Cross Country always hurts, I’ve decided!

This second race of the season was never going to be pretty! I was scheduled for a run metabolic assessment (Vo2Max) on the Saturday morning, the only time Coach could fit me in. Oh well, cross country is only a bit of fun, she says!

After a great result on the met assessment, I almost forgot I had a race on the Sunday! This one was notoriously tough, although my tiny mind had blocked out exactly how much so! Yes, I had done this course before, but it was 2 years ago, for goodness sake!!

Big fat pee queue stresses (500 odd women, 3 toilets, you do the maths!) meant that the Northants Tri cross country team floundered in the organisational and administrational area, while I was busy queuing, step in Mr Mel, who ventured out of the opposition camp to help out with admin (aaaaaw!) How kind, the least he could do, considering he was running for the opposition today! We had no spectators today, so a new challenge was launched – how do we collate results, and will all the runners manage to not lose their ticket number between the finish line and the school hall, ¼ mile away?!

The conditions were, well I’d like to say perfect, but a perfect cross country would be raining wouldn’t it? It was wet underfoot, but dry. It was such a dash to get to the start that I was barely stood there a moment when the race was started!! Oh gosh!! So I spent the first mile floundering, and trying to find my rhythm. I had done almost a mile before I managed to get the focus under control. I stopped focussing on Alex my mate, Vicky (who I have never raced so I had no idea what to expect) and many others, and began to concentrate on how I was feeling! Sorry Kim, (www.kimingleby.com) but I got there eventually!! I was just starting to enjoy it, misty morning, muddy route, nice claggy wet paths, people dancing round the puddles, when the first hill was in front of me, it was like a man made mound – straight up, straight down, I remember now... heartbreak hill! I adopted the slow but sure snail approach and plodded up the hill, I was not giving in, shorten the steps, stand tall, drive from the hip... bla bla bla (coach orders ringing in my ears!) when at the top of the hill the woman in front of me threw open her arms and shouted  I and the guy beside me looked at each other with the knowing ‘FFS I’m dying here do you mind!?’ look and glanced up briefly before firmly concentrating once more on which rut the next footstep would land in!

‘look at the vieeeeeeeeeeeeeew!!!’

I plodded on for a while more, the next stretch very memorable... this is the spot last time I did this course where I suddenly realised that putting elastic lock laces in the cross country shoes was a BIG BIG mistake!! Yup, shoes stuck in mud scenario! Glad I learned from that one, because today was just the same! Nothing much happened for a while, at one stage I felt like I was the only one out there, still silent morning, I could almost say it was nice! (if it wasn’t a race, and I didn’t have VO2max legs!) Up through the woods, steady does it, a few more caught on the hill... when the proper hill arrived – almost a clamber!! I was passed at the foot of it by an Ampthill runner... who then started walking just ahead. I shouted to her ‘I’m coming don’t let me catch you’ by way of encouragement... she replied ‘what? Are you a coach or something?!’ I said ‘no, should I be?’ she said 'yes!’ and started running again!!

Meanwhile a Dunstable girl that had been playing catch with me... running past me up the hills, I ran past her on the flats...started walking... so I got past her too. She then caught me up and struck up a conversation about triathlon! I began to think, I shouldn’t have time for this! Its a race!! I recognised the final hill, and the sneaky bit around the corner. I knew it was all downhill to the finish from here. My legs were shot though. But little did I know it was about to happen again. Around 20-30m from the finish I could see my husband, shouting encouragement and beaming at me, while others were informing me that there were three coming in hot from behind me. Now, usually I have some kind of sprint finish, but not today! There was just NOTHING left at all. Guess who It was who came past me in the last few meters? That blooming Laura from WDAC!! I was Laura’d again for the second time in a row!!

Well, at least I had a valid excuse this time!! However, I collected a ticket 14 places better than last time, and was 2 mins quicker than the last time I ran it, (granted, it was a while ago, but I don’t care!) so I cant complain! Imagine what would be possible with fresh legs...

The next one... will hurt just as bad... it’s the day after a bike VO2 max test! (I think coach is trying to kill me!)

1st Cross Country of 2010

For some reason, I seem to find it acceptable to take a casual stance to cross country. I enter the races knowing I will not do too well against ‘proper’ runners, (compared to triathlon that is!) yet I love them!! I take a lot of time organising for my club to be part of the Cross Country League. We only joined last year for the first time, and it went rather well, we finished further up the league than anyone expected (including us!)

So this year, the target was to beat the club directly above us (my old club WDAC as it happens!) and to exacerbate matters, hubby has decided to renew his membership with the opposition! Due to injury, he was unable to do the first one so agreed to come along and help with admin. He made it very clear it was a one off! WDAC instructed him to come over to the Northants Tri camp and kick me in the leg!! I was proud to see that the club members were keener this time round, discovering that cross country can actually be fun! We had a full team out (minimum requirements to not incur penalties is 7 men, 3 women). We actually managed to exceed that! Woohoo! My friend (and triathlon enemy – Alex) was there – back from a triathlon induced injury (she broke her wrist last year trying to bunny hop the kerb in order to beat me in a local triathlon!) I was readily accepting I would not be in our team’s top 3; therefore my race didn’t matter in terms of scores. The pressure was off; I could just focus on me.

I got the flyrocs out of the depths of the garage and chip the concreted mud off the soles with a screw driver and a wire brush! Ooops!! It was a bitterly cold day. The new leaner me doesn’t cope with this well, not helped by a race start delay! I opted for the trusty skins top – flipping freezing at first – but like a thermal blanket once I get off and running! The course was actually a little softer than the concrete I remember from last year, but still very hard!! It started off with a brutally sharp downhill, a bit of flat, then the hills started! I had a myriad of advice flowing through my little brain – Kim Ingleby telling me to focus on my own race, just do the best I can, think forward, ignore the other people... then my run coach telling me to run tall, push the hips forward, use the WHOLE stride... blablablablabla! I really thought hard, so much so I didn’t have time to notice the other people - apart from the guy who was behind me for Aaaaaages grunting and panting in a specific rhythm! I kept thinking just pass will you... nothing... and the amazing thing happened – his grunting got fainter!! I must be doing ok I thought!!

At the top of the last hill, I had to look for a moment – there was a huge crowd of people staring – cameras, TV cameras, the works... across the empty field... ? hmmmm? Sorry – no time for that – I have a race to finish!!

I was downing the last hill, I knew the finish was soon. I felt ok, had deliberately NOT looked at the watch (sometimes, I think its the undoing of me!) I thought I had bags of time, I couldn’t hear anyone behind.. when the crowds indicated someone was coming in hot!! Oh sh1T!! So I set off for the sprint. The finish was within grasp. Over my shoulder I saw it was a WDAC vest – noooooooooo! I pulled out all the stops... she sprinted past... and past... and past!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!! Nothing left in the legs! I was beat – my first sprint loss – and to a WDAC!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr!!! No matter, I was faster overall, and could still walk afterwards! Last year – I collapsed onto the grass and couldn’t get up for ages for the asthmatic gasping!! So, yes, it was a good race, I did the best I could, and that’s all I can ask of my legs (which as it happens went faster than last year, so that’s a bonus!)

As for Alex, isn’t it interesting. EVERY running race I have ever done with her, she’s beaten me by minutes. Every triathlon we have ever raced together, I have beaten her by minutes! Interesting eh?

Roll on the next one! (I will try and clean the shoes before then!)

The 3-2-1 Diet

A little while ago now coach and I decided between us that there may be some performance gains to be had if I was to attempt to become leaner. We decided 7-14 pounds was the initial realistic aim. The target weight was one I had achieved in the past, but I was training for a half iron distance triathlon at the time so it was easier to do (I remember due to the volume of long distance training I struggled to keep weight on at that time actually!) I tried the return to the weight watchers diet. It had always worked excellently for me. This time, though, I struggled. On weight watchers, I just wasn’t getting enough calories to sustain the volume and intensity of the training. I became very tired, and my performance started to suffer.

I needed a Nutritionist to give me advice. Luckily, I found Becky White, via Twitter (@onesixeightfit) and asked for her help. This was just before Budapest, so travelling and dining out meant I couldn’t really give the advice she gave me a proper go until this week, when I was back in England again.

I have to admit I found her advice very contrary to what I had been taught at weight watchers. She told me to train BEFORE meals, and to always try and do one session before breakfast each day. She called this the fat burning session. I had always thought I needed the food for fuel. I was instructed to eat a piece of fruit (to kick start the metabolism) and drink black coffee (to stave off hunger pangs) before I went out in the morning. This seemed very odd. The first time I tried it, I had a tough swim set in store. I had done this set earlier in the week, mid afternoon, half way between lunch and tea. I did it at 6.30am, with just an apple and my black coffee to keep me going, and found each speed set was significantly faster than it had been that afternoon a few days earlier. I was amazed. Becky wasn’t at all surprised!

So, maybe she was on to something? I was told to eat twice as much porridge as I had been doing for breakfast (jeeez, that was hard work at first!) I had to eat a medium sized lunch, with pasta, or something, then a light tea, filled out with mostly vegetables. I found this really tough at first. By the following morning, I was STARVING when I went out for my empty stomach ‘fat burning’ training session! I was told that food was fuel, so I had to eat wisely, only snack on fruit or nuts, and switch from tea to back coffee. Ok, odd, but I’ll give it a try. However, the thing that surprised me most was she told me I ate too many foods that contained man made sweeteners and I should cut them out. This was THE OPPOSITE to weight watchers. I took that thought to the weight watchers leader. She declared it nonsense. Well, if I am going to try it, I may as well try ALL of it, so I stopped buying diet foods, and cut back on things containing man made sweeteners. Seemed very very strange. I had got so used to choosing the low fat diet options! But, if you are in doubt as to the logic of this advice, so was I. See the separate blog on aspartame. I did my homework, then decided it was worth a try. Becky had not met me, knew nothing about me yet immediately asked was I struggling to get rid of the last few pounds, when I showed her my food diary.

So, 3-2-1 meals, black coffee, more veg, more fruit and HUGE breakfasts, and main meals within an hour of training sessions. One full week of trying that, and I went to weight watchers this Wednesday. It is also worth noting that this week has been a recovery week, post World Championships, so I have also done WAY less training than usual.

Despite this, I lost 4 pounds this week! The weight watchers leader asked what I had done. I reminded her about the nutrition advice. She was astounded. She said she honestly hadn’t expected it to work! Neither had I!

The main thing I took from this is that I need to start reminding myself that my body is the machine, and the food is the fuel. I am an athlete. I can’t just eat whatever I like, whenever I like. I need to think about what fuel combinations are best. The early training sessions can be tough to get up for some times, but with results like these... I’m keeping on this 3-2-1 diet for now!! I have had NO trouble with training intensity while on this food regime, so I’m a very happy bunny!

read more about the 3-2-1 diet and WHY it works here
http://melanieryding.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-3-2-1-diet.html
 

ITU World Championships – Race Report

A wet wet wet wet day! I saw a woman called Kim the evening before, she went through mental preparation techniques with me. I tried in a short 1 hour session to learn as much as I can about correct mental preparation. I couldn’t even tell you what she did to be honest, but I woke up on race day feeling ok, calm, and ready to race. The plan was to focus on my own race, although I wasn’t sure how well I could do this, because I normally spend most of my time worrying about where everyone else is!

Hungary day 1 - marathon run v BUS!

Up very early (5,.30am) on day 1 here in Budapest. Hubby decided that since there was a half marathon in town, he wanted to take part in it, saying he would use it as a marathon training ‘jog out’! Since I squeezed my Saturday training into Friday, because we were travelling out on Saturday, Sunday was scheduled to be my second whole day off. Very odd, but I thought I had better dedicate some time to poor Mark, since he spends so much time being my triathlon support team! So we decided to NOT negotiate the complex transport system and got a taxi to the start line! After sorting out the race registration, and course map study, I was tasked with the job of getting to the hotel and back to collect the swimming gear, so that we could take advantage of his free thermal spa dip when he finished the race (all part of the half marathon race entry). Easy I thought!. Hmmm, no! I asked a woman where the metro was. The map said it was right here in the park where I was standing. Just behind me she said. I asked can I miss it? She said no, you will see it. I wandered around. No sign. I asked another two people – its just over there they replied. Still I couldn’t see it. I got so angry and frustrated I walked down the park to where I knew the next one was, having given up trying to find it! I get to the metro. Beszel angolul? I ask in my very limited app assisted Hungarian. No, they don’t speak English. Oh shit! I somehow manage to point and stumble my way thru a ticket purchase, and on I get. Next, I was looking for the tram station, to continue my journey across the river. Beszel Angolul? Yes, he did!! But, he tells me there are no trams on Sundays between 10.30am and 11.30am. Its 10.40am. FFS! I ask how do I get to Buda. A short walk he says – bus stop number 7. Ok. No worries. Off I go. When I find the junction, it looks like picadilly circus. There are subways to each road side, and a bus and tram station at each junction. It took me almost half an hour to work out the correct subway exit and the correct bus stop to stand at!! No English speakers here to help me! Aaaargh! I was sure at this rate hubby would be sprinting his way round the course at speed while I stumbled on public transport!! I stand at the bus stop, watching the first few come past wondering whether I should have a ticket. They are all just getting on, and not buying. As I stand and panic, a bus or 5 go past. No, I need the 7. after the 173 leaves, no, I could have got that one!! Grrrrr!! My bus comes, at last. I get on, no one asks for any money. How odd. Is it free on a Sunday? Who knows! So, bendy bus journey passes without incident, and I notice we pass the tail end runners going the other way. Hmmmm, I am now convinced he will get back before I do!! They are all now running back the other way! Hotel, grab gear, dash out, and back I go. Its now 12 noon. 2 hours since he started. He’ll be standing there now waiting for me!! I manage to get back through the transport maze much more smoothly, now knowing that I tell the ticket man egy – (1) but he confuses me still further by asking ‘ooot?’ he repeats it several times. I am confused. He is confused. He throws his arms up in the air and hands me a ticket, taking my note. When I get on the train I finally wonder whether it was ‘return’ he might have been asking me?! Oh well. I decided to get off at the mystery station that I couldn’t find. When I emerge into the park, I am but meters from where I started off, but the only sign there is even a station there is a flight of stairs that go down – no sign saying to where! How was I meant to find that!! Conclusion? It takes hubby just about 1 hr 50 to ‘jog’ round Budapest for 13 miles, but it takes me more than 3 hours to get to the other side of town and back via metro, bus, and foot!! Well, at least I didn’t get lost (or mugged!) Best bit – I have just discovered (at 8pm) that the Hungarian system is I should have been ‘trusted’ to buy tickets all day – had I had been caught by an inspector – 10,000HUF fine! Ooops!!

Training fuel, aspartame & weight loss

 1/9/2010

Another tough weight watching week this week. I thought I had been good, but 0.5 on. On-off-on-off – getting a bit fed up with this. I asked for some nutrition advice. Becky White from www.onesixeightfitness.com asked me to fill in a food diary for three days. I explained I was struggling to maintain training and weight loss at the same time. She came up with some very interesting results. Not at all what I expected. I recently cut back on what I eat – understandably. She told me I ought to double the size of my breakfast – that it should be the biggest meal of the day. AND... I should try and do some training BEFORE breakfast – to maximise fat burning. Sounds tough stuff to me! Dinner also should be my lightest meal. Gosh, that’s going to take some changing!!

The most interesting thing, though, was her take on artificial sweetener. Apparently research suggests that that ‘the two are linked because the body doesn’t know how to digest these artificial substances and therefore stores them as fat. Opt for ‘full fat yogurts and sugar added drinks or none at all!’

So I went looking for this so called research.

Here, they suggest that the aspartame suppresses the natural feeling of fullness, and therefore you overeat, but backed up with no direct links to research findings:

http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/weight_gain_myth.htm

This article also links aspartame to weight gain, but says that it’s because of the links to the effects on your metabolism. It does include research references:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080210183902.htm

This article refers to the same research, but deems it inconclusive, and in need of even more research!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7233459.stm

It does mention that the theory is not one nutritionists agree with. Hmmm. This nutritionist is the one that brought it to my attention, and she is also the one that asked me did I tend to carry excess weight around my middle. I just want to add, she has never even met me!

This article, again, does not back up its claims with evidence, but I am beginning to think that the case and point here is the argument between low SUGAR and low CALORIE. Maybe someone needs to separate them out in a piece of research!

http://www.sucralose-org.co.uk/myths/default.asp

Finally I stumbled upon a research abstract that sums it up beautifully!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20078374

So, I think I conclude that although current research does not establish a CONCRETE link between aspartame and weight gain, there are a lot of causal factors that still need further investigation! That’s not all that helpful! But it does give me something to think about!

So what am I going to do about all this?

Well, I think I will start by consuming the diet stuff I already have, then we’ll see what happens next. I’ll have to come up with a list of replacement alternatives while my head embraces this whole ‘full fat’ idea. It just doesn’t seem right or logical to me!! Better get to work on that list! I do have a sweet tooth, this will be HARD!

I’ll try the double the breakfast half the dinner idea... well it can’t do any harm trying something new, the weight watchers thing doesn’t really work for this hard at work athlete at this moment in time. But, I think I need to find a balance. I see the weight watchers points logic; it’s a way of simply labelling all the things that are good and bad for you in a clear understandable way. So does that mean more veg? I guess so!

Finally, I think I need to see food more as fuel, an think carefully about when I am eating in relation to when I am training – that WILL be hard, because I am meant to do all training JUST BEFORE a main meal! That sounds like a logistical nightmare in the making!

I’ll let you know how I get on!

I Give up!!

Sounds like I’m quitting with this weight loss thing? Well not exactly. Over the past few weeks, I have found my training hitting a new low, struggling to generate power and almost grinding to a halt out on the roads. I discovered that weight loss and high intensity training were a difficult combination. Coach said it was down to the lack of fuel and negative calorie intake per day. The balance is very tricky. On the first week, lost 2.5 lb. Great! Week 2, gained 1. Oh, but I was away for the weekend anyway, so it could have been worse. No matter. Week 3, lost 4lb but also lost a truck load of speed and energy. At the time, I didn’t put 2 and 2 together and was just happy to see the weight melt away! Week 4, lost 1 lb, better I thought, that’s sustainable. Week 5, gain 1.5lb. hmmmph. What happened there? Week 6, this week, lost 0.5lb. That’s ok I guess, since I am STILL trying to find the balance between fuelling my body for training while still losing weight. ITS HARD MAN!!

Things I discovered this week?

1)      I have been picking up the wrong jelly in the supermarket – it’s been 1.5 points per pot, NOT 0 like I thought. Well, there’s why I gained last week I suppose!

2)      Training is now going superbly well, my speed is returning to me, and I feel much more reassured. This has been balanced by a much smaller incremental loss in weight. There’s  a connection methinks. Important for it to be this way round, will the world championships only weeks away.

Things I can still change?

1)      Stop having a bit of bread here, a bit of bread there...

2)      Weightwatchers low fat snack still add up, I MUST try and healthy snack more.

3)      Cooking my own stuff is better, its just a pain in the ass sometimes. Must make an effort to try keep it up.

4)      Eat regularly, including lunch, don’t ‘miss it’ or leave it till later.

5)      Less ice cream, even if it is weight watchers!

So, one more week. Then I’m off on a plane. What will the last week bring, we will have to see. I originally wanted reach 12 stone before I departed. I’m 2.5lb off that. Realistically I can’t afford to lose that in one week, and still train effectively, so my focus, till I’ve done my last race of the season, is to maintain, or as a bonus, lose a small amount, and then for now, I’ll be happy.

The Orthotics journey

It’s been a long long journey to get to where I am now, but I wanted to share it, in the hope that others won’t give up on the process.

My orthotic journey goes back a few years. Quite a few. I never really thought about my feet until I started running. Well, you don’t, do you? I have always had weird bones sticking out in places where other people haven’t, I have always known I have very flat feet, so what? I kinda have two ankle bones on the inside, which made it difficult getting shoes when I was a kid, extra bits sticking out and all. My parents and my sister have always made fun of what they called my ‘bobbly toes’ but, who cares, I wear shoes, you don’t stare at peoples feet, do you? Its only now I know why.

The first time I considered orthotics was around ten years ago. There were some cheap ones on offer in Clarks, metal plate type things, off the shelf. Hmmm, ok, ish, well, I got bored of them, didn’t really see the point.

The next was at the ideal home show a number of years ago. I was getting achy feet when I walked distances, they promised all sorts of magical things they could fix, all I had to do was walk across this plate. Well, ok I thought, so I did. Oooooh you have very flat feet… bla bla bla and they told me I definitely needed them. Well, they blinded me with science, talked about foot imprints, and stuff, and said they would post them out.

When they arrived, they were hard stiff plastic, with a soft covering, and about 2/3 of the foot long, stopping just before the metatarsal. It took me ages and ages to get used to running in them (yup, I have now found running, and am at the start of my weight loss journey) and they constantly gave me blisters on my arch. Blisters were nothing new, I constantly have got blisters on my instep when I run. I have to wear compeed all the time during training, and use lots of Vaseline and crossed fingers during races! I persevered for a bit, but the aches from wearing them started to bug me and didn’t go away so I gave up and put them in the cupboard.

A few years more pass by, and to be honest I can’t remember why I resurrected the idea. Perhaps it was more pain; I think perhaps it may have even been knee problems, which the physio blamed on my feet. Anyway, I went to a local podiatrist. Again, they oooh and ahhh, look in wonder and tell me how crap my feet are. This time my feet are cast and moulds are made from them. I feel a bit more positive, maybe these ones will be proper ones? When they come, they are again hard plastic, with a soft covering, but are the length of my foot. Again I’m told it will take a while for my feet to moult to them. So off I trot, but as before, blisters, pain, aches. I really did try, and went back loads of times to the podiatrist. In the end they got fed up with me I think, and refused to communicate any further. The blisters were blamed on the foot rubbing against the edge of the orthotic, extra bits were added, nothing. Still rubbish. I had got no where and wasted yet more money (and believe me they weren’t cheap!)

So, many years go by, and another set go into the cup board. I got a gait analysis at the Sweatshop, bought the best and most supportive trainers on the market, (which for my feet turned out to be Asics gel foundation) and thought screw sticking stuff in my shoes that clearly wont work. I’ll manage.

And manage I did, for a number of years. Thought nothing more till this summer, I developed excruciating pain in my foot. I went to my trusty physio (yes, I know, they don’t do feet!) He said oooooh, you have very unusual and flat feet.. bla bla bla. I think you should see a podiatrist. YAWN!!! What again. Never. I made an appointment. I have to be honest, I cancelled it, and gave an excuse. But, the pain didn’t abate and soon I could hardly walk. I had the European championships coming up really soon, so I thought I had better do something.

I went to see this guy, Steve, that I was recommended. Ooooh hes the best in Northamptonshire, etc etc. I was told. Hmmmmm forgive my scepticism, given the journey so far. But, I gave the guy a chance. He turned out to be a very clever chap, very informative, very very very helpful and accommodating, and explained things in great detail. After a lengthy trip to see him, (and a long appointment with the podiatry school students, during which I learned TONS about the foot anatomy!) I discovered all sorts of explanations as to the problems I have encountered all these years!

The ‘extra ankle bone’ turned out to be a result of extreme pronation, over a number of years, making the bones just below the ankle protrude more than they should. The ‘bobbly toes’ were as a result of the fact that there was no stability in my foot, overflexible joints, and no arch, I have been ‘clawing’ at the ground all my life, in order to maintain balance. Gosh, it’s a wonder I can even stand up I thought!! So, there started the next chapter!! This time, he explained how the foot is a flexible complex joint, etc, and you don’t want HARD orthotics, the stuff needs to flex if you are going to run on it. I was still sceptical, but things were looking up. At this stage, the European champs were in two weeks, and I still count walk, and had stopped running completely. He said I shoudlt race. Pah!! I don’t do all that work for nowt!! Fix me… please? He added some temporary spongy bits (lots) to the underside of my trainer insoles, and sent me away to try it.

I apprehensively hobbled out the door. First run in a few weeks. After I managed to extend the limp to a jog, it eased. By about a mile down the road, I no longer had pain. I gotta say, I was pretty flabbergasted!
I did the Euros anyway, (hurt like hell but what the heck!!) and went back the next week. I have to confess I expected a foot cast. He took the insole away (with the bits stuck on) and came back a moment later saying, done… they will be in the post in a few weeks. ??? That Easy!??

When they came, I could wait to try them. This pair were like a full trainer insole, thin, bendy, rubbery, but with lumpy bits moulded into them to match the contours of my feet. I ran in them. Yep, blisters on the instep. FFS!! I called him and expected him to say yes, feet need to adjust… no…. come in immediately they obviously need adjusting. Really? And back I have been, many many times over the past few weeks, lots and lots of minor adjustments. I did actually think that I was destined for blisters, even with these ones.

BUT.. the difference with these over all the others I have had? They didn’t hurt at all. They felt odd, yes, but no aches. After he was done adjusting them, saying the blisters were because the foot was slipping in the shoe (not enough arch support) I ran last weekend. 5 miles, no compeed (but did take some in my pocket, because I was convinced I would need them!). 5 miles. No blister, no plasters. The first time, ever in my life I have run without getting a blister, and without needing a plaster. I was Sooooooooo exited!! I ran again today, and still no plaster, no blister, no aches.

It really did work. I cant believe it!! I have been told that with my foot in the ‘better’ position I should now have a more efficient and biomechanically correct drive off the first metatarsal, like I should have had all along, which has only got to be good, for a runner, I think?
I am SOOOOOO excited and pleased I persevered to get to this point. I can’t recommend him enough. If you are going to try orthotics, make sure you go to a sports podiatrist, and DO persevere and pester them. It WILL be worth it in the end.

And the pain? Almost all gone. YAY!!
Steve Avil can be contacted through the contacts page on my web site http://www.melanieryding.co.uk/ under contacts :)

The weight loss hamster wheel

I wondered whether I should just avoid this weeks blog. I spend a lot of time encouraging and congratulating other people who do well and achieve their goals, got to stay positive, right? Not so easy. Any weight watcher will know that.

After rejoining the weekly meetings back in July, when I discovered that I had let a few pounds creep back on, I prepared myself to embrace toe diet once more, go back to being careful, counting everything. The initial interim goal was to get back from 12.8 to 12 stone. Then take it from there. Should be easy I thought. It started well. Too well perhaps. I reported last week I had been struggling to find the right balance to still fuel my training yet still lose weight. It continues to be a struggle. A few times this week I have run out of steam completely. So, the balance is still all wrong, I thought. Need to eat more, or training will be pants. So, I try. I always worry about needing energy bars and stuff though, because the calorie count on those things – the points value doesn’t bear thinking about! But need them this week I did. Hmmm.

I have however started to notice some tone revealing itself again from under the layer of fat I had allowed to build up around the middle. I even tried on a pair of size ten trousers I have been unable to fasten up for over a year, and got them on. I was feeling good, positive, and ready to be weighed.

When I went to the meeting, my regular leader was not there. I think, it’ll be fine. You have hardly eaten anything this week. Easy. Right? Right? No. I step on the scales, 1.5lb on. I was devastated to be honest. I so wanted to reach the 12 stone mark before I go to Budapest. There’s only 2 weeks left. The replacement leader says what did you do different? I said, I don’t know! She asks what do I need to do different? I again say I don’t know. She just looks at me, and says nothing more. That’s helpful I think to myself. NOT.

Cooooooooooooooach!! HELP!!! He gives me a verbal slap and says get a grip!! I ask myself, what would you tell someone who tweeted the same story. I concluded that despite a disappointment on the scales, I got back into those trousers this week. This to me is big news. It DID make me happy. I wish I had been measuring inches, because I bet that would have told me a more reassuring story. It’s just a small blip. Mel, you have had many of those. Get a grip!!

At the moment, training is vital, in preparation for the world championships. I realise weight loss and race pre is a stupid combination to try, and praise myself for losing 5lb this far in only a month, while still trying to balance a heavy training load. That’s quite an achievement I think. So, onwards to another week.

What did I conclude I did wrong? I think maybe, looking back at my OWN food diary, I repeatedly kept forgetting to eat lunch, and then tried to ‘catch up’ later. That I think was my error. I perhaps didn’t eat enough. I learned from past experience, having been a gold member for 4 years and a weight watchers member for more than that, that when I saved myself up too many points in a week, it actually had the reverse effect. It’s a fine balance, and what happens if you don’t eat enough is your body starts to store fat as an emergency measure because it thinks you are starving yourself. So, I’ll try again next week. Maybe I’ll get it, maybe I won’t. My eye is on the long term goal and I just have to keep trying to get the balance, and listening to my body closely. Its hard work though.

The weight and training balance dilemma!

Since my last race, I have really been getting into the swing of watching what I eat again. When I was first introduced to the idea that weight loss could help me in race situations, I realised on return to the scales, that I had let almost 9lb slip back on. Ooops. It’s just a habit I got out of, like we all do.  I had started to get lazy, eat more junk, stop cooking as much. So I embraced the home cooking again and got back out the low fat cook books. Since I am still off work for a few more weeks and have the time to do it. I am finding the balance quite hard to be honest. At first, I did quite well, but then one week, I lost 4 lb. I didn’t get to lose 4 stone by accident you know, I am actually getting quite good at weight loss (when I set my mind to it that is!!) You would think that this was good, right? Coach was NOT happy with me. This coincided with me experiencing fatigue in training, and I was told off for losing too much weight all in one week. I very quickly learned that the balance of eating to fuel my training, while still trying to lose weight was going to be much more tricky than I first thought! I had to be reminded again that food is fuel, and without it my training will suffer, even if I am thinner!! I was ordered to eat more and disregard the diet for the race week. So I did, well I thought I did. I must be just a little too good at this weight watchers thing because that week I still lost 2.5 lb. Ooops! If you had said to me not long back that I would be getting told off for not eating enough, I would have laughed. Gosh, its hard work!!  So, I started the online food diary. I realised that sometimes I had really not had much at all. This is NOT GOOD! Heavy training unfortunately does the opposite thing to me than it does to most people, it makes me LESS hungry. So I have had to go back to drinking SiS recovery milkshakes after training, (strawberry is my favourite at the moment!) or if I do forget to eat, by treats to myself are peanut butter and/or nutella on toast. Especially tasty after a long session! So, last week I managed a loss of 1lb. Normally I would be rather upset at that measly amount, but apparently for coach, that is spot on. Balance restored (I hope). It is proving to be much harder than I thought to strike a balance between eating the right amount to lose weight (with the aim of hitting my target ‘race weight’), yet still being able to sustain hard fast exercise. To be quite honest, when I was originally told by coach I had to trim down a bit to get to optimal race weight, I was dreading going back to the weight watchers eating, but it’s MUCH easier than I thought, maybe a little too easy!

So, I am listening VERY closely to my body at the moment, and go training armed with energy bars and gels, just in case I haven’t got the balance right and need to ‘top up’. I went out without them the other day, what a fatal mistake!! I had stopped using them because of the calorie content, but they will have to become my friend for a while again, well at least till the hard training leading up to Budapest is all sorted. J 

Weight loss and weight maintenance is not an exact science, it is quite tricky, even for me!!

Barton Marina Sprint Triathlon

It seems ages since I last raced, and a funny thought that the last one was in fact the European Championships in Athlone! This really was only a race pace training session for me, but as always, i want to do well, even if that is not supposed to be the focus! I have never been to Barton-Under-Needword before, or even done 'chaserace' race before so i had no idea what to expect. I was so laid back on the days running up to this race, I kept thinking there was something wrong here! The night before, I had all my stuff laid out in a matter of minutes (with the help of my 'race equipment list' on the computer!) and route planned - it seemed i had to get up at 4.45am! eeek! So, race morning, up at dawn! Hubby says i always get to races FAR too early, so this time we planned to 'time it just right' and get there at 6.45am, for an 8am start. Clear roads got us there at the predicted time, Barton Marina being very easy to find thanks to my trust TOMTOM IPhone app! There only seemed to be a handful of people here. This race was going to be MUCH smaller than i was used to. It will make a nice change. :) I had a quick look about, checked the bike into transition, sussed the layout, and was JUST in time for race briefing. this 'time it right' malarkey seemed all a but last minute' to me! No time to recce the bike route, so that will be a nice surprise in store! First time i have done a race without driving the route first! Oh well. There were only 2 waves, newbies in the 1st, then everyone else. this was a bit odd, i wasnt used to racing in the same wave as the men! i am used to womens waves, and know where i will usually expect to be position wise in the swim - back of the front pack. So this time, i had no idea how i was doing! I felt like i was MILES back, and hoped all the people in front were men!! Funny little lake, floaty gloopy algae type stuff, but was ok once we got away from the shore. nice little swim under a bridge and back, then out to T1. At one point before hand, we were wondering if we had to get out and dive in on the other side like the pro's. Phew!! Reasonably smooth through T1, clocking a time of 58 secs, a PB there for me I think, and the first one under a minute. The bike course had a few cheeky surprises in store for me. Having not driven round it, I had no idea what was round the next corner! There were a few steep decents with chevroned corners, turned out to be not that sharp, so had I know i would have stayed down on the tribars for sure. What goes down must go up, but being from the 'rolling hills' of Northamptonshire, nothing that i hadnt seen before. :) Apart from a hairy scary moment on my return (where a newbie triathlete in front decided to overtake as well as undertake a car in Barton - Kamikaze i recon!) it all went pretty smoothly. Hubby, marshalling on the last roundabout almost didnt recognise me with my new pointy helmet but managed to get this picture as i passed him! i'm not sure how much different an aero helmet makes TBH, all I can say is the bike leg turned out ot be an OKish speed, but felt easy, whether theres something in that who knows. perhaps it means i can push just that fraction more? Through T1, (it seemed to take for ever but it was only 41 secs) and runing. I had a real dilemma over shoes for this race. Having only worn the orthotics once, and still nursing the blisters, i wasnt sure if my feet were ready to race in them bare foot. I also have been nursing an injury, so wasnt sure whether to risk racing flats. Oh, what the heck. it dont matter does it, its a 'race pace training session' remember, so racing flats it was. I took the run steady, didnt know how the foot would perform. It niggles now from time to time, but on the whole was ok, and i can still walk afterwards,  which is better than after Athlone, where i could hardly walk a step! So, test race out of the way, foot held up, that means i had better NOT chicken out of the run coach training session this week i guess? Overall, 2nd in Age group, 8th woman overall. About what i had predicted. Lovely little race, well run, nice setting, great weather, and I would recommend it. I'm not sure why it struggles for competitors, it would be a great race for a newbie open water triathlete to do. A fun sunday out was had by all. :)

Race taper, Orthotics and cook fest!

Taper week, and i think i have JUST recovered from the beasting at the track with the new run coach last week!! (i had to postpone the saturday run TT though!!) i was meant to meet him again this Tuesday, but TBH, with a race at the weekend i gotta admit i chickened out - for fear he will do to me what he did last week, and i will once again barely be able to walk!

Back to Weight Watchers I go!

Well, here we go, blog number 1. Leading into the Europeans I got a foot injury, not the best of timing! As always I continued to work hard, but got frustrated by the foot, so went to see a podiatrist. He took ages telling me the long long list of things I have wrong with my feet and used me as an educational tool for the podiatry students who were there that day! after that lot its a wonder i can actually run at all! i am waiting for orthotics to arrive, and hoping that will turn me into a Tim Don of running! i cant wait for them to arrive so i can see whether they work! I have slacked off on the diet too lately, and a recent visit to Weight watchers revealed I was over my goal 'gold membership' weight. so back on the tomatoes I went!! What I mean is I have cut out eating all the crap (again!) and am now going through chocolate withdrawal. I'll be ok if I can last two weeks, I know I will! oh, and i am back cooking (again!) rather than conveneince food! Unfortunately that means hubby gets to embrace all the weight watchers and low fat recipes too! To be honest, i like them, I don't think low fat has to mean low taste at all.I have decided weight watchers is like the Hotel California - once you have joined you can never leave! I guess watching your weight is kinda the same. (well it certainly is for me, if i take my eye off the ball for a moment I get into all sorts of trouble!!) Slim is definately NOT natural and does NOT come easy for me at all. Over and out, i got a 2.5 hour bike ride to do! Glad schools out for summer, i can fit stuff in a bit better now!