My life at the moment can only be summed up as a juggling act. AND I have an overwhelming underlying knowledge that this is not going to get ANY easier over the next 2 years.
A lady at my work the other day said to me... "You either use your teenage daughter a lot, or you are incredibly organised". I like to think that I am super organised, as my intention when Georja turned 14yrs old was to utilize her with the kids now and then but only as a last resort. I intended to juggle myself between Greg's working hours as much as possible. Georja is a teenager and needs to stay a teenager - I certainly do not want her slipping into the role of parent in her own parents absence. She is simply a big sister looking after her little brothers while mum and dad 'pop out' for an hour or so. In saying that, she has been super awesome lately for filling in those early morning spots where Greg is out the door before 6 to work, followed closely by myself to train.
Greg has had a huge month work wise and this means long days at work. I have increased the hours that I am working also. This week alone I have worked 20hr week and it is only Thursday. This may not seem much but when you are used to working 10hr a week - it is a rather HUGE increase. This hasn't helped the training schedule much or the housework. But I have managed to stick to my training everyday and had to learn that the housework can wait. I'm rather pleased that I have kept my training up as it would have been far easier to give it a miss.
The juggling and training is definitely paying off though. I completed the RATS Winter Duathlon short course on Sunday in a really good time and really enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised how good I felt the whole way around the 3km run, 8km mountain bike, 1.5km run and was only 3 minutes behind my training buddy Lee-Anne (which she kindly text to tell me tonight - I told her to watch her back!). We pondered the fact that crossing the finish line of Ironman 2014 together would be so cool. Deep down I know she is going to kick my butt, but what I also know is that although she would have just completed that incredible feat - she will still be there waiting for me at the finish line. And if by some freak of nature I am in the lead, I certainly know that I would be there to celebrate with her as she crossed the line. The other night I couldn't run with her due to it just not working out with the kids not wanting me to go. Once I had sorted the kids out, I hopped on my bike to ride the last 2 km of her practice run home with her. Ironic really when for 5 years we have passed each other in the street almost every day with not so much as a wave!!
Actually speaking of irony - I have to share this funny anecdote from today. I squeezed in a quick run today in between finishing work and having to be 20mins across town for an appointment (juggle juggle). The run was horrible, just one of those ones that suck from the moment you leave the house, until the moment you return. I never really got into a comfortable plod, more like a hippo galloping along in mud. Anyway, I finally reached 'Perkins corner' and headed on the home straight. Lee-Anne and I have imagined up a finishing chute for our runs and as I slopped my way along the road towards the chute, I started to pick up my pace, all the while visualizing myself running up that final chute in the pitch black, close to midnight to become an Ironman. For a brief moment I lost sight of the suck and actually felt ok. Then out in front of me - up the finishing chute shot Richard (Lee-Anne's cat) closely followed by Mako (our cat) and I laughed to myself thinking - IRONIC MUCH.... even Lee-Anne's cat is in the front of the 'Kidd cat' on a run!!
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Athlete's Foot
Well just for the record, there is a little bit more depth to this title than what you probably initially think my post is going to be about!! I actually am not going to tell you about the state of my wrinkly, crinkly and stinky feet. What I would like to share with you is about how I think I am finally on the road to curing myself of continual sore backs, knee pains, ankle instability, ankle pain and numb toes...
If you have read my previous posts, you will be well aware that this year of training for me is all about strengthening my core/body for the onslaught of training that is going to quickly come about next year. What you may or may not know is that this Iron man goal is not a new goal for me. I had actually planned to do the 2012 Iron man, which I am thankful that I did not do now as I would have been absolutely gutted for my dream to be shattered by the weather bomb that was 2012 NZ Iron man. Although my dad had a great analogy for it - 'you should have done it this year Steff, you would have only had to go half as far!!'
Another thing you may or may not know is that it was actually injury that eventually stopped me from even looking at starting the serious commitment to begin the training for Iron man 2012. I started training, I did a few events and that's where the pain kicked in. Pain in my lower back nearly all the time (spurred on by falling down some stairs intitally but it just never got any better), pain in my right knee every time I ran any longer than an hour or so, pain in my right ankle continuously and a neck that felt like I was stressed all the time.
I went to physio and it was quickly established that although I had had a few injuries that had not helped my training quest, but that I actually had NO core strength. My awesome physio's from 'Body & Soul' here in Rotorua, put me on a strict programme of strengthening and also looked at the possiblility of my ankle pain being something more than the few strains I had had over the years. They told me that I HAD to get onto doing regular pilates classes or exercises ASAP and maybe look at orthotics for my problematic feet. So that is where 2012 quest left me... This was back in 2011 and life took over, family came first, exercise got put on the back burner and time went on.
Then I met Lee-Anne early this year and my Iron man spark was reignited..
I remembered that I definitely needed to get on the strengthening band wagon again as that jewel of information had stuck firmly in my mind from my countless trips to physio and I have been doing this diligently all year. But I had actually totally forgotten about the whole 'foot' thing. The old twinges have been creeping in again lately as my distance on my feet is increasing and I have to admit to feeling the gut wrenching feeling that I am never ever going to get strong enough to be able to get to the start line of Iron man 2014.
AND THEN....It all came back to me in a blinding flood one morning a few weeks back while I had the TV on in the background whilst doing my chores. It was an add for 'Scholl's Sports Orthotics' that captured my attention - 'Do you have lower back pain, sore knees, sore ankles' I stopped what I was doing.. The rest is history. I went straight into the pharmacy that afternoon and got myself a pair to try on a 30 day money back guarantee. They were pricey $57, but I figured if they didn't work - I could send them back and spend that money on getting myself to a foot specialist. I wore them for a few days on and off just around the house, then went for a small run in them and my ankle/knee pain was considerably lessened... I took them out of my sports shoes and put them in my normal everyday flat shoes and the same thing, the pain in my ankles that I have had lately - was actually gone. My back has been really good too since wearing them and the knee pain hasn't occurred at all. I touch wood that my strengthening programme and the orthotics will allow me to build my strength slowly but I cannot say I am completely cured and I may end up needing to go and see the guys from foot mechanics at some stage. But I do feel that I am on the right track and the pain factor has definitely diminished enough to continue training happily and regularly... But that's a different story!!
If you have read my previous posts, you will be well aware that this year of training for me is all about strengthening my core/body for the onslaught of training that is going to quickly come about next year. What you may or may not know is that this Iron man goal is not a new goal for me. I had actually planned to do the 2012 Iron man, which I am thankful that I did not do now as I would have been absolutely gutted for my dream to be shattered by the weather bomb that was 2012 NZ Iron man. Although my dad had a great analogy for it - 'you should have done it this year Steff, you would have only had to go half as far!!'
Another thing you may or may not know is that it was actually injury that eventually stopped me from even looking at starting the serious commitment to begin the training for Iron man 2012. I started training, I did a few events and that's where the pain kicked in. Pain in my lower back nearly all the time (spurred on by falling down some stairs intitally but it just never got any better), pain in my right knee every time I ran any longer than an hour or so, pain in my right ankle continuously and a neck that felt like I was stressed all the time.
I went to physio and it was quickly established that although I had had a few injuries that had not helped my training quest, but that I actually had NO core strength. My awesome physio's from 'Body & Soul' here in Rotorua, put me on a strict programme of strengthening and also looked at the possiblility of my ankle pain being something more than the few strains I had had over the years. They told me that I HAD to get onto doing regular pilates classes or exercises ASAP and maybe look at orthotics for my problematic feet. So that is where 2012 quest left me... This was back in 2011 and life took over, family came first, exercise got put on the back burner and time went on.
Then I met Lee-Anne early this year and my Iron man spark was reignited..
I remembered that I definitely needed to get on the strengthening band wagon again as that jewel of information had stuck firmly in my mind from my countless trips to physio and I have been doing this diligently all year. But I had actually totally forgotten about the whole 'foot' thing. The old twinges have been creeping in again lately as my distance on my feet is increasing and I have to admit to feeling the gut wrenching feeling that I am never ever going to get strong enough to be able to get to the start line of Iron man 2014.
AND THEN....It all came back to me in a blinding flood one morning a few weeks back while I had the TV on in the background whilst doing my chores. It was an add for 'Scholl's Sports Orthotics' that captured my attention - 'Do you have lower back pain, sore knees, sore ankles' I stopped what I was doing.. The rest is history. I went straight into the pharmacy that afternoon and got myself a pair to try on a 30 day money back guarantee. They were pricey $57, but I figured if they didn't work - I could send them back and spend that money on getting myself to a foot specialist. I wore them for a few days on and off just around the house, then went for a small run in them and my ankle/knee pain was considerably lessened... I took them out of my sports shoes and put them in my normal everyday flat shoes and the same thing, the pain in my ankles that I have had lately - was actually gone. My back has been really good too since wearing them and the knee pain hasn't occurred at all. I touch wood that my strengthening programme and the orthotics will allow me to build my strength slowly but I cannot say I am completely cured and I may end up needing to go and see the guys from foot mechanics at some stage. But I do feel that I am on the right track and the pain factor has definitely diminished enough to continue training happily and regularly... But that's a different story!!
Sunday, 6 May 2012
When the mind is willing, sometimes the bodies not able..
Why my mind is willing but my body is not able....
5.30am, alarm goes off, tentatively jump out of bed, grab swim bag, sneak down hall and shut kids door, sit on couch, cough a bit, put togs on, cough a bit more, clothes on, stand up, sit down - whoa, head rush, stand up, head to kitchen, locate cough mixture/panadol and throaties, slurp them all back at once, consider a little drop of vodka could help the situation, talk myself out of that idea, grab a drink of water instead, gulp - can't breathe very well - hmmm, try to blow nose - eek - still blocked, get banana, try to eat banana - razor blades still located in back of throat, cough some more, start thinking that breathing whilst swimming in water may be a difficult venture, mind says no way - suck it up - you'll be right, cough a bit more, time check 5.41, still time to get myself together, hug and get Lockie sorted in front of his 'Justin Beaver' (actually Michael Jackson) CD to start his day dancing, give myself 2 mins to get it together, head downstairs, unlock the door, head over to Lee-Anne's, pike out of swimming for the morning, verbally change my swim for a walk instead, 'what now?' Lee-Anne exclaims, 'nah later', head home with head hung low - feeling bad for letting her down but knowing that there is NO WAY I would have been able to swim, back upstairs, catch my breath at the top, cough a bit more after walking up only 14 steps, sneak into bed and wake Greg up to take over 'Kidd' duties, time check - 5.52, think to myself - there is still time to change my mind, roll over and snuggle up, get up, locate throaties and computer, back to bed to write blog....
Lesson learnt for today: Sometimes you just have to listen to your body and tell your mind to shut up...
5.30am, alarm goes off, tentatively jump out of bed, grab swim bag, sneak down hall and shut kids door, sit on couch, cough a bit, put togs on, cough a bit more, clothes on, stand up, sit down - whoa, head rush, stand up, head to kitchen, locate cough mixture/panadol and throaties, slurp them all back at once, consider a little drop of vodka could help the situation, talk myself out of that idea, grab a drink of water instead, gulp - can't breathe very well - hmmm, try to blow nose - eek - still blocked, get banana, try to eat banana - razor blades still located in back of throat, cough some more, start thinking that breathing whilst swimming in water may be a difficult venture, mind says no way - suck it up - you'll be right, cough a bit more, time check 5.41, still time to get myself together, hug and get Lockie sorted in front of his 'Justin Beaver' (actually Michael Jackson) CD to start his day dancing, give myself 2 mins to get it together, head downstairs, unlock the door, head over to Lee-Anne's, pike out of swimming for the morning, verbally change my swim for a walk instead, 'what now?' Lee-Anne exclaims, 'nah later', head home with head hung low - feeling bad for letting her down but knowing that there is NO WAY I would have been able to swim, back upstairs, catch my breath at the top, cough a bit more after walking up only 14 steps, sneak into bed and wake Greg up to take over 'Kidd' duties, time check - 5.52, think to myself - there is still time to change my mind, roll over and snuggle up, get up, locate throaties and computer, back to bed to write blog....
Lesson learnt for today: Sometimes you just have to listen to your body and tell your mind to shut up...
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