Nerves, nerves, nerves....

Apparently I don't have much to distract me today from the race tomorrow. I'm just a ball of nerves. There wasn't even a goodie bag to offer some form of distraction of ooh's and aah's. Now I've cycled 40km's and I've cycled 22km's so you would think I would have NO problems with a 33km but I do.... What I totally forgot is that there is a bigger race happening on Sunday -hmmmm, and that is the race everyone seems to be in. When I collected my number this morning, the lady handing out the numbers had all the numbers organised according to our surnames - not very big piles I tell you. Does this mean another teeny field of cyclists tomorrow. Does this mean I'm being chased by the ambulance and sweeper vehicles.....it is becoming clear why my nerves are shot. I didn't enjoy having those vehicles right behind in the last race. I guess my best bet would be to try and forget that they are actually there. Also on the 'To Do List' was to get my pedals sorted out. At the last training session the left one broke. All the shops we tried today did not have parts to fix it which meant getting a whole new set of pedals. These don't come cheap as they are Shimano SPD pedals. I also wanted to get a cycling shirt that fitted - no more 'hoping like hell' that the fat will disappear promptly!! Yes, I still wake-up some mornings hoping that a miracle has taken place and that 'poof' I'm thin!! My favourite cycling shop had cycling shirts on special - woohoooo- and I managed to pick one up at a bargain. I love the colours (see pic above). Now I have the all important pockets at the back where I can safely tuck my Sport Gels. And trust that one of the more expensive gels on the market is the one that is palatable and works, hence, my decision to stick with it for now even if the budget groans a bit. Some good news: I got my baby back. My Nikon is all ready and in working order. She definitely deserved some TLC. :-)) Here's hoping for a good race tomorrow. Have a super weekend everyone. Mich

Don't wanna...

It has been one of thooooooooo-se afternoons.

Hubby was stuck in traffic trying to get home to take the kids to the dentist. Change of plans and I've got to rush them to the dentist. Traffic is a mess everywhere around us thanks to some *idiots* who had planned to rob a bank at a shopping centre up the road from us - the police give chase - not entirely sure what happens but something happens to 2 of them, one kills himself on the side of the highway and the other one bolts. In total 4 bad guys.

The dentist is relatively hassle free - Brad takes it in his stride - one brave guy. Josh required one teeny filling and a clean. Brad's teeth are in need of loads of TLC.

Then it was back to braving it in the traffic back home. I just got to the point of 'I don't wanna go and train' - I just want to chill. I just want to sit back and relax. Not think of the track, training, racing whatever and just CHILL!! So I'm chilling and feeling guilty. Duh!! what is the point if there are going to be feelings of guilt.

I have a Spinning class at 07:30 tomorrow - I'll just have to work extra hard. :-))

Race on Saturday - at least I'm not in it to win it but to have fun. Must keep reminding myself about that FUN bit.

Have a super Thursday, uhhmm Wednesday.

Michelle

'that' time of the month

Ahhhh, when the moods swing from one end of the pendulum to the other...when nothing and just everything annoys the *&^$# me. Feeling puffy, wuffy and fluffy with the energy of a slug!!

Yesterday was the first day on the bike since Sunday's race and OMG!! I had the will but not the energy = frustration. My legs should have been up for the challenge, they were well rested. After two laps I decided that was enough - no use pushing myself. Got home and FINALLY, Aunt Flo made an appearance. I feel 'human' again!! Energy levels are back up and that puffy feeling has gone.

We won't talk about the quantus amounts of chocolate I ate leading up to this visit. Yikes, I couldn't get enough. Thankfully with the arrival the craving disappears, now for damage control.

I'm hoping to get back to the track this afternoon but the weather might have other plans. I've booked a Spinning session for hubby and me tomorrow morning as it is a Public Holiday. If I cannot train outdoors then I need to move it indoors. I'm very thankful for that option.

So with Aunt Flo and the weather - this week is throwing challenges at me galore. I'm overcoming them. What or have been your challenges this week?

Mich

This weeks exercise PLAN!! (21 Sept -27 Sept 09)

* Monday : Rest Day * Tuesday : Cycling (Training at the Kyalami Race Track) * Wednesday : Cycling (Training at the Kyalami Race Track) (uhhhm, rest day) * Thursday : 60 min Spinning Class Rest day (Heritage Day) * Friday : Yoga Rest Day * Saturday : SASKO Harties Challenge 33 km (20.50 miles)Unfortunately I got a puncture and was not well prepared - I had to abandon my race after 20 kms * Sunday : Squash Bestmed Campus 2 Campus 50km (31 miles) (02:50:05) finish

Invincible

It started with another early morning. Hmmmm, that would be the joys of taking part in cycle races. My support team can find it tough going (Josh 5yo and Brad 9yo). Not knowing how big the race was going to be or even knowing what the route was we made the decision to get there early. On arrival we soon discovered that we could have slept in longer - oh well! There was a total of 3 other cars. Yikes, where was everyone. I registered and we then took it easy - got the boys some pancakes and milo and just chilled. Eventually the cars started to arrive and were streaming in - relief!! Hubby later in formed me that there was only 341 odd cyclists - a very, very small field.

At about 09:15 we (the cyclists) headed down to the start line which was taking place on the main road. The support team stayed behind and waited at the finish line. After a while it was time for the 40km cyclists to get going. It wasn't long and I knew this was not going to be an 'easy' ride, we were struggling with strong cross winds. At about 5km - I thought about quitting, at about 10km - I really considered quitting and about 18km's I wondered how much more I could take. I burst into tears and wondered if this was really worth it and then a 'miracle' happened. April had introduced me to a song in her Spinning class -'Invincible' - at the moment I thought I couldn't go any further 'Invincible' started playing on my MP3 player and I knew I could :-) Before I knew it I was at the water point and the turn around point - 20km /halfway mark. I kept telling myself that I had made it 1/2 way and I could do this.

Which reminds me, I haven't told you the funniest bit. I was at the back. Yip, right at the back...I was being chased by an ambulance and the 40km sweep vehicles. Giving up would have been very easy - my ride home was right behind me. Talk about temptation constantly shoved under your nose.

I had a good giggle, when for a brief second I was the 90km Leader....The lead vehicle with a sign saying "90km Leader" came past me. A short lived moment when the real leader came flying past me. Not long after that the course got busy with all the pro's heading strongly for the finish line. It was a distraction at least. Some of the guys past comments of support like 'you're doing great' - 'keep at it'.

The course was undulating - with only one really tough hill on the way back. When I couldn't anymore, I walked - I pushed my bike up that hill. I could smell the finish from there - it was close. I got back on that bike and worked hard to get back home/finish line. Three of us had kept each company, the sister + brother team shooting ahead and then me (taking turns). Eventually I stuck ahead of them till the finish line and came in 3rd from the back. LOL The 90km guys and girls were also making there way back to the finish line.

This is me crossing the finish line. I was in tears again by now. I had done it!! When I could have given up - I persevered. I was INVINCIBLE!! I crossed the finish line, handed in my chip and fell into hubby's arms crying. The poor man had thought something had happened - I was just so happy to see him :-))

We headed straight to the car, packed up everything and headed home. We had Josh's Spring Fair to attend. We went straight to the school - this was post race meal/lunch. The school had managed to get Spur (a chain of local restuarants) to come and make burgers. It was delish and thankfully a rare 'treat'. I refuse to feel guilty - I burnt 1549 calories on that ride.

And yes, I am smiling!! I had the time of life. When quitting would have been easy - I didn't!!

The scale number is moving DOWN

Will it continue with this trend, I'm not sure - I can only hope so. What I've done differently is:

* Focused more on my cycling more than gym workouts (short term). This is because my race schedule and training schedule is hectic from now until mid November.

* Upped my carb intake - YES - you read correctly. I'm eating more brown rice etc. The good carbs, the better carbs, whatever, they're carbs.

* Eating slightly more red meat *gasp* so instead of no red meat during the week, I try and include it once (where possible we try and purchase our meat from places that use good practices when it comes to red meat, as well as chicken)

* Making more of an effort to get snacks in more regularly.

The scale has been hovering between 92 - 93.5 kgs and more around 93 kg's = frustration. The thought was I might be starving myself. Not eating enough to support my activity level or even correctly. Right now I can only play with my diet - I am seeing a dietician who specialises in Sport Nutrition in about a weeks time. I'm so excited about that - I know there will be better results.

This mornings weigh-in 91.4 kg's (201.1 lbs). This is the first week that the scale has mostly stayed under 92 kg's (one or two mornings it did get above 92 kg's.

This is what is working for me!! Not everybody is the same - my determination to get healthy, fit and lose weight is making me reach out and seek information. My activity levels are not yours and vice versa. What works for me might not work for you. Yes, I heard the calorie in - calorie out. The more calories I cut, the more 'energy crashes' (days where the mind was willing but the body refused point blank) I had. This week I only had one teeny one and that was on Thursday after being at the track - my legs were tired and the rest of the body joined in - got to bed early and woke up feeling fine the next morning. On Wednesday I had pushed hard at the track and cycled 5 laps (22km's) and burned close on 900 calories.

It is early days yet, and I cannot wait to see what the scale says next Saturday. One week is not 'proof' all I know is that I can see and feel a change and I'm happy.

A HAPPY ending to a 'not so great' afternoon!!

The BAD news : Sunday's race has been cancelled!!

I had left my cell phone in the car while having coffee at Josh's school and ran to get it so I could check to see if I had missed any calls or sms's/text messages and there was a SMS from the organisers of Sunday's race - as I read the message - my soul was crushed - the race had been cancelled due to the TMPD (Tshwane Metro Police Department) withdrawing their support at the last minute. Now what?? I had been so looking forward to this race. I was totally ready for it - I had psyched myself up and was almost counting the sleeps. Yep, that is how bad it has been. It felt like the wind had been taken out of my sails. How could they - didn't they know how important this was to me?? No amount of temper tantrums was going to change anything and besides I had no energy to throw one that is how disappointed I was - so yep - now what??

The GOOD news:

My hero - hubby - stepped in as I was not at home or near a computer and checked the website where the races are listed and discovered another one taking place on Sunday - a teeny bit further from home but doable. It is also a 40km (24.85 miles) cycle race. It is for a charity organisation : Meals on Wheels - and thankfully they are taking late entries on the day. It is a later start than the other one which means we might end up missing Josh's school's Spring Fair entirely - I'll just have to pedal faster :-))

I have no idea what the route is like : all I have to go on is what Tannie (Aunty) Bettie told me on the phone this afternoon - it's fast with one very long uphill drag. Should be interesting if anything.