Swamp Monsters Defeated!

It's taken a few days to recover from the weekend but I (at last) managed to overcome my irrational fear of open water swimming for long enough to complete the standard  (Olympic ) distance Triathlon at Loch Ore. I was so nervous about the swim after the Great Triathlon Disaster of 2016 at St Mary's Loch. But I was also extremely determined. I didn't even think about the 25 mile cycle or the 6 mile run ,  just wanted to complete the swim. And complete it I did! In a record time of 34:55 that's a whole 3 minutes faster than I have ever done before for that distance (1.5 km).Delighted with myself I jumped on the bike for a not too bad time, and let's just say to call it a 'run' would be over optimistic! But that doesn't matter. ...I completed it .....and I wasn't last!!

Difficult decisions. .....

Those of you who know me, know how stubborn I am! So making this decision has been really difficult for me. I have had to withdraw from the Aberfeldy Half Ironman in August. Several reasons for this but mainly due to having a couple of setbacks in training which means I just won't be confident enough in my fitness to complete the distance safely. This is a huge disappointment to me as I normally have the mental strength to 'get over myself and just do it" . This year I've just run out of time to get the miles in before the event and I just don't feel ready. If there is one thing I know about these endurance events it is you need to respect the distance. However,   I need to beat the inner demons I call the swamp monsters though. So instead of Aberfeldy I'll be entering another standard distance Triathlon instead. Then I have a 70 mile cycle in Sept followed by the Half Marathon in Glen Coe in Oct ....so plenty to keep me busy!

First Challenge Finished!

I have now almost recovered from the St Mary's Loch Standard Triathlon. I did finish but technically didn't 'complete' the whole distance. Unfortunately and frustratingly 'the fear' won on Sunday morning. I started the swim but just couldn't concentrate and get into any sort of rhythm, and it was sooooo cold in their I just knew I couldn't do two laps. I managed one (750m) but my 'mind over matter' strategy just ran out of steam. So I had to get out. Looking back I am so disappointed with myself, but at the time I just couldn't. I was still able to carry on with the bike and run though.  As soon as I clipped myself into those pedals all was well with the world once more! 25 miles cycled round a very hilly route which took in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway in the lashing rain! I really enjoyed it in an stingy rain mud splattered way! 1 hour 53 ...a great time for me. Then it was off the bike and onto the  6 mile run. This was all off road. Normally at the end of a triathlon the run is fairly flat. ...not this one! Muddy,  squelchy, rocky, uppy, downy. ...over a few styles.....proper cross country running! Was very cold and wet by the time I finished....but I did finish. Mixed emotions.

'Night before' nerves!

Tomorrow is the first of my 'big' challenges, the St Mary's Loch Standard Triathlon. I hate that it's called 'standard' there's nothing standard about swimming 1500 m in open water then struggling to get out of your wetsuit without falling over then jumping on your bike for 40k  (in the rain tomorrow ) and then running 10k. But for me it's not just about increasing the distances it's the overwhelming sense of dread I have about getting in the water! I have a fear....a fear, which those who don't have, don't get....there are THINGS in open water....no one knows what they are or what they'll do to you but they are there! I call them swamp monsters. When I put my head under the water I don't want to see anything, if I see something, pond weed, another swimmers foot, my own bubbles. ...I just freak.....I know there is nothing there and I know I can swim the distance but I'm still scared! So tomorrow's challenge is more mental than physical, even though it will be a tough four hours. I just need to keep my sanity for 45 mins whilst in the water and "it'll be fine"....Won't it Jane?

Tracey's Triathlon Tales

Another "wee" triathlon  completed as part of my prep for the Big Ones. Just a cheeky wee Sprint Triathlon in Peebles. This event was my first ever tri so it was nice to go back and have another go....or so I thought! After a rather late night playing with the Edinburgh Concert Band  in our summer Concert,  followed by *ahem* just the "one" pint! I got up at 6 am to get my stuff together then head down. If was pouring when I got there ensuring my gear in transition got totally soaked and it didnt stop till I'd finished the cycle and the run. My feet were proper squelching!  But....I did it....a wee bit slow  (no surprise ) but after a strong coffee and a wee afternoon nap. ....all was well! Just need to do it all again next weekend for the first  open water tri of the year.......noooooooooo!
 

Moonwalk Scotland

Moonwalk Scotland - 11 June to 12 June 2016

On the evening of the 11 June Rhona and I headed into Edinburgh to take part in my second challenge, The Moonwalk Scotland. The Full Moon. We got there around 8.30pm and headed into the Moonwalk Village. The excitement was building, it had a real carnival atmosphere. First we were met by a drum band. Really got the atmosphere going.

Once we were in the huge Moonwalk tent we exchanged our food token for a yummy tray of pasta and a piece of flapjack. Took this photo of Rhona, who said that her face is a mixture of exhaustion and fear! Often the look of a rookie marathoner!

Shortly after we got our pasta a celidh fusion band called "Bahookie" took to the stage and began to entertain us. Some of the fused songs were a bit dodgy but it was loud, cheerful and gave us all something to focus on other than the 26.2 miles ahead.

We nipped outside before it would start to get dark and braved the cold to get our photo taken in our bra! It wasn't warm I can tell you! But it was great fun to be part of the tartan revolution! 

 Rhona looking slightly more                                                                                                               chirpy than she did at the end!

Before we knew where we were the sky began to darken and the time to start walking came that bit closer. I would love to say that this photograph was a real lucky chance that the moon came out over Holyrood Palace but it wasn't, there was a huge moon tethered to the ground. Made for a great photograph though!

Back inside we took a quick selfie, as you can see our faces show just how tired we were becoming. By this point it was around 10.30pm. The tent was really filling up by this point. It was a real inspirational place, there were participants who were very young taking part in the New Moon (6 miles) to the Half Moon (13.1 miles), the Full Moon (26.2 miles) and the Over the Moon (52 miles). There were women and men of all shapes, sizes and ages. It was marvellous that all (including the men) wore their decorated bras (the trademark of the Moonwalk) regardless of their shape or size. It was a celebration of our breasts!  And how much we want to come together to find a cure for breast cancer.

Outside it was starting to get quite dark, the moon was looking stunning over the start line. The excitement was starting to build as were the queues for the toilets!

After a fun warm up with the legendary "Roy" (no idea who Roy was never mind why he was legendary!) a lone piper came on and played "500 miles" by the Proclaimers. Our cue to head outside to the start line. Took this fabby photo of Rhona in her decorated bra before a wee old woman came along and started to dress her because "you are going to be freezing without a coat dear". Hee hee.

What followed was the toughest 26.2 miles I think I have ever covered! Walking is tougher than running in my opinion! No idea why it just is. The toughest bit for me was the walk at around 1.30am in the morning through Ravelston and Cramond where it was dark, quiet and it felt really long. We did have two very funny moments though. At one point around Ravelston there was a lovely wee old drunk man, singing and eating chips standing beside the marshalls, they were so sweet to him and just let him sing. The second moment was in Cramond where a group of four guys were walking along slightly drunk. Two of them were in front of the others with two a little further behind. One guy tripped up and landed flat on his face, he hopped up and said to his pal "thank goodness the guys didn't see that", his pal laughed and said "no but the whole of the Moonwalk did!" one very red faced young man skulked off with his friend killing himself laughing. 

The walk down to Silverknowes was very hard as it was very dark and it felt like it went on forever, as we got down to the Foreshore we passed a van with two young guys in yellow vests dancing to D J Casper Cha Cha Slide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3rH0PHVzyk. They were in time and dancing the moves perfectly, they were a very welcome relief after the darkness. They got a huge cheer as we passed. That took us down to the seafront, where it suddenly got very cold again. 

We then walked all the way along Seafield Road to Portobello onto the Prom, it was lovely as the sky had lightened and the dawn chorus was beginning. This lifted everyone's spirits. Mine too, I had found the dark bit really hard. The walk back up to the park was very tough. The last four miles skirted back and forth around Arthurs Seat. Rhona was finding it very tough from about 19 miles but she hung on in there and after a low point of a few miles she perked herself up and strode confidently to the end. She made me laugh at one point in the last 3 miles saying "we have been within half a mile of the finish three times and they keep taking us somewhere else". We got to the point where we were taking bets on where we might go next. But finally, the park was in sight and we were almost at 26 miles. Then we were there. We were finished. We had completed the Moonwalk Scotland. It was hard, but rewarding in the end. Walking through the night was definitely the hard bit for me, but we did it. And we got our medals, which a particularly blingy! Thanks for walking with me Rhona, you are a very strong young woman, I was very proud of you. 

  Two weary finishers!

That is most definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I am really proud of myself. Training for Glencoe has already begun, I am on week 2 of my 16 training schedule. I am sure it will be equally difficult but at least I will be back within my comfort zone and running again!!

don't worry, be happy 

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Bras at the ready!

Well now. Here I am just a few hours away from the start of the Moonwalk Scotland. And after several weeks of summer, true to form, Scottish weather has returned! Although it is still warm(ish) so absolutely no idea what to wear, other than my brightly decorated bra (designed by the HNC Early Education students at Edinburgh College) and my purple kilt!

Rhona too has a bespoke design from the students, as she is swirling her kilt along with me.

This afternoon Rhona and I will have a wee snooze, carbo load, get our numbers pinned onto our kilt and then head into Moonwalk Village for the pre-race Ceilidh.

So whilst you are snoozing and snoring away in your beds think of us walking around Edinburgh in our underwear!!!

Pre and post report with Photographs on Monday (might need to sleep tomorrow).

And a big shout out to Tracey who is competing (sorry completing) in the Peebles Triathlon tomorrow morning (where all of this nonsense started with Two Tackle Three). Go Tracey.

  There's your mexican wave!!!

don't worry, be happy .