Life and all its surprises

Hi Folks,

Yes, its been a while since I posted and it might be a while to come before the next one. My life took a big turn a week ago and I'm trying to find some stability. I realise that sounds dramatic and you might be let down, but it was big to me.

I got a call from the top officer in the government department I work for asking if I'd step into a job for 4-5 months. The jump in classification was 3 full levels, which is just about unheard of. It happened because I spoke to this guy twice at recent seminars and spoke my mind about work issues. Anyway, I've been in the job for just over a week now and its FULL.ON. I've never worked so hard in my life. The day is about 10 hours average but I've put in some longer ones. He warned me the job was not easy and there are some serious issues to resolve, but opportunities like this don't happen too often in a career.

So I've not had much time to blog, run, swim or much else. I have persisted with the riding as I can do that outside work hours but its not easy. So I haven't run again since, nor swum but still riding up Mt Gravatt each Tues morning, the river loop on Thur and a big ride on weekends. I can report this regime is paying dividends, as the 100km ride today to Redcliffe proved I have come further on the road to getting my old self back. I was able to keep with the lead group and maintained a respectable pace all the way; managed to drop all but the strongest guy in our group towards the end. So I'm pleased.

Where this leaves my Noosa dream I'm not sure. There has been some questions about that and whether or not its too soon in the running comeback and frankly without much swim training, I starting to agree. The modified plan might be to skip Noosa this year and build up through the sprint series over summer and finish in March with Mooloolaba; our other premier oly distance tri. I don't like this plan as I tend to do what I set out to do, but as they say in the classics, discretion is the better part of valour. I calculate that I have this week to decide. But the opportunity to train during the day or after work isn't there and Noosa is in 8 weeks or so.

Stay tuned. I haven't given up hope but it might be time to listen to the head.

T.

Four Kilometres Means I'm Back

Quick update boys and girls, I know you’re busy.

I continue to increase all my disciplines; swam twice since last week but still with cramping. I’ve worshipped at the bike altar regularly and completed a 95km ride to the Gold Coast last Sunday with the bunch. I rode strong and am improving up hills to the point that not only am I keeping up but starting to lead the group again. Also went up our lesser mountain here in BrisVegas called Mt Gravatt, as opposed to the Mt Coot-tha I mentioned in the previous post. This one is very popular with local cyclists as its short (about 2km) and not all that steep.

A guess would be an average of 6% with only two sharp parts at 8%. The graphic is a profile of the mountain from the south.

I was told four laps was the norm, but I set out to just do two. The first was the hardest and I was committed to doing the pair, but the second was totally different; as if I found a shortcut because I was at the top before I realised it. So I ended up doing four laps and had a smile for the rest of the day.

I am also now running 4km on the treadmill and ready for a road run. This is the shortest distance of a sprint tri here in south-east Queensland, so it represents a little milestone, i.e. technically I could complete a tri now. Of course, this is not enough.

Not by a long shot.

But it’s a start. If the tri season was on now, I probably would go and enter one just because I could. The other encouraging thing about the 4km is that I did it at 9 kph speed with the last 750m at 10 kph and the very last 250m at 12 kph. And through all of that the body and especially the weak leg, held together and kept a balanced rhythm thanks to the orthotics. Speaking of the podiatrist – I visited them today to have a check-up and refit the orthotics. They are quite thrilled with my progress, although not entirely happy with the fact I’m running so early. But I promised that I’d been careful and listened to my body, blah, blah. I did do those things, but I was prepared to push through any negative feedback from the legs, etc. Luckily there was none and so the foot people predict there’s no reason why I can’t get back to my full run distances. Another day-long smile.

So folks, its all on track. Stay tuned, there’s more to come.

Tomawac out.