Ready. Aim. Fire!

It's back! I'm back. I thought I'd start posting again as I've got sooo much spare time!

2015 has been a weird year with virtually no notable athletic achievements from me. A combination of injuries and losing my mojo mainly. It took me quite a while to actually believe that I'd managed to  complete the Outlaw and even longer to believe that it had gone so well. Then I think I had a period of aimless athletic wandering, struggling to find something that was grabbing me, motivating me, getting that fire in my sole stirring again. I think I'd been on the journey to an ironman for longer than I knew, probably since I'd started exercising and once it was done I felt aimless, nowhere to go, I couldn't think of the next target, the next challenge. I also had such a fab time that a part of me wanted to leave it there, go out on a high!

Then the idea of IM Wales came into my head, one of the hardest courses in the world, one of the most spectacular scenery wise. I trained, not with my usual ooopmh but I trained for it, reccied the routes...even the swim is uphill ;-) several weeks out I got a chest infection that floored me, I took the not so difficult decision to DNS......I knew it was right as I was cutting fine with the volume I'd done and I really needed those last few big weeks of training that I'd missed.....it nags at me though...big time...I will do that event, the course reccie made me realise what an epic event it will be.

2015 has been a weird year as despite not having any major personal competitive successes I've spent more time than ever around the sport. I've really been focusing on developing my coaching and have taken on a couple of new exciting roles. I joined Stockport Tri Club, an amazing new fast growing BTF triathlon club. Some clubs are full of egos and politics... not here, it's a really friendly place where people of all abilities get support to develop, especially coaches! There is so much happening considering it's quite a new club, sessions for all disciplines, triathlons, duathlons, time trials. I've also been coaching the swim squads at Active Blu, a company owned by Swim Smooths Coach Education manager Emma Brunning. Working with Emma has been amazing, a fantastic opportunity to learn from the best on this side of the world. Then I was fortunate to attend Swim Smooths Coaching Development Course with the best from the other side of the world Paul Newsome. I'm super excited about what I've learnt and the plans I have for the future to share it. I've also squeezed in volunteer swim teaching for children at a local pool, 1:1 coaching of people both new to triathlon and people wanting to smash their pb's and getting my Personal Trainer qualification.....not exactly a quiet year!

I've found that thing that grabs me thought along the way, that thing that energises me, puts the fire in my belly........coaching, helping others experience the joy of fitness, triathlon, all things healthy and sporty and the added stuff it brings. But I'm also back chasing too in 2016, chasing new times, new experiences, new achievements. I often liken training and competing in running and triathlon to gambling......we are always chasing the next big win, the next pb, the next win if your lucky enough to be near the top of the field, the next bigger, better achievement.....so I will keep posting along the way, I might even occasionally post something vaguely useful or coaching tips but most of the time it will be the usual useless insight into what I've been doing, the mistakes Ive been making and how behind I am with housework rubbish ....it's all about me!

I hope you've got many exciting things planned for 2016, keep chasing :-)

Catchphrase...say what you see!

Hi all

I'm not really sure where to start with this blog, which is weird as it's the one that I've always wanted to write....I did it...I am on Outlaw...little ole me did an iron distance triathlon! People like me don't do things like that!

The day started with breakfast at 4:15 am in the B and B where I was staying with a few friends and Ewan who was also competing. We were very quiet, partly not to wake everybody else up and partly with nerves I think......we sat forcing a piece of toast down...Ewan, who doesn't usually swear looked up and whispered " what the f*** are we doing" and I said "I don't know"! It all felt surreal and I think that's your minds way of keeping you that little bit detached from the nerves and the day that is to come.

Off we trotted with our better and long suffering halfs at 5am over the road to transition which was a hive of activity...I shed a few tears when I said goodbye to John at the transition entrance...knowing the day was about to begin..this was it..it had taken so long but had come around so quickly too.....I was on the start line of an Ironman, yes me!

I could write for hours about the race itself but I will spare you the boring detail. In a nutshell the swim start was recorded by Amanda and looked iconic with the sun rising over the lake at the 6 am start time...from the inside of it, it was a different story...rather busy and a bit like a water based boxing match with 1200 people! I got out of the water in good time.

T1 was really odd, so busy but relaxed at the same time. I wanted to make sure I'd got everything and checked and doubled checked everything and off I went out on the bike. I rode keeping my heart rate
at a certain level and just spun my legs. The highlight of the bike was seeing all my friends at Car Colson and the banners that Ewan's girlfriend had made....a shed a little tear whilst thinking "I am doing an ironman" and " it's going rather well"! 6 hours and 54 mins and 112 miles later I was back at the lake, glad to be out of the wind and to give my lady bits a change of position!

I got changed into a fresh top in T2 and just took my time again, making sure to get loads of us cream on it was glaring down on us all and I knew there was a real risk of dehydration and heat stroke. I decided to do regular walks to get lots of fluids on board...I didn't want to risk stopping at this point..the first 10 mile lap was tough and there was a few people that had lost it and were ko'd at the side of the path. I had amazing support from my family and friends which really came into its own on the run course as I saw them several times....and heard them many more! I was told they were the noisiest bunch and were interviewed by the tele lady...it's on channel 4 in a couple of weeks. The lake that you had to do 4 trips round got longer every time!

On the start of my very last lap of the lake I started to get a lump in my throat...I was doing an ironman.....I was going to do an ironman...I was going to finish an ironman! As I entered the finishing funnel...which is one of THE best places on earth at that moment in time, slight panic set in...where were my family and friends...I couldn't see them...have they gone home and left me! There they were all lining the funnel....I always knew that whatever the time I didn't care but that I would thank every single one of the individually, for giving me the most amazing support and not just on the day but through the months of training. I was soooo chuffed when I realised I crossed the line to the tune Eat Sleep Train Repeat...how true that was!

So......I did it in 13 hours and 37 minutes which I was well made up with.....

******warning here comes to Jerry Springer/ Jeremy Kyle like closing summary......

People will sometimes hear my shout at races " I want to be like you when I grow up" which I've become well known for. It is of course a way of me saying how much admiration and awe I have for what people are doing, are capable of and genuinely wanting to be able to do my self..

I want to be able to

Ride my bike like Sarah J
Run a marathon like Kerrie
Be as flexible and strong as Charlotte
Run back to back marathons in amazing times like Lou, Helen and Amanda
Run back to back marathons on opposite sides of the world like Andy F
Be as organised and spell as well as Julie
Take 3 hrs off my Bullock Smithy time and plan a holiday for 40 people like Steve ( I told a little white lie about the holiday planning bit)
Run up and down the moors like Caity and Zoe
Make fancy dress costumes like Nige
Be as amazing and thoughtful as my John

....When I grow up

 The are so many qualities, skills and talents in all my friends and family that I've not listed but that I admire on a daily basis.......

But right now, today and for a few days at least....I want to be like me....when I grow up

X

Garden centres and gin and tonics

Well there's just over a week to go....my heart rate has just risen 50 beats whilst just typing that fact....it feels so close after all the months of training and kind of surreal that in a weeks time I will be actually doing an iron distance triathlon...not just any iron distance triathlon but Outlaw, Britains race of the year for the last three years. I'm not in as greater shape as I would have liked to have been, the last few weeks have been tough due to a variety of family health issues and a bereavement which has rightly meant that training has taken a back seat but also that I've not been looking after other aspects of my plan, like nutrition, hydration etc. But, I've been fortunate to have had a good long block of injury free training and I'm confident my endurance is there, this next week will be about eating clean, hydrating well and getting my mind strong for the day. It won't help to be thinking about the little bits I've missed and I'm greatful that I'm fit enough to get to the start line and sending best wishes to a couple of friends how have broken bones in the last couple of weeks and unable to race as planned....I would be a nightmare if that happened to me! I'm already avoiding kerbs whilst going about my daily business and driving everywhere at 10 miles an hour to keep myself injury free at this stage!

So, this journey has always been an experiment, to see what changes during the training, to see what if anything I learnt about myself and the things that matter to me. The whole process has definitely reaffirmed some of my values and beliefs especially... That we all can do anything we want to...if we train for it. I genuinely believe that the thing that stops us doing things is our minds...our bodies are amazing things and can be prepared and organised to take on most physical challenges...if our minds believe we can do it....so I'd like to pass that on to you all....if you want to, you genuinely can... So just do it....don't sit there wishing you could, because you can! I hope I will be following lots of you training or preparing for your amazing thing, whatever that is in the future, ironman, marathon, parachute jump, trip around the world alone...whatever yours is, make a plan start working towards it and just do it.

There are two other things that I've come to value so much more during my training and I've chosen two charities to support that link to these:

My Sight

I've been to so many places and seen so many wonderful things during my training that I never would have done, like ride up mountains in Cyprus, the most amazing sunrises in valley near my house and
some days I've felt like I've been on the set of a Disney movie whilst out on my morning runs and
rides as I've been surrounded by rabbits, birds, squirrels and even on two occasions wild deer. These things that I've seen and the places I've been have given me so much pleasure I can't imagine what it
would be like to not be able to see them and how devastating it must be to not have your sight. I've
chosen to support a local support group called Glossop VIP which is for people with visual impairments, to help them access social opportunities, reduce isolation and improve confidence. They have also developed a resource for people who have newly acquired visual impairments. I have a good old fashioned sponsoring form for this group and if anybody does wish to donate they can send me a message and I will put you on the form and then chase you for the money at a later date.

Time

"Is merely a fourth dimension that some people choose to measure in an artibtary way" is what I always say to myself whenever I wasn't that pleased with a race result or was late for something!

During the training I have come to recognise and value the importance of time so much more...mainly as I've felt like I've not had nearly enough of it. I've had lots of times where I've had to make difficult decisions about how to use the time I have had and too frequently felt like me and those around me have had to make sacrifices to fit in the training....... Until this last couple of weeks I felt like I'd not
really spent much quality time with John since February...oops!

I've also chosen to support The Karen Green Foundation who are a small charity that provide caravan accomodation for people and their families who are coping with illness. The caravan gives them that opportunity to enjoy some time together, whatever time they have. It's really import at to me to
understand that serious illness doesn't just damage physical and emotional recourses but it actually
causes real financial hardship for some families and some time away, a holiday, time to enjoy each other, say the things that need to be said and have the space to say them, can be out of reach for some families. The Karen Green Foundation helps with that, here's the address of my just giving page if you'd like to donate

www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Leah



So 6 am next Sunday morning my day will begin, 2.4 mile swim in the weed ridden duck poo
smelling water of Holme Pier Point lake....sounds awful doesn't it...but the truth be known whatever
the smell, whatever the weather, I won't want to be anywhere else next Sunday...



It's sure to be a great day..if you fancy watching, cheering me on or just having a sneaky peek as it might be in your plan for your future then come along. The parking at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham is free, there are free buses out to the bike course and back to the run which goes around the lake and the Trent, bring your picnics, chairs and children and give them free reign to shout and scream for hours on end!

After next Sunday my weekends will be spent sipping Gin and Tonic's and visiting Garden centres......
 xx

The white room

Two weeks ago I completed the Outlaw half triathlon as part of my training for the main event. This was an ideal opportunity to practice with all my planned race gear etc and I saw it as a learning event rather than a race.

As you can see from the picture above the weather was great all weekend, which was handy as we camped next to the venue.....all was going wonderfully...me and John got our tent up without a crossed word. We always joke that the only time we ever fall out is when we put our tent up!  Whilst driving down to Nottingham the evening before I was looking at some of the supporters signs that people use at ironman events....one said" if your relationship is still working you're not training hard enough!" That's reference to the amount of time and pre-occupation with equipment and training you find yourselves having during ironman training.....I'm very lucky to have good strong relationships with my nearest and dearest. I did sit them all down in January and explain what it all involves....they told me to go for it....maybe they just looking forward to having what they wanted on TV for 6 months!

Registration for the event came, I queued up patiently with my BFT card, minus picture.......arrrrgh!!!! Passport, I've forgotten my passport with my picture on for ID....Tri's are very strict with ID, my head was ticking " right I will blag it with this woman, she'll take my card and let me in the gig"....... Would she hell! I had to get a passport photo for my BTF card...in the next 30 mins in order to make the race briefing! Off we ran into the car and raced to the next town.....John dropped me off on the Main Street....I started running around like Anika Rice on red bull trying to find a photo booth....into boots...no sorry.....I felt like JR Hartley for a while....the kind lady in the post office directed me to the photo shop round the corner...in I dashed ( imagine the count down clock in the background now)....do you do passport photos? Bingo! They did......they promptly ushered me into their studio....there I was expecting a booth, with a stool and a curtain....no in I walk to a full on photographic studio, all white, with them big lights and umbrella things. "Just sit there" the photographer said and began snapping away....I think I was hysterical now as I was getting really childish urges  to "work it" like they do on Americas next top model and pull my best pouts! I resisted and re-focused on the race.....I paced around like a first time father in the maternity wing, waiting for the safe delivery of my keys to the race.....I sneaked into the race briefing about 10 mins
late....and breathe.....

The race was good, I learnt several thing that I am going to change for the main event....mainly not to get my race number emblazoned in my sun tan on both arms for the following several weeks!

The next 3 weeks are big ones....really big ones...highest training volume yet.....I'm starting to crave lying in bed until...ooo...8am at a weekend!

Thanks to all of you who have said very kind things about my recent training and race... X

Oooooo getting nervous

A trip to joderall bank on the bike

Well I've entered Peak training phase with a little over 9 weeks to go. The mileage on the bike has been increasing and I've found myself doing some interesting routes in some interesting weather! One particular day ending up in Prestbury on five different occasions.....I wasn't lost..just a little confused...my left and right has never been my strong point.


My plan for the next few weeks is to really bang the miles up and focus on practicing fuelling during my long rides. A couple of weeks ago I felt very sick for the last hour of so of a ride, then when I reviewed my Garmin ( no garmingeddon that day!) when I got home I'd burnt 4,800 calories and had a banana! I got some cake down me and within 1/2 hr I had a spring in my step again! Thinking and planning about what to eat, when to eat it and how to keep energy up is hopefully going to help avoid and gastric problems on the day........or the dreaded bonk! ( non- cycling or tri reader please google that in relation to endurance events but remember to have your parental controls on!).  Basically, I'm preparing to have one long picnic along the way to the finish line.....it's why I like endurance events so much......is just not the same without the feed stations on the 5k's I do.

Ive taken Paddy (my bike) on a few breaks away and trips out during the training plan...I took him to just near Meadowhell (a shopping centre in Sheffield) to have a full bike fit with my new tri bars.....I learnt a lot about bikes that day....and I had all my angles measured...and apparently that's good for something important.....and I had a new stem...and that's important for something too....and my seat moved and that's dead good for something....so all in all it was very useful.....for something....I think the lad said something about power, hip flexors and running.....

I'm starting to feel the benefits of the strength training I've been doing, I can see how dangling about in one of those TRX trainer things is helping and it's not just for the personal amusement of my trainer....although I do look a sight!

I know it's early but I am starting to get some ebbie geebies about the day already......I'm hoping that I will follow my usual style before a big event which is to feel nervous quite far out but by the time that day comes I've had a word with myself,  engaged my mental strength and feel ready to enjoy whatever comes my way.

Oh....almost forgot....I'm now on the no alcohol and superfood stage.........pass me the mocktails!

Powered by cake!

Finally out of the garage.....

Leading the way... It's not that cold... Honest!

I'm finally out of the garage..yey! It's felt like a long lonely winter and I'm so glad to see spring. Please forgive me fellow triathletes as I've committed the sin of "going off plan" I've been so desperate for the social side of training and to try and get a bit of speed into my legs that's I've been doing some of the local running races...it's been fab. I've loved getting out with other people, not being too bothered about my performance and using them as training runs but also finding new routes....some of which have been within a mile or two of home.  What I've noticed is that I'm not tired at the end (they have only been 4-6 miles) and that it takes me an age to get going at the start....a sign of good endurance but zilch speed maybe?

11 weeks out nerves are starting to creep in...doubts about my ability to get round on the day...I'm reminding myself that the process is as interesting as the outcome. I've lost things, like contact with my training group and definitely speed in my legs! But also gained many things, seen things, been places and done things that I never thought possible....I plan to stick to the plan now...almost anyway...and just enjoy the rest of the journey...I'm already planning what I will be doing with all my free time come August.....

In other news....I'm giving up alcohol until after the event.....after my next training weekend with mates that is... No need to be hasty now ;-)

Herod Farm Fell Race

You'll notice that I've added some photos this time..... It's taken me a while to understand how to do that..... It was one of my none training goals for the Easter weekend.... Small things eh! My next goal will be for it not to take an hour to get them to appear and to be able to move them so they fit with the text.

Ups and downs.....

It's been a while since my last post, I think it's because I've not been on the turbo much recently....that's normally where I do my best writing! I have to pay attention* whilst out riding on the road, so can't let my mind wander the same.

The last few weeks have been full of ups and downs, both on the bike and generally how strong I've felt. I had a weeks warm weather raining in Cyprus (ooo get me, I sound like an athlete!) and during this week I went places...... Mainly climbs on the bike...that I would never have experienced if not on this training journey. Climbing high in the hills with amazing views and visiting little hidden away villages and coffee shops.....doing things that people like me don't do! Getting lost and stumbling across a full on Cypriot domestic...Jeremy Kyle style was a particular highlight. Coming down the hills.......was interesting....6 mile ups means 6 miles down! My confidence on the bike is finally improving although I have turned into Jeremy Clarkson and hate caravans after I was within a whisker of being taken out by one earlier today.

The down times have been few and far between but last weekend was tough...feeling sad I wasn't experiencing the anxiety and worry of a marathon taper and then the joy of crossing the line in a new pb and being hardly able to walk due to the soreness in my legs from doing loads of squats trying to improve my strength....I ran  Lyme parkrun looking like I had some sort of neurological condition!

Training is at 12hrs a week at the moment, 3 runs, 3 bikes, 3swims, 1 brick session 1 gym/strength session. My legs are feeling heavy quite a bit!

*attention is a code word for talking non stop about who's run what times, won what races, stopping to take pictures of baby animals and looking for shops that sell chocolate