Thursday's swim was one of the strangest experiences of my life, in a good way! The strangeness began even before I left work. I had had a very quiet day and more than ready to go home around 4.30. But the swimming pool doesn't open until 5.15 and something told me that I just had to go swimming that day. As I walked from my office to the pool, I became aware of a feeling in my belly. It was 5 o'clock in the evening, I was tired, I was hungry and I expected to feel that I wanted to go home. But instead, when I analysed the feeling I realised I was....excited. Now let's be clear, swimming does not often induce excitement in me, so this was very odd indeed.
I changed into my costume and I'd remembered both my locker money and my goggles this time. I also had a brand new, shiny silver, silicon swimming hat which I managed to get onto my head in a slightly comedy manner. I was set.
From the moment I got into the pool, I realised that this was something different to my previous swimming. For a start, wearing goggles and being able to see makes an incredible difference. I swam 4 lengths of breaststroke to warm up and then it was time to try out my front crawl again. I'd been checking out some advice and videos that I'd found looking around the internet and had a bit more of an idea of what I was trying to do. I wasn't expecting much, after my last session, but hoped to do a little better.
I pushed off for my first length and tried to remember all the things I'd read and watched, while remembering to breathe at the same time. Like the goggles, the hat made a big difference, as I was able to turn my head to breathe without hair flopping all over my face. At the end of the length I found I wasn't exhausted or dizzy and I was able to set off straight away for my next length. Already progress. And then, a miracle occurred.
Like learning to ride a bike, I suddenly "Got it". I was suddenly swimming front crawl, I was moving through the water, concentrating on my technique, breathing steadily, and I GOT IT. Something clicked and I was loving it! It felt AMAZING! And it got better and better!
In the end I swam a full 900 m of front crawl, plus the 150 m breaststroke to warm up and cool down. This is more crawl than I've swum in my life - and I don't mean in one go, I mean in total. And it felt fantastic. I don't know how I looked, but I certainly didn't feel self conscious, or like the lifeguard might come and offer to rescue me (which was how I felt on Tuesday). For the first time since I was a kid, I understood why people actually like swimming.
Is it a coincidence that this apparent miracle happened the day after I finally committed heart and soul to the triathlon? I don't really believe in coincidences. This is the power of intention, the power of following your heart and making things happen. Later in the evening, I logged into the electronic sign up page, paid my money and pressed "Submit". I officially entered the triathlon. It's time!
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Looking the part
When I first began thinking about how to train for a triathlon, and how to fit cycling and swimming into my life, I thought that swimming would be the most inconvenient and problematic element. But now that I've found a swimming pool and actually got myself into the water (ok, only once so far), swimming seems fairly simple. You find out when the pool is open, go there, change into suit, remember to take money for the locker (I didn't), remember to wear your goggles (I didn't) and a hat (again, didn't). You get into the water and swim up and down, and then you get out and go home. It's not as convenient as running, and the pool near to my office does have the most rare and inconvenient opening hours in the world, but once I'm there I know what to do.
Cycling, on the other hand, is way more difficult. I don't have an indoor bike or stationary trainer (yet!), so I have to find a way to get out on the road for at least half an hour. And in half an hour on a bike, I'm discovering, you go quite a long way! So I have to look for routes without hideous traffic or scary junctions, where I can actually get up a bit of speed and work my legs, but without insane hills (for now), which is a challenge living at the top of the Bruderholz. And without getting lost!
And then there's the problem of what to wear. I know what to wear for running, and I know what to wear for swimming, but I have no clue what to wear for cycling and I don't own any of the correct gear. I looked at cycling leggings in the sports shop yesterday and they cost 119 CHF!!! Hello!!! So I went out in my tracksuit trousers again, with some old trainers and a fleece. I did not look the part! I do at least own a helmet and would not go out without it - I like to go very fast, and I'm kind of scared of cars. Ho hum. I only saw a few cyclists out yesterday evening, but the ones I did see were dressed to the nines in their 100 Frank leggings and 200 Frank cycling jackets but NO HELMET!!! Apparently you need to look the part, but your brain is not worth protecting.
Anyway, I'm on a mission this weekend to find some cheap cycling shorts (cheap in Switzerland being a relative term), at least to wear under my trackie bottoms until the weather improves.
RANT ALERT!
For anyone who is not familiar with Switzerland: No one here does sport in an ancient T-shirt and old football shorts. Oh no. (If you see someone out running/cycling in ancient, thrown together clothes, stop them and ask "Are you British?" They will answer yes.) You must be wearing the CORRECT clothes for your sport, from head to toe, including socks and probably underwear. You cannot wear running clothes for cycling or cycling clothes for Nordic walking. People will look at you in horror! And there are no cheap sports clothes here. Running top? 60 CHF. Leggings? 90 CHF. Winter cycling gloves? 100 CHF. Aforementioned cycling leggings? 119 CHF. It's no wonder that people decide to stay at home and watch TV instead.
RANT OVER!
Cycling routes are also a problem and I guess I'm just have to come to terms with hills. I went out through the fields towards Bottmingen yesterday for 15 minutes and then turned round and came home, which made a 29 minute ride. I did not look the part, but my legs felt the work and let's face it, that's what it's really all about.
Cycling, on the other hand, is way more difficult. I don't have an indoor bike or stationary trainer (yet!), so I have to find a way to get out on the road for at least half an hour. And in half an hour on a bike, I'm discovering, you go quite a long way! So I have to look for routes without hideous traffic or scary junctions, where I can actually get up a bit of speed and work my legs, but without insane hills (for now), which is a challenge living at the top of the Bruderholz. And without getting lost!
And then there's the problem of what to wear. I know what to wear for running, and I know what to wear for swimming, but I have no clue what to wear for cycling and I don't own any of the correct gear. I looked at cycling leggings in the sports shop yesterday and they cost 119 CHF!!! Hello!!! So I went out in my tracksuit trousers again, with some old trainers and a fleece. I did not look the part! I do at least own a helmet and would not go out without it - I like to go very fast, and I'm kind of scared of cars. Ho hum. I only saw a few cyclists out yesterday evening, but the ones I did see were dressed to the nines in their 100 Frank leggings and 200 Frank cycling jackets but NO HELMET!!! Apparently you need to look the part, but your brain is not worth protecting.
Anyway, I'm on a mission this weekend to find some cheap cycling shorts (cheap in Switzerland being a relative term), at least to wear under my trackie bottoms until the weather improves.
RANT ALERT!
For anyone who is not familiar with Switzerland: No one here does sport in an ancient T-shirt and old football shorts. Oh no. (If you see someone out running/cycling in ancient, thrown together clothes, stop them and ask "Are you British?" They will answer yes.) You must be wearing the CORRECT clothes for your sport, from head to toe, including socks and probably underwear. You cannot wear running clothes for cycling or cycling clothes for Nordic walking. People will look at you in horror! And there are no cheap sports clothes here. Running top? 60 CHF. Leggings? 90 CHF. Winter cycling gloves? 100 CHF. Aforementioned cycling leggings? 119 CHF. It's no wonder that people decide to stay at home and watch TV instead.
RANT OVER!
Cycling routes are also a problem and I guess I'm just have to come to terms with hills. I went out through the fields towards Bottmingen yesterday for 15 minutes and then turned round and came home, which made a 29 minute ride. I did not look the part, but my legs felt the work and let's face it, that's what it's really all about.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Bring it on
I AM going to do this triathlon.
I am going to do this triathlon because the thought of it makes me feel ALIVE. It makes me feel like ME. It makes me feel totally shackles off and the thought of giving up feels like shackles on.
I have everything I need RIGHT NOW. Even if I have to swim in my underwear and ride the bike stage on my mountain bike, knobbly tyres and all. Even if I come in last and crawl across the finish line.
Bring it on.
I am going to do this triathlon because the thought of it makes me feel ALIVE. It makes me feel like ME. It makes me feel totally shackles off and the thought of giving up feels like shackles on.
I have everything I need RIGHT NOW. Even if I have to swim in my underwear and ride the bike stage on my mountain bike, knobbly tyres and all. Even if I come in last and crawl across the finish line.
Bring it on.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Pipe dreams?
So I had a long post drafted for today about my schedule, but now I just wonder if I can even do this at all. The swim today was hard, and I felt pretty crap while in the middle of it, but after finishing I felt great. I made it to the pool and I swam, maybe not well, but I swam. And now my arms and shoulders feel like they've worked.
But I came home to the usual money worries. Things are so tight, I just don't see how I can do this at all. Even if I race on my mountain bike, I will need a tune-up and smooth tyres, a punture kit, tools, inner tubes. I need to pay for the swimming pool. I need a swimming hat and cycling shorts. And I need time. I just. can't. see. how. I. can. do. this.
But I came home to the usual money worries. Things are so tight, I just don't see how I can do this at all. Even if I race on my mountain bike, I will need a tune-up and smooth tyres, a punture kit, tools, inner tubes. I need to pay for the swimming pool. I need a swimming hat and cycling shorts. And I need time. I just. can't. see. how. I. can. do. this.
Sunday, 22 February 2009
snow/sleet/rain
Somehow, today turned into decision time. I came to a sort-of crossroads this morning, wondering whether I should get out there to train, and asking myself the big questions like: Do I really want to do this triathlon and why? What are my reasons? What is my motivation? And then, why is my training log showing only running and climbing this week? Last time I checked, climbing isn't a triathlon sport. I came up with some answers and I'll post about it tomorrow.
Thanks to my soul-searching sesh, and with the help of my husband encouraging me/kicking my ass, I finally got myself out there on my bike and ended up having lots of fun splashing through the forest in a mountain-bikey kind of way. Cycled approximately 9.8 km in 38 minutes. Dressed in a ridiculous number of layers including ski gloves and Goretex jacket and so I was fairly warm and dry despite the vile weather. As I arrived home it stopped raining/snowing and has been dry ever since.
Thanks to my soul-searching sesh, and with the help of my husband encouraging me/kicking my ass, I finally got myself out there on my bike and ended up having lots of fun splashing through the forest in a mountain-bikey kind of way. Cycled approximately 9.8 km in 38 minutes. Dressed in a ridiculous number of layers including ski gloves and Goretex jacket and so I was fairly warm and dry despite the vile weather. As I arrived home it stopped raining/snowing and has been dry ever since.
Hungover Sunday morning
So I woke up this morning with my legs burning from yesterday's run and my shoulders burning from yesterday's climbing and my head burning from yesterday's wine drinking. As I comtemplated getting up, the thought of going swimming sounded worse than death so I decided to go out on my bike instead. Got up and looked out of the window to find it's snowing/sleeting/generally cold, icy, dangerous weather outside. So I am now a bit stuck. A rest day would be fine, but tomorrow lunchtime I have a German class and I have to go straight from work to our friends' for dinner. So I'm hoping the weather clears up a little later on today. And on Tuesday I'm supposed to go climbing but I may skip that and FINALLY go swimming instead. Starting to panic a bit that it's nearly March and I haven't made it into a swimming pool yet. Need to get into the water and get over this mental thing about swimming.
This week's been pretty damn good overall. My first time out on the bike last Sunday, when I completely underestimated how cold you get and underdressed and came home half frozen to death. On Tuesday I made a big leap in the climbing hall, climbing my first ever 6a climbs. Yesterday I ran around 6 km in 40 minutes, my first run over 30 mins. And I posted my first post on this blog. So I'm very happy with that. But triathlon training, not so much.
This week's been pretty damn good overall. My first time out on the bike last Sunday, when I completely underestimated how cold you get and underdressed and came home half frozen to death. On Tuesday I made a big leap in the climbing hall, climbing my first ever 6a climbs. Yesterday I ran around 6 km in 40 minutes, my first run over 30 mins. And I posted my first post on this blog. So I'm very happy with that. But triathlon training, not so much.
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Identity
It's the beginning of a fitness routine - or any new habit - that's the hardest. Going from unfit to fit enough to enjoy working out, this is the biggest step.
In my early twenties, I was very fit. I was "The Sporty One" and "The Adventurous One". I loved it! It was like a badge of identity. Random people in my department would ask me how the running was going. My boss would ask me it I'd won a football match at the weekend. Lab colleagues would comment on my biceps. I ROCKED! Then somehow I became "The Hungover One" and things changed.
But while I was The Sporty One, I never felt self conscious of pulling on my running gear or coming in all pink and sweaty, because people accepted it. In fact, I felt the opposite, I felt really proud and good, because this was ME (I miss her). People like things that they are used to, it just disturbs them when things change.
In my early twenties, I was very fit. I was "The Sporty One" and "The Adventurous One". I loved it! It was like a badge of identity. Random people in my department would ask me how the running was going. My boss would ask me it I'd won a football match at the weekend. Lab colleagues would comment on my biceps. I ROCKED! Then somehow I became "The Hungover One" and things changed.
But while I was The Sporty One, I never felt self conscious of pulling on my running gear or coming in all pink and sweaty, because people accepted it. In fact, I felt the opposite, I felt really proud and good, because this was ME (I miss her). People like things that they are used to, it just disturbs them when things change.
Friday, 20 February 2009
25 random things about me
1. I have a love-hate relationship with Switzerland and consider returning to the UK pretty much every day.
2. However, I love the German language - learning it, speaking it, reading it - and I love hearing German people talking English.
3. My favourite shoes are my pink Converse.
4. I'm adopted and have met my bio-father but not my bio-mother.
5. Cheese is my favourite food, but I am lactose intolerant!
6. I love old 50s musicals starring Doris Day and Frank Sinatra. My fave TV show is, of course, Dr House.
7. I love coffee, and get a kick out of over-caffeinating myself and feeling all hyper.
8. I have a lifetime goal of traveling through India.
9. At various times in my life I've wanted to be a vet, a doctor or a fighter pilot. Now my dream is to become a personal trainer, counsellor, and writer.
10. I love sharks, and have one tattooed on my belly
11. I want to train as a personal trainer, counselor and/or physiotherapist.
12. I love running in the rain (but I'm strictly a fair weather cyclist)
13. I used to own a green, 1974 VW Beetle called Betsy. My dream car is a light blue Mini Cooper S.
14. I once broke my toe kicking my father in an argument.
15. In my opinion, scoring a goal in a football match really is better than (most) sex.
16. I find it way easier to stand up in front of 100 people to make a presentation than I do to participate in informal group conversations or make small talk.
17. I find hands, wrists, arms and shoulders the sexiest body parts on other people. And armpits are fascinating.
18. The part of my body I dislike most is my feet. They are so ticklish I can't bear anyone to touch them, and my little toes are weird and wonky
19. My husband once told me that he would divorce me if I cut my hair short…I have yet to test this.
20. I can tell that people are pregnant long before they share the news. I also knew I was pregnant from the first moment.
21. Some of my fondest memories involve being kicked in the head, elbowed and generally maimed in the mosh pit at rock concerts.
22. I talk to myself, often out loud, and have a fear that I will turn into that person on the tram who no one sits next to because they are ranting to themselves.
23. I am 3/4 English and 1/4 Welsh. Which makes my daughter 1/4 German, 1/4 Spanish, 3/8 English, 1/8 Welsh, born in Portugal and living in Switzerland!
24. Being a mum is a thousand times harder than I ever dreamed, and my daughter is the most beautiful thing to exist ever in the universe.
25. One thing life has taught me is that you'd better learn to get by by yourself, because basically, you're all you've got.
2. However, I love the German language - learning it, speaking it, reading it - and I love hearing German people talking English.
3. My favourite shoes are my pink Converse.
4. I'm adopted and have met my bio-father but not my bio-mother.
5. Cheese is my favourite food, but I am lactose intolerant!
6. I love old 50s musicals starring Doris Day and Frank Sinatra. My fave TV show is, of course, Dr House.
7. I love coffee, and get a kick out of over-caffeinating myself and feeling all hyper.
8. I have a lifetime goal of traveling through India.
9. At various times in my life I've wanted to be a vet, a doctor or a fighter pilot. Now my dream is to become a personal trainer, counsellor, and writer.
10. I love sharks, and have one tattooed on my belly
11. I want to train as a personal trainer, counselor and/or physiotherapist.
12. I love running in the rain (but I'm strictly a fair weather cyclist)
13. I used to own a green, 1974 VW Beetle called Betsy. My dream car is a light blue Mini Cooper S.
14. I once broke my toe kicking my father in an argument.
15. In my opinion, scoring a goal in a football match really is better than (most) sex.
16. I find it way easier to stand up in front of 100 people to make a presentation than I do to participate in informal group conversations or make small talk.
17. I find hands, wrists, arms and shoulders the sexiest body parts on other people. And armpits are fascinating.
18. The part of my body I dislike most is my feet. They are so ticklish I can't bear anyone to touch them, and my little toes are weird and wonky
19. My husband once told me that he would divorce me if I cut my hair short…I have yet to test this.
20. I can tell that people are pregnant long before they share the news. I also knew I was pregnant from the first moment.
21. Some of my fondest memories involve being kicked in the head, elbowed and generally maimed in the mosh pit at rock concerts.
22. I talk to myself, often out loud, and have a fear that I will turn into that person on the tram who no one sits next to because they are ranting to themselves.
23. I am 3/4 English and 1/4 Welsh. Which makes my daughter 1/4 German, 1/4 Spanish, 3/8 English, 1/8 Welsh, born in Portugal and living in Switzerland!
24. Being a mum is a thousand times harder than I ever dreamed, and my daughter is the most beautiful thing to exist ever in the universe.
25. One thing life has taught me is that you'd better learn to get by by yourself, because basically, you're all you've got.
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