I like lists. I like making lists. I like ticking off items on the list as I complete them. I like using a highlighter AND a pen to do the ticking and strike through. I like post it notes. I like to restart a list on a new page if I believe that I can no longer complete the original list that I first began. It does not feel the same to put it in electronic format or on my iphone, I get more satisfaction out of physically writing these things down. I know that this may point to control freak tendencies or probably some form of deep seated pathology. I know this and I don't mind this side of me at all. With a list I get things done, I feel a greater sense of accomplishment, and it helps to organise my thoughts and priorities. It is no wonder I enjoy shopping at Officeworks so much. Stationery utopia.
Its a numbers game
I also like numbers. Not in the 'Yay lets do some maths equations and algebra!' way, more in the 'How many days until...' or 'How many more minutes of running..' format. I like to keep countdowns until significant events. I like to crunch the numbers in my head as I am training. I often break down a training session into blocks of minutes. For example; for a 50 min session on the bike wind trainer, once i start pedaling, I will probably approach as 5 X 10 min blocks, noting each little milestone along the way as 1/4 done, halfway, and then begin counting down the minutes once I get under the 10 minute mark.
It keeps my brain busy when I am doing something that I find physically difficult. It also seems to enable me to complete the longer sessions and increase my mental strength when the entire training session at the beginning can feel like a long way to go.
I also do this when swimming at the pool, but mainly because I so quickly lose count of my laps/lengths. I sometimes almost need to repeatedly tell myself which lap I'm in for the entire time I swim it so that I don't confuse myself. I'm not sure if I just have a mind like a sieve at times or whether it is because I find swimming so meditative that I can switch the brain off to everything except the most simple ideas. In a 50m pool, I consider each count an up and back 100m. So, last night I had 1200m to swim so I counted that I had 12 laps to do to reach my mark. Swimming is going well, and I found I have handled this week's jump from 800m to 1200m swim session better than I expected.
Back to Good
The above paragraph heading is not only a song title for a Matchbox Twenty song and a poor expression of the English language, it is what I have been singing for the past week as I happily discover that the pain in my previously fractured back has all but completely subsided. Thank goodness. I have managed to continue non impact training throughout the last month, however I did not report much on this as it was pretty boring stuff and went by without any drama. I am still on track for November's half ironman, I just need to begin to re-introduce the impact slowly throughout the next few weeks.
I miss the running outside the most, and am HANGING for that to creep back into the regular routine. It just has not been the same forging on with the combination of treadmill running/cross trainer set up, but at least I have still managed to work on my overall fitness this way. So as an overall training report.. Swim - pushing along unimpeded and doing consistently well. Bike - reluctantly sticking to stationery stuff until I know that the base of my spine can handle the impact of the road, however consistently completing these sessions in 45-60 min blocks of steady riding. Run - combo of reduced impact, that will slowly begin to branch out to road/trail running. Concrete is not my friend and to be avoided as much as possible for the majority of my training right up until November.
The body is a temple
Unfortunately the body is also a nightclub floor or a rubbish bin at times. In the previous month I have made a concerted effort to really work on not only my training regime, but also my overall eating patterns, my sleep, my mental health and well-being in its entirety. The full package. My boyfriend and I often discuss the changes that need to be implemented and work together to help each other figure out the areas we are most likely to succeed and fail when it comes to living the healthier and fitter lifestyle that we are both craving. We want to establish good habits for ourselves for now and in the years ahead. We also want to maintain and show a good example and way of life to any potential children that we may be lucky enough to have in the future. Plus we want to look hot in our old age.. haha!
Already I have lost 6 kg since getting serious about cleaning up my eating habits. Seeing tangible progress on the scales and in my measurements provides ongoing motivation. I am aware that at times I still fall off the wagon, but instead of beating myself up about it for the following couple of days, I am learning to accept it and move on to the next meal without worrying so much about it.
My alcohol intake has markedly reduced. I think I have only had about 2-3 beers and the same of wine throughout the last month. This has improved my sleep patterns, reduced bloating substantially, and generally helped to minimise how much weight I hang onto and improved my training recovery (which I will need more and more as my training levels increase).
Nature's way
As someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have the potential for this time of year to seriously bring me undone. I live with alot more pain in the colder months and sometimes find just getting through the working day using my hands a challenge in itself. I do not consider it an option to load up on painkillers and other medication for my condition, particularly as some of these medications reduce their effectiveness as time goes on, have their own nasty side effects and cumulative effects, plus are toxic to me if I'm considering having children anytime soon. So yesterday I went to see the local Naturopath for some advice. I liked her immediately and found her thorough, understanding, and seems to practice with a nice balance of holistic health rather than peddling a particular product or making me feel like she's about to start slapping fish above my head. I have been given some homework (happily put straight on the to-do list), including keeping a food/trigger diary which of course is right up my ally as I get to write down things, highlight them and keep a check list of what is happening. My diet is being geared towards reducing inflammation in my body, working with my blood type, increasing fibre, and regulating my digestive system. I also have a hormonal imbalance that will be tackled in due course. Although I may have stepped straight out of the appointment into the shops and polished off a packet of balsamic vinegar chips, then promptly forgot to take the liquid of 'clean out' last night, or remembered to put my chia seeds on my breakfast this morning, I'll get there soon enough.
Its all about the bike..
Lance Armstrong wrote a very successful book before we all discovered that he is actually a drug cheat called 'It's not about the bike'. For him it may have been more about EPO injections than his bike, but for me right now, it certainly feels a lot about the bike. I am quietly obsessed with improving my current bike set up and eyeing off a new set of wheels/bike frame if I get serious enough out there on the pedal action. I have spent some happy time in the bike shop, discussing all the ins and outs with a road bike enthusiast/shop assistant, who has not made me feel like a moron for not understanding every latest component and bike gadget, or feel like I should not ride unless I can sustain over 35km/hour for 8 hours of riding. He was happy to re-explain to me how to use my long forgotten chain breaker tool, and explain the genuine improvements compared to the trumped up ideas in bike world. He also acknowledged and agreed with my need to distance myself from the triathlon 'in-crowd' mentality. I want to ride something that is comfortable and works with me rather than against me when I'm riding long distances, not because it has whatever the triathlete snobs consider acceptable and looks pretty in transition area. I don't need to worry about the 20g weight difference in a small bike component of the gearing system. I need a saddle that won't tear my butt apart when riding over 80km..
.. and back to numbers..
So I have some numbers floating around to get down on paper, simply because it makes me happy:
- 129 - the days left until race day
- 6 - kilograms of weight lost & the number of training sessions I'm currently completing per week
- 10 - kilograms of weight left to lose until goal/racing weight
- 19 - the number of weeks (now closer to 18) remaining until race day
- 499 - the minimum dollar amount of almost anything worth having when seeking new triathlon equipment
- 32 - the number of hours at work when my new work hours kick in in a couple of weeks that will allow room for the other exciting things coming up in my world
- 3 - the number of coffees required per day to consider myself a functioning human
- 7 - the number of nights per week that my boyfriend falls asleep on the couch before he's finished talking about what subject we are on
- 12 - the number of items on my current list
- 17 - the number of minutes left before I need to leave the house to go to work
- 174 - the number of sleeps until christmas...
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