Even I am not invincible!

I learned a few valuable things this week. It’s been a tough tough week, both work, training, and socially. I also have had my boiler break down – big financial stress, throughout this week I have come to learn a few things (through reflection, at the time I was NOT seeing it this way!)

1.      If I do not manage the sessions prescribed, coach will NOT kill me, it will not kill me. Listen to your body. On Friday I was absolutely exhausted. I felt like cr@p because I did not do the run that I was meant to do. Hubby reminded me this is NOT my occupation, it’s a hobby. Sometimes @nuuutymel can be just a little bit too nutty! I think I need to get a grip, and get things back in perspective. It was only 1 hour. The last time I failed to complete a prescribed session was September 15^th (and only then because I was just back from the Worlds! The time before that that I missed a session was 24 July!)

2.      In times of stress, 3-2-1 or not, I must NOT eat cr@p! Don’t buy any, therefore the craving does not get satisfied, and you don’t finish up feeling guilty!

3.      I CAN manage without visiting the scales all the time! Hubby didn’t believe me that I wouldn’t get obsessive when I asked for digital scales for Christmas. I haven’t been to weightwatchers since they launched pro points. I stepped on a scale in the gym the other day. Nothing to fear. Believe in yourself. Believe in how you feel, how the clothes fit. Numbers don’t matter. Lifestyle matters more.

4.      3-2-1 is STILL working! I have not given weight loss a thought at all. I am, however well into the habit of training after meals. It now seems normal. As does the 3-2-1 portion sizes. I don’t have to obsess about counting calories, points, or any other thing. Weight loss and 3-2-1 go hand in hand now. And I still have the strength to train, and can have the odd slip up without it causing mayhem in the scales department!

5.      There is a life outside triathlon! Sometimes I get all consumed by training, always wanting to do better, train better, but I discovered (because I was forced this week!) that non triathlon socialising IS ok!! I am not a full time athlete, and I must remember that! When training encroaches on your social life, it’s time to back off a bit.

The hilarious goings on on the track this week!

I did a run training session today with Kieth Molloy, my run coach. He was under orders from Steve Casson, my triathlon coach, to go easy on me because it is recovery week. I asked him last week what he had in mind, I was told 'agility'. this meant nothing at all to me!!

I turned up on friday, very foggy, dark, track lights are off. I thought, hmm, what on earth might he have in mind? He told me that we were going to do an easy 3 mile run, then some resistance work. Ok, harmless I think. So off we set. First mile all uphill. I had been told last week that my running posture was much better, and Kieth said the same today, told me i was running up hill much better too. I looked at the watch, average for me. I kept going. At the top, I thought, ok, rest is flat or down, I am going to now focus just on form. Easy pace, focus on form. SO I concentrated on hips forward, driving off the foot, arms in the right places, with Kieth chuntering at me  all the time as a reminder. I didnt look a the watch at all. I have been taught to know on feel. it still felt ok, so I carried on. Sometimes statistics are my downfall, and i see good numbers and think EEEK! and slow down.

At the end of mile 2, the watch vibrated. I took a glance, wow, I thought, this pace is good, for what feels 'ok'!! I had one more mile, along the flat. mile 3 is usually my undoing in a race, so I stayed very focussed, on form, still getting my timely reminders from Kieth, and aimed not to lose any of that pace on mile 3 (because I usually do!) It still felt ok, and I stayed focussed. Towards the end of mile 3 I knew it was no longer an easy HR, but there wasnt far to go, I was going good, i would stay focussed and see how I can do. The moment it vibrated for 3 miles, I slowed and looked at the split. The last mile was 1 minute 20 seconds faster than the first, and around 45 seconds faster than what I might expect to be my average pace on that run. I was rather impressed considering it was a steady run, not a hard effort (probably helped by the fact that it is recovery week!

Then the fun began!!

Kieth went to his car and got out a contraption rather like this.

What on earth is that i wondered. He then explained. I couldnt help but laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh!! I was very glad at this point that it was dark (and foggy) and there was no-one around...

because this is what you do with that... Oh yes!! It is like being taken for a walk!! I went first, and it was only 60 metres. 60 metres... I'm glad it was no further!! When i set off i felt like i was tied to a lamp post!! Then, as i got going, it felt like any moment now he would let go, and i would go cattapulting across the track like a rag doll! I didnt even get to the finish line before I was laughing!! He kept telling me it wasnt funny, this was good resistance training that would strengthen the drive on the foot. But I was still laughing!!

Then I got to have a go 'on the reins' so to speak! When he set off, I am quite sure it wasnt the same because I was suddenly lurched forwards and felt like I was taking a REALLY big dog that I cant quite control for a walk!!!

4 lots of 60 metres like this and I thought I was going to collapse!! It still makes me laugh now! When he set off to go home, he put the harness in the boot, in case passers by thought he has some strange bondage fetish!!

I bet a man thought up that idea for run resistance training....!