Panic sets in

I haven't got back into a pool since I got home 6 DAYS AGO! I've been biking, but I've only managed 1 short run this week. Can I really swim in a 17 degrees C ocean with no wetsuit? How many training days do I have left again? Do I need bike shorts, and if so do I swim and run in them? AM I MAD?

Rant over, feeling slightly better...

Goodbye achy knees

Goodbye achy knees
Originally uploaded by S0MEBODY 3LSE

Less than three weeks to go. I have finally registered (too late for a t-shirt), and am completely terrified. Having a mild panic attack about diving into English Bay at 7.30am with no wetsuit on.

We spent a couple of weeks on Hornby Island and I managed to keep up with some training. Bike-Run-Bike sessions (bike to helliwell, run round the park, bike back - total time around 80 mins). Some ocean swims with a friend helping me out with my stroke technique. Now that I'm back I'm freaking out about the number of training days I have left (not many).

This week I bought a new bike - and am in love. I kept up with some guys on roadbikes (and in fancy lycra gear) for a bit on Burrard Bridge (going up the hill) - felt great - wheeee!

2 months to go

I haven't really been taking this training lark seriously to be honest. I've been biking to and from work occasionally and running a couple of times a week. This week I realised there are now 2 months until the Vancouver Triathlon I'm targeting for my first sprint.

This week I squeezed a couple of workouts into my morning before work which really helped, much easier to motivate myself then rather than in the evenings. I had a swim in the local outdoor pool yesterday morning, it was beautiful with the sunlight reflecting under the water. I managed 20 lengths and discovered afterwards that its a 50m pool - so I must have done around 1km. Pretty happy with that as I was using my new paddles which make the swim more challenging.

Today was a rest day and I feel a cold coming on. I'm hoping to go to the pool one day this weekend to try out a swim-bike-run workout for 20 mins each in quick succession. We'll see how that goes (if this cold doesn't hit too badly).

I'm also trying to do enough yoga to try and increase my flexibility and sort out these dodgy hamstrings, ankles and shoulders. Well - everywhere really.

Ankle problems

In April 2009 I sprained a ligament (I think) in my left ankle. Slowly but surely I got back up to distance again, managing to run 10km again. However, the ankle has still been twinging every now and then. Yesterday, during a fast trail run with Hubby it twanged again, and I had to stop running just in case.

Today I visited a new physio, who explained that he thinks my foot is sitting in the ankle socket in a strange way, meaning the cartilage is rubbing and becoming inflamed. So he waggled my foot for a bit then pulled it really hard!

Initially the joint felt a bit looser and ok, but right now it hurts and I'm icing it. I'm a little concerned about a setback, because I REALLY want to do the Triathlon on September 6th...

Trail Running

Yesterday a friend and I took off into the trails for an early evening run. We both had hangovers and a lack of sleep - not the perfect conditions for a longer run. However, we did possibly my longest trail run (in a long time at least) and her personal best for distance.

There is something about running in the forest that is so energizing. I put it down to the oxygen and the coolness/pleasant humidity. We took in some great hills and did ~10.5km in 63 minutes.

I felt great for the run, but have some tension in the part of my leg above inner right ankle. Not sure what this is called, there's not a lot of muscle there. Hopefully nothing to do with tendons/ligaments.

Its time to get serious again with the training so I'll see if I can squeeze a swim into my schedule this evening.

The Diva 8km

Just a quick follow up note. I did run the Diva 8km in March - finished in a respectable 44:37.

Woeful neglect!

My triathlon dreams were somewhat sidetracked by my sudden decision to sit the PMP exam. No room in my life for two BHAG at once. No sooner had I loaned every single triathlon related book out of the library, the PMBOK landed on my lap and took over my life.

Well I passed my PMP on May 6th, and I'm back. Past couple of weeks have seen two runs, two bike rides and two yoga sessions each.

I'm finding the yoga really important. Have signed up to a new (to me) class - the teacher practices Iyengar yoga. What this means to me is she helps me to understand my limits and how to push them. We can use many props, to help achieve correct posture without necessarily being flexible.

I've missed the boat for the July sprint tri, but the September one looks hopeful. Hope I can stay focussed and still have fun this summer.