Recovery Time

Let’s talk recovery. It’s taken me a bit longer than I had thought it would to recover from Copenhagen. Admittedly I have a few other things going on that have undoubtedly affected it but I have to be honest, I have been knackered.

My first few bike rides I had no power what so ever in my legs. So I stuck to short sessions on the turbo just basically spinning. I didn’t have any big sessions planned obviously but it did surprise me just how drained the muscles in my legs were.

Speaking of cycling, I had to go to the hospital for a few checks and, well, for those that don’t cycle, you can get a bit battered and bruised down there from hours in the saddle. Given this appointment was only a week after my Ironman I decided to wear my finisher t-shirt to try and explain this and avoid any awkward conversations. (Any excuse ha ha).

Well. Let me tell you. I was deeply insulted! Not a single word, not even once, was my t-shirt mentioned! How bloody rude! Completely focused on their job they were. 100% commitment to the cause. I left quite disappointed I have to say.

Any whoo – running has also been quite slow and I’ve had a niggle in my right calf for as long as I can remember but again I have stuck to shorter distances since the race. I’ve also taken the opportunity to go and run a few of the trails I’ve had my eye on for a while but have avoided because they weren’t ‘long enough’ for a decent session. Well, the opportunity came about recently when I was on my way home. As usual my gear was in the boot and I decided a little 30mins of fresh air and nature were just what I needed after a client had spent a good 20minutes insisting on telling me the Queen (who had recently passed away, was only in her 60’s and not her 90’s like I had said…

I needed to change but I was parked on a quiet country road and if I’m honest, my opinion is it takes longer to think about getting changed and wondering if anyone will see you than it does to get on and just do it. So that’s what I did. Then naturally turned round and saw the big ’24hr CCTV’ sign. Ah well.

It was a roasting hot day so I was glad to be in the woods and covered in shade. I chose not to put the headphones in and headed out along the path. I was using an app on my phone that shows me where the paths should lead and there was a small loch nearby so I aimed for there which was just over a mile away. The path soon came to an end though and I was picking my way through the woods and muddy ground when I came across it. Completely focused on where I was putting my feet I suddenly heard a very sharp, unusual sound. I looked up to see the most gigantic swan I had ever seen. I swear it was bigger than me! I slowed down to a very timid walk, not wanting to stop altogether and then have to start moving again – I’m sure I have read somewhere not to do that. The swan turned it’s head sharply, and menacingly towards me.

Absolutely freaking not, I am out of here! Fastest my heart has ever beaten, I turned on my heel and got the hell out of there.

I ended up on a very prickly path but decided running through thorns was safer than a killer swan. 2 miles later I had lost count of the thorns I had had to pick out of my legs (and by now you could almost see bone I was scratched that much) so headed back to the car.

This was not a route I have any intention of re-visiting. It astounds me to later discover there are Strava segments on it! (One of which I got second… )

So that’s running and cycling. Swimming has been generally ok in comparison. I had actually signed up for the 3k Go Swim Loch Morlich event. Last year after Outlaw I had done the one in Loch Tay so quite fancied this one. The 5k doesn’t peak my interest and 1500m doesn’t feel far enough. Joe suggested taking my mum with me for this one as he is really busy with work so we headed up the night before given it was a 2hr drive. The hotel was surprisingly warm and I can’t say I was looking forward to the fact the water temperature was being reported as 13 degrees but I would see how I got on. I made the sensible decision to get in before the swim and flood my wetsuit. The marshall wasn’t too impressed though as he needed to write my number on my hand which was now wet. Whoops. 2 swim caps and ear plugs in and I couldn’t hear a thing but managed to detect there had been a change to the swim course. Something about the loops. I was going to be back of the pack so I didn’t fret too much.

In I went and as predicted it took a fair few strokes to calm the breathing and get my face in but once it was done it was just a case of settling in for the duration. Also as predicted I was at the back of the pack. These events seem to attract the really fast open water swimmers and then people like me. There rarely seems to be many in between. 2 laps of the big course later and I was glad to be getting out. The water was your typical lovely loch water but it was also your typical Scottish cold water and my ankles did not appreciate this.

I looked around for my mum who had all my gear – most importantly my towel and warm clothes. I couldn’t see her so wandered along the shore a little bit but the beach was really painful on my feet so didn’t walk far. Still I couldn’t see her and then I began to question if I had actually come with her or if I had come myself because Joe was busy and had somehow imagined that she was there – because she quite clearly wasn’t. I looked around again and then at the place I had gotten changed. Did I leave my stuff there? Nope. Back to the finish line and then I see her coming across the beach with a cup of tea in both hands.

‘Oh no have you been out long?’

‘Nope, just a minute or two’.

The woman next to us looked questioningly at me knowing full well I had been out a good 15minutes.

A quick, shivery change and many cups of tea later and we headed back down the road. It was a good trip.

It’s been strange dropping the training hours but it’s definitely been needed. I know my body is screaming at me to chill out right now so I am. And whilst I certainly don’t have the same post race blues I had after Outlaw, I don’t have the desire in me to throw myself in to something new and big. I’m quite happy ticking along right now and taking a break.

Hasn’t stopped me looking of course…..

The Importance Of Being Asleep

We’ve all been told time and time again how important sleep is. ‘You must get 8hrs of decent sleep a night’ the ones who call themselves experts love to preach.

Easy to spot those with very little stress in their life.

However, I have had a rude awakening recently. My training is now past the base stage and I’m on to the build. I’m trying my best to make the most of still working from home and the fact we have both a treadmill and a turbo leaves no room for excuses. I’ve had a few issues with my bike saddle but I have managed a 100km cycle outside with no issues.

I have been getting more and more tired but that’s to be expected. I’ve not yet managed to fine tune my diet (and let’s be honest, that’s not likely to happen without some sort of intervention – especially being at home within sniffing distance of the biscuit cupboard at all times). It will get better however.

The signs of my depleting energy levels have been there though. I could not get iron tablets from the shop for over a month and I really noticed a difference there. We try our best to buy local but it was Amazon to the rescue in this instance.

Then on a recent brick session I could not for the life of me remember if I had put my shorts on to go for the run. I spent the first 2 miles too scared to look down just in case I was indeed only running in a pair of pants. Naturally I was also running along busy main roads in full view of at least half the city. Part of me was too scared to check because I had no where to dive in to and hide to make an emergency phone call to mummy dearest begging her to bring me my shorts (because obviously I would still need to finish the run).

Eventually I did pluck up the courage though and check I was suitably dressed to be outside the house. I was. But it was a bloody close call!

And then there was last night. We are currently renting whilst our new house is being built and let’s just say the rental has, well, em, ‘character’. (God I hate that word!! Go for a really hard run up a hill – it builds character they say – I’ve got character thank you very much I don’t need anymore!’.

It’s a lot more open where we are. Meaning when it’s windy it’s a lot more windy than what I am used to. And add to that the house could do with a repair or 200 it can feel a bit like you’re in The Wizard of Oz and the house just might take off tornado style and land in the field killing a wicked witch. Be great if she was wearing size 5 trainers and not red shoes though. Not to mention the rain that comes with the wind (and down the chimney and through the doors and windows) but that doesn’t bother me as much because there is a boat in our garden we could float away on.

Yes, that’s right, a boat.

So last night it was really windy and it got to me quite a bit. The boat is right by our bedroom window and Joe had joked/not really joked about it crashing in to the house. I know boats are very heavy objects but this boat isn’t blocking the Suez Canal, it’s less than a meter from where we sleep and wouldn’t take an army to shift it. Will it move? Highly unlikely as I don’t think it has in the last 500 years but that’s not a definitely will not move. There was a clear thumping noise coming from that direction all night that also had me on edge. Not to mention the constant whine from the window desperately clinging on to the frame for dear life. But I did manage to fall asleep eventually.

2am.

‘Thud, thud, thud’.

What the hell was that?! I wake Joe up (who is most unimpressed and tells me it’s fine it’s just bar tape – he’s clearly still asleep and dreaming about bikes). Our daughter comes in our room. There’s a man at her window. Joe is now WIDE awake.

Turns out our gazebo had finally given way and blew in to the neighbour’s garden, crashing in to their scaffolding lying on the ground and making a hell of a noise. I’m mortified. They are a lovely retired couple and Mike (the man who had knocked the window) has had a few health issues recently.

So Joe’s out there with Mike tidying it up. I’m now more awake than I would be if I had a cold shower and have zero chance of getting back to sleep anytime soon.

6:30am was the last time I looked at the clock and it said 7:30am when I woke up.

This has resulted in today being a complete and utter right off – and finally get’s me to my point. Sleep is actually crucial. My body clearly can’t manage to do my current level of activity without getting adequate sleep. Every time I have gotten up today to do something I have felt tired and had to have a word with myself to just sit back down again. There is absolutely no point in doing a half hearted workout. I will gain nothing. It’s true, I have felt beyond lazy today (although I have managed to buy everyone their easter eggs so that’s a win!). And I have constantly clock watched and thought to myself ‘I could go now just for 30mins’. But I haven’t. The fact it is still stupendously windy has made it slightly easier to avoid putting my trainers on.

It’s now almost 6pm and yes, I am counting down the hours until I can go to bed and sleep. I would like to think I am that tired that even if the boat does come through the bedroom wall I will not be awoken. This maybe wishful thinking but let’s be positive people.

God help my family if I go to bed and end up being wide awake though! I should probably get my apologies in just now.