Ride, run, ride, kayak, swim, kayak, swim, sleep.

After a good afternoon/evening out I was in bed by around 8:45pm last night with lots planed for today.  In summary after one too many bottles of Rosé I was still rather fragile this morning and probably could say that I still am, but I'm fine.  I'm not the sort of person to let that stop me doing what I want so everything happened as planned.

O, Ley and I set off on the MTBs to go to parkrun at about 8am. Unfortunately Jules didn't make it as he was up quite a bit in the night (not alcohol related mind) so passed.  Was good fun rolling down the hill into Horsham.  I stuck with Ley for parkrun and a finish time of 32:18 was awarded for my 33rd parkrun.  It's not great but I struggled and it was good to stick with Ley.  O finished his 20th parkrun in a respectable 24:49 (even himself claiming he only sobered up at 3am this morning after 24 odd hours of fun and games) and Ley her 25th in 32:52 (she wanted a sub 33min so all good).  Breakfast at the conservatory cafe and an easy ride home (well back to the pub to get the abandoned car) via a few geocaches.  So about 14.5km on the bikes and 5km run.  I am so out of shape but it's fun to be getting back into it.

Kayaking lesson #1

Then after a short breather O and Ley picked me up for my first kayak lesson early this afternoon at Southwater Country Park.  Jules was going to meet us down there, not to have a go mind, he is not so keen on the whole water based activity.

So in my true fashion, in preparation I ordered and have read a book on kayaking for beginners this week, not that I am going to claim to be an expert but it just means that I might have a bit more of an idea what O is on about when he is coaching me, I will probably keep consulting it and YouTube for the foreseeable future.  O is a 3* in various disciplines and Level 2 trained BCU coach and we have been talking about going kayaking for a while now (was postponed untill after the wedding) he has kindly offered to teach me all that he knows and we are aiming for me getting to 2* BCU award (which apparently won't take long).

First things first. get the kayaks out.  At this point I am completely out of my depth (no pun intended) but I have no idea what to expect. I was on my best behavior today, sometimes difficult around these two but I really wanted to learn and quickly and not piss my best friend and coach for the afternoon off which would surly have me in the drink. I get frustrated if i can't pick things up though I am completely prepared to put the effort in to practice and as a coach myself in other sports I understand the concept of being taught and listening this way round.

Ley came out too which was really nice.  I was trying to listen and action everything I was being told and relate it to the text and pictures in my book and the YouTube videos.  O really is very good at kayaking and teaching.  He is very patient and made me feel really relaxed and unpressured, just kept encouraging me and helping me out with a few pointers to improve technique here and there, he didn't bombard me but moved on to other lessons too.  I didn't put myself under pressure today, I just wanted to enjoy it and get out on the water.  This is the first time I have been in a boat on my own after all.

All started out well, got in the boat (a red dagger) and I didn't fall in.  Went round in circles quite a bit at first, but did start to get better at going forward (I am not going to say straight).  Need to remember to lean forward more to place the paddle and draw back from my core, not hold the paddle so tight and also need to keep my forward strokes closer and straighter along side the boat with a higher angle too.  One thing O kept telling me was to lift it out earlier in the stroke than I was as that what was causing me to spin out.  I was trying to use my legs, i.e. brace with the opposite but after reading about this again, I'm not gong to worry about that too much at this stage, or at least which one is bracing anyhow.  So much to take in though as well as unlearning this balancing thing.  We did back paddling, sideways and bracing.  Oh and then an unplanned capsized.  I had quite a bit of water in my boat again and so that seemed to make it more tippy. Anyhow I got out and actually other than drinking the lake water (must try and not do this), was quite nice to have a little swim as it was quite hot this afternoon.  So as a result of this I covered emptying the boat of water and getting back in again too.

It was really nice paddling around the lake, I wasn't under any pressure to master anything and I felt like had made some good progress but towards the end of our 1.5hrs on the water I did falter a little and everything seemed to be harder.  It was quite busy though at the country park today, the beach was heaving; they were opening the new dino land (kids play park) so there was live music and dragon races as well as other things going on but it was nice to escape the hubbub and observe from the water.

So seeing as I was wet, after some noted procrastination I did attempt another capsize and I didn't drown. Wasn't perfect but did some bits right and I didn't drown and O didn't have to rescue me.  I did drink quite a bit of lake water though which is odd as I don't normally struggle being underwater.  A bit more practice and I am sure that I will get used to the experience and what to do (and not to do).

I did come over ridiculously tired and a fuzzy/light headed about 5-10 minutes before we got out.  Maybe it was because I knew we were heading in and my body was getting ready to stop. I think dehydration, tiredness and being out in the sun most of the day caused this.  Was a pain as I couldn't even lift myself out of the water and then some how fell back in again.  Felt a bit stupid.

Anyhow a great time had and can't wait to go again.  Not sure how much of a  rush O is to take me back out but he said I can go in a different boat next time and as soon as he doesn't think I will fall out at any moment we can go further afield than the lake which will be fun.

Headed home and spent a few hours with the hubby dozing out in the cooler evening sun which was nice.  I never sleep during the day but resting enough has giving me this second wind of energy and I am still up at 11:30pm.  Though still feel a bit lightheaded and my ears are still full of water which I hope a good nights sleep will resolve.

Today was good fun. Plan for tomorrow will depend on how I feel in the morning.  Will attempt some kind of run/ride/swim/gym/tennis and also do my training plan for the next 5 weeks.

Starting over

I am writing this after a busy month.  This is my 2 week anniversary as a married woman.  What with the preparation for, the big day, the aftermath and our minimoon there is lots to report but not much actual training has taken place although lots of fun has been had for sure.  Back to work and reality/normality Monday though, with the promising outlook of my Husband starting a new job soon after a few months of no work following redundancy (which also has added to the challenges we have faced recently) but fingers crossed an offer will come his way soon.

Anyway, I finally took my road bike out for the first time since the Dragon last night, off road (it coped but I don't want to do that too often).  It started off as an afternoon cleaning and oiling the bikes at Os which resulted in us being in the sunny pub garden with the Boss (Ley) before 5pm.  My hubby and some of my other favorite people H and Z also joined us later.  O was still probably drunk from the night before and I missed lunch and then proceeded to drink way too much in the sun.  I have been informed of my embarrassing resulting actions by husband (still getting used to that) but it was still fun and I still insisted on cycling home.  Well we walked the last bit.  Probably shouldn't have cycled home.  I am recording this merely to remind myself to avoid doing this again for a while.  This was not conducive for the planned activities for today.

Over the past month I think I have mostly managed one or two easy runs a week (parkrun usually) and have been out on the mountain bikes a bit too while on holiday in Cornwall for a few days.  Although I didn't manage parkrun on my wedding day as planned, O and I (albeit somewhat worse for wear) did manage a 7km run the morning after. Jules and I visited Lanhdyrock parkrun on our minimoon (2nd hardest parkrun in the country apparently, we aren't going to disagree) and back to it now as of today.

I also messed about in the sea and went kayaking for the first time on the river Fowey while away which was great. We had a great time, and been looking forward to my first lesson with O since.  Even having done the Dragon about a month ago now, I haven't done half enough to keep my form so I have a lot of work to do as well as a half marathon (Dorset Invader) next weekend.  Eeek!.

So now I have brought you up to speed.  I am married, I have put on loads of weight, I am rather unfit, I have a half marathon next weekend, I am still hungover and I have taken up a new sport.

Now I have done a half mara or 2, 96miles on the bike, 10k and 5ks can just happen, I am really looking for something that is going to make me train and motivate me to get out there.  At the moment the next biggest event is Race the Train in Wales in August which is 14odd miles which will be the furthest I would have ever run.  I need to put a training schedule together I think to take me to that then we'll see beyond that.  I also need to shift some fat and tone up again and my parkrun times are suffering so that needs to be addressed as well.

Jules has set his sights on and signed up to the Barns Green Half in September so it will help that we can train together too depending on his work schedule.

I know I can do it.  I need to set my mind to it, put a plan in place and take bloody control. It's happening.

Run, bike, swim, kayak, gym, My Fitness Pal.  Beep beep beep Go!

Velodrome fun - track taster session at Lee Valley Olympic Park May 2015

Several months ago I booked for Owain and I to go for a track taster day at the Lee Valley Velo Park on the indoor track/velodrome as part of one of their taster sessions and we finally went a few weeks ago and it was finally soon us. We had considered taking the bikes there and then riding back but weather l forecast was poop.

The boss dropped us off at the station after a short 10min drive from home in which I managed to make Owain even more nervous in the process of trying to help reassure him it would be fine by reading other people's blogs about their experiences of the taster session we were heading for, he also continued to wind me up as per usual.  Leyla was pleased to drop us both off it was fair to say after just 10minutes of an over excited me and a nervous-excited him.  With tea in hand we made our way into the city, both of us having commuted before we can survive in London but O was happy to let me get on with navigating. Well, until we got to Stratford. Last time I was at the QEOP it was still being built whereas O has been back and had a race here recently. "That's it, let's go this way" he said.... Umm okay..... But google maps says.... "It's wrong! This way..." 

So it was the wrong way and it was the Athletics Stadium he had is eye on. Me back in the driving seat we made it to the velodrome with loads of time to spare. The sun was shining and oh wow.  What an awesome structure; a beautiful work of architecture. Owain still seemed nervous, still not helped by me bouncing around like a toddler on Haribo. After registering and getting orange wrist bands we sat up in the stalls to watch the previous taster session group.

The building is equally impressive on the inside! We were offered the additional hire of cleats for the track bikes and that was a unanimous decision for us both to get those. We can do clipless. Trainers don't go well with Lycra!

We got changed and headed trackside. This place was more and more impressive from every which angle and we weren't on the track yet. We got helmets and shoes and waited for the last session to finish to get a bike.

The thing about these bikes is that they are fixies so they have one gear which is also the break.  There are no breaks on the handlebars. This is a little unnerving as you can't just stop, you have to use a reverse force to gradually reduce your speed and stop alongside the bars.

So we are in the middle of the track and we are trying to configure the saddle height required (which basically means that you have to have it as high as is comfortable with almost a completely straight leg to the pedal when seated). Passing O my phone for capturing some photos I promptly pretty much fell off as elegantly as possible, thank fully Owain wasn't quick enough with the camera and there was no mud to kick in my face. Everyone now looking at me and slightly red faced I sorted myself out and tried to look like I had some idea what I was doing.

It is worth noting here that no watches or any devices at all are allowed on the track with us. Owain tried to get away with his watch (Garmin Vivoactive) so it could be strava'd but no. Nothing. It's not on Strava so technically we weren't here and it didn't happen.

So a group of about 10-15 of us lined up along the railings track side and we had a briefing and then we got to head off and started on the flat bit going round and then coming to a stop which we repeated several times to make sure everyone can stop and start and stop etc.  We then went onto the lower blue part of the track. This is the bit that you go on to to transition to being on or off of it. 

All the while we were all picking up speed, and working our way along and further up the lines on the track, red, black then blue (I think). Getting faster and faster getting higher and higher. It was so much fun! O was behind me so I couldn't really see what he was upto and if he was okay but I hadn't cycled past him yet in a pile on the floor so I figured he all was good. It wasn't long before we were let loose and could zoom around go up the banking and overtake and oh my it was fun. As soon as I got some speed I went as high as I could which was the top of the Lee Valley Park logo painted on the track. 42degrees of banking and maybe 10-15m high, speeds of 18-25mph maybe. O might have a better idea of the speeds we were going, but felt it fast.

It wasn't long before Owain over took me and I could see all was okay. The nerves had gone and he was smiling. We are both somewhat competitive so this was a great forum to play in and more overtaking was had. We span round for quite a bit longer going up the banking as high as we could. My legs stared to tire though after going round at the top and had to drop down to recover for a bit. It was nearly over and some people were calling it a day but there was still time for a bit more so made sure my legs were well and truly blasted before the last of us were called in. 

That. Was. Awesome. We both had huge smiles on our faces - mine didn't really leave all day and I was still excitable for the rest of the day until we got home. We were sweatier than we thought we would get so if you are reading this wondering what to take I recommend shower stuff, the facilities are great. Some shower gel from a fellow rider and drying myself with my arm warmers ensued.

  

So it is probably worth a mention, ladies, the track bikes are not comfortable to sit on. The pressure caused quite some discomfort while riding, the excitement was a distraction and wouldn't stop me going again but the seat position is high and overall riding position very racy with hands low, neither are the saddles designed to relieve any pressure from anterior soft tissue areas.  I am going to read into women track bikes and riding positions and see if there are any simple modifications or changes that I could make to improve comfort without getting my own track bike at this stage. 

So yes.... We are going back. We have already spoken about it and it's happening. It was so much fun I would hugely recommend it!

After we changed we had a look round the cycle shop on site, and refrained from buying anything and headed for lunch as were both hungry.

I had told O that lunch was a surprise and he didn't know where we were going. We made our way across the city and eventually came to (as planned) Look Mum No Hands. One of the best cycling cafés in London. Lots to look at (and buy if you wanted) while having a beer and waiting for lunch (which was lovely even if I did finish Owain's salad). It was a good stop for our cycling themed day and O didn't disapprove. 

We wandered on to the Specialized Concept store and a few bike shops en route, just to look. I don't think either of us bought anything. A quick café stop and we headed to Waterloo for the train home. Standing all the way was not so much fun as it was rush hour. But we made it back, stocked up on some wine and got a taxi home. Collapsed on the sofa and watched a movie until Jules swapped me for Leyla (they were all at a quiz). I slept well that night!