Greetings From The Underground

In the last month I have left my full time job, been away for a bit of R&R, started a new job and have upped my training incredibly.

So I am hardly surprised that I have hit a low point. I like to refer to it as a hole that I have tripped and fallen in, and I am jsut slowly climbing my way out. So how did it happen?

1. 4 full weeks, of back to back sessins - clocking some awesome kms in swim, bike & run.Probably forgot to breathe and take things slower in my off times.
2.I didn't listen to my body, when instead of going ice skating, and dinners, and shopping and goodness knows what else - I should have been resting, and recovering.
3. Monday morning's open water session at Clovelly made me feel like I was going backwards, and spent the rest of the day dwelling on how bad I felt in that session.
4. I slept for a good 14 hours, missing riding, and then had to miss running on Tuesday. As I dwelled on the the number of missed sessions, I began to panic, and no matter what I was getting up in the morning to run and swim.
5. I began a 40min hill set only to be stopped by the Coach after 20mins, as he tried to save myself from myself.
6. Straight after this I tried again in the surf, and with a rogue 6ft set rolling through, and getting absolutely pummelled I actually thought I was going to drown!

I knew unless I did something to get back into a happy space - I could get really sick, or end up in a really negative place. And NOTHING is productive when there is lots of negativity.

So I went home, had a great coffee with my Dad, and slept the best 2 hours sleep I have had in a LONG time. I then went to work, and thought happy thoughts about the session to come that night.

I jumped in the pool and found my happy place in the water. I felt relaxed, and like I was floating - I was waiting to feel rubbish, and it never really came. I couldn't help but laugh that my weakest leg is now very much becoming my happy happy place. Running which is my strongest leg, doesn't feel peaceful like it used to.

This morning, I slept in and had a coffee on the beach at Bondi, and realised that if this is a dark hole, then I don't really have much to complain about. I know this may sound like I am just complaining, and many athletes have been through much much worse. But this was the first of big downs I have been through as an athlete.

As I have been told you need to be in the valleys in order to get to the mountain tops. AND I am hoping that I am now starting to freshen up and 'come good' as they say. This is all part of the journey and the bad times make the good times that much sweeter.

So the head noise has settled, and now looking forward to getting back into things. First step is track tonight, and if things don't go so well, it may just have to be another session at 80%...

And have things to look forward to and focus on. These are...
The City 2 Surf - ALWAYS a great day, and have a goal time to focus on... The rest will have done me the world of good.
Girl Time on Saturday - My Mumma and I are going to be girlie in the afternoon, no cap or goggles, or runners, or bikes - just lazy lunch, and getting our nails done.
Summer - Can not wait for the warm weather, and the sun to shine, and sneaky post training swims at Bondi make the days just that little much brighter...
AND
My Little Bro is home from a 3 week camping trip today, can not wait to go and catch up with him, and hear all his crazy stories...

The moral, as much as the last week as been mentally draining, not every challenge as an athelte is physical. The mental games that I will continue to play with myself will make me stronger, and i am determined to get through them to be the very best athlete that I can be.

Bondi Barefoot

Well, this race was in fact ages ago. But I had a win, and this race was on my home beach, and in front of all my club mates at North Bondi Surf Club - so I need to blog about it, perhaps the way an emo kid would blog about their pain.

Yes I am going to do it1 No I'm not going to do it... But given that after a week of terrible weather in Sydney, the prospect of facing 3 hours on the bike, in the pouring rain, wine and arctic weather conditions - a good excuse would be to race.

Given that I was under orders I was still to ride - I jumped on the wind trainer for 2 hours, woke the family up and managed to watch a movie, and consume breakfast on the bike.

As I made my way down to the beach, the quads were burning, the pre race coffee wasn't going down well - and with people telling me how well I am going to do after my race at The Aussies. I was filled with fear...

My old coach Scotty Thomson was calling the race and was on the microphone, and after giving me a pep talk on and off the microphone, I knew all I could do was run and see how I felt.

A mass start and hundreds in front of me, including about 15 girls - I had to back myself, knowing that I would run a good race if I negative split - or atleast be able to keep the coach happy.

After the first kilometre - I found a guy's footsteps to follow that was comfortable, and there were no girls around me. at the 2km turning mark, I was well under record time - My first thought was that I was going to blow up, but thought I felt good, and would lift and see how I went.

To my surprise, as the race went on I felt faster, and crossed the line as the fast female and top 10 overall and even better - the course record by a good 35seconds over 4km.

Of all the races to win, The Bondi Barefoot has the most sentimental value - I am now in our club's history books, and I was the first club member to win the race.

This race was at the end of May and very late on the blogging, but I have photos. All shortcomings in cyber world can be blamed on the delayed receipt of photos... Here are photos

For What It Is Worth...

99% of the time, you think you do what you do, because that is just what you do. But it is nice to think that what you do has to some part in something much bigger than your own selfish reasons.

At my time at Adshel, I was bossy and would often tell people to do this run, that run and I thought I was just being pushy. But it turns out walking into the office tired, and hanging out my washing over filing cabinets for the next training session can acutally be some form of inspiration.

Leanne, used to sit opposite me and before I left she told me, "Siobhan, Kerryn McCann inspired me to buy my first pair of running shoes in 20 years. But you inspire me to run everyday."

This made me feel a little overwhelmed. BUT it made me realise that being able to inspire someone like that means a hell of a lot more than any medal. To know that you helped someone find a love for putting their running shoes on and achieving something is awesome!

So whilst I inspired someone, Leanne has in fact inspired me! If someone can have every excuse under the sun to not train (I'm not fit, I don't have running shoes... you name it) What excuse do I have?

So whilst Leanne thanked me for helping her, I now have to thank Leanne for reminding my why I love my sport, and that ordinary people doing extraordinary things in life is the best source of inspiration.