Done!!!

Had a pretty good nights sleep and woke up pretty nervous.  Brad made me breakfast (as he always does! He is so amazing!). Played with the kids, tried to relax, then loaded up the bike and I was off.

Arrived at the event just in time to line up to get my race number, and get my stuff together. Was met by lovely friends who were super encouraging! Brought my nerves right down to not too shaky levels.

I lined up for the swim, and in my lane was a 17 year old swim champion, and another girl in her 20's.  Both really nice, both really fit! I was first. Had no choice in the matter. All the others were blokes starting in my wave. All superhero types. I really thought they had made a mistake and put me in the wrong group! The 17 year old swim champion passed me to my relief! Was really nice to have someone to try and catch up with. She was amazing. The swim went really well, only got wacked round the head once by a bloke in the next lane. Got out of the pool, ran across the road to transition 1.

I was relieved to have layed out my stuff well, and in order.  My brain was fried. Off on the bike.  I really pushed the bike part.  Passed a few, was passed by many! But pretty pleased with my bike performance.

As I got off the bike, and put my shoes on, I had the most amazing cramp in my leg! Lots of people cheering me on in transition and the start of the run, but all I could think was OUCH!!! I kept running, albeit slightly limping and slower than I would have liked, but loosened up by the second lap of the run.  The run part was most definitely lifted by Saffia, Matt, Clare and the Run for the Slum team cheering and encouraging, but most of all by young T! Thank you T and B, you were the most encouraging little people! Cramp disappeared, and I managed to sprint to the finish line, mostly because my lovely friend Jenny was shouting at me to beat the guy to my side! Thanks Jenny! It really worked!

As I got to the end, I was just so elated to have done it! And in a respectable time too!

1hr25mins. I got personal bests in all 3 parts of the race! Which was a big surprise as I certainly didnt feel all that fast at the time. It was not fast compared to everyone else, but really fast for me.

400m swim: 8:31
T1: 2.16
20k Bike: 46.58
5k Run: 27.55

Well done to the rest of the Run for the Slum team, Matt, Nicki, Nicky, Nora, Natasha, Julia. We did it! And thank you to the lovely Thomas Family, Saffia and family, Clare, and the rest of the Run for the Slum support crew! Your encouragement was so helpful!

Now what?

night before

I am about to get my stuff together. I am so flippin nervous.  Keep having daydream-nightmares about tripping someone up, or crashing my bike, or getting a puncture, or forgetting to wear shoes! Today I did a wee practice of bike to run, and I ran off still with a helmet on!

Just hoping for a good nights sleep and some decent weather tomorrow.  Neither of those things are within my control!

This time tomorrow I will hopefully be on here saying how much I enjoyed it.  Thats the hope. Months of training, all worth it even if I come dead last.

I am too nervous to even finish writing this sentan

The worst time to have a cold

The Triathlon is 3 sleeps away.  And I have a cold.  Thanks kids. Hopefully it will get better not worse over the next few days.

Suuuuuper nervous about the whole thing. Too nervous to write about being nervous....

Hi Matt.

Its here! The post lady came!

The trisuit arrived. Went for a run in it today.  Felt like one of the X-Men (or X-women...)

Its a cheap one, but its really cool to wear.  Its honestly like being a superhero, without the body, or the powers, just the lycra. Noah says I look like a fish.  Not so encouraging...

a WEEK AND A HALF TO GO!!!!

Crazy busy

So the triathlon approaches. So much to do, so little time.  I have been crazy busy with youth stuff and kids and weddings and summer holidays.  I have done more like 4 workouts a week instead of 6 for the last 3 weeks.  It doesnt seem to have affected me too much.

I swam my furthest ever last week - 1800 meters. Loved it. The next 3 weeks will involve one full on hard week, and 2 slighly less full on weeks to prepare for the race.  I am just hoping to make it round.  Thats my goal. No idea what a good time would be, and if I come last and still just make it round without dropping dead, I'll be pleased.

I am not the only Mum of 3 small kids doing the race which is really encouraging. I think it will be really inspiring to be alongside so many really fit people.

Speaking of which I need to do a just giving page....

Porridge, Everest and young people. All good things. All hard work. All worth it.

So we have been away with 50 teenagers last week, and away with 10,000 next week! This is the in between week of sleeping it off. I can honestly say I have not been this tired for a very long time. My swim this week was like swimming through porridge, and Old Down hill felt like Everest.

The school we were staying at last week had a pool which was great, so fitted in 2 mile long swims and 2 decent runs amidst the youth work chaos.

Next week we will be at the bath and west showground, so training will be more of a challenge. I am taking a ropey old bike, and will try and do some runs. Will have to get up very early after some very late nights, which will be a big ask of my already very weary body.

Every year we say to ourselves - never again.  These camps are seriously hard work with 3 small kids in tow.  And every year we have a fantastic time, and vow to go back.  And this year is no different. After seeing the riots this week, with so many young people joining in, its worth pointing out that its a minority.  I will be with this lot next week:

10, 000 youths, in one big field, and no trouble to anyone...

Over kill over hill

So after missing 2 workouts, I decided to make it up...

Did a brick workout last night, an hour on the bike then 20min run. Had a mini break in middle of ride as I stopped at a friends house to pick something up. Some very important lego merchandise for my son! Thank you friend!

Its really weird getting off the bike and going straight to the run.  My legs feel like they belong to someone else. Really bizarre! Really fun though. You feel like a spaceman (or woman!). Its a mildly addictive feeling. Try it sometime.

This morning I had the breakfast of champions (3 jelly babies) and went of to run up a big hill.  Half way up I thought my legs were going to fall off and wait for me by the side until I was done. Ridiculous legs today. But my legs and I did a deal.  If I made it to the top, I would give them an actual breakfast when we got back.

We made it. Hard going though.  But it was worth it, I feel like I have conquered.  The cows appreciated my whoop of joy at the top.  I did a little rocky type montage to them, (da da DAA da da DAA, and super cool shadow boxing) and inside (I could tell) I made them smile. Cows keep their cards close to their chests but I think they have a sense of humour underneath it all. They are not always moooody. I know I know....

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

Its not you, its me. You are great, I am the one with the problem. I'm sorry we've been on a break.  I have not been giving you enough attention, and I'm sorry.  Lets not split up, lets try again. I'll change.
Yours apologetically,

Esther.

Its been a ridiculous week. I have not been to bed before midnight all week, and my youngest has been ill and up in the night every night. Its been a nightmare! We are off on youth summer camps over the next few weeks, and the preparations are intense. I have missed 2 workouts this week already, and its only Thursday.  Rubbish. I went for a run day before yesterday and honestly had my eyes closed for half of it.  I was running alone a quiet road with no traffic, and honestly thought to myself "I could just close my eyes for a bit til I get the the end of the road.  There is not traffic, its safe to sleep for this bit!"  Seriously, if I am considering sleep running in a semi conscious state then I *might* be overdoing it. Might be. Just a bit.

10 years

Got loads going on at the moment aside from Triathlonning. So mega busy. Finding it hard to get up and train when bedtime is midnight. But havent missed a day aside from my saturday rest day in 5 weeks. Pretty proud of that.

Have been married to Bradley for 10 years tomorrow! Best 10 years of my life.  Actually its been a whole third of my life. Looking forward to the day when I have been married longer than not married.  If that makes sense. Happy anniversary boy.  Here's to the next 10! x

Foxes vs Rabbits

Saw 2 foxes and 23 rabbits on my run this morning.  The rabbits were clearly pretty tough bunnies to be hanging around near the foxes.  I like to think they have staged a demonstration and won. Screw you foxes, we are not going to be afraid any more.

Go rabbits.

Swimming through molasses

This week is supposed to be a recovery week (easier workouts to prepare for much harder ones next week).

This mornings swim was only 750m which in theory is easy. But just couldn't get going today. Felt uncoordinated and weak, just couldn't find my pace. Started to get it together in the last 100m, which was really frustrating.

The problem? BED TIME! Just can't get there at a reasonable time. I am being woken by a sweet chubby hand poking me in the eyes at 6am which is fine as long as I am in bed at 10! The same chubby baby also woke me at 1am and 3am which doesn't help the tiredness issue!

Got lost with N on the run yesterday. Going for a run is so much more fun when you have to climb fences and wrestle through hedges!

What to wear to the ball....

So what am I supposed to wear for this thing? I have been researching, and I can get a cheap trisuit for about £30.  Is it worth it? Or should I just go all out nude.... I might have a chance at winning if I do that. Make them all run the other way! Like the cows!


No one is going to beat this guy...

Sunday swim - 1k
Monday bike - 9 miles

Steak + swim = tiring swim

Went out for dinner with some family last night and enjoyed a huge steak.  Thank you Boars Head Aust. Very nice. The downside, was trying to stay afloat in the water this morning. Hard work!

150m warm up
7x100m
150m cool down

=1 kilometre

sleep riding

Thursday - 45 mins on the bike whilst actually asleep.  I opened my eyes when cars were coming. Mostly.

Food and mood and mood food

Ran through fields of wheat in the early morning summer rain. Well worth the early start. I love running in the rain. It's my favourite running weather. It's the icing on the cake.

And whilst on the subject of cake...

I am finding it increasingly hard to know what I should be eating and how much is sensible. I am still breastfeeding my youngest, and training 6 days a week. Those 2 factors make me really hungry.

I am aware that not eating enough will mean I have a hungry baby, but eating too much is very easy. It's a tough balance. I get moody in the afternoons if I have not eaten enough, and lazy if I eat too much.

My morning sessions are going to get longer and tougher in the next few weeks, so need to get the balance right. Less chocolate, more umm, good for you type stuff!