atmosphere. My second lap was faster than my first and I over a few people in my age group, marked ‘h' on their calves. As I round my third lap, I can feel that I am getting tired. The gears are slightly easier and I am having to stand a little more and my legs are starting to ache in weird places. I am thinking to myself that the run could be very painful. I take the panadol and brufen in my bag along with a gel to set me up as well as I could for the run. I was still nervous about the ability of my calf to carry me the full distance.
I manage to get my feet out of my shoes easily but still don't manage that quick dismount of the elites. The arrival of the dismount line keeps catching me by surprise and I think that is something I must work on. On arriving in transition, I can't get my bike racked as the one on the opposite side had not been racked well. As I lean in to change it, my helmet rolls off into another space and I have to retrieve it, risking disqualification if I don't. I had planned this transition to be a bit slower as I wanted to rub in some percutane into my calves for the run. I pick up my last gel, turn my number round and off I go.
I am passed quickly by two people in my age group, one is going very fast and the other is running about my pace, so I keep on her heels. I don't like being passed on the run. My quads are screaming at me to be careful and I am hoping that the feeling is going to decrease. We approached the hill on the course and they are still screaming. As we turned around and descend, they started to ease off and allow a more flowing movement. As I finished the 1st lap I can hear all the support and it is lifting. Even though my quads were feeling better, the 2nd time up the hill felt harder and I lost the heels of the lass in front catching her as we turned on to the 3rd lap. I could now feel that I was lacking in training and everything was starting to hurt, my quads, calves and hamstrings, but I managed to keep on her heels until the last 200m. We were passing others in our age group - are we moving up the field or are we lapping people that are slower than we are? I shout support to two of my team members and training partners. The lass I was chasing crossed the line one side of 2hrs 30mins and I the other. I thought I heard the official say third when she crossed the line and I was hit with a flood of emotions. I had completed it, I couldn't believe it, but just over 2hrs 30mins and had I just missed on 3rd place?
The lass congratulated me on the finish saying that I had pushed her harder than she had thought she could go and had she heard right when she crossed the line? I was trying to work out the time as I had heard the 1st place in our age group crossed the line when I still had one lap of the run to go. That was 15mins ago, there must have been more than one other person cross the line, I hadn't passed that many on the bike and the run had I?
My brother met me at the end of the finish shute to say that my Dad had been giving him updates as he was watching live timing in the UK. I had come twelve. Still I couldn't believe it. Nearly top ten by just a few seconds and I had beaten the my Kiwi teammate I had wanted to by 9mins.
I was 18th in the swim, 12th on the bike and 9th on the run, giving me 12th overall.
After the emotion of finishing settled, I began to analyse my performance. I can't imagine what I could have achieved if I hadn't had that interrupted build up - I put everything I had into the bike and run. I could have maybe concentrated a little more on the swim but I was enjoying the moment and I think that counts more. My transitions need work, they improve with practice and it was only the 6th one I have ever done!
5th of September
My final
week in New Zealand and I can't believe the time has finally arrived.
I find
myself rechecking a list I have written over and over again to make sure I
haven't forgotten anything.
I am sure I will arrive in Beijing and still think
of things that I could have brought with me! But I suppose as long as I have my
bike, runners and competition suit it will all be sweet.
As for my training it was timetabled as a hard week and a hard week it has been, before my taper next week with acclimatisation. Awake again at 4am on Sat for my race food and back to sleep for about an hour. Instead of running off the bike, I am back in the water, aqua jogging. Cameron Pools, has a non slip surface in one lane and really good to run on. My calf is feeling not too bad heavily strapped and it is getting better every day.
My race gear comes out for my final cycle time trial around the airport and again I feel good. I can't believe the difference in me, legs loose, breathing good and to top it off I complete the 40k ride in 9 mins faster than the time I did just before I qualified in March. Things are looking very good.
My swim time trial sees me taking another 40secs off my 1500m swim time and my arms still felt like they had the Monday training session in them. I make a mental note that I need to ask for my massage on Thursday to focus on them. Shelley unfortunately has been unwell and I find Angela doing my massage instead. It is hard to have a different therapist, when you know the hands of your regular, but she was a great substitute. It felt like a conveyor belt on Thursday as I did my final session of Pilates, had a massage and then physio, but I went off to work happy that I am now ready. Jen (Bodyneed Physio) has been treating on my calf, as even though I thought it was progressing well, at the beginning of the week I noticed something that I wasn't happy with. She has done some acupuncture and strapping and this has helped it move along further.
My run sessions have continued in the pool and I am surprised I don'tlook like a prune since I have been there twice a day three times this week. The interesting one was on Monday when I did my superset, jumping out of the pool to do the circuit and back in again to run.
One more session on Sat, I may even try a little jog if feeling good, or I might just be asking for trouble!
To follow what is happening, here is the link to the event http://beijing.triathlon.org/
29th of August
A week of training finally completed.......
It started Saturday with a session preparing us for competition, so up I was at 4am to take on my race fuel and then back to sleep for a short period before getting up for training, and wasn't my husband happy about that!. Consuming 4 sachets of ‘GU' was rather difficult, I thought I was going to get a sugar fix but before it came I was back asleep.
After the swim and windtraining it was on the run the ITB gave me a warning that I shouldn't go any further and so I found myself limping home 1km to the comforting arms of my training squad. Unable to get a chiropractic appt at such short notice I did the best I could with ice and rolling. I do think however that my ITB is not the problem, just a symptom of something else.
I missed my cycling time trial on the Sunday, sleeping through to 11am and my resting heart rate was 15 beats higher than normal. Something not quite right there, it wasn't like I had a too late a night or done a hard training session the day before. Oh well, just one of those things, there is no point pushing it. May be I will do a session on the wind trainer later if things improve.
Still very tired I did not make my swim on the Monday morning but I was seeing the chiropractor at the earliest opportunity. He advised that the muscles in my legs were overtight and that this tightness was the result of gut problems. He suggested that I visit Michael Hooker, Advanced Kinesiologist in Hamilton to get to the bottom of it, Accordingly, I made an appointment on Thursday.
I felt well enough to do my superset in the evening and felt quite good. What an evening it was. For the rest of the week I managed a spinning session, it took my legs nearly the whole session to warm up and it was a real struggle followed by a run. Even though the spin session was hard, the run was the easiest I had felt in a long time. The discussion of the run was whether I needed to go onto a short course of prednisone to try and clear the inflammation of my sinuses and chest. Even though this is a banned drug, with prior approval, it can be taken. Reluctant as I am, I think this is a course I am going to have to follow.
I returned to swimming, and noticed that I have been away for a few weeks. It doesn't help when I changed my stroke, suddenly realising why I am getting a sore neck. My muscles aren't used to working that way and I find I have very sore right triceps and back muscles. This I hope I can continue with and the muscles will have adapted enough to be able to complete the distance in Beijing. I can't believe I am only a week and a half before I fly out!
So, I visit Michael in Hamilton, his conclusion after much toing and froing, is that I have managed to impinge my vagal nerve. This also causes hypertonicity of the muscles, explaining why my ITB, my quads and the slight tear of my calf have occurred. Well, it must have been that as even before I left his clinic I felt a completely different person. All the symptoms I have been experiencing for the last 4 weeks have gone! I drive back to Auckland in amazement. Even more interesting, is that on researching it on Google, what an invention, I find that the symptoms match what mum is experiencing. She has been sick since Jan has been subject to all matters of investigations. Hopefully she can find somebody in the UK as good as the one I have found and solve her ill health.
As for my calf, that I can't do anything about except wait to see how it recovers. R.I.C.E, and lots of it. I am also in the lucky position to be able to Ultrasound it (helps reduce inflammation) and treat with acupuncture. With compression I can swim, cycle and will be water walking/running now until the event. If I have to strap it, take painkillers, wear a heel raise and the rest I will be there racing and completing on Sept 11th.
22nd of August
I AM BACK......
Well, was back....
I went to the Sports Dr. and bloods were done, with no problems detected. He gave me a different inhaler and advised that my sinuses may just take a few weeks to settle. He also said that I could return to easy training but not every day and to see how I felt.
As it turns out, I am feeling better every day, in fact I had been ready to cancel my appointment as feeling so much better but thought best to get the check up. My coach was great as he sent me a note, just before he went on hols, saying that I had worked hard, improved over the last four months and the rest would have been good for me.
Monday night was so so cold, instead of running outside, I sat on the wind trainer just turning my legs over. I never thought I would be able to say that it felt good being on one! I have been swimming and spinning, but at lower intensities and shorter sessions than programmed. My first real outing was a longish run on Wednesday and this felt very good, unfortunately I woke up with bilateral ITB pain... the frustration continues.
A trip to the chiropractor and an adjustment of the neck, I feel the tension leave my thoracic spine and my pelvis and the pain disappears. I hope it is going to stay like that, but from past experience can I be so lucky?
15th of August
I have had my 3 days off work and felt well enough to do my brick session on the Sat and the Pukekohe Time trial on the Sunday. I was feeling a bit rough in the morning but that settled for the afternoon.
It was the first time outing of my race kit all together, the carbon race wheels, 85mm rims at the back and 50mm at the front, my aero helmet and shoes. The weather deteriorated and I am thinking that the 85mm on the back is not a good idea (deep rimmed wheels can make a bike unstable in wind), however as I only have one cluster and I haven't got the time or to be honest the inclination to swap the cluster back onto my training wheel, I stick with it.
It was an interesting ride, on the back straight of the raceway, I saw speeds that I have never seen before on a bike 47.9km/hr and finished with sore shoulders, as trying to control the bike in the wind was a challenge. There was no opportunity for a drink as it was difficult enough trying to change gear. I won $100 of Dextro supplements and a three month gym membership, not too sure why as no result out yet, but I am not complaining. It was great!
The rest of the week has seen an enforced rest, as my sinuses seem to have got even worse and I have developed very bad tremors, headaches, no energy and just feel like I want to crawl into bed and stay there. Given that I am typing this at 1pm on the Saturday, clearly I have. By Thursday I am desperate and in discussion with a few friends and colleagues I have booked myself in to see a sports doctor and stopped all the medication I am taking, as side effects of some include tremors and headaches. Are they making me worse instead of better?!? That I will just have to be patient and wait and see what happens when they all leave my system.
I have been to the chiropractor as I know that if my neck needs work, it can mimic sinus pain. The acupuncturist tells me I still have a cold in my system, he can help, as he always does but I need to rest. I have been reading Mind, Body and Sport and this is helping me, thank you Annalees for mentioning it, as I ask myself why I am doing this? I know I am competitive otherwise I wouldn't be doing it but I will be not be happy if I have pushed myself so hard I can't actually compete in the event. So rest I will.
I went to the opening of Wynard Quarter on the 6th August and had a great day wandering around an area that has been boarded up with lots of lights when I have been training there, but had no clue what was actually going on. What an amazing transformation of the area. We met up with some friends and hung around, I haven't done that for a long time. It is always good to catch up with them.
Amazing. On
the way home I came back via Westfield
Square and Auckland Council have erected a clock
to countdown the days until my race. What a nice surprise, how did they
know?
Unfortunately, they are a couple
of days out, but as chance has it my husband works with the team that installed
it and they can apparently change it from their iphone! Ekk only 34 days to go....... or is it 36??
8th of August
Two and half weeks of feeling unwell and trying to do some training, I find this week that my body can withstand no more and has crashed.....
Where do I go from here........
I have 4 weeks to go before the event and meant to be upping my training intensity.....
Rest is what I need and I find myself taking the rest of the week off from work, a visit to the Dr. and I have been prescribed another inhaler for an exacerbation of asthma and I dose myself up with lots of meds for my sinuses, which have been checked for permitted use in sport. This is important as I now know that the Age Group Athletes are going to be subject to drug testing.
A massage today was meant to ease the aches from a long intense run yesterday but I find myself with Shelley massaging my sinuses and neck to give some relieve. The acupuncturist has also been working hard and compared to how I am normally with a sinus infection Ping has controlled the symptoms well. It's just frustrating.
The time off though has allowed me to rest, and sort a number of pressing things, paying parking fines! Getting the chip in the windscreen fixed, putting in an insurance claim for things lost on holiday. All things that just get forgotten or don't have time to normally do.
On a positive and exciting note, I have picked up our Visas for China and my uniform has arrived. It fits and it looks good, I feel great wearing it and will do it proud.
1st of August
I still find myself plagued with a sinus infection. 14 days of Antibiotics, a number of late starts at work and finally a day off on Friday and hopefully I am rested enough to get rid of the final of it. This hasn't been helped by a tight chest starting, not too sure the reason why; either running on a beautiful but freezing Monday night, after which my lungs were burning, or from the smoke from our real fire. The fires have now stopped and will just have to load the electricity meter. I acquired a ventolin inhaler, which seems to have helped, however I now need to get this authorised and fill in a TOE (Therapeutic Use Exemption form), I am unsure if we are going to be subject to drug testing in the Worlds but have been advised to get this form filled in.
One thing that I have learnt about elite athletes is that they seem to spend a disproportionate amount of time knowing what their heart rate is. I wake up every morning and the first thing I do is take mine. If its 5 beats over my resting then I need to go slower, 10 beats above then its no training for me for the day. The late starts have affected my swimming but my heart rate would have also restricted my ability to train. In now knowing what my morning heart rate is, and my training being responsive to this I find myself getting sick less, which is always an advantage.
My weakest discipline is the cycling and what training I am doing, I am trying to make sure that this one is kept near to the scheduled amount. Last week my running was the discipline to lack time and this week it is swimming.
Despite all of this, I find myself with a changed programme this week. My Monday runs have changed into a superset. This involves a run, followed by a circuit, repeated 4 times and finishes with a run. Each week the runs get longer and the number of repetitions in the circuit increases. My Saturdays have now changed from a core session followed by a 45min run to a Brick session. A brick session is a session where all 3 disciplines are done one after the other, currently 1.5hrs and starts at 7am!! I used to like my lie in on Saturdays until at least 7am. It involves 30mins in the pool, straight onto the bike on the poolside (for 30mins and using the humidity to mimic conditions in Beijing) followed by a 30min run. These sessions also allow transition practice. I was happy with my performance.
Sundays now are cycling time trials, with the first one on 31st. This will really tell me if I have made any improvements in my cycling.
11hrs this week.
25th July 2011
Thank goodness the weekend has finally arrived.
This week has been a struggle, fighting a sinus infection but I am pleased that I listened to my body. Despite this I still managed 10hrs of training compared to 11hrs but with the emphasis on much slower activities or lower intensity. Even though it was an easy week of training I still find myself timetabled for a swim time trial and a 25k bike time trial, both of which were towards the end of the week, allowing longer recovery, and I managed to complete.
For the swim I retuned back to Kings, as everybody else in the training group were doing it, so an easier option, it also meant I had another 30mins in bed which was cherished. The pool was hot, damn hot and I got a headache doing the trial, I am sure this was also to do with my sinuses still being blocked. I managed another PB over 2 x 1000m, now completing this distance in 17.17 and the second one in 17.29 compared to 18.38 and not finishing the 2nd one (due to lack of time). It felt good, but if you ever end up following me doing laps then don't rely on me to count the correct number.
Thursday, saw the first bike time trial since I had qualified for the Worlds and the only long one I have ever done on a wind trainer, I wasn't looking forward to it for a number of reasons. Hubby completed it 9mins faster than me and I was stunned and excited for him. I didn't understand though why can I pull away from him on the road and hills and keep going for longer. It was explained to me, that when static, it is easier for bigger athletes to generate power but on the road for ever 1kg in weight they need to generate approx an extra 5 Watts, that means to stay with me he needs to generate approx an extra 200Watts, which is massive - now it all makes sense.
My next 4 weeks of training have arrived and I am pleased that I have had a cold this week. Another easy week next week will allow it to fully go and not miss out on too much and then a week of hard graft which will see it culminate in a cycling time trial at Pukekohe Raceway on the 7th August, a perfect opportunity to try out all my race kit with no traffic no potholes and hopefully no rain. The day is run by the Auckland City Triathlon Club also includes a Duathlon and a 5k run, entries are still open.
18th July
This week has been an interesting week at work, the weather, training and other sports. Le Tour is on and despite not having Sky or much time to watch, the headlines do show us how precarious we are on our bikes when cars are around, no matter how careful we are. I am always nervous when cycling along Tamaki Drive or doing hill repeats on Mt.Eden.
I am glad I had my holiday as work has gone mad. With sickness, leave and staff vacancies it has left a very depleted physiotherapy department. I try not to cover too much work but with my nature it is inevitable that it would happen. I sit here at home, after taking the day off sick rueing those pts that have been into see me loaded with cold and those training sessions where I have been caught in the freezing rain. It gets too hot in a waterproof jacket and I anyway I only have a shower jacket. Don't even think a waterproof one would have done much against the deluge yesterday whilst I was out on my bike.
I have however seen some spectacular rainbows. The amazing light and noise display that graced us with its presence on Monday night was just in time to distract us slightly whilst doing the Coopers test. The effects from the Core session on Saturday finally wore off just in time to complete another personal best, 3095m. It is only a small increase but it is an increase. It does mean though that my distances for the 7.5min training sessions, 70min runs stay the same. As for the Core sessions, never miss out once started, especially when the circuit is now on 50secs and it was on 35secs when you left!
Last week ended with a swim set of 8 x 100m, with each 100m to be completed in 1:40min starting again on 2:00min. This set was to be done twice with a 1:00min break in the middle. Needless to say it was challenging and I was pleased that I managed to led the lane for the whole set. As I am in a moderate week of training and after that set I decided that I should try and move up a lane. My coach and I were pleased that I was able to keep up with them albeit at the back of the group. Even though it was at a faster pace I had to concentrate on my stroke more to be able to keep up with them. As I return to my original lane next week, as on an easy week of training, I will have to keep my stroke working and not get lazy.
The final discipline, and my weakest, that I continue to struggle to get the time in is cycling. I have now decided that I will cycle to my Pilates sessions at Bodyneed on a Thursday morning and then on to work. It takes about the same time as driving. I have thought about cycling from swimming, but with the cold weather and wet hair - I think I might be asking for trouble.
It is my rest day and rest I will, after I have been to see the acupuncturist to reduce the effect of the cold and boost my immune system. Massage to work on loosening areas I am now tuning in to be tight and a chiropractic appt. This combined with 12hrs training this week how do I have time to work?
11th July
No rest for the wicked! Straight into a 2.5hr bike ride on the Sunday, which I have to say I was pleasantly surprised about my ability to complete. The spinning classes have obviously been working and the 3 week rest hasn't done me too much harm. Or so I thought.
The agony started with little sleep, even though not tired during the day, jet lag must be the cause. However I was unable to get back to sleep due to my quadriceps tingling. This happened Sunday, Monday night and on Tuesday I decided that I needed to take on board some concentrated electrolyte but can't tell if this really worked. I even went into work wearing my compression tights to try and help.
I spent Monday feeling like I was at kindergarten, as I had a 4 week blank template and lots of training programmes to fill it. I armed myself with some scissors and sellotape and spent some time cutting out the training programmes and moving them around the template to see how I was going to fit everything in and have a rest day. I have managed so far but I think this also contributed to one of my sleepless nights as I was worried about how it is going to fit. I have totalled this weeks training and 14hrs and 20mins! I was told at a training meeting this week that things will be getting more intense in a few weeks and that to achieve this, being selfish is going to be necessary. Did I hear a groan from my husband? I thought we had come to an agreement that he wasn't going to complain as this was something that I really wanted to do.
I have had two visits to Mt. Eden Chiropractic, to realign my pelvis, Pilates and a massage at Bodyneed. I think all of these along with my rest day have helped my legs. My body however is complaining and I know a trip to Village Acupuncture is due. A restful weekend and I should be back, especially as I have another Coopers Test on Monday.
4th July
Another week has passed and I find myself sitting in yet another airport lounge waiting for my last leg of my journey back to NZ. The stop in Bangkok, I think, has paid for itself with regards to recovery and two upgrades has allowed for some decent sleep. Thank you to who ever allowed this to happen.
I spent most of the week after the World Transplant Games back at my parents place in Whitchurch Hill, I do love returning back to my childhood home. My Dad was keen to see how my training was going and I was keen to try and get some solid work in. The first day back and the 2nd for that matter, was spent catching up with friends and their ever growing children. I did manage to get out for a lazy run, 12k run around the village and enjoyed seeing my old haunts. Unfortunately what I didn't like was the fact I had to stop due to knee pain, from my ITB. I haven't had that for ages, the time spent sitting and not stretching has obviously taken its toll on my piriformis, lucky then I stuck a tennis ball into my bag before I left and had some time to ease out the tightness. A massage on my return to NZ is definitely on the cards.
I have been due to do a 1500m time trial swim for a couple of weeks and so on Monday I persuaded my Dad to take me to the local pool to bash this out. I was not too sure how I would fair as haven't managed any consistent swimming for a couple of weeks. The pool was 25yrds not 25m! so whilst I was banging away the laps it was left to Dad to sort out the number I had to do. 65.26 laps were completed in 26mins and 40secs. This is nearly a minute off my last time for 1500m, I was impressed. Later in the day, once the temperature had dropped slightly, it had managed to reach 26oC today! I did a run session 6x6mins at level 3-4. This took me back to when I was running round the village green as a child being called ‘Zola Budd' - no barefeet this time and no locals who remember those days.
Just after swimming, I received an email from my Coach with the next 4 weeks of training. Damn, I need to do a timed set for swimming this week 10x100m with 10sec rest intervals. Not what I needed just after doing a 1500m time trial. Nevermind, I am on a schedule that I really need to try too keep to, so on Tuesday I found myself dragging Dad to a different local pool to time this. Another PB by about a minute and even managing to stick to the 10sec rest, as last time I had to extend the ones near the end to 15secs. That evening I was on my flight to Bangkok.
The hotel in Bangkok had a gym, of sorts and a great pool. Brilliant, I thought, I can do extra stuff here. Unfortunately, it shut at 8.30pm and by the time we returned from our tour of the sights it was well past that and then we were up and gone the following morning. Never mind, even though I am not feeling too jet lagged, it doesn't do any harm to rest after a long flight. Here's hoping that splitting the journey, I will be back training again at the beginning of next week instead of it taking about week to recover as it did going.
This week was an easy week for training, this is followed by 2 weeks of moderate training and back to an easy one. A nice start to the gruelling programme I feel I am about to embark on.
27th June
The World Transplant Games have now finished. New Zealand did well with the small team, which was depleted even more before the games even started. 1 with family sickness, 1 ash cloud delay, 2 sickness; 1 admitted into hospital the day before they left and the other admitted into hospital in Gothenburg with blood clots in her lungs, a lesson to be learnt from this - on a long flight up and move around and got to the toilet on a regular basis, drink plenty and wear flight socks.
The medal count was 7 and we came 30th out of 54 Countries attending. 4 for our Junior Liver transplant; 2 golds 100m sprint and ball throw, silver in squash and bronze in 10 pin bowling. The adults achieved 2 bronzes in golf, by heart transplants and a bronze in the petanque pairs, by a lung paired with a kidney recipient. Well done NZ. Gothenburg is a beautiful city and well worth a visit if you are over here. I would love to go back again as a tourist.
For me, the jet lag stopped just as the physio input increased so training was very sporadic. Thank you 3M for the supply of strapping tape, it was very useful. I did manage a couple of sessions in the pool, an interval training run on the treadmill and a very short session on the bike before checkout today.
My flight and accommodation are now booked for Beijing and I have just received my training programme for the next 4weeks from George at TACT. A quick trip to Wimbledon before I return to NZ and putting everything on hold until after Sept 11th.
20th June
I arrived in the UK and surprise surprise it was raining, however I think the weather followed us from NZ as the trip was very bumpy. My parents picked us up from the airport and we travelled up to Newcastle upon Tyne, the rain following us!
The weather has been great for the rest of the week allowing time to be spent on our garden and hedge. I haven't managed to train as a result, but arms are aching and generally tired from all the gardening, that in combination with visiting friends and recovering from jetlag. It has been hard to recover from the jetlag as being in Newcastle during British summer time it gets light at 4am and dark at - well I am not too sure, as it was still light when I was forcing myself to go to bed 10.30pm. I remember now why I used to sleep with an eye mask.
I have now said goodbye to my house and cat for another 14 months, to begin another life journey but it has been hard this time. I am off to Sweden for the World Transplant Games as the NZ Physio. I became interested in transplant rehabilitation through my Uncle who was one of the pioneering kidney transplant surgeons. The World Transplant Games is run every two years to demonstrate the physical success of transplant surgery and to raise awareness of the need to increase organ donation. To find out more visit www.wtgf.org or www.donor.co.nz
To find out how the NZ team is doing visit www.transplantnewzealand.org.nz
Hopefully the team will keep fit which should allow me, between the massages, to put in some useful training.
13th June
I am writing this sitting at the airport, on my way Europe for three weeks. We had a 7hr stopover at Melbourne which unfortunately had to be used visiting Mother-in-law in hospital, after she was admitted there last night, 2nd time in a week.
It did however mean that we didn't have to spend the time sitting in the transfer lounge and that we could pick up the Garmin hubby bought. One of those unnecessary pieces of equipment, he feels he has to have, mind you his is out longer than I am so has longer to use it.
I ran the Northcote 10K, the time wasn't impressive but after running round a muddly football pitch twice and what seemed to be endless uphills and down dales the time wasn't going to be a record breaker. Still, 1st in Age group, 4th female and 20th across the line is not that bad and I am happy with it especially with the Huntly Half still in my legs.
I have been working on my breathing and technique in swimming as suggested by the lecturer from the course and I feel my stroke has gone to pot. All my muscles are aching early into the swim but I have been told that my stroke has improved and if I persevere it will make me faster, hopefully in time for Beijing.
A difficult couple of weeks training, as hubby managed to create some diversions, and I am exhausted, unfortunately not what you might be thinking! He describes it spending half the night in a concrete room with a stainless steel toilet. Despite being tired and the 10k the day before I did run a Coopers test (a standardised way of measuring your fitness) normally described as 12mins of hell and managed to complete 3085m. This is an important distance as the most of my training is now based on this figure, until I do another one.
Spinning this week included 2 x 5k time trails, both of which I completed in 8mins, not good but at least consistent. I think this is the discipline that is going to cause me the most problems, as most people seemed to have finished and resting whilst I was peddling as fast as I could.
The hospital magazine is going to do an article on me in their August issue and needed a photo. I decided it was a good opportunity to get my hair cut and coloured, which I had to do in two visits as I didn't have time to do it in one.
In a perfect world, training for triathlon is not that hard. Eat the right food, get plenty of sleep and rest and do the hard yards. However life is not that perfect!
7th June
I was
unable to join the Bodyneed team doing the Britomart Block Event on the 29th May due to the attendance at a course.
This course was about Breathing
Disorders, I had been keen to attend after hearing the speaker last year as, as
a result of hearing her I ascertained
that my sore ribs during/post running were associated with an incorrect
breathing pattern.
I have been able to alter my pattern and so no longer
experience upper chest discomfort. In relying on my knowledge as a respiratory
physiotherapist, I have wondered if I have asthma and have been very careful to
assess my shortness of breath (SOB) and wheeze whilst exercising. Asthma has
been diagnosed and I am now on a Steroid inhaler, which has made a big
difference.
However, I still
note that whilst/after swimming and running I get a sore neck, some SOB, over
and above what I would expect and have not really been able to identify why
this might be the case.
I was a model on Sunday and able to identify that
whilst exercising at high levels my breathing pattern deteriorates.
Suggestions
were given to help.
On Monday, I was able to have a one 2 one session with the
lecturer and she was able to explain reasons for a number of issues that I am
experiencing.
Annalees
(Bodyneed Physio) was on the course and it was good to catch up with her.
I
will also be able to use her knowledge when I get stuck.
Questions to ask
yourself, do you notice any upper chest/neck discomfort, excessive SOB,
elevated heart rate above expectations, a wheeze, cough, dry mouth, sore throat
whilst exercising, or any chronic injuries?
Then Annalees is going to be the
person for you. She'll be working Saturdays from the 18th of June.....why not give Bodyneed a call and boook yourself in? 360 8821.
You've got nothing to lose!!
31 May
1.35 was my
target for the Huntly half and hopefully with the training provided by Brett
Reid, Triathlon NZ, I will manage it. I was a bit worried at the start as
despite Shelley's great massage, my legs were still feeling a bit heavy. I
decided though that after a couple of kms, it was actually because I hadn't
warmed up properly. I wasn't expecting everybody to line up about 15mins before
the start, I joined them as I wanted a good position.
We had
thought about going down the night before and staying in our campervan, but in
the end we decided to drive down on the day.
This allowed for good preparation:
breakfast, a soak in the bath, stretches and compression.
I was told
that Huntly is a flat course and boring, I had also heard that the route had been
changed to make it more challenging. I only know Huntly from driving through on
the way South and it's not much, but it's got a lake and a well made track
around it. I enjoyed the race.
As Craig, I
did a PB and much more than I had expected. I rounded the corner and as I felt
tears well up into my eyes I realised that not only had I beaten my PB, I had
smashed it. 1.28.40 as I crossed the line and 3rd in my Age Group.
A
s soon as I told my hubby my time and that it was a PB, he immediately offered
to stay for prize giving (as if he had a choice), still make them think they
have some say in the matter now and again, it keeps them happy. At the end I
met a friend who was wearing one of those mainframe computers strapped to his
arm and that talks to NASA satellites and he was muttering something about the
course being 500m short. 639m was the actual distance, the computer was not as
accurate as he thought!
My time has
been recalibrated at 1.31.12, still a PB by 5mins!
You are as
good as your support team! Thank you everybody.
I treated
myself on Monday, when the alarm went off at 4.55am I reset it, rolled over and
had another couple of hours of well deserved sleep. My coach is hoping that I
am not going to peak too early, but with a 3 week trip to the UK and Sweden in
a couple of weeks, I think I will be well rested to start the serious training
for the Worlds!
23rd May
A taper
week for the Huntly half marathon and I find myself desperately needing a
massage. The spin session that I found harder than it should have been was the
indicator. My left ITB (the ITB.doc) and right
adductors are screaming for attention.
Shelley from Bodyneed spent an hour on me, again working her
magic on my legs.
Despite
everybody's hard work, I am starting to notice an increase in the number of
niggles.
A trip to Hamilton to see a different Chiropractor (advised by Mt.
Eden Chiropractic) is needed.
A cancelled meeting at work gives me this
opportunity. Timely with the half this weekend.
My swim
coach has tried to get me to change my stroke.
I quickly developed sore
shoulders, obviously not good.
I will need to revisit that as I think it is the
result of stiff shoulders.
Hopefully the Pilates that I am doing on at Bodyneed Thursdays
will help.
I have
managed to get out and see a couple of shows as part of the comedy festival,
laughing is always good but a shame they didn't finish a bit earlier so I could
get to bed on time.
A trip to Parakai Springs helped last weekend after a hilly
bike ride.
The ride was meant to be an easy 90mins but after we woke up a
couple in our group, who we had failed to notify that we were meeting at their
house, I think they penalised us by taking us up and down, what felt to be, all
the hills between Parnell and Remuera. We think the husband might have been on
a promise. However, on the bright side bits of Auckland have now linked up
together.
I had a new
bikini for the springs and it is the first time that I have looked full length
in a mirror.
The changes and the muscle definition that have occurred to my
body in the last year are amazing. It makes me wonder what will happen if I
stop all the training and if I would like that?
Next week I will tell you what happened at the Huntly Half Marathon.
16th May
41.22 a personal best
for a 10k, so why is it that I don't feel ecstatic. Two reasons I suppose, not
getting 40mins and that I got passed in the last 500m, will have to work on
that sprint finish. Hubby did a PB as well, very pleased especially after not doing
much training in the 6 weeks he was in Aus.
The weekend started
with a new element to my programme - core work. ‘I have managed without knowing
what one is or having one for the last 40years and all of a sudden everybody is
telling me I need one' was my hubbies comment when I enrolled him. I don't
really know where to start explaining the importance to him but if he wants to
try and catch me then he just needs to do it. It wasn't quite what I expected -
lots of hard leg work the day before a race. Lucky I have Shelley's skilled
massage hands to work out any aches and pains later in the day.
I wake on Monday very
tired, I think the hard week of training is showing, and we do sprint sets in
the pool - the ‘OMG' is now coming from hubby and a friend who joined us today
after having four weeks off. I manage a PB in the pool as well - that I am
pleased about. My hips however have started to ache again and a bit nervous
that I have flared up the injury that led to me having 3 months off before the
New Year.
I was meant to rest
Monday evening but decided that on such a beautiful evening I will join the
Monday run for a warm up and a good stretch, leaving me time to go and see the
Chiropractor to make sure there is nothing obvious causing the aches.
Aggressive treatment of stretches, anti-inflammatories, ice and acupuncture are
what I decide is needed, along with careful monitoring of the symptoms.
Spinning on Tuesday
causes no issues, nor does the run afterwards. 4 of us go for the run and the
rest in the class look at us like we are mad after the session we have just
had. The weather on Wednesday was as predicted so 60mins on the treadmill
instead. How boring, not going to do that again in a rush!
I will need to train
hard in the pool tomorrow to work off the food consumed at the Pizza Party I've
just been to. I don't dare try a double down!
May 2nd
My race
uniform is ordered and my International Race License arrived in the post.
Eek!!!! The reality of what I have achieved and what is yet to come is starting
to sink in
Easter Friday started with an early rise for a group bike ride. I just started to leave and realised I had no lights on my bike. Even though I wasn't late at the starting location, I didn't find anybody. Dilemma....... Ride now or return to bed for an extra couple of hours...... The weather later was horrible, sea swim was interesting and I ended up cutting my bike ride short as the wind was blowing me sideways and visibility was reducing. I still had no lights on my bike!
The long weekend has given me an opportunity to tidy up.
I have done my ironing, the first time in 3 weeks!
I have
found a number of balls - a swiss ball, a ball I am using for quad exercises
and a hard tennis sized ball to roll out my Piriformis (see link The Piriformis Muscle.doc).
After
having a go on all of them, they remain in their locations and I continue on
with other things. The roller looks on patiently; I will get to that later.
The following day and an easy 10km run, I hold myself back from a tempo run and I am proud of myself. I also meet some people I know on the way home which provides a good opportunity to catch up.
Nothing else was managed over the weekend as I was working but I am also supposed to be resting, but still a little frustrated about not getting out to do anything. Monday evening, was the first of the many, I am sure, wet days of training this winter. Only three of us turned up, we are yet to ascertain if this was because of the weather or because it was Easter Monday. Anyhow the three of us congratulated each other for showing up and got down to business. The sets, 4 x 1200m with varying intensities and rest periods, however the rest periods were kept to a very minimum as we didn't want to be hanging around too long getting wet and cold. By the time we finished it felt like were running in gum boots and we finished off by all jumping in puddles to see who could make the biggest splash!
We debated the benefits of road cycling for the following day but decided that spinning was going to be the way ahead. A difficult session, I seem to find all of them hard so no different for me. A good 3km run to finish off the session. Why I wonder, that after spinning for 1hr on my own bike and go for a run, do my legs never feel as bad as they do when I am actually doing it in a race?
Glen Innes pool is closed this week for painting, so I returned to my old haunt at Kings Prep for today and again for Fri. This allowed me the luxury of having another 40mins in bed before having to crawl out in the dark. A good session, personally I feel at the moment that every time I go swimming I am getting better, but only time will tell.
And so the middle of the week finishes with a run. I am now training for some of the Run Auckland Series 10k's with a goal of 4min/km. If I can run 42mins after doing 1500m swim and 40km bike, surely I can do 40mins for a 10km with nothing in front of it and so I am going to try. Should have read my training schedule the night before and not at 5.30 in the morning as I am sure I would have got it right. Did 4 x 8min sets at 85% HR instead of 2, couldn't work out how I was meant to fit all of the set into the time allocated. Never mind, another lesson learnt.
A rest day tomorrow, well Pilates in the morning but nothing after, should give my legs enough time to recover for the weekend, from the longer set than programmed on Wednesday night.
All in all quite a busy week but happy I managed to put in my request for Olympic tickets before the deadline.
Races this month:
- 8th May - Run Auckland, Bucklands Beach
- 22nd May - Huntly Half Marathon
- 29th May - Run Auckland, Northcote Point
25th March
Still no battery for my heart rate monitor. I need to
prioritise this.
A friend, passed comment when it wasn't working ‘you will just have to go for a run like the rest of us do'. That is true, and I did, but what I have learnt when you are swimming, cycling and running day after day, is that you can't afford to ignore what your heart rate is doing so when I finally installed a new battery, it was like being reunited with a long lost friend, especially in a week when I was not feeling so good.
I didn't run O'Hagans in the end, as I spent the day sneezing and feeling a bit heady, my legs were feeling a bit tight and it was wet and cold. I thought to myself ‘Am I making excuses, or am I starting to be a sensible athlete that is thinking I could do it but if I am right, have a hard training session and then get a cold, I won't be in a fit state to race the Panasonic'? I got changed but decided against it, a relaxed evening, good food and an early night will not do me any harm; after all I am swimming tomorrow at 05.45.
A cold never manifested itself but I did get an increasingly sore throat and we know the result of the Panasonic, so it did me no harm to miss it.
The weekend before the Panasonic, I visited a friend in the Coromandel, he looks after me when I go and I have always been keen to do some cycling around there. I arrived (by car) Sat afternoon and promptly slept for most of it, managing to get out for a quick ride before the sun set. My legs however, did not want to come to the party and I couldn't get my cadence above 80 (normally can get to at least 90), checked my brakes weren't rubbing and everything else I could think of, but unable to improve. On the way home I noticed that there had been a steady incline all the way out which I had never noticed before!
I was out early the following day after a great nights sleep, nearly 2hrs return trip to the top of the Keretas including a steady 2km run to follow, legs still feeling heavy. Its 9am and I am starving!
The sunset on the way home was fantastic but unfortunately no time to stop as needed to get to the shops, prepare lunch for the following week and make sure I was ready for swimming the next morning. Another thing I have learnt is to pack my bags the night before.
Swimming is much easier this week, lots of floating or trying to as the case may be, to learn about body position in the water, followed by lots of kicking - I have a lot to practice in both areas. My legs are very heavy at spinning and I am sweating profusely, even the instructor comes over to check that the wind trainer is set up properly and that the brakes are not rubbing, something was not right and my massage the following day couldn't have come soon enough. My quads and calves were very tight and Shelley did a great job at loosening them off.
I had a great day at the Panasonic and as mentioned I enjoy the passing in the running and biking. But I even enjoyed the swim as I found myself clambering over people that were in the way, instead of the other way round. I was very tired after and found myself at the shops leaning so heavy on the trolley that if I stopped I think I would have fallen asleep.
Recovering this week, and recover I will. My alarm went off for the swim on Monday morning; I turned it off, and rolled over for another couple of hours of well deserved sleep. I decided to go running despite my quads feeling heavy. We were doing 1000m sets and I was relieved, when coach said that I needed to run to the same heart rate instead of the same time, as by the end I really felt it.
Spinning was a no go as my legs were still feeling very heavy. A good swim though this morning and another visit to Shelley to ease out all those aches and pains. It is such a help but I really do need to concentrate more of my time to stretching; hope my husband comes back soon to free up a little of my time. As my calves were still feeling a bit tight, I informed the chiropractor at my next visit. He adjusted a bone in both feet and an immediate release in tension was felt.
I have decided to start doing Pilates on a Thursday morning whilst I wait for the new Iron man sessions to start, this should help with continued efforts to maintain some element of flexibility.
I am pleased that it is a short week, realising that
next time I do an Olympic distance, the following day must be off work to rest
properly.
So I have qualified for the World Championships, what
a feeling, a high that that I never believed!!
I have to be careful though that
my husband doesn't see too much ‘modestly excited' was the phrase I think he
used, underneath I am bubbling.
BUT I did the Panasonic Tri on Sunday and came second in my age group!!
I biked/ran pass so many people that I love that feeling. Chris thinks I'll be on the podium at Beijing!
Anyway - last week I have had a bit of a lazy week in some parts.
Went to Melbourne for the GP;
delayed flights and late nights have done me no favours.
My heart rate is
elevated and an imprint is being left around my eyes from my goggles (not a
good sign for me). I need to sleep, eat and drink, unfortunately not to be
merry but to avoid an enforced rest.
Sleep not coming as easy as would like, I
think I am stressed. Mild panic, final day for accepting a place on the NZ
Team, how could I have forgotten to do that?
Swim stroke has changed, why all of a sudden has it done that, and an achy shoulder post swim, that is not good, I will have to watch how that progresses but it might just be a change in muscle activity. Never realised swimming was so technical!
I think something is against me, I woke with the most painful sacrum. I haven't done anything except flown, sat watching the GP and maybe not stretched as much as I should have. That can't be the reason, can it - oh well a trip to the Chiropractor and a massage,that feels a lot better and can start doing things again.
Where does all my time go?
My husband not impressed
today, he is currently in Aus with his mum and brother and I didn't phone.
Work, training, shopping and dinner (much later than it should have been) and
that was my evening.
I must be more prepared with dinner now that he is not
here to help. Why were there so many changes at the same time?
The weekend is finally here and a good opportunity to
catch up some sleep.
With the clocks changing the other week, my winter training programme
has started and I have a new swim and run location, both making it harder for
me to get to, but that's commitment for you. 4.55am on the clock, or 5mins to 5
as I like to call it, psychologically it makes me feel better talking about 5
something instead of 4, and getting up to drive to Glen Innes.
Tom Tom says it is
going to take me 20mins to get there; can I squeeze another 5mins in bed? The
first day, I think arriving a couple of minutes early would be best. A big fat
round NO, is the answer, if I want a lie in or to set the alarm on snooze it is
going to have to go off earlier and I don't like that idea. There are 4 lanes
to choose from, one I am not really going to be pushed and the other I am going
to be slightly pushed and two that I can't even attempt to go in. My psyche
tells me that I should go for the one that requires being slightly pushed
otherwise I will get lazy. OMG! I am half way through the session and feel
tired, have I made the wrong choice? Or is it that not use to getting up this
early in the morning. Whatever the case this is swim training like I have never
experienced and if I don't get better then there is something seriously wrong.
I wonder what will be on the cards for Wednesday? Snooze is going to be a must
at lunchtime on swim days.
The Monday runs have moved to Westhaven Marina from
the Domain, that brings back memories from last year, running in the dark with
wet shoes getting heavier every step you take.
I
must hunt out my gloves, hat, waterproof and a new battery for my heart rate
monitor!
I planned to do O'Hagan's 5K.
April 11th
My name is Kirsty and I will be 41 this year.
In 2008,
I decided a change in jobs and country would be a good idea.
Here I am 3years
later in NZ following a path slightly different to what I had planned but I
think I am where my aspirations have always been. It may have taken me longer
to get here than I wanted but I seem to have arrived.
This aspiration has nearly been reached, when I recently qualified for the NZ
Age Group team for the World Triathlon Championships. I remember being asked in
my RE class at school, what I wanted to do in life ‘to represent my country'
was my reply.
I have always classed myself as being sporty, however effort and quantity has
waxed and waned throughout the years.
I started at a young age, being guided
into gymnastics, as my mum got fed up with me jumping on/over and ruining the
sofas.
This stopped as I moved schools, got older and started maturing.
I
played hockey, netball and participated in anything on the athletics track,
being nicked named ‘'Zola Budd' by my village as my Dad had me running around
the village green in bare foot to try and do well at the inter schools
championships.
These died down a bit after I started springboard diving, which lasted until my
2nd yr at University, I qualified for the nationals and then promptly
landed on my head (injuring my neck) in a training accident on a
trampoline.
Looking back on my diving, I
seemed to spend the whole winter training and then just as the competition
season started I became injured. As I have matured I realise that you can put
in as much training as you want but if you don't do it correctly and cover all
grounds then chances of injury increase.
This lesson has taken a long time
learning and still on going. I did however become a physiotherapist after the
treatment I received for my neck injury, so I suppose a blessing in disguise.
Diving, even though quite intensive training was not keeping me particular fit
and once injured it took me several years to get back into doing anything. I
was diagnosed with Glandular Fever at the age of 30, a strange age to get this
I was advised by my Dr. Take it easy he said. After 2 years of taking it easy
and not really seeming to get any better, in fact mentally getting worse I
decided to do something about it myself.
Recovered, my flat mate and I after
watching ‘The Great North Run', (the largest half marathon in the UK with 50,000
entrants) 2 years in a row run past our house decided we should enter and the
training began.
I had done half marathons when I was younger, and had vowed that one day I
would complete a marathon, never it seemed just after I completed a half. The
Great North Run happened along with a few others. The injuries and the sickness
also came. Could never work out why, but I kept going.
If I couldn't run I
would swim and cycle. I went on to complete the London Marathon. Injuries and
sickness continued to plague me.
Physiotherapy kept me going, but I never rested to allow things to heal
properly. An injury I picked up training for the Edinburgh Marathon finally
stopped me in my tracks, for 4 years!
My core, well lack of and my posture, very poor have been the contributing
factors (well I knew that, I am a physio after all, do as I say not as I do
comes to mind) and if I had tackled them when they started instead of many
years later the injuries are likely to have been much less. I started Pilates,
so I thought, until I moved to NZ, with smaller groups here I found that in the
UK
I was doing Pilates to suit my body, ie, cheating, and not what my body needed.
Whilst doing all the cross training at home, I decided that I should give
triathlons a go, might be less pressure on my body so might be able to train
for longer, or so I thought. Didn't know how to do them in the UK, entries
were always full when I got there but I also had this fear of taking part in
them - the transitions. I am so fussy about how my shoes are on and how my
shorts are etc etc and how can I do it with the size of my bust - swim in a
bra? Apparently so, and so I do. Moving to NZ, they do triathlons here but
still injured, Physio, pilates, massage, strengthening, - anything that I could
do I did and slowly recovered.
I did my first triathlon this time last year, a Contact Tri 300m swim, 9km bike
and 3k run. I did well, to my surprise as I had to stand up in the swim, 300m
doesn't sound long until you have to swim it. 3 weeks later I completed the
Panasonic tri 500m swim, 20km bike and 5k run.
I came third in my age group, getting into the pool and doing a few laps
paid off. I then joined Auckland City Tri Club winter training and was told
that I could be good enough to go to the World Championships. Something to aim
for - should have discussed that with my husband first! Summer training,
another injury, the day before the Auckland Marathon, I think I should stop
trying to train for marathons.
My husband is now doing triathlons and for a time I was the one watching on the
sidelines. 3 months of physio, acupuncture, massage, podiatry and new shoes I was
ready to start some training - 6 weeks before the sprint triathlon
championships (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run).
This was the event I wanted to
qualify for the World Championships was I going to fail? I raced, legs and body
could tell that I hadn't trained but I did enough to get 5th and in
a time that allowed qualification. I was stunned. My coach asked if I was going to go to Wellington to do the
Standard distance (1500m, 40k bike and 10k run), why not I have already
qualified. Swimming is my weaker event and 1500m in open water scared me, well
to be honest all the distances scared me one after the other.
He obviously had
faith in me as my training programme changed and my times started to improve.
Massage and acupuncture continued and the discomforts became occasional
niggles.
Wellington, behaved itself, I have never
experienced a day in Wellington
like it and I was thankful for it.
I came third, after overtaking a NZ vested female
in my age group with about 500m to go in the run.
The thought of my parents
(who couldn't be there due to sickness) getting me through a very painful run.
Emotions
were very high on the day and several days later. I had qualified for the
Worlds in this event as well.
My husband also competed, which was a great
achievement, especially as he is only doing the training so he can spend some
time with me, ‘weight loss would also be useful' he adds.
With a day to go before selection I was undecided about what to do, but really,
if I am going to put in all that training and fly to Beijing, then at least spend sometime doing a
race. I have therefore picked the Standard distance.
I continually find myself looking back a year ago and think, I couldn't swim
300m and now I can swim 1500m, not fantastically well, but well enough and
surprising myself in the race that I was actually catching people towards the
end.
So here I am, going to represent my adopted country, in September and not having had
an injury or sickness for a while.
I am learning to look after myself and with
the guidance of my coach, training colleagues and the combined support of the
health professionals I am positive I can make it to Beijing injury free and in a position to do
myself, family and everybody looking after me proud.
