Archive - Page 4 of 17 - Put the Kettle On

‘You can spread YOUR toes another day, then!’

Written by amanda on 16th February 2015. Posted in The Road to Ironman. No Comments on ‘You can spread YOUR toes another day, then!’

snipped the yoga teacher, failing to understand why I couldn’t take off my socks (infected toe). Jeez, that must have been the stressiest yoga class EVER! I’d already been accosted for choosing the wrong mat, for not having the correct number of blocks (how would YOU know – I could be a professional ballet dancer?) and I’m not even going to try and describe the ‘tone’ with which I was informed that this was an ‘intermediate class, you realise’??? Oh dear. Wrong person to take that attitude with....

PILGRIM CHALLENGE THE RETURN (2015)

Written by amanda on 5th February 2015. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. No Comments on PILGRIM CHALLENGE THE RETURN (2015)

31 January/1 February Reading on fabulosity scale: 10 Level of awesomeness feelingness: 10 Muddiness: 10 Conqueredliness: 10 Meltdowns: ZERO State of feet: Pass Did I mention that I had quite a good Saturday?? But it wasn’t all marvellous. The photos were shit lol Mind you, I always look shit in running photos. Just when I think I’ve lost weight and am looking ok, here comes another pic of me mid-race and OMG – words fail me. I’m thinking of suing. They must’ve photo-shopped some of that, surely!...

Training starts here!

Written by amanda on 20th January 2015. Posted in The Road to Ironman. No Comments on Training starts here!

Uh oh! Here we go! The road to Ironman really and truly started on 1 January 2015! Not that I haven’t ‘kind of’ started. Since registering I’ve taken swimming lessons, been learning to swim in open water, bought a bike and had it fitted, completed a few sprint tris and a half-ironman … but all rather in preparation for the preparation, if that makes any sense? There was no real urgency. Training came under the umbrella ‘getting ready for 2015’! So I’ve done bits of this and bits of that and I...

DON’T LOOK BACK (well, maybe just briefly) – Cheerio 2014

Written by amanda on 30th December 2014. Posted in Anything goes. No Comments on DON’T LOOK BACK (well, maybe just briefly) – Cheerio 2014

Don’t look back. That’s not the way you’re going. Just one of my favourite quotes from this year but I think that on occasion (like now, for instance) it can be quite beneficial to spend a moment or two (no more) looking back. Not with the intention of heading in that direction, however, but rather to draw on the positives and the triumphs which can only help to fuel to the engine I need to launch myself into 2015!! I have a list of 52 goals for 2015 – the number of goals equating to my age. I...

Aug/Sept Training and Shavings of Fe

Written by amanda on 28th September 2014. Posted in The Road to Ironman. No Comments on Aug/Sept Training and Shavings of Fe

Lessons from August The ‘no excuses’ plan worked. A print-out of my training plan for August sat on my bedside table in the Dominican Republic. Midst swimming with sharks, cocktails, delicious food and wonderful family holiday mood, it did not go unnoticed. Neither did it interfere in any way – but it DID get done. The intervals and the long runs made their way onto the beach without hardship – just lots of sweat, a bit of hard work in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. The work paid off....

High Peaks 40 Mile Challenge – 20 September 2014

Written by amanda on 28th September 2014. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. No Comments on High Peaks 40 Mile Challenge – 20 September 2014

SUPERVET LADIES – 3RD PLACE – x hours and x minutes!! Oh, all right, we all know how I wangled that one. Hyatt tortoise pace does NOT ‘win’ podium places unless … unless I’m merely beating everyone who didn’t enter PAHAHAHA Whatever! It’s there in writing. I’ll take it. I mean, when would I EVER get a placement otherwise? (Actually, I did beat one other lady haha) Who cares? I finished – eventually – but not without drama. The course was every bit as beautiful as I remembered – perhaps even...

Isle of Wight 50km Challenge 23 August 2014

Written by amanda on 28th September 2014. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. No Comments on Isle of Wight 50km Challenge 23 August 2014

Last-minute run-up to this was slightly thought-provoking. Shouldn’t races be social events, a time to get together with like-minded friends and strangers and enjoy some healthy competition? Yet I found myself apologising to a group of lovely people who were setting off to do the 100km walk and were all meeting up in the pub for food and drinkies the night before. Apologising because I just wanted to relax into race mode. I’d really been looking forward to this one. I was worried that my IT band...

A Runner’s Plea (when the demons come calling)

Written by amanda on 28th September 2014. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. No Comments on A Runner’s Plea (when the demons come calling)

A Runner’s Plea (when the demons come calling) *** Please remember, don’t forget, That when this runner’s face is wet With tears, mid-race, of fear (or worse), The help I need is in this verse … ‘Poor ickle you, you’ve done your best, Go home and sleep, you just need rest,’ Or ‘Never mind, another day – I think you’re awesome anyway,’ Though heartfelt, lovely, sweet and kind, (my health and safety clear in mind), When DNF is in my head I beg you try these words instead … Try ‘Don’t...

ZERO TO HALF IRONMAN IN 4 WEEKS – EEEK!

Written by amanda on 27th July 2014. Posted in The Road to Ironman. No Comments on ZERO TO HALF IRONMAN IN 4 WEEKS – EEEK!

**WARNING** THIS KIND OF TRAINING CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PRIDE AND INTERMITTENT MOMENTS OF FEELING TOTALLY AWESOME (Note as a personal trainer: Zero-to-Half in 4 weeks is NOT a recommended plan and comes under the umbrella ‘Know Your Own Body’ and ‘Do What I Say Not What I Do’) The 4 weeks (history): Week 1 – Sprint Tri 1 The swim (800m): Missed the first buoy, found the second, retched my way back to the beach. When the rescue kayak is practically hugging you all the way it’s a good sign that...

I Tri-ed (Splash ‘n Dash Super Sprint)

Written by amanda on 4th July 2014. Posted in The Road to Ironman. No Comments on I Tri-ed (Splash ‘n Dash Super Sprint)

So it’s not strictly my first tri because I delved briefly into this triathlon lark a few years ago – 3 sprint tris (1 pool swim and 2 in Dorney Lake). Finished them but nothing to write home about. I’m calling this my first because it’s the official first of my Ironman journey. (Oh – do I have to mention last week’s epic failure when I did the BTRS sprint tri but failed to get as far as unracking my bike because I retched so much on the last leg I just couldn’t face it?) Nope. I’m...